There are various scholarship programs available for international students, but many of them only announce the results after enrollment. However, for international students, knowing whether they can receive a scholarship before coming to Japan is a crucial factor in deciding whether to study abroad.
Below is a summary of scholarships that notify applicants of the results prior to arrival in Japan, specifically for international students enrolling in degree programs at Japanese universities where the medium of instruction is English.
| Scholarship Name | Provider | Eligible Level | Monthly Stipend | Duration | Covers Tuition & Travel | Pre-arrival Notification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MEXT University Recommendation (English-track) | Ministry of Education (MEXT) | Master’s / PhD | ¥143,000–¥145,000 | Up to 2 years | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | University nominates students in English-taught programs before arrival. |
| JASSO Honors Scholarship (Pre-arrival Reservation) | JASSO | Undergraduate / Graduate | ¥48,000 | Up to 1 year | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | For designated English programs. University applies on behalf of student. |
| YLP (Young Leaders Program) | MEXT | Master’s (Public officials) | ¥242,000 | 1 year | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Offered at selected universities. Requires government nomination. |
| University-Specific Scholarships | Individual Universities | Undergraduate / Graduate | Varies (e.g. ¥50,000–¥180,000/month or tuition waiver) | Varies | ✅ Often includes tuition waiver | ✅ Yes | Many universities offer scholarships for English-track students with results before arrival. |
JASSO Honors Scholarship (Pre-arrival Reservation)
You can refer to the below to know which universities offer this scholarship (*The information is for 2025 Enrollment.)
Eligible school list for autumn admission in the academic year 2025: Graduate level
Eligible school list for spring admission in the academic year 2025: Graduate level
University-Specific Scholarships
Many universities offer individual scholarships for international students. Although you can normally get the information from admissions guidelines or university website, sometimes it may be difficult to find the information. In that case, you can directly contact admissions officer at each university. The information of University-Specific Scholarships will be introduced in this blog.