Without sufficient funds, it can be difficult to complete even a two-year master’s program. However, the sources and total amount of funds available to international students, including part-time work and scholarships, are quite limited. To be able to focus on your studies and achieve other goals while in Japan, securing a stable monthly income is crucial.
Scholarship system for international students in Japan
Scholarships for International Students in Japan are generally categorized into two types: interest-free scholarships, which are what we typically think of as “scholarships and grants,” and interest-bearing scholarships, which are essentially student loans that must be repaid with interest. Since there are many types of interest-free scholarships provided by the Japanese government, such as those from the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), as well as from private foundations, I will not be discussing the interest-bearing scholarships that require repayment.
When I first received my acceptance notice for graduate school, the university started accepting applications for JASSO’s “MEXT Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students.” Thanks to my early application, I was able to receive a recommendation from my school and secure this scholarship (¥48,000 per month), which covered my basic living expenses. However, there are some limitations to this scholarship:
• First, if a student has exhausted their funds paying for tuition, moving expenses, and deposits for housing before the start of the semester, they may face a cash shortage even if they successfully secure this scholarship. This is because the scholarship payments for the first three months (April to June) are consolidated and paid in July, which does not provide immediate relief.
• Second, while receiving this scholarship does not prevent students from applying for other private scholarships, some private scholarships consider other scholarship earnings as part of their assessment. Additionally, my university (Juntendo University, a private institution) has its own tuition refund scholarship for international students, but it does not accept applicants who are already receiving scholarships that cover more than half of their tuition.
• Furthermore, my university only recommends new students in their first year for this scholarship. If a student wishes to continue applying for this scholarship in their second year, the university will not recommend them. Similar rules might apply at other institutions, so it is important to check carefully.
In addition to JASSO scholarships, there are also scholarships provided by private foundations and other organizations, which are based on factors such as place of origin, study location, and field of study. Although competition for these scholarships is fierce (with high “application rates”), and it can be challenging to make a strong case without significant achievements from your university or internship before arriving in Japan, they are low-cost, high-reward opportunities. The main effort required is often obtaining a recommendation letter from a supervising professor (which typically involves writing a draft for the professor to sign off on). Even though I have yet to succeed in securing such scholarships, it is always worth trying.
International students are eligible for the “Special Financial Support Payment”
A pleasant surprise for international students is that, because they typically did not pay income tax in Japan in the previous year, they are often eligible for a yearly ¥100,000 “Special Financial Support Payment” provided by local city and town offices around August or September. Although it may not cover all yearly expenses, this payment can easily cover a month’s rent, utilities, and communication costs, making it a welcome relief. However, this payment cannot be received every year—if you receive it one year, you will not receive a notification for the next.
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