Scholarships for Studying in Japan 2027

43 scholarships profiled — MEXT, JASSO, foundation, university-specific, and country-targeted scholarships covering tuition + stipend + living costs for international graduate students.

MEXT (Japanese Government)

MEXT Research Student Scholarship 2027

Japan Government Scholarship for international Master's and PhD applicants. Full tuition + ~Â¥143,000-145,000/month + airfare + 6-month Japanese prep course.

Â¥1,716,000 total24-month

MEXT Embassy Recommendation 2027

Embassy-track MEXT 2027: apply via your country’s Japanese embassy. Country quotas vary; written exam + interview required. Placement at 1 of 3 university choices.

Â¥1,716,000 total24-month

MEXT University Recommendation 2027

University-track MEXT 2027: apply directly to a Japanese university where a prof nominates you. 5-25 slots per uni — often more accessible than embassy for STEM.

Â¥1,716,000 total24-month

MEXT Japanese Studies Scholarship 2027

For non-Japanese students enrolled in Japanese language or culture programs. 1-year Japan program, ¥117,000/month stipend + full tuition. Embassy track only.

12-month

MEXT Young Leaders Program 2027

Master’s/PhD for young government officials and rising leaders from developing countries. Specialties: Public Admin, Governance, Healthcare, Business — 1-2 years.

24-month

MEXT Teacher Training Program 2027

For active teachers from designated countries. 1-year Japan training in education, pedagogy, and Japanese language teaching.

12-month

Government / International Cooperation

JASSO Honors Scholarship 2027

Â¥48,000-80,000/month for privately financed international students at Japanese universities, paid post-enrollment. Awarded by host uni on merit + financial need.

Â¥576,000 total12-month

ADB-Japan Scholarship Program

Master’s scholarship for citizens of ADB developing member countries. Full tuition + living allowance, 2 years. At 8 Japanese unis incl. UTokyo, Hitotsubashi, Kobe.

24-month

JDS Japan Grant Aid (JICA) 2027

2-year fully funded master’s scholarship for civil servants and public-sector professionals from 18 developing countries at participating Japanese universities.

24-month

AOTS Training Program

Short-term technical training in Japan for engineers and managers from developing countries. Not a degree program but valuable for working professionals.

3-month

JET Programme (Japan Exchange and Teaching)

1-3 year teaching/coordinator placement in Japan (~Â¥3.36M/year salary). Not a degree, but JET alumni often pivot into Japanese grad study with savings + immersion.

24-month

Major Foundation Scholarships

Honjo International Scholarship Foundation

¥150,000/month for ~3 years for international graduate students at Japanese universities — one of Japan’s most generous private foundation awards. ~50 grants/year.

Â¥1,800,000 total36-month

Heiwa Nakajima Foundation Scholarship

Â¥100,000-130,000/month for international graduate students at Japanese universities. Annual award cycle, 2-year duration, particularly strong for STEM applicants.

Â¥1,320,000 total12-month

Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation Scholarship

Â¥120,000/month for international graduate students at Japanese universities. Strong networking through Rotary clubs in Japan.

Â¥1,440,000 total12-month

Inpex Scholarship Foundation

Â¥150,000/month + research grant for STEM graduate students from designated countries (especially energy and natural resource fields).

Â¥1,800,000 total24-month

Watanabe Memorial Scholarship

¥120,000/month for STEM graduate students from China, Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, or India at Japanese universities. 2-year duration, master’s + PhD.

Â¥1,440,000 total24-month

Matsumae Foundation Research Fellowship

Â¥220,000/month + research support for non-Japanese postdocs and early-career researchers in STEM. 6-month Japan fellowship, annual call, ~20 awards/year.

6-month

Toshiba International Foundation Scholarship

Â¥120,000/month for international graduate students researching Japanese society, technology, and East Asia studies. 1-2 year award, ~10 grants per year, Tokyo-based.

Â¥1,440,000 total12-month

Sato Yo International Scholarship Foundation

¥180,000/month for international PhD students from Asia at Japanese universities — one of the highest private stipends. ~30 grants/year, 2-year award.

Â¥4,320,000 total24-month

Mitsubishi UFJ Foundation Scholarship

Â¥100,000/month for international graduate students from Asian countries at Japanese universities. 1-year renewable award; ~40 grants/year across all disciplines.

Â¥1,200,000 total12-month

Atsumi International Foundation Scholarship

Â¥100,000/month for final-year international PhD students at Tokyo-area universities. 1-year award; ~10 grants/year, broad discipline mix incl. humanities.

Â¥1,200,000 total12-month

Iwatani Naoji Foundation Scholarship

Â¥120,000/month for international STEM graduate students from Asia at Japanese universities. Energy, materials, mechanical fields prioritized; 2-year award duration.

Â¥2,880,000 total24-month

Sumitomo Foundation Japan-Related Research

Up to ¥2,500,000 research grant for non-Japanese researchers studying Japanese culture, society, history, or arts. 1-year award; humanities/area-studies focused.

Â¥2,500,000 total12-month

Tokyo Metropolitan Asian Human Resources Fund

Full tuition + ¥150,000/month for Asian graduate students at Tokyo-area universities. 2-year award targeting future leaders; via partnered Tokyo universities.

Â¥3,600,000 total24-month

Kyoto City International Foundation Grant

Â¥80,000/month for international graduate students at universities in Kyoto City. 1-year award; ~30 recipients/year, all disciplines, financial-need weighted.

Â¥960,000 total12-month

Osaka University Special Scholarship

Full tuition waiver + ¥80,000-160,000/month for top international graduate students at Osaka University. Highly selective; awarded with admission decision.

24-month

Tohoku University President Fellowship

Full tuition waiver + ¥150,000/month for outstanding international PhD students at Tohoku University. 3-year award; awarded by recommendation from graduate school.

36-month

Nagoya University Global 30 Fellowship

Tuition waiver + ¥150,000/month for international graduate students in Nagoya University English-track (G30) programs. 2-year award; awarded with admission decision.

24-month

Kyushu University Q-Fund Scholarship

Â¥100,000-150,000/month + tuition reduction for international graduate students at Kyushu University. Includes Yangtze River Bursary stream for Asian applicants.

24-month

Country-Specific (Outbound to Japan)

Fulbright Japan Graduate Research Grant

For US citizens pursuing graduate research in Japan. ~$30-40K + tuition + research stipend. Strong network and US-Japan academic exchange focus.

Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation Scholarships

£30,000/year + Japan-based research support for UK citizens studying in Japan. Annual award cycle, master’s and PhD eligible — strong UK-Japan academic ties focus.

Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation Scholarships

For UK applicants pursuing Japan-based research or short-term study. Awards £2,000-£8,000 — smaller than Daiwa but with broader, more flexible eligibility criteria.

JN Tata Endowment Scholarship

For Indian citizens pursuing graduate study abroad including Japan. Loan-grant of ~₹15-25 lakhs, master’s + PhD eligible — partial repayment after graduation.

Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship

Up to $100,000 for Indian citizens (under 30) for graduate study at top international universities including select Japanese ones. Under 35 awards/year.

LPDP (Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education)

Indonesian government scholarship for Indonesian citizens pursuing graduate study abroad including Japan. Highly competitive; full-funded.

University-Internal

University of Tokyo Fellowship

University-internal scholarship for outstanding international grad students at UTokyo. ¥150,000-200,000/month depending on department + funding source. Annual cycle.

UTokyo Foreign Research Student Scholarship

For incoming international research students at UTokyo. Full tuition waiver + ¥150,000/month stipend, annually renewable. Bridge into UTokyo Master’s programs.

OIST PhD Fellowship

Automatic for accepted OIST PhD students. ¥0 tuition + ¥2,400,000/year (~¥200,000/month) stipend for 5 years. Most generous package among Japanese graduate programs.

Â¥12,000,000 total60-month

JAIST Foreign Student Fellowship

Free housing in JAIST International House for international graduate students + ¥80,000-120,000/month stipend depending on level.

NAIST International Graduate Fellowship

For international graduate students at NAIST. Tuition waiver + ¥150,000/month stipend, 2-year duration. Often combined with MEXT or other foundation scholarships.

Waseda Scholarships for International Students

50-100% tuition reduction across 12+ Waseda scholarship schemes for international graduate students with strong applications. ¥1.4M/year base before reduction.

Keio Premium Scholarship 2027

Merit-based scholarship for international graduate students at Keio: 50-100% tuition reduction + ¥80-150K/month stipend for select programs. Annual cycle, renewable.

Sophia Tuition Reduction Scholarship

30-100% tuition reduction for international graduate students at Sophia, Tokyo. Annually renewable on academic standing; ¥1.1M/year tuition base before reduction.