Master's Scholarships in Japan
There are 13 active master's scholarships for international students in Japan worth up to €40k, from 13 providers. Compare eligibility, awards, and deadlines below and apply before they close.
full fundingINPEX Scholarship
Open to nationals of Indonesia, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates who hold a relevant bachelor's degree, are under 30 years of age, have a GPA of at least 3.00, and can secure a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from a graduate programme at a Japanese university before the scholarship begins. A separate outbound track exists for Japanese nationals under 35 who wish to study or research in one of the three partner countries.
full fundingOsaka University MEXT Scholarship for Robotics and Bioengineering
Open to non-Japanese citizens with a strong academic background in a relevant field such as robotics, bioengineering or mechanical science, who meet the MEXT programme conditions, present a focused research proposal, and obtain a supporting supervisor at Osaka University before applying.
living only fundingNishimura Foundation Japan International Scholarship
Open to Indonesian citizens who are graduates of UGM, ITB, UI or UNAIR and who will apply for S1 (undergraduate), S2 (master's) or S3 (doctoral) study at an eligible Japanese university. Applicants must self-fund their study programme (the scholarship covers living expenses, not tuition), meet the minimum GPA (3.0 for undergraduate, 3.5 for master's), demonstrate financial need, and have or be willing to learn Japanese with an interest in Japanese culture and Indonesia-Japan relations.
full fundingGRIPS Fully Funded Scholarships (National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies)
Open to international students applying to GRIPS master's and PhD policy programs taught in English. Master's and five-year PhD applicants need a bachelor's degree or equivalent; three-year PhD applicants need a master's degree or equivalent. Specific scholarships (MEXT, ADB-JSP, JJ/WBGSP, JICA, Japan-IMF) each carry their own nationality, age and work-experience conditions tied to the program selected.
tuition only fundingSophia University Scholarships
Open to international and Japanese students who apply for one of Sophia University's English-taught undergraduate or graduate programmes in the 2026 entrance examination. The New Student Scholarship covers one-third, one-half, or full first-year tuition; the Adachi (Benefactors') Scholarship is for international students only and covers full first-year tuition plus the education enhancement fee. Scholarship applications must be submitted in a separate packet alongside the admission application; doctoral students may instead be recommended by their graduate school for the researcher-fostering scholarship without applying.
living only fundingTobe Maki Foundation Scholarship in Japan
Open to students of all nationalities enrolled at a university in Japan between April 2026 and March 2027. Undergraduate applicants must be in their 3rd year or higher, and Master's and PhD students are eligible. Applicants must be under 30 years old as of 1 April 2026, conduct research within the eligible fields, hold a 'Student' residence visa (for international applicants), be self-funded rather than receiving a government scholarship, and demonstrate academic merit, good character, and financial need.
full fundingMEXT Scholarship (Japanese Government)
Open to international students (within an age range set per category) for undergraduate, research (master's/PhD), and specialised programs at Japanese universities. Apply via the Japanese embassy in your home country (embassy recommendation) or via a Japanese university (university recommendation).
full fundingJapanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships
For international students from countries with diplomatic relations with Japan, applying for undergraduate, research (master's/PhD), or specialised study at Japanese universities. Apply via the Japanese embassy (embassy recommendation) or a Japanese university (university recommendation), within the age and academic requirements for the category.
full fundingAwaji Youth Federation (AYF) Fellowship
Open to applicants from any country aged roughly 24 to 35 (24 to 30 preferred) who have completed or are completing a bachelor's or master's degree, are committed to solving societal problems, and can attend the full 9-month programme on Awaji Island. No IELTS or other language test is required.
full fundingMETI Japanese Internship Program (JIP)
Open to citizens of countries on the OECD/DAC list who are aged at least 20 but no more than 40 (as of the program reference date), with Japanese proficiency at JLPT level N3 or higher or strong English. Applicants must agree with the program's goals of promoting Japanese internationalization and overseas business development, be enrolled at or have graduated from a university, provide a recommendation letter, be able to join mandatory training and the internship on the JIP office's schedule, and must not have participated in the program in earlier fiscal years.
full fundingJapan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS)
Open to nationals of African countries that are members of the African Development Bank who hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and gain admission to the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences at the University of Tokyo for a Master's degree. Applicants are preferably under 35, must show English (or instruction-language) proficiency, relevant development-related work experience (mid-career professionals preferred), good health, and a commitment to return home after graduation. Candidates may not already hold another scholarship at the time of application.
living only fundingUnited Nations University Junior Fellows Internship
Open to graduate-level students and young professionals of any nationality who have a keen interest in the work of the United Nations and UNU. Junior Fellows are based mainly at the UNU headquarters in Tokyo, work full-time during university hours, and are expected to contribute to the work of the Office of the Rector for the duration of the term.
full fundingJICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program (Long-Term Scholarships)
For young government officials and professionals from partner developing countries who are nominated/selected through their country's JICA programme (such as JDS) to pursue a master's (and some doctoral) degree in Japan. Applicants apply through the in-country JICA/JDS process during the partner country's call.
Frequently asked questions
How many scholarships are available in Japan?
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13 active scholarships are listed on this page, updated regularly.
Can international students apply for scholarships in Japan?
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Yes — these scholarships are open to international students; check each one's eligibility and deadline.