JASSO Scholarships in Japan for International Students

JASSO scholarships in Japan are available for international students. The scholarships enable students with excellent qualifications requiring financial assistance to study in Japan. The JASSO grants 3 main scholarships. This includes scholarships for privately financed students, MEXT scholarships (the fully funded scholarship program), and exchange scholarships. You can read about these scholarships: their eligibility criteria, benefits, and application timelines in detail. Besides this, you will get to read about the general application process, tips, and the difficulty level in getting scholarships.

Objective of JASSO Scholarships for International Students:

JASSO ( Japan Student Services Organisation) is a Japanese government-organised scholarship program to provide financial support across different categories for international students. It was formed under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, to provide help to students in need. The aim is to foster and nurture the leaders of the next generation, and to support international understanding and exchange.  The scholarships enable students to continue their dream of studying in Japan.

Top 3+ JASSO Scholarships for International Students

There are many categories of JASSO Scholarships. Scholarships are available to students from diverse backgrounds who require financial assistance. The 3 main scholarships provided by this organisation are listed below. Their eligibility, benefits, and application timeline is also provided for your reference:

The Monbukagakusho Honours Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students

International students enrolled in a Japanese educational institution without any foreign government scholarship are considered privately financed students. Such students having excellent academic, character records and facing financial difficulties, are granted the scholarship. 

You can be enrolled in an undergraduate school, graduate school, junior colleges, colleges of technology, specialised courses in specialised training college, a university preparatory course or Japanese language institutes in Japan to be considered for the award.

Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for the Monbukagakusho Honours Scholarship are as follows:

1. You must be a full-time student graduate student, or a student with an undergraduate degree enrolled as a research student at the graduate level. OR
2. You must be a full-time student in an undergraduate school, junior college, or college of technology (3rd year or above). Those enrolled in a specialised course in a specialised training college in Japan are also considered. OR
3. You must be a full-time student in an advanced course in an undergraduate school, junior college or college of technology in Japan or a preparatory Japanese language program. OR
4. Be enrolled in a Japanese language institute with an aim for further studies
5. Additionally, you must have a GPA of 2.30 or more in graduate or undergraduate level or at the Japanese Language Institute in the previous academic year.
6. For specifically international students, those who have a score of 200 points or more in Japanese as a Foreign Language  of EJU ( Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students)

Benefit:

The benefit is a monthly stipend. The stipend varies depending on the level of your education. 

S.No	Category	Amount (per month)
1	Graduate / Undergraduate Level	Yen 48,000
2	Japanese Language Institutes	Yen 30,000

Application Period:

The period can either be for 12 months (From April to next March) or for 6 months (From October to next March).

Japanese Government (MEXT Scholarship)

The Japanese government’s MEXT scholarship is perhaps the most popular JASSO scholarship in Japan for international students. This is a full funding scholarship program that covers almost all your expenses. Indian and Nigerian students are also eligible to apply.

Eligibility

The general eligibility criteria for this scholarship is as follows:

1. Must be a national of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. For example, India.
2. You must be in good physical and mental condition
3. You must be 17-25 years of age (for undergraduate studies), or under 35 for graduate level studies.
4. You must meet the educational requirements of the university. For example, have a high school certificate or a relevant bachelor’s degree
5. Proficiency in English or Japanese is required
6. Must get a Japanese student visa from a diplomatic mission
7. You must not be receiving any other scholarship
8. Agree to arrive in Japan by the date provided in the MEXT university scholarship
9. Must not be a  military member or employee of military organisations

Benefit:

JASSO Scholarships in Japan for International Students include the MEXT scholarship. The MEXT scholarship benefits are as follows:

S.No	Benefit	Scholarship Details
1	Monthly Stipend	Yen 117,000 – Yen 145,000 depending on category (plus Yen 2,000–Yen 3,000 regional allowance)
2	Tuition Fees	100% exemption from enrollment and tuition fees
3	Airfare	Round-trip flight between the home country and Japan
4	Japanese Language Training	Up to 6 months for research students; up to 1 year for certain categories
5	Regional Allowance	Yen 2,000–Yen 3,000/month for designated regions (e.g., Hokkaido, certain islands)
6	Health Insurance	Basic national health coverage (through student enrollment in the Japanese health system)
7	Accommodation Support (varies by university)	Access to university dormitories or subsidised housing

Application Period:

The scholarship application deadline for the year 2025 is over. Nevertheless, the application period id provided below. The scholarship application cycle notification for 2026 has not yet been released.

S.No	Scholarship Category	Application Period (2026 Intake)
1	Undergraduate / Kosen / Specialised Training College (STC)	22 April – 26 May 2025
2	Research Students (Master’s / PhD)	By 13 May 2025 (11:59 pm IST)

Student Exchange Support Program (Scholarship for Study in Japan under an agreement):

This is one of the lesser-known JASSO Scholarships in Japan for International Students. The scholarship is for qualified international students who have been accepted at a Japanese University for a Student Exchange Program under an agreement from their home school.

Eligibility: 

The scholarship eligibility criteria are as follows:

1. Students from all countries that have diplomatic relations with Japan (students from Taiwan and Palestine are also allowed).
2. You must be accepted by any one of the  Japanese Universities for the student exchange program.
3. You are not financially capable of funding your exchange program
4. You must be eligible for a  Japan student visa
5. You must demonstrate excellent academic and personal records at your home school.
6. Those getting financial help of more than Yen 80,000  from Japanese universities are ineligible for this scholarship.

Benefit:

The scholarship benefit is a monthly stipend of Yen 80,000.

Application Period: 

Only Japanese schools can apply for this scholarship on behalf of the student. As a student, you can ensure that you are commencing the study-in-Japan program at Japanese schools during each school’s designated period.

Other Scholarship Programs by JASSO to Promote Student Exchange Program:

There are some specific JASSO Scholarship Programs to support Student Exchange Program for its international students. They have been listed below:

1. Tokyo International Exchange Centre– Established in 2001 to promote students from across the globe to be mingled together and nurture diversity with stress on academic and technological talks.
2. Hyogo International House- Established in 1999, it develops programs that promote different international student events.

Must Read: Japan Scholarships for Indian Students You Never Knew Existed

Application Process for JASSO Scholarships for International Students

There are certain basic processes involved in applying for a JASSO Scholarships for international students. The steps have been listed below:

1. First, you need to apply for a course of your choice in the Japanese University you wish to study in.
2. After getting the Offer Letter from the University, you can get in touch with your University to help you know in detail about the JASSO Scholarship Program.
3. After knowing about the right scholarship to choose from the JASSO Scholarship Program, get ahead with filling out the application form for the scholarship and providing all the necessary details and documents as required.
4. Although the Scholarship by JASSO is very competitive with lakhs of applications every year, you must prepare your best shot and have faith in yourself.

How Hard Is It to Get a JASSO Scholarship?

Jasso Scholarships are extremely competitive, particularly the MEXT scholarship, which is fully funded. However, it is not impossible to get the scholarship. You can get the scholarship if you meet the following conditions:

1. Meet the eligibility criteria set out in the scholarship guidelines
2. Have strong academic performance.
3. Have participated in extracurricular activities
4. Demonstrate financial need
5. Make a solid personal statement 
6. Proficient in Japanese or English.
7. Have a good understanding of Japanese culture 
8. Have a good understanding of relations between India and Japan.

To learn about how this student got MEXT scholarship twice, watch this video:

Tips for Applying for JASSO Scholarship by International Students

There are certain tips that the applicant must keep in mind before applying for the Scholarship Program.

1. Consider and Discuss in detail with different people, including your senior, teachers and any connection currently availing the JASSO Scholarship, to choose the right scholarship program which can help you the most and the right-suited one for you.
2. Start Early with your Application Process and be consistent with it.
3. Support your Application with unique inputs, which can make your application stand different from thousands of applications received by JASSO.
4. Check, recheck and meet the deadline for Application Form submission.

Also Read: Study in Japan for Free: List of Fully Funded Scholarships and Scholarships

Why Study in Japan?

Japan is one of the most student-friendly countries in the world, providing a safe haven for students from across the globe. Apart from providing excellent universities with high-ranked courses, there are the following reasons which may persuade you to choose Japan as your study destination:

1. World-Class Science and Technology– Despite struggling economically throughout its history after the tumultuous world wars, Japan has grown into a leading technology-advanced country with mind-blowing innovations and research.
2. Fascinating Culture– Japan provides one of the most vibrant cultures in the world. The culture and its heritage go deep down in its citizens and likewise, they celebrate and respect other cultures too.
3. Conducive Living Environment– Apart from being one of the safest places for students, Japan is mostly cheap and provides a good atmosphere, both politically and socially for international students.
4. Diverse International Students– Japan boasts of providing a place to students from across 170 countries around the world, boosting their academic career and excellence.

Best Universities in Japan for International Students

Japan has some highest ranked universities which provide top-notch academic and other facilities to its students and to international students. The following is a list of some of the best universities in Japan for international students. 

S.No	Top Universities in Japan	QS Ranking 2026
1	The University of Tokyo	=36
2	Kyoto University	57
3	Tokyo Institute of Technology	85
4	Osaka University	91
5	Tohoku University	109
6	Nagoya University	164
7	Hokkaido University	=170
8	Kyushu University	=170
9	Waseda University	196
10	Keio University	=215

Must Read: Japan Education System: Know All About It!

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