Shimane University Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most scholarships connected to Shimane University are designed for students who are formally admitted and studying as on-campus students (degree or exchange/non-degree), rather than “online-only” learners.

Both exist, but Japanese is common for many regular degree classes, while selected graduate “Special Program” options are explicitly taught in English. Shimane University’s international pages describe a graduate special program where “all lectures and seminars are given in English,” and some faculties note that regular tracks are in Japanese while special programs are in English.

It depends on the scholarship type. University-related support like tuition exemptions and many privately-financed international-student scholarships typically focus on enrollment status, financial need, and academic performance rather than a strict age cap. However, external/government scholarships can have firm age rules such as MEXT.

Many Shimane University-connected scholarships are not limited to a single subject, meaning they can support students across STEM, humanities, and professional fields as long as you’re admitted and meet the scholarship’s conditions (financial need, academic performance, etc.).

• STEM (science/engineering/data): English-taught graduate special programs exist in areas like Natural Science and Technology, and scholarships/tuition exemptions can apply to eligible enrolled students.
• Humanities/social sciences/education: Recipient example: Ragini Kumari pursued education research and said she chose her placement because of “alignment with my educational goals.”
• Business: While many scholarships are cross-departmental, always confirm whether your specific business program is degree-course eligible for the scholarship category you’re applying to.
• Medicine (and related fields): Shimane University’s international-student scholarship listings include options tied to medical-related study (e.g., a scholarship for graduate students in the Graduate School of Medicine, and an external foundation scholarship for students majoring in “medicine, dentistry and pharmacology”).

Medicine note (international eligibility): Some medicine-related scholarships listed above are explicitly available within the international-student scholarship table, but medicine programs can have additional language/admission constraints, so treat “scholarship eligibility” and “program admission eligibility” as two separate checks.

Many scholarships are open broadly to international students (with selection and limited slots), but some are nationality- or region-specific. An example from scholarship recipients is Ragini Kumari, who is from India and received MEXT funding.

It depends on your program language and admissions category. For English-taught tracks, universities commonly ask for proof of English ability; for Japanese-taught programs, JLPT/EJU (or equivalent) may be required. Shimane University’s international pages also list “Certification of Japanese Language Proficiency Test” among documents that may be required in procedures such as immigration/entry paperwork.

Recipient example: Ragini Kumari reported “IELTS 7.5” and also completed Japanese language training, so even with strong English, Japanese requirements can appear depending on your route and activities.

Shimane University admissions requirements vary by faculty, degree level, and whether you apply through standard Japanese-taught routes or special programs. Many programs do not publish a single universal “minimum GPA” because evaluation can include prior degree completion, academic fit, exams, and documents.

A strong fit between your past studies and your proposed program helps, along with evidence you can succeed academically (and, for many scholarships, show clear goals and contribution). Recipient example: Ragini Kumari listed a B.Sc. in Mathematics, B.Ed., M.A. in Education, and additional training, and she connected her research focus to real work in schools.

She also stressed that impact beyond grades can matter: “don’t underestimate the value of extracurricular initiatives and community involvement,” and she described showing a track record (projects, mentoring, ICT use) rather than relying on grades alone.

Exact documents vary by program (undergraduate vs graduate vs special/non-degree), but common requirements include an application form, academic transcripts and graduation/degree certificates, passport copy/ID, and language proof (English tests for English tracks and/or JLPT/EJU-related proof for Japanese tracks). Some graduate routes also ask for research-related documents (research plan/proposal, supervisor contact, etc.).

Shimane University’s international guidance for entry procedures lists examples of required documents for immigration steps such as an application for Certificate of Eligibility, a copy of your Letter of Acceptance or exam result notice, passport-style photos, a Letter of Financial Support, and “Certification of Japanese Language Proficiency Test” (and sometimes a document certifying your research project).

Recipient example: Ragini Kumari warned to start paperwork early: she said she would “start preparing my documents even earlier,” especially “recommendation letters and SOP drafts,” and she emphasized tailoring her Statement of Purpose to faculty alignment.

Yes. Shimane University’s international information lists an application fee of JPY17,000 for undergraduate applicants and JPY30,000 for graduate applicants. Always confirm the latest figures for your exact program category on the official pages before you submit payment.