JASSO Scholarships 2026 (Japan Government Sponsored), Japan

The Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Scholarships 2026 offers multiple scholarship programs to support international students pursuing higher education in Japan. Among these, the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students and the Student Exchange Support Program are the most popular and widely accessible options.

These scholarships help academically outstanding students facing financial challenges and wishing to study in Japanese universities, graduate schools, junior colleges, colleges of technology, specialized training colleges, or Japanese language institutes.

Degree Level

JASSO scholarships support students enrolled in the following levels:

Doctoral programs
Master’s programs
Undergraduate degree programs
Junior colleges
Colleges of Technology (Year 3 and above)
Post-secondary specialized training colleges
University preparatory courses
Japanese language institutes (for students aiming to enter higher education)
Exchange students enrolled in short-term programs (8 days to 1 year)

Available Subjects

JASSO scholarships do not limit fields of study. Students from all academic backgrounds can apply, including:

Engineering & Technology
Natural Sciences
Social Sciences
Humanities
Business & Economics
Health Sciences
Arts & Culture
Education
Language Studies
Research Programs

Benefits

Financial support covers living costs
Helps reduce financial burden for international students
Boosts acceptance into universities and exchange programs
Recognized nationwide across Japanese institutions
Supports students in all academic fields

1. Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students

48,000 yen per month for students enrolled in:

Universities
Graduate schools
Junior colleges
Colleges of technology (Year 3 and above)
Specialized training colleges (post-secondary courses)
University preparatory courses
Preparatory Japanese language courses offered by private universities and junior colleges

30,000 yen per month for students enrolled in:

Japanese language institutions

Duration:

1 year (April–March) OR
6 months (October–March)

2. Student Exchange Support Program (Short-term Study in Japan)

Monthly Stipend: 80,000 yen
Duration: 8 days to 1 year

Eligible Nationalities

JASSO scholarships are open to:

All international students with the Student residence status in Japan
Exchange students from countries with diplomatic relations with Japan
Taiwan and Palestine are also eligible

Eligibility Criteria

General Requirements for Privately Financed Students

Must hold Student residence status
Must possess a GPA of at least 2.30 in the previous academic year
Must meet Japanese (JLPT N2/EJU 200+) or English (CEFR B2+) proficiency
(Language requirement exempt for preparatory & Japanese language institutions)
Monthly remittances must be below 90,000 yen
Dependents’ annual income must be below 5 million yen
Must not receive another scholarship that prevents simultaneous funding
Must cooperate with JASSO academic career surveys

Application Procedure

1. Applying Before Coming to Japan (Reservation Program)

For students taking the EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students):

Inside Japan: Check “Apply” in the reservation scholarship section while applying for EJU.
Outside Japan: Mark “〇” in the scholarship box on the EJU application form.
Successful candidates become Reservation Holders and receive the scholarship after university admission.

2. Applying After Arriving in Japan

Students already enrolled in Japanese institutions can apply through their universities: