The Osaka University Special Scholarship for International Students is a university-internal award given to outstanding international graduate students at the time of admission to Osaka University master's or doctoral programs. The award combines a full tuition waiver with a monthly living-cost stipend of ¥80,000 to ¥160,000 depending on degree level and funding source. As one of Japan's top three national universities, Osaka University attracts a strong international applicant pool, and this scholarship is awarded only to a small fraction of admitted students. For the 2027 cycle the scholarship continues its existing structure with selection through the standard admission cycle in autumn 2026.
What the scholarship covers
The scholarship covers two main components: a full tuition waiver (worth ¥535,800 per year at the standard national-university tuition rate) and a monthly living-cost stipend. Master's recipients typically receive ¥80,000–¥120,000 per month; doctoral recipients receive ¥120,000–¥160,000 per month. Total support over a 24-month master's award is roughly ¥3,000,000–¥3,500,000 in stipend plus tuition. Doctoral recipients receive proportionally more over the longer 36-month duration. The award is for the standard degree duration and is not renewable beyond that period.
How selection works
The scholarship is not a separate application — it is awarded automatically as part of the graduate admission decision. International applicants identified by the host graduate school as exceptionally strong are nominated for the scholarship during admission review. Selection criteria include academic record, research plan quality, recommendation letters, and alignment with the host graduate school's research priorities. Applicants do not "apply" to the scholarship; they apply to Osaka University with strong supporting materials and signal interest in scholarship consideration in the admission application form. Selection is announced together with the admission offer.
Discipline strengths
Osaka University is particularly strong in Engineering, Medicine, Information Science and Technology, Frontier Biosciences, and Materials Science. International applicants whose research aligns with these graduate schools are most likely to receive scholarship nomination. Applicants in humanities and pure social sciences are also funded but at lower rates. Our guide on studying AI and ML in Japan illustrates the kinds of research directions that align well with Osaka University's Information Science priorities. For broader funding planning, see our MEXT scholarship 2027 complete guide and browse all scholarships for additional Osaka-area options.