Fully Funded Scholarships in Japan 2027 for International Students

This guide covers the 8 scholarships in Japan that ScholarshipClaude lists for 2027: 6 fully funded and 2 with partial funding. For each one you will find what it pays for, who can apply and the deadline, with a link to the full page. The list was last updated on 8 October 2026.

The nearest confirmed deadline is OIST Research Internship 2027 in Japan, on 15 October 2026. Scholarships with expected dates are based on the previous cycle and will be confirmed when the new call opens.

How scholarships work in Japan

Japan's main award is the MEXT Scholarship from the government, which students reach through the Japanese embassy in their country or through a university's recommendation. Private foundations and universities also offer scholarships, usually as a monthly payment. Many graduate programmes are taught in English.

Scholarships in Japan 2027 at a glance

Fully funded scholarships in Japan for international students

OIST Research Internship 2027 in Japan

The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate School runs a research internship for students and recent graduates in science and engineering. Interns spend 4 to 6 months in an OIST research unit, working under a professor. Applications for the Spring 2027 round close on 15 October 2026 at 23:59 Japan time. Results are expected in mid-December 2026, and placements run between 1 April and 30 September 2027.

What it covers:

• One direct round-trip air ticket
• Furnished accommodation on or off campus
• Internship allowance of 2,400 JPY per working day
• OIST shuttle bus pass

Who can apply:

• Enrolled in the last two years of a bachelor's degree, or in any year of a master's degree
• Or already graduated with a bachelor's or master's degree
• Currently enrolled students need approval from their home institution

Level: Bachelor's & Master's. Deadline: 15 October 2026. Full details and how to apply.

APU MEXT University Recommendation Scholarship 2027 in Japan

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) recommends outstanding international graduate applicants for the MEXT scholarship of the Japanese government through the University Recommendation route. You first apply to APU for September 2027 entry. APU then chooses the candidates it recommends, and MEXT makes the final decision by the end of June.

What it covers:

• Full admission fee
• Full tuition fee
• Monthly allowance of 144,000 JPY, which includes housing. The amount can change

Who can apply:

• You intend to come to Japan from overseas to study
• National of a MEXT designated country
• Born on or after 2 April 1992

Level: Master's & PhD. Deadline: 5 November 2026. Full details and how to apply.

OIST PhD Program 2027 in Japan

The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate School offers a five-year PhD in science with no departments and a very low student-to-faculty ratio. It admits about 60 students a year, and every admitted PhD student is funded, whatever their nationality. Financial support starts at about 2.6 million yen a year (taxable) in the first year and rises to about 3.6 million yen, and the tuition of 540,000 yen a year is covered. There is no separate scholarship application.

What it covers:

• Financial support of about 2.6 million yen a year (taxable) in the first year, rising to about 3.6 million yen
• Tuition of 540,000 yen a year is covered
• Relocation support
• No separate scholarship application: every admitted student is funded

Who can apply:

• Bachelor's or master's degree completed, or expected, before your enrolment date
• Any nationality
• TOEFL iBT or IELTS score from the last two years if your degree was not taught in English; there is no minimum score

Level: PhD. Deadline: 15 November 2026. Full details and how to apply.

University of Tokyo Scholarships 2027 in Japan

International students at the University of Tokyo can be funded through the Japanese government MEXT scholarship (embassy or university recommendation) and through university fellowships for selected English-taught graduate programmes. Many English-taught programmes have application windows from late 2026 for entry in autumn 2027, and funding applications are usually made at the same time; the date below is an estimate, as each programme sets its own dates.

What it covers:

• Tuition waiver
• Monthly stipend (MEXT)
• Round trip airfare (MEXT)

Who can apply:

• Bachelor's degree for master's programmes
• Strong academic record
• English proficiency for English-taught programmes

Level: Master's & PhD. Deadline: expected 15 December 2026. Full details and how to apply.

MEXT Scholarship 2028 in Japan

The Japanese government's MEXT scholarship funds international students at undergraduate, master's and PhD level, plus research, Japanese studies and teacher training categories. Under the Embassy Recommendation route you apply through the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country, which runs document screening, written exams (for some categories) and interviews before recommending candidates to MEXT. Embassy calls for April 2028 or autumn 2027 entry are expected to open around April 2027; the date below is an estimate based on previous cycles. Some universities also run a separate University Recommendation route.

What it covers:

• Full tuition, entrance and examination fees
• Monthly stipend (higher for graduate students)
• Round trip economy airfare

Who can apply:

• Research students: born on or after 2 April 1992 (rule in the 2027 guideline; the date moves each year)
• 16 years of education for a master's course, or a master's-level degree for the later doctoral course
• Good health and willingness to learn Japanese

Level: Bachelor's, Master's & PhD. Deadline: expected 15 May 2027. Full details and how to apply.

Kochi University of Technology SSP Scholarship in Japan

Kochi University of Technology (KUT) runs the Special Scholarship Program (SSP), a three-year doctoral programme in its Graduate School of Engineering. Each year KUT enrols about 15 selected doctoral students, who work on research projects with a host professor for the whole three years. Graduates receive a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering or a Doctor of Philosophy, depending on the research field.

What it covers:

• A place on a three-year funded doctoral programme
• KUT's outline sets out the financial support for SSP students

Who can apply:

• A master's degree, or one expected before enrolment
• A research background that fits one of the listed SSP research projects
• A strong intention to work on that research for the whole three years

Level: PhD. Deadline: 16 October 2026. Full details and how to apply.

Partial scholarships in Japan

Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan

The Honjo International Scholarship Foundation offers a scholarship to foreign students who study, or plan to study, in a Japanese graduate school for a master's or doctoral degree. All nationalities and research fields are welcome. You can apply from abroad if you have been accepted by a Japanese graduate school, and you apply directly to the foundation without pre-selection by your university.

What it covers:

• Monthly scholarship of 230,000 yen for a degree of 1 to 2 years
• Monthly scholarship of 210,000 yen for a 3-year degree
• Monthly scholarship of 180,000 yen for a degree longer than 3 years

Who can apply:

• A foreign student studying, or planning to study, in a Japanese graduate school for a master's or doctoral degree
• Applicants abroad must already be accepted by a Japanese graduate school
• Able to take the interview in Japanese and to write the research plan in Japanese

Level: Master's & PhD. Deadline: 31 October 2026. Full details and how to apply.

Kyoto University Scholarships 2027 in Japan for International Graduate Students

Kyoto University supports international students through the MEXT scholarship (embassy and university recommendation), tuition exemptions and private foundation scholarships available after enrolment. Several English-taught graduate programmes accept applications from late 2026 for entry in 2027. Each programme sets its own deadline; the date below is an estimate for many programmes.

What it covers:

• Tuition exemption (full or half)
• MEXT stipend for selected students
• Foundation scholarships after enrolment

Who can apply:

• Admitted to a Kyoto University graduate programme
• Strong academic record
• Financial need for tuition exemption

Level: Master's & PhD. Deadline: expected 15 January 2027. Full details and how to apply.

Scholarships in Japan by study level

• Bachelor’s: OIST Research Internship 2027 in Japan, MEXT Scholarship 2028 in Japan.
• Master’s: OIST Research Internship 2027 in Japan, Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan, APU MEXT University Recommendation Scholarship 2027 in Japan, University of Tokyo Scholarships 2027 in Japan, Kyoto University Scholarships 2027 in Japan for International Graduate Students, MEXT Scholarship 2028 in Japan.
• PhD: Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan, APU MEXT University Recommendation Scholarship 2027 in Japan, OIST PhD Program 2027 in Japan, University of Tokyo Scholarships 2027 in Japan, Kyoto University Scholarships 2027 in Japan for International Graduate Students, MEXT Scholarship 2028 in Japan, Kochi University of Technology SSP Scholarship in Japan.

Application timeline

Plan your applications in deadline order:

• 15 October 2026: OIST Research Internship 2027 in Japan
• 16 October 2026: Kochi University of Technology SSP Scholarship in Japan
• 31 October 2026: Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan
• 5 November 2026: APU MEXT University Recommendation Scholarship 2027 in Japan
• 15 November 2026: OIST PhD Program 2027 in Japan
• Expected 15 December 2026: University of Tokyo Scholarships 2027 in Japan
• Expected 15 January 2027: Kyoto University Scholarships 2027 in Japan for International Graduate Students
• Expected 15 May 2027: MEXT Scholarship 2028 in Japan

What the scholarships in Japan ask you to submit

Across the 8 scholarships in Japan on this page, this is how many ask for each document:

• CV or résumé: 3 of 8 (guide: academic CV template)
• Motivation letter, personal statement, essay or study plan: 4 of 8 (guide: statement of purpose guide and motivation letter template)
• Recommendation or reference letters: 7 of 8 (guide: how to get strong recommendation letters)
• Research proposal or research plan: 5 of 8 (guide: research proposal template)
• Language test score or certificate: 6 of 8 (guide: IELTS or TOEFL: which to choose)
• Transcripts or degree certificates: 8 of 8

4 of them mention an interview in their selection process: Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan, OIST PhD Program 2027 in Japan, University of Tokyo Scholarships 2027 in Japan, MEXT Scholarship 2028 in Japan. Our scholarship interview tips cover how to prepare.

Frequently asked questions

Which scholarships in Japan are fully funded?

Among the scholarships we list: OIST Research Internship 2027 in Japan, APU MEXT University Recommendation Scholarship 2027 in Japan, OIST PhD Program 2027 in Japan, University of Tokyo Scholarships 2027 in Japan, MEXT Scholarship 2028 in Japan, Kochi University of Technology SSP Scholarship in Japan.

Which scholarships give partial funding?

Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan, Kyoto University Scholarships 2027 in Japan for International Graduate Students.

Which deadline comes first?

OIST Research Internship 2027 in Japan, on 15 October 2026.

See every active scholarship for this country on the scholarships page, and read how to find fully funded scholarships for more options.