Foundation Scholarship for Foreign Graduate Students in Japan
Title: ¥230,000 Monthly Scholarship for Foreign Graduate Students in Japan: 2027 Application Guide
Meta description: This Japan-based foundation offers up to ¥230,000 a month to foreign master’s and PhD students in Japan. Here’s the timeline, amount breakdown, and application steps.
If you’re planning graduate study in Japan, this scholarship is open to any nationality and any research field — a rarer combination than it sounds, since a lot of Japan-based funding is restricted by country or subject. You do need to already have an offer (or be actively applying) to a Japanese graduate school. Still, you can apply straight to the foundation without your university nominating you first.
How much you get, and for how long:
- ¥230,000/month for degrees taking 1–2 years
- ¥210,000/month for 3-year degrees
- ¥180,000/month for anything beyond 3 years
- Paid monthly for the minimum period needed to complete your degree
Roughly 10 students are selected each cycle, so competition is real — this isn’t a scholarship with dozens of slots.
Application timeline:
- Application period: 1 September – 31 October 2026
- Document screening results: 31 January 2027
- Interviews: 9 February 2027 (in Tokyo, or by video call if you’re not able to travel)
- Final results: 31 March 2027
What the application actually asks for: beyond the standard forms and documents, you’ll need to record a two-minute video where you talk about your research, so this isn’t a paperwork-only process. Have that video prepared and rehearsed before the deadline crunch.
One condition worth flagging before you apply: if you’re already receiving another scholarship, this foundation generally won’t let you hold both at once, with specific exceptions for MEXT, Monbukagakusho Honors, JSPS International Fellowship, and (with prior JST approval) the JST Fellowship. If you’re currently on a different scholarship, check this list carefully before applying.
For more information and application:
Visit the official website of the Foundation Scholarship for Foreign Graduate Students in Japan
