We are presenting a listing of Top International Students Scholarships to Study in Japan (Fully Funded) for students at all levels who may be considering to study in Japan. Some courses are taught in Japanese language, but a good number of universities offer courses and programmes taught entirely in English, from Undergraduate courses to Postgraduate degree, Doctoral, Postdoctoral and Research programmes.
The Japanese scholarships for International Students are aimed at fostering global human capital development by building bridges of friendship between applicant’s country and Japan through cultural exchanges, technology sharing and channels of Education to study in Japan. MEXT has made it easy for international students who are required to study Japanese language before proceeding to their major programme by offering scholarships to cover those extra study costs. This helps advance growth and development of both countries and the wider world at large. Here is Top International Students Scholarships to Study in Japan (Fully Funded):
Through the Rotary International Peace Fellowships International Students are given opportunity to study or conduct research in Japanese universities or graduate schools. This Fellowships fund is supported by Rotarians throughout Japan, largest private scholarship organization in Japan, offers a number of scholarships and Fellowships from non-degree to undergraduate, master’s and postgraduate levels.
Application Deadline: May and October.
Scholarship Value: Fully Funded.
The Japanese Government through its Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) offers scholarships students who are enrolled in a master’s course, doctoral course, or professional graduate course at the University of Tokyo and other nominated universities by the University of Tokyo.
Application Deadline: Usually October, but can vary.
Value of Scholarship: Fully funded tuition, and varies from 143,000yen for non-regular Research Students to about 145,000yen (regular students in doctoral courses) per month. Research from certain designated regions can get more value added.
The Japan Africa Dream Scholarship Program (JADS) is a capacity building project initiated in 2017 by the African Development Bank and Japan to award two-year scholarships to high-achieving African students to pursue post-graduate studies at master’s level in priority development areas on the continent and in Japan.
Application Deadline: Varies per Universities.
Award Value: It is Fully Funded, providing tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance.
The United Nations – Nippon Foundation Fellowship provides Government officials and other mid-level professionals from developing States with advanced training on ocean affairs and the law of the sea, as well as related disciplines, including marine science in support of management frameworks.
Application Deadline: September
Award Value: Fully-funded. The funding includes stipends valued in accordance with the cost of living in the country in which he/she will be studying; travel costs and other support.
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is open to women and men from developing countries with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development efforts who are applying to a master’s degree program in a development-related topic. JJWBGSP offers scholarships for over 200 Preferred Programs spanning a wide array of development topics and for 14 Partner Programs at universities in the U.S., Africa, and Japan in key areas of development, including economic policy management, tax policy, and infrastructure management.
Application Deadline: January, March yearly.
Award Value: Fully Funded
The Matsumae International Research Fellowships is sponsored by the Matsumae International Foundation, a non-governmental organization. Its Fund is solely based on donations from many Japanese people who have responded with goodwill to Dr. Shigeyoshi Matsumae’s call. The Fellowship is for non-Japanese nationals to their Postdoctoral Research study in Japan.
Application Deadline: June yearly
Award Value: Scholarship is fully funded including Stipend for research and stay, Insurance, Air transportation (a round-trip air ticket to/from Tokyo), Lump-sum on arrival.
The United Nations Academic Impact Millennium Fellowship: This program is an initiative between the United Nations Academic Impact and Millennium Campus Network (MCN) partnering to take the Millennium Fellowship to the next level.
The students from this network all over the world participate by convening, challenging, and celebrating undergraduate leadership for the Sustainable Development Goals and UNAI principles. Registration is free, and they benefit from the Fellowship supports.
Deadline: March 31. The Fellowship usually holds August through October.
Award Value: Free Registration, Supports from the Fellowship Network. Capacity Development in the various areas of engagements.
The Japan-WCO Human Resource Development Programme provides a grant (full funding) covering travel, subsistence, admission, tuition and other approved expenses to enable promising young Customs managers from a Developing Country member of the WCO undertake Master’s level studies at the Aoyama Gakuin University (AGU) in Tokyo, Japan.
The Graduate School of Business and Commerce of Keio University has been training promising tax personnel in the field of tax policy and administration since 1996 with its Master’s Degree Program in Taxation Policy and Management. This program brings together the cooperation of Keio University, the National Tax Agency of Japan (NTA), and the World Bank in an alliance between public and private institutions.
Application Deadline: 31st October.
Value of Award: The JJ/WBGSP scholarship provides the recipient with the following benefits:
- Economy class air travel between your home country and the host university at the start of your study program and immediately following the end of the scholarship period.
- A US $500 travel allowance for each trip;
- Tuition for the graduate program
- The cost of basic medical insurance usually obtained through the university.
- A monthly allowance of JPY 152,000 to cover living expenses, including books.
The Japan Foundation for UNU (JFUNU) Scholarship is available for outstanding applicants from developing countries*who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance to study for Master’s in Sustainability Programme.
It is a fully fully funded award and will cover the full tuition fees, and provides a monthly allowance of 150,000 yen for living expenses for a maximum of 24 months. Travel costs to and from Japan, visa handling fees, and health/accident insurance costs must be covered by the student.
Deadline: February yearly
- University of Tokyo Scholarships for International Students
The University of Tokyo provides international students with scholarships that covers school expense exemptions, scholarships, emergency loans, and student discounts. This scholarship helps to: financially support Self-Supported International Students with outstanding academic performance; and increase the intake of students from abroad.
Application Deadline: 1st April – 1st May
Value of Scholarship: Up to 150,000 yen monthly stipend.
The Japan Foundation for United Nations University (JFUNU) Scholarship addresses pressing global issues of sustainability, climate change, development, peace-building, and human rights through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that integrates the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The program is intended for recent graduates, professionals, and practitioners, offering the unique opportunity to study at a global university within the framework of the United Nations.
Application Deadline: April
Value of Scholarship: The JFUNU scholarship covers the full tuition fees, and provides a monthly allowance of 120,000 JPY for living expenses for a maximum of 36 months. Travel costs to and from Japan, visa handling fees, and health/accident insurance costs must be covered by the student.
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the Government of Japan in cooperation with the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) have established a United Nations/Japan Long-term Fellowship Programme on Nano-Satellite Technologies for nationals of developing countries or non-space-faring nations. The Programme will provide extensive research opportunities in nano-satellite systems through the use of the nano-satellite development and testing facilities available at Kyutech.
Application Deadline: 28th January
Number of Awardees: Up to two students in the Master’s course and up to four students in the Doctorate course.
Value of Scholarship: The selected candidates will each receive a grant under Japanese government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) scholarship (Research Students) of about 145,000 yen per month for the duration of their fellowship study to cover housing, food, local transportation, and other expenses.
The Program in Economic and Public Policy (PEPP) at the University of Tsukuba is facilitated through the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) of the World Bank, with the objective of providing training, and the necessary skills for the conception, design, and implementation, within a time frame, of development policies. The focus is on International Development with a cross-disciplinary approach to the economic and social problems of developing countries and former socialist countries.
Application Deadline: February
Award Value: Full funding covering tuition, monthly stipend, national health insurance.
The Japan Student Services Organization provides the Follow-up Research Fellowship for former international student researchers who have previously come to study in Japan from a developing country, region, etc. The programmme aim is to give an opportunity to researchers to conduct short-term research with academic advisors at universities (except junior colleges) in Japan. The JASSO is an independent administrative institution established under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology.
Application Deadline: November.
Award Value: Round-trip Airfare, Daily allowance (¥11,000/day) for the recipient and Remuneration for cooperation (up to ¥50,000) for the research advisor.
The Special Scholarship Program (SSP) was established in 2003 in order to support the advanced research of Kochi University of Technology by enlisting the help of highly capable students especially students from foreign countries. Every year in April and October, the university enrolls selected doctoral students for specific research projects. The students pursue the doctoral course in English (excluding Japanese students) while at the same time assisting their host professor as a research assistant (RA).
Application Deadlines: March and September
Number of Awards: Not more than 3
Award Value: Full Funding covering:
- Exemption from 30,000 yen entrance examination fee, 300,000 yen enrollment fee and 535,800 yen/year tuition fee.
- living expenses, 150,000 yen/month paid for research project work.
- 150,000 yen provided for travel and initial living costs (given only to international applicants who are living outside Japan, and who have, or have the intention to acquire, “Student” status of Japanese residence at the time of entry into Japan)
17. National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) Scholarship
These scholarships are provided by the Japanese government (MEXT) and international organizations, as well as by GRIPS to exceptional students to undertake a Master’s or Postgraduate studies in Public Policy; Public Finance; Macroeconomic Policy; Economics, Planning and Public Policy; Disaster Management Policy; Maritime Safety and Security Policy; Japanese and Culture. It is fully funded.
Deadline: April – and it is update yearly.
The Special Scholarship Program (SSP) was established in 2003 in order to support the advanced research of the university by enlisting the help of highly capable students especially students from foreign countries. Every year in April and October, the university enrolls selected doctoral students for specific research projects. The students pursue the doctoral course in English (excl. Japanese students) while at the same time assisting their host professor as a research assistant (RA). Through this program, KUT wishes to expand and deepen international ties with academic and educational institutions all over the world.
Application deadlines: March and September
Value of Scholarship: Full Funding to cover:
- Exemption from 30,000 yen entrance examination fee,
- 300,000 yen enrollment fee and 535,800 yen/year tuition fee,
- living expenses, 150,000 yen/month paid for research project work.
150,000 yen provided for travel and initial living costs (given only to international applicants who are living outside Japan, and who have, or have the intention to acquire, “Student” status of Japanese residence at the time of entry into Japan).
