Japan's national student-services agency pays privately-financed international students JPY 48,000 a month toward living costs while they study at a Japanese university or graduate school. You don't apply to JASSO directly — your school nominates you — and there are two doors in: nomination by your enrolled school, or a pre-arrival "reservation" via the EJU exam.
Why it is notable: it is the main Japanese-government stipend open to students already in Japan on private funding (MEXT scholars and government-sponsored students are excluded); the EJU reservation route lets you lock it in BEFORE arriving in Japan.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Monthly living stipend: JPY 48,000/month (university/graduate level) or JPY 30,000/month (Japanese language schools)
12 months (April–March enrollment) or 6 months (October–March enrollment)
Reservation-program recipients enrolling in undergraduate/junior/technical/professional programs may extend to course completion if they keep meeting the qualifications
(Tuition, travel to Japan and insurance are NOT covered.)
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
Secondary school certificatefor UndergradGraduationfor MastersMasters/MPhilfor PhD
This scholarship is offered for Undergraduate, Master's and PhD programs (plus junior college, technical college, professional training college and Japanese language schools).
Who can apply
privately-financed international students of any nationality holding (or to hold) a "Student" residence status in Japan. NOT eligible: MEXT scholars, foreign-government-sponsored students.
Experience
No experience required.
Language Certificate
Japanese JLPT N2+ or EJU Japanese 200+ points, OR English CEFR B2+ for English-medium programs (per school/route requirements; NAIST's published bar: GPA 2.30/3.00 + JLPT N2 or CEFR B2).
Other Certificates
academic records per the school's nomination process.
Age Limit
No Age Limit
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
eligible = any nationality (privately financed, Student visa status). Excluded = MEXT government scholars; foreign-government-sponsored students.
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Status
privately-financed international student with "Student" residence status; not a MEXT or foreign-government scholar.
02
Academics
high standing per JASSO + school (e.g. GPA 2.30/3.00 at NAIST; maintain it during the award).
03
Language
JLPT N2+ / EJU Japanese 200+ or CEFR B2+ English (route/school dependent).
04
Financial need
remittance ≤ JPY 90,000/month average (excl. tuition); Japan-based supporter income < JPY 5,000,000/year.
05
No double funding
cannot combine with other non-combinable public/foundation scholarships.
06
Cooperation
agree to JASSO's post-award career-tracking surveys.
Document checklist
01per school — academic transcripts, language certificates, passport/residence card, financial/remittance evidence.
Application fee
No fee — completely free (JASSO charges nothing; EJU has its own exam fee).
Visa, kept concise: Visa type: Student (留学) residence status — apply at the Japanese embassy/consulate with the school's Certificate of Eligibility (CoE).
Application Procedure
9 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Enroll as a privately-financed international student at
a Japanese school.
→
02
Watch for your school's internal call (usually
spring and/or autumn — each school sets its own deadline within JASSO's quota).
→
03
Submit the school's application with academic records
+ language evidence + financial documents.
↓
06
Score well —
reservation is merit-based on EJU results.
←
05
Register for the Examination for Japanese University
Admission for International Students (EJU) and mark the Honors Scholarship reservation box (on the EJU online form in Japan, or the paper form abroad).
←
04
The school nominates within its JASSO quota
JASSO confirms. Route B — EJU reservation (pre-arrival):
↓
07
On enrollment within the eligible window
the reservation converts to the stipend (e.g. June 2026 EJU takers enrolling Nov 2026–Apr 2027 receive Apr 2027–Mar 2028). Route C — pre-arrival admission (graduate schools):
→
08
Apply to a graduate school officially recognized
for JASSO's pre-arrival admission reservation program.
→
09
The graduate school recommends you to JASSO
12 or 6 months of stipend on enrollment.
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official any Japanese school platform.
Can I apply to JASSO directly? A: No — for the main route your enrolled school nominates you within its quota. The only pre-arrival doors are the EJU reservation and the graduate-school pre-arrival adDoes it cover tuition? A: No — it is a living stipend only (JPY 48,000/month at university level). Combine it with a tuition waiver/scholarship from your school if you need full coverage.I'm a MEXT scholar. Can I also get this? A: No — MEXT scholars and foreign-government-sponsored students are excluded.How do I get the reservation before arriving? A: Take the EJU and mark the scholarship reservation box; strong scorers are reserved, and the stipend starts on enrollment within the eligible window.Is there an age limit? A: No age limit is stated.Can it be renewed? A: The standard award is 12 or 6 months; reservation-route undergraduates meeting the qualifications may extend to course completion.What GPA do I need? A: JASSO + your school set the bar (NAIST publishes 2.30/3.00) — check your school's international office.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
Japan · any Japanese school