PhD Scholarships in Japan
There are 14 active phd scholarships for international students in Japan worth up to €40k, from 14 providers. Compare eligibility, awards, and deadlines below and apply before they close.
full fundingNIG Postdoctoral Fellowship (National Institute of Genetics)
Open to researchers of any nationality who hold a PhD (or will obtain it before the start date) and have the research skills to pursue a genetics project. Applicants who were previously enrolled at NIG as postdocs, technical staff or SOKENDAI graduate students are not eligible.
full fundingMatsumae International Foundation Research Fellowship
Open to non-Japanese researchers worldwide who hold a PhD, are 49 years or younger at the time of application, and have a professional occupation in their home country. Applicants must secure an invitation (acceptance) letter from a host institution in Japan, have sufficient English or Japanese proficiency, and must not have had previous long-term stays in Japan.
full fundingKyoto University CSEAS Fellowship
Open to established scholars and professionals of recognised standing, regardless of nationality, who are generally under 65 years of age and not currently enrolled in graduate or postdoctoral programmes. Applicants from government, NGOs, media, IT, librarianship, and other sectors are welcome. Those previously awarded a CSEAS fellowship must wait at least six years before reapplying.
full fundingOIST Visiting Scholars Program (TSVP)
Open to independent researchers of all nationalities who hold a PhD in a relevant field and work at a senior postdoctoral, junior group leader, or faculty level. Applicants must submit a strong research proposal aligned with OIST's interdisciplinary mission across mathematics, physics, computational sciences, chemistry, engineering, and the life sciences. Applications from women and underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.
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.
full fundingJSPS Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan
Open to international researchers from countries with diplomatic relations with Japan, across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Eligibility depends on the category: postdoctoral fellowships require a recent PhD, while invitational fellowships target senior researchers at professor or associate-professor level. Applicants cannot apply on their own; every application must be submitted by a Japanese host researcher through the JSPS Electronic Application System, and fellows must reside in Japan throughout the award period.
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 fundingMatsumae International Fellowship
Open to non-Japanese researchers who already hold a PhD (doctoral degree), are 45 years old or younger at the deadline, are currently employed in their home country, and have secured a letter of acceptance from a host institution in Japan. Strong English or Japanese is required, and the programme prioritises applicants with limited prior research experience in Japan. Research must fall within Medicine, Engineering or Natural Sciences.
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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14 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.