A majority of scholarships in Japan only sponsor parts of the student’s daily expenses or tuition fee. Scholarships offering full coverage of the student’s necessary expenses are very few. As such, it is important to itemize the amount required for study in Japan and not to rely solely on scholarships. Drafting out a solid financing plan that includes self-funding is essential.

1.	Scholarships
2.	Tuition fee reduction or exemption system
3.	Assistance in the form of materials (such as bus tickets etc.)

1.	Applying from overseas before coming to Japan (number of scholarships available is limited)
2.	Applying in Japan upon admission into schools in Japan (most scholarships are applied upon entering Japan)

(as of December 2010)

	Target	Pre-arrival application		Post-arrival application
		Private organizations	Japanese government	Local or private organizations
1	Students in upper secondary schools	1		6
2	Students in colleges of technology	0	○	27
3	Students in professional training colleges	3	○	18
4	Students in preparatory Japanese language courses offered at private universities	2		11
5	Students in Japanese language institutions	4		7
6	Students in junior colleges	4		45
7	Audit students in undergraduate programs	0		8
8	Students in undergraduate programs	10	○	125
9	Research students in graduate schools	6	○	40
10	Master’s students	15	○	153
11	Doctorate students	9	○	148

●Scholarship selection process：	Screening of application form, written exam and/or oral interview on general education and/or knowledge in specialized field and/or Japanese language.
●Scholarship application method：	Most students apply through the schools they are enrolled in (please enquire for details from your international student office)

１	Scholarships applied overseas

Types		Target students / No. of scholarship-grant bodies	Monthly Sum	Inquiries
Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho : MEXT) Scholarship※1	Embassy recom-mendation	Research students / teacher trainees※2	￥150,000	The nearest embassy or consulate in your home country (MOFA) http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/annai/zaigai/list/index.html
		Students in undergraduate programs / colleges of technology / specialized training colleges /Japanese language, Japanese studies	￥123,000
		Students in the Young Leaders’ Program (YLP)	￥255,000
	University recom-mendation	Research students※2	￥150,000	Current school (at home country)
		Japanese language, Japanese studies	￥123,000
JASSO’s Reservation Program for Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students		Students who have taken the EJU Examination and plan to enroll in regular programs at universities / junior colleges / professional training colleges	￥48,000	International Scholarship Division, Student Exchange Department, JASSO
Private organization scholarships		22 private organizations	￥133,100 (Average)	Each local government or organization
Student Exchange Support Program (Short-stay and short-visit)		(Target is on international students under the Inter-university Exchange Program Agreement)	￥80,000	Current school (at home country)

※ All application procedures for Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho:MEXT) Scholarships are conducted through Japanese embassies, consulates in your countries, or institutions of higher education in Japan.
If you require any further information regarding Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships, contact Japanese embassies, consulates in your countries, or institutions of higher education which you wish to enroll.
Application fee is not charged. So please be aware that organizations or individuals who charge application fee or deposits have no relation with the Japanese Government. 

２	Scholarships to be applied in Japan after arrival in Japan

Types		Target students / No. of scholarship-offering bodies	Monthly Sum	Inquiries
Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho : MEXT) Scholarship ※1	Selection in Japan	Research students※2	￥150,000	Current school (in Japan)
		Undergraduates	￥123,000
JASSO’s Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students		Students in undergraduate programs / junior colleges / preparatory Japanese language courses / colleges of technology / professional training colleges / university preparatory courses	￥48,000	Current school (in Japan)
		Japanese language institutions
		Research students / master’s students / doctorate students	￥65,000
Local government scholarships		42 local governments and international exchange-related organizations	￥19,200 (Average)	Each local government, organization or current school (in Japan)※3
Private organization scholarships		124 private organizations	￥82,800 (Average)	Each organization or current school (in Japan)※3
On-campus scholarships Tuition fee exemption or waiver system		※4	―
(Survey conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology together with JASSO)

※1 Students who study/research in a designated region will be provided an additional monthly stipend.
※2 ¥152,000 for master’s course students and ¥153,000 for doctorate course students.
※3 As determined by each organization.
※4 Please inquire with your university, graduate school or junior college on scholarships and tuition fee exemption or waiver system offered by your school.

List of Scholarship-offering bodies		http://www.jasso.go.jp/study_j/scholarships.html

Search for Scholarships(ABK)		http://www.jpss.jp/

Related Information

●	Guide to Scholarships(JASSO)
●	Scholarships Database（Japan　Study Support/ABK）
●	Pamphlet of Scholarships for International Students in Japan(JASSO)
●	Japanese Government Scholarship Students（Study in Japan Comprehensive Guide/MOFA）
●	International Priority Graduate Program(MEXT)
●	Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students(JASSO)
●	Reservation Program for Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students(JASSO)
●	Student Exchange Support Program(Short-term Study in Japan)(JASSO)
●	Asian Development Bank - Japan Scholarship Program
●	Inter-American Development Bank Scholarship
●	Japan-International Monetary Fund Scholarship Program for Asia
●	Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program
●	Japan-World Customs Organization Human Resource Development Programme
●	Scholarships for Nikkei descendants (The Association of Nikkei & Japanese Abroad)
●	Schools with Scholarships(JASSO)