Honjo International Scholarship
About this scholarship
The Honjo International Scholarship is offered by the Honjo International Scholarship Foundation in Japan to support international students undertaking master’s or doctoral study at Japanese universities. It is a privately funded award with no repayment obligation, designed to ease the financial burden so that talented foreign students can focus on their studies in Japan.
The scholarship provides a monthly stipend of 200,000 yen for master’s students and 180,000 yen for PhD students, for up to two years for a master’s and up to three years for a doctorate, covering a substantial part of living expenses. There is no obligation to repay the award.
Eligibility is for foreign nationals enrolled in or accepted to a master’s or PhD programme at a Japanese university, generally under 30 for master’s and under 35 for PhD, with a strong academic record, who are not receiving other major scholarships. A distinctive feature is that, once accepted to a Japanese graduate school, you apply directly to the foundation through its online system, with no university pre-selection, and a short research video is required. For international students studying in Japan, it is a valuable and flexible source of support.
Eligibility
- Foreign nationals enrolled in or accepted to a master's or PhD programme at a Japanese university.
- Under 30 for master's, under 35 for PhD.
- Strong academic record.
- Not receiving other major scholarships.
Benefits & Coverage
- Monthly stipend of JPY 200,000 for master's students.
- Monthly stipend of JPY 180,000 for PhD students.
- Up to two years for a master's, up to three years for a PhD.
- No obligation to repay the scholarship.
- Covers a substantial part of living expenses.
Required Documents
- Application form.
- Academic transcripts.
- Research plan.
- Recommendation from your academic supervisor.
- Certificate of enrollment.
- Residence card copy.
- A short research video.
How to Apply
- Be a foreign student who studies or plans to study at a Japanese graduate school for a master's or doctoral degree (all nationalities and fields).
- Once accepted to a Japanese graduate school, apply directly to the foundation via its online application system (no university pre-selection).
- A short research video is required (confirm the current date).
Frequently asked questions
Is Honjo International Scholarship fully funded? +
This scholarship is listed as fully funded. The listed award is: Monthly stipend of JPY 200,000 (master's) / JPY 180,000 (PhD); No repayment obligation.. Coverage can change between cycles, so confirm the details on the official page.
What degree levels does Honjo International Scholarship cover? +
This scholarship is listed for: Master's & PhD.
When is the application deadline? +
The application deadline listed here is October 15, 2026. Deadlines move, so always verify the date on the official page before planning your application.
Who can apply? +
Key eligibility points from this listing: Foreign nationals enrolled in or accepted to a master's or PhD programme at a Japanese university; Under 30 for master's, under 35 for PhD; Strong academic record; Not receiving other major scholarships. See the Eligibility section above for the full requirements.
How do I apply? +
Apply directly through the official portal linked on this page. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, so treat any request for payment as a scam and use official channels only.
Answers are based on this scholarship's listed details. Always confirm on the official page.
