Scholarship for Foreign Students Studying in Japanese Graduate School

Deadline: 31-Oct-2026

The Hisayo Ikeda Scholarship Foundation is offering scholarships to support foreign students pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees at graduate schools in Japan. The scholarship aims to promote international friendship and goodwill through academic exchange while supporting international students in their graduate studies. Recipients are encouraged to contribute to their home countries after completing their studies and remain connected with the Foundation’s alumni network.

About the Hisayo Ikeda Scholarship Foundation

The Hisayo Ikeda Scholarship Foundation supports international students who plan to undertake graduate-level study in Japan. Students from all nationalities and research fields are welcome to apply, provided they meet the Foundation’s eligibility requirements. Approximately 10 scholarships are awarded each year. How Much Scholarship Support Is Available? The scholarship provides monthly financial support based on the duration of the applicant’s degree programme.

The available support is:

- ¥230,000 per month for 1 or 2 years. - ¥210,000 per month for 3 years. - ¥180,000 per month for 4 or 5 years. Recipients are not required to repay the scholarship. In addition to the monthly scholarship, a travel grant may be available to cover expenses for attending an international conference, according to the Foundation’s rules. Who Can Apply? The scholarship is open to foreign students who are planning to attend or are already enrolled in a master’s or doctoral programme at a Japanese graduate school.

Applicants must:

- Not hold Japanese citizenship. - Be enrolled or planning to enrol in a Japanese graduate school as of April 2027. - Be entering a programme with a duration of more than 12 months. - Meet the applicable age requirement. - Demonstrate a commitment to serving their home country. - Have a basic command of Japanese. - Be willing to participate in Foundation events during and after their studies. Age Requirements Age limits apply according to the type of graduate programme.

- Doctoral programme applicants: Under 35 years of age.

- Master’s programme applicants: Under 30 years of age.

Applicants should ensure they meet the applicable age requirement when applying. Eligible Fields and Nationalities The scholarship welcomes applicants from all nationalities and research fields. Applicants can pursue graduate research in their chosen field at a Japanese graduate school, provided that the programme and applicant meet the Foundation’s requirements. Applying from Outside Japan Students do not necessarily need to be in Japan when submitting their applications. Applications can be submitted directly to the Foundation from abroad, provided that the applicant has already been accepted to a Japanese graduate school. This allows eligible international students to apply before travelling to Japan. Japanese Language Requirement Applicants must have a basic command of Japanese. Japanese language ability is important because interviews are conducted in Japanese. Selected scholarship recipients are also expected to participate in Foundation events during and after their studies. Commitment to the Home Country Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to contributing to their home country after completing their studies. The Foundation encourages scholarship recipients to use their education and experience to serve their countries and maintain connections through the Foundation’s alumni network.

Participation in Foundation Activities

Scholarship recipients are expected to participate in Foundation events during their studies. They should also be willing to remain engaged with the Foundation’s alumni network after completing their graduate studies. This reflects the Foundation’s broader objective of promoting international friendship and goodwill through academic exchange. Who Is Not Eligible? Applicants who hold Japanese citizenship are not eligible for the scholarship. Professional graduate school students are generally not eligible unless they are able to submit a research plan. Applicants must also meet the requirements concerning enrolment, programme duration, age, Japanese language ability, and commitment to their home country. Application Documents Applicants are required to submit several documents through the online application system.

Required materials include:

- Face photograph. - Two-minute video presentation of the research plan. - Academic transcripts. - Research proposal in Japanese, with English optional. - Recommendation letter. - Proof of admission or current enrolment. All required documents must be uploaded through the online application system. Interview Process Applicants will be required to participate in an interview conducted in Japanese. Applicants should therefore have sufficient basic Japanese language ability to communicate during the interview. The research plan and proposed graduate studies are among the important elements of the application. Key Facts About the Hisayo Ikeda Scholarship

- Scholarship: Hisayo Ikeda Scholarship Foundation

- Study destination: Japan

- Study level: Master’s and doctoral degrees

- Monthly support: ¥180,000–¥230,000

- Support duration: 1–5 years, depending on degree programme

- Travel support: Available for an international conference according to Foundation rules

- Repayment: Not required

- Eligible applicants: Foreign students

- Nationality: All nationalities, except Japanese citizens

- Research fields: All fields

- Programme requirement: Japanese graduate school programme lasting more than 12 months

- Enrolment date: Enrolled or planning to enrol as of April 2027

- Doctoral age limit: Under 35

- Master’s age limit: Under 30

- Annual awards: Approximately 10

- Application from abroad: Permitted after acceptance to a Japanese graduate school

- Interview language: Japanese

- Research proposal: Japanese required; English optional

Frequently Asked Questions About the Hisayo Ikeda Scholarship What is the Hisayo Ikeda