Want to pursue master's or PhD in Japan? Here's your chance to be a scholar
Do you wish to complete a master's or doctorate degree in Japan?
On its website, the Honjo International Scholarship Foundation announced that Japan is offering fully funded scholarships to foreign students who will enter graduate school or are already enrolled in one for an academic course in April 2025.
The foundation said all nationalities and research fields are welcome, and applicants may directly apply without pre-selection by the university.
The requirements include the following:
- face photo
- two-minute-video in which the applicant talks about their research plan
- academic transcript
- research proposal
- recommendation letter from the applicant's supervisor
- documents that prove admission, such as an admission letter, a letter of acceptance, etc.
The application period is until Oct. 31, while the results of the document screening will be announced on Jan. 31, 2025. Successful applicants will move on to the interview process, with their application numbers posted on the foundation's website.
In February, an interview will be conducted in Tokyo, if not a video call. It will be conducted in Japanese, and there are no exceptions.
The final results will be announced on March 31.
The foundation noted that the scholarship will be provided monthly throughout the minimum period required to acquire the degree.
The amount, which will be given to scholars monthly, depends on the degree's duration. A one- to two-year degree gets 230,000 yen (P89,900) and a three-year degree has 210,000 yen (P82,100) per month. A five-year degree takes 180,000 yen (P70,400) monthly.
According to the guidelines, those whose enrollment is shorter than a year aren't eligible to apply.
Scholarship recipients will be required to participate in the individual interview and the events the foundation organizes, even after completing graduate school.
The foundation pointed out that the scholarship recipient cannot gain employment other than part-time jobs related to their studies, such as teaching assistant, research assistant, or roles in international exchange affairs like translators or interpreters.
Scholars are expected to have a strong commitment in serving their home country afterward and have a deep understanding of international friendship and goodwill.
Interested applicants must sign up on the foundation's website. Learn more about the application process through this link.