Top 10 scholarships in Japan for international students
Ten scholarships for studying in Japan, from MEXT and OIST to Nagoya G30, Kyoto iUP and JASSO, with funding, who can apply and deadlines checked on official pages.
Japan has quietly become one of the most generous places to study for international students. Its government funds full scholarships, a growing number of universities teach entire degrees in English, and many offer fee reductions to the students they most want to attract.
These ten scholarships for studying in Japan range from full government funding to university fee waivers. Every detail below comes from the official page of the government body or university.
The list at a glance
| # | Programme | Where | Next deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MEXT Japanese Government Scholarship | Japan | Not announced yet |
| 2 | OIST Graduate University PhD Program | Japan | November 15, 2026 |
| 3 | Nagoya University G30 Undergraduate Scholarship | Japan | November 19, 2026 |
| 4 | JASSO Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students | Japan | Not announced yet |
| 5 | Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program (Kyoto iUP) Scholarships | Japan | December 3, 2026 |
| 6 | Hokkaido University Integrated Science Program (ISP) Fee Waivers | Japan | November 20, 2026 |
| 7 | Kyushu University International Undergraduate Program (Engineering) Scholarships | Japan | December 17, 2026 |
| 8 | Tohoku University Future Global Leadership (FGL) Program Scholarships | Japan | Not announced yet |
| 9 | Sophia University New Student Scholarship | Japan | December 11, 2026 |
| 10 | APU Tuition Reduction Scholarship | Japan | Not announced yet |
1. MEXT Japanese Government Scholarship
Japanese government scholarship for study in Japan that waives tuition and provides round-trip airfare and a monthly stipend, with categories from undergraduate to research (graduate) students.
- Who can apply: International students recommended by a Japanese embassy/consulate or by a Japanese partner university; available places and rules vary by country.
- Deadline: Next deadline not announced yet. Deadlines depend on the route: embassy-recommended applicants follow their local Japanese embassy’s schedule; university-recommended applicants follow the Japanese university’s schedule.
- Funding: Fully funded
2. OIST Graduate University PhD Program
A fully funded 5 year interdisciplinary PhD programme in science at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, with lab rotations in the first year. The application fee is 5,000 JPY.
- Who can apply: Applicants need a bachelor’s or master’s degree, or must expect to complete one before enrollment. Those whose university teaches in a language other than English must submit a TOEFL iBT or IELTS score from the last two years (no minimum score).
- Deadline: Applications for the Admissions Workshop 2027 close 15 November 2026 at 23:59 Japan Standard Time (UTC+9). Online interviews run 18 January to 7 February 2027, with possible enrollment on 1 May 2027, 1 September 2027 or 1 January 2028.
- Funding: Fully funded
3. Nagoya University G30 Undergraduate Scholarship
Covers full tuition for English-taught G30 undergraduate programmes at Nagoya University, plus a stipend stated as 500,000 JPY a year, for up to four years if renewed each year. All applicants are automatically considered.
- Who can apply: Applicants who meet the G30 undergraduate admission criteria and submit the complete application together with the Scholarship Application Form by the deadline. No Japanese is required at entry.
- Deadline: For 2027 enrollment, the 1st round opens 2 November 2026 and closes 19 November 2026. A 2nd round for some programmes runs 5 to 21 January 2027; no cutoff time is stated.
- Funding: Fully funded
4. JASSO Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students
A government stipend of 48,000 JPY a month for undergraduate and graduate students (30,000 JPY at Japanese language institutes). Reservation routes linked to the EJU and to pre-arrival admission also exist.
- Who can apply: Privately financed international students with Student status enrolled full time in Japan, with strong records and financial need, a monthly allowance of 90,000 JPY or less, and JLPT N2 or CEFR B2 English (or equivalent).
- Deadline: Students apply through the institution where they are enrolled; JASSO does not give a central deadline. Awards cover 12 months (April to March) or 6 months (October to March).
- Funding: Partly funded
5. Kyoto University International Undergraduate Program (Kyoto iUP) Scholarships
A degree programme at Kyoto University that starts with a 6 month preparatory course in Japanese. Admission fees are fully waived, tuition is fully or partly waived for four and a half years, preparatory students get up to 120,000 JPY a month, and merit-based allowances from sponsors are available later.
- Who can apply: Non-Japanese citizens with 12 years of formal primary and secondary education (or a recognised equivalent) who will hold Student residence status. There is no age limit, and Japanese is not required at the start.
- Deadline: For October 2027 enrollment the online application system is open 2 November to 3 December 2026, closing at 5 p.m. Japan Standard Time. Applications must be marked complete before the deadline.
- Funding: Partly funded
6. Hokkaido University Integrated Science Program (ISP) Fee Waivers
An English-taught science bachelor’s (physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics) at Hokkaido University. For the latest intake shown, the 282,000 JPY enrollment fee and first semester tuition were waived for ISP students who do not hold MEXT, with annual and hardship tuition waivers after that.
- Who can apply: International applicants who meet the criteria in the Application Guidelines for 2027 Enrollment. Not every student receives the annual waivers after the first semester.
- Deadline: Online registration for October 2027 enrollment runs from 10:00 am on 12 November 2026 to 5:00 pm on 20 November 2026 (JST). Letters of recommendation must arrive by 5:00 pm on 4 December 2026.
- Funding: Partly funded
7. Kyushu University International Undergraduate Program (Engineering) Scholarships
English-taught engineering bachelor’s degrees in EECS, applied chemistry, mechanical and civil engineering. Up to ten non-MEXT admits get the Kyushu University International Undergraduate Scholarship (60,000 JPY a month), and there is a half tuition exemption in the first year; the university may also recommend admits for MEXT (117,000 JPY a month).
- Who can apply: Applicants must hold a nationality other than Japanese and meet the education conditions, for example 12 years of schooling outside Japan. Scholarships and the exemption require living outside Japan at the time of application and a new student visa.
- Deadline: For October 2027 entry, online applications are open 10 a.m. 7 December to 5 p.m. 11 December 2026 (JST). Documents must be received by 5 p.m. on 17 December 2026.
- Funding: Partly funded
8. Tohoku University Future Global Leadership (FGL) Program Scholarships
English-taught science and engineering bachelor’s degrees in Sendai. The October 2026 guide listed a President Fellowship covering examination, entrance and tuition fees for up to four years, plus university-recommended MEXT places and tuition waivers.
- Who can apply: International applicants who meet one of the A to E education categories by 30 September 2027, submit accepted test scores (for example SAT, IB or A Levels) and meet the English requirement (for example IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80). Scholarships are only for students with Student residence status.
- Deadline: The admissions advance notice for October 2027 entry gives an application period of 15 December to 14 January, with document screening on 5 February and results on 24 March. The page calls these details tentative and does not state the years.
- Funding: Partly funded
9. Sophia University New Student Scholarship
Covers one third, one half or all of first year tuition for students admitted through Sophia’s English Course entrance exam. The application is submitted with, but separately from, the admission documents.
- Who can apply: International and Japanese applicants to eligible English-taught undergraduate and graduate programmes who have excellent grades, chose Sophia as their first choice and face financial hardship. Late applications are not accepted.
- Deadline: For Autumn 2027 first year entry to Liberal Arts, Digital Green Technology and SPSF, the scholarship application period is 11 November to 11 December 2026. A second period runs 10 March to 7 April 2027.
- Funding: Partly funded
10. APU Tuition Reduction Scholarship
Reduces tuition by 30%, 50%, 65%, 80% or 100% for international undergraduate and graduate students at APU in Beppu. It covers tuition only, not the admission fee or living costs.
- Who can apply: International applicants considered through admission; graduate awards are competitive, announced with admission results and reviewed each semester. Full criteria are in the 2027 application handbooks.
- Deadline: APU’s main site is temporarily restricted. The temporary site says the deadline depends on the enrollment term and round chosen, and gives no fixed date.
- Funding: Partly funded
How we ranked them
This is an editorial selection, not a formula. We looked at how much each award pays (full funding ranks above fee reductions), how open it is to international applicants, and whether the official page is clear and current. Every detail was checked on the official page on October 30, 2026. No university or funder paid to be included.
For research experience rather than a degree, see the OIST Research Internship Program and the University of Tokyo Research Internship Program (UTRIP). For postdocs, there is the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to speak Japanese?
Not always. Several programmes on this list, such as Nagoya G30, Kyoto iUP and OIST, teach in English. Check each programme’s language requirement.
Is MEXT the only full scholarship in Japan?
No. On their official pages, OIST and Nagoya G30 also describe full funding packages for some students. Most university awards, however, are fee reductions.
Before you apply
Read how to write a scholarship motivation letter, check which English test you need in IELTS vs TOEFL vs Duolingo, and see every upcoming date in the scholarship deadline calendar.