NISHIMURA FOUNDATION
Nishimura Foundation Japan International Scholarship
living only · bachelors, masters, phd
- ~JPY 130,000 / month (est.)Living-expense stipend
- JPY 150,000One-time travel and set-up grant
- 2-3 yearsDuration (2 yrs MSc, 3 yrs PhD)
- No application feeCost to apply
- Bachelor's / Master's / PhDDegree levels funded
- JapanWhere you study
At a glance
living only
Funding
€22k
Max amount
Dec 10, 2026
Deadline
Indonesia (Indonesian citizens only)
Country
Nishimura Foundation
Provider
The Nishimura Foundation Japan International Scholarship supports Indonesian students to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate study at top Japanese universities, including Kyoto University, Osaka University, Ritsumeikan University and Kwansei Gakuin University. The award is a living-cost scholarship rather than a tuition waiver: recipients receive a monthly stipend of JPY 130,000 for living expenses plus a one-time travel and set-up grant of JPY 150,000, with funds disbursed every 3 months. Support lasts 2 years for a Master's programme and 3 years for a PhD, and there is no application fee. Applicants must be Indonesian citizens and graduates of UGM, ITB, UI or UNAIR, applying for S1, S2 or S3 study, and must self-fund their tuition while meeting a GPA of 3.0 for undergraduate or 3.5 for master's applicants. The Nishimura Foundation has supported Indonesia-Japan academic exchange for decades. Stipend amounts, intake dates and partner-university lists are reviewed each cycle, so confirm the current-cycle figures and the exact deadline on the official Nishimura Foundation page before you apply.
What's covered
- Monthly living stipend — A monthly stipend of JPY 130,000 for living expenses, disbursed every 3 months throughout the programme.
- Travel and set-up grant — A one-time grant of JPY 150,000 to help with travel to Japan and initial settling-in costs.
- Programme duration funding — Continued stipend support for 2 years for a Master's programme or 3 years for a PhD programme.
- No application fee — There is no fee to apply for the scholarship (JPY 0).
- Cultural and network support — Engagement with Japanese culture and Indonesia-Japan academic networks, building career pathways across both countries.
How to apply
Applications are prepared as a document package and submitted by email, with physical documents delivered to Yogyakarta by the deadline.
- Confirm eligibility — Check that you are an Indonesian citizen and graduate of UGM, ITB, UI or UNAIR, applying for S1/S2/S3 at an eligible Japanese university and able to self-fund tuition.
- Prepare the required documents — Assemble your CV, research proposal, motivation letter, legalised transcripts and certificates, language certificate and two recommendation letters.
- Submit your application — Email your complete application to the foundation's stated contact address and ensure physical documents reach Yogyakarta by the deadline.
- Provide the Letter of Acceptance — Submit your university Letter of Acceptance (LoA) when available, by February 2026.
- Attend the interview — Attend the interview scheduled for around May 2026 for the April 2026 intake.
Eligibility
CitizenshipMust be an Indonesian citizen.
Home universityMust be a graduate of UGM, ITB, UI or UNAIR.
Study levelMust apply for S1 (undergraduate), S2 (master's) or S3 (doctoral) study at an eligible Japanese university.
TuitionMust self-fund the study programme; the scholarship covers living expenses, not tuition.
GPAMinimum GPA of 3.0 for undergraduate applicants and 3.5 for master's applicants.
Other conditionsMust show financial need, have or be willing to learn Japanese, and demonstrate interest in Japanese culture and Indonesia-Japan relations.
Online-learning applicants are not eligible unless residing in Osaka. A Letter of Acceptance (LoA) can be submitted later, by February 2026. All physical documents must arrive in Yogyakarta by the deadline.
Eligible countries
Indonesia (Indonesian citizens only)
Deadlines
2026/2027 cycle (April intake)~10 December 2026 (est.)
Selection
Applicants are assessed on academic record and GPA, the quality of the research proposal and motivation letter, demonstrated financial need, language readiness and interest in Japanese culture and Indonesia-Japan relations. Shortlisted candidates are invited to an interview, and final recipients submit their Letter of Acceptance before the intake begins.
Verified sources
- Nishimura Foundation - Official websitenishimura-zaidan.or.jpofficial
About the provider
The Nishimura Foundation is a Japanese charitable foundation that supports international education and academic exchange between Indonesia and Japan, funding Indonesian students to study at leading Japanese universities and strengthening long-term bilateral academic ties.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Who can apply for the Nishimura Foundation scholarship?
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Indonesian citizens who are graduates of UGM, ITB, UI or UNAIR and who will apply for undergraduate, master's or doctoral study at an eligible Japanese university.
Does it cover tuition fees?
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No. It is a living-cost scholarship. You must self-fund your tuition; the award covers living expenses through a monthly stipend.
How much is the stipend?
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JPY 130,000 (est.) per month for living expenses, disbursed every 3 months, plus a one-time JPY 150,000 travel and set-up grant. Confirm current figures on the official Nishimura Foundation page.
How long does the funding last?
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2 years for a Master's programme and 3 years for a PhD programme.
Is there an application fee?
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No. There is no application fee (JPY 0).
Which universities are partners?
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Kyoto University, Osaka University, Ritsumeikan University, Kwansei Gakuin University and other affiliated institutions.
What GPA do I need?
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A minimum GPA of 3.0 for undergraduate applicants and 3.5 for master's applicants.
Do I need to know Japanese?
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You must have, or be willing to learn, Japanese, and show interest in Japanese culture and Indonesia-Japan relations.
Can online-learning students apply?
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No, unless they are residing in Osaka. Online-learning applicants are otherwise not eligible.
How do I apply?
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Prepare the required documents and email your application to the foundation's contact address, with physical documents reaching Yogyakarta by the deadline.
When is the Letter of Acceptance due?
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The Letter of Acceptance (LoA) can be submitted later, by around February 2027 (est.) for the relevant intake.
What is the application deadline?
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Around 10 December 2026 (est.), with interviews following for the April intake. Confirm the exact date on the official Nishimura Foundation page.