Funding guide for students applying from India
Scholarships to study in Japan
Every major scholarship an Indian student can realistically win: Japanese government, JASSO, international agencies and private foundations. Each card shows the money, the application window, who can apply, and whether you apply from India or after you arrive.
20 scholarships tracked, 3 open right now (Rotary Yoneyama, Honjo, Ito Foundation). Next deadline: 31 Oct 2026. Last reviewed on 3 October 2026.
Start with the route that fits you
Where you apply from decides which scholarships you can use. Tap a name to jump to its card.
Apply from India
Embassy-run MEXT tracks, Rotary Yoneyama, Honjo, Mitsui India, ADB, Joint Japan/World Bank and JICA awards. You apply before you travel.
- MEXT Scholarship — Research Students (Embassy track)
- MEXT Scholarship — Undergraduate Students (Embassy track)
- MEXT Scholarship — College of Technology (KOSEN)
- MEXT Scholarship — Specialized Training College
- MEXT Scholarship — Japanese Studies Students
- MEXT Scholarship — Teacher Training Students
- Young Leaders Program (YLP)
- Rotary Yoneyama Scholarship — Overseas (pre-arrival) track
- Honjo International Scholarship Foundation
- Mitsui & Co. Scholarship Program for India
- Joint Japan / World Bank Graduate Scholarship (JJ/WBGSP)
- JICA SDGs Global Leader Program
Apply after you arrive
JASSO Honors, the Ito Foundation, Atsumi and Otsuka Toshimi. These usually go through the school you are already enrolled in, so you need an admission first.
Ask your university
Tuition reduction can cover 30%, 50% or 100% of fees, and the MEXT university track and several other awards are applied for through the university itself.
All scholarships
Open ones are marked in green. Tap “Who can apply and how” on any card for eligibility and the application method.
20 scholarships, listed by route.
MEXT Scholarship — Research Students (Embassy track)
Government of Japan (MEXT) via Embassy of Japan, New Delhi
What you get¥143,000–¥145,000/mo + full tuition + return airfare
- Study level
- Master's / PhD / Research student
- Apply from
- From India
- Duration
- 2 years (non-regular) to full degree length
- Japanese needed
- Not required — many English-taught labs
- Intake
- April / September / October 2028
Expected dates, based on the last cycle. Confirm with the provider. 2027 intake ran 20 Apr – 15 May 2026
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- Under 35 years on 1 April of the application year
- Bachelor's (for Master's) or Master's (for PhD) with 70%+ — 65% for humanities and social sciences
- Degree certificate in hand by the stated cut-off date
- Cannot hold another scholarship at the same time
How to apply
Email the Preliminary Application Form (MS Word, under 1 MB) to scholarship-india@nd.mofa.go.jp before the deadline. Shortlist in early June, written exam late June, online interview in early July, final MEXT result the following January–March.
MEXT Scholarship — Undergraduate Students (Embassy track)
Government of Japan (MEXT) via Embassy of Japan, New Delhi
What you get¥117,000/mo + full tuition + return airfare
- Study level
- Bachelor's / After class 12
- Apply from
- From India
- Duration
- 5 years incl. 1 year Japanese (7 for medicine/dentistry)
- Japanese needed
- Taught in Japanese after a 1-year language year
- Intake
- April 2028
Expected dates, based on the last cycle. Confirm with the provider. 2027 intake ran 23 Apr – 25 May 2026
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- Under 25 years on 1 April of the application year
- 12 years of schooling completed (final-year students may apply)
- Written exam in Japanese, English, maths and science
- Roughly 12 Indian places per cycle
How to apply
Hard-copy application by post, courier or in person to the Embassy in New Delhi or the consulate that covers your state — email submissions are not accepted. Written exam around 20 June, online interview around 22 June, first-screening result end of July.
MEXT Scholarship — College of Technology (KOSEN)
Government of Japan (MEXT) via Embassy of Japan, New Delhi
What you get¥117,000/mo + full tuition + return airfare
- Study level
- Diploma / Associate degree / After class 11 or 12
- Apply from
- From India
- Duration
- 4 years incl. 1 year Japanese (4.5 for merchant marine)
- Japanese needed
- 1-year language training included
- Intake
- April 2028
Expected dates, based on the last cycle. Confirm with the provider. 2027 intake ran 23 Apr – 25 May 2026
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- Under 25 years on 1 April of the application year
- 11 or more years of school education completed
- Exam in Japanese, English, maths and physics or chemistry
- Around 12 Indian places per cycle
How to apply
Same postal route and calendar as the MEXT Undergraduate track. Engineering-heavy, practical curriculum at a national KOSEN institute; graduates often transfer into year 3 of a university.
MEXT Scholarship — Specialized Training College
Government of Japan (MEXT) via Embassy of Japan, New Delhi
What you get¥117,000/mo + full tuition + return airfare
- Study level
- Vocational / Certificate / After class 12
- Apply from
- From India
- Duration
- 3 years incl. 1 year Japanese
- Japanese needed
- 1-year language training included
- Intake
- April 2028
Expected dates, based on the last cycle. Confirm with the provider. 2027 intake ran 23 Apr – 25 May 2026
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- Under 25 years on 1 April of the application year
- 12 years of schooling completed
- Exam in Japanese, English and mathematics
- Professional fields: design, IT, hospitality, nursing care, animation and more
How to apply
Postal application to the Embassy or your jurisdiction's consulate, same cycle as the Undergraduate and KOSEN tracks.
MEXT Scholarship — University Recommendation track
Government of Japan (MEXT) via Japanese universities
What you get¥143,000–¥145,000/mo + full tuition + airfare
- Study level
- Master's / PhD / Research student / Bachelor's
- Apply from
- From India
- Duration
- Standard length of the degree
- Japanese needed
- Often not required for English-taught programmes
- Intake
- April or October 2027
Expected dates, based on the last cycle. Confirm with the provider. MEXT guidelines usually published November–December; each university then sets its own deadline
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- You apply to the university, not the embassy — the university nominates you to MEXT
- Usually requires a confirmed supervisor or an admission application in progress
- Not every university holds a quota, and quotas are small
- Deadlines range from early December to February depending on the school
How to apply
Shortlist universities with MEXT university-recommendation quotas, contact a prospective supervisor 6–9 months ahead, then submit through that university's international admissions office. Result typically March–April.
MEXT Scholarship — Japanese Studies Students
Government of Japan (MEXT) via Embassy of Japan, New Delhi
What you get¥117,000/mo + tuition + return airfare
- Study level
- Exchange / Non-degree / Bachelor's
- Apply from
- From India
- Duration
- 1 academic year
- Japanese needed
- Required — you must already be a Japanese major
- Intake
- Autumn (September/October)
Window varies year to year; the embassy usually announces in the December–February period
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- Aged 18–29
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate in Japanese language or Japanese culture outside Japan
- Must return to your home university after the year in Japan
- Japanese language test required at screening
How to apply
Through the Embassy of Japan in India; your home university usually circulates the call. Check the embassy's scholarship page from December onward.
MEXT Scholarship — Teacher Training Students
Government of Japan (MEXT) via Embassy of Japan, New Delhi
What you get¥143,000–¥145,000/mo + tuition + return airfare
- Study level
- Non-degree research / Working professionals
- Apply from
- From India
- Duration
- 1 year 6 months incl. Japanese language training
- Japanese needed
- Preliminary language training provided
- Intake
- October
Announced by the embassy on an irregular schedule — not offered in every country every year
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- Under 35 years
- Graduate of a college or teacher training college
- At least 5 years of active teaching experience in primary, secondary or teacher-training education
- University and college teachers in service are not eligible
How to apply
Watch the Embassy of Japan in India scholarship page; the call is not published every cycle. School-level teachers only.
Young Leaders Program (YLP)
MEXT via nominating organisations
What you get¥242,000/mo + full tuition + return airfare
- Study level
- Master's / Mid-career professionals
- Apply from
- From India
- Duration
- 1 year (Master's)
- Japanese needed
- Taught in English
- Intake
- October
Nominations run roughly August–December through designated organisations, varying by course (public administration, business, law, local governance, healthcare)
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- Normally under 40 years
- University graduate with practical work experience — typically 3–5 years
- Usually a serving public administrator, or nominated by a recognised organisation
- Highest monthly stipend of any MEXT category
How to apply
You cannot apply directly as a walk-in: you need a recommendation from an official nominating organisation in India. Confirm the current nominating body with the Embassy of Japan before preparing documents.
JASSO Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship
Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
What you get¥48,000/mo (¥30,000/mo for Japanese language institutes)
- Study level
- Bachelor's / Master's / PhD / Language school
- Apply from
- After arriving in Japan
- Duration
- 12 months, renewable in some cases
- Japanese needed
- Depends on your programme
- Intake
- April (Japanese academic year)
Your school's internal nomination usually runs February–April for the Japanese academic year starting in April
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- Privately financed international student already enrolled in Japan
- Nominated by your school — quotas differ, so some schools cannot nominate at all
- Strong grades plus a demonstrated financial need
- Students with outstanding EJU scores can be pre-selected as 'reservists' before arrival
How to apply
Apply through your school's student affairs office after enrolment. If you are taking the EJU from India, tick the reservation option on your EJU form — that is the only pre-arrival route.
JASSO Student Exchange Support Program (Agreement-based)
Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
What you get¥80,000/mo + possible travel support
- Study level
- Exchange / Non-degree
- Apply from
- From India
- Duration
- 8 days to 1 year, depending on the exchange
- Japanese needed
- Depends on the host programme
- Intake
- Varies with the exchange calendar
Nominations handled by the host Japanese university, generally 6–9 months before the exchange starts
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- You must be enrolled at an Indian institution that holds a student-exchange agreement with a Japanese university
- Selected and nominated by the host Japanese university, not by you directly
- Covers semester exchanges, short programmes and internships run under the agreement
How to apply
Ask your current college's international relations office which Japanese partners they have, then apply through the internal exchange call. This is the most overlooked funded route out of India.
Rotary Yoneyama Scholarship — Overseas (pre-arrival) track
Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation
What you get¥100,000/mo undergraduate, ¥140,000/mo Master's and PhD + up to ¥250,000 travel
- Study level
- Bachelor's / Master's / PhD
- Apply from
- From India
- Duration
- 2 years
- Japanese needed
- JLPT N4 or above required at application
- Intake
- April 2027, or September/October 2027
Runs 1–31 October every year (13:00 JST cut-off) for the following April or September/October enrolment
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- Living outside Japan when you apply
- Entering a regular degree course at a MEXT-accredited university or graduate school — exchange, language and vocational courses are excluded
- JLPT N4 or higher certificate at application
- Acceptance letter to be submitted by 25 March or 25 August
- Age limit 44; cannot be combined with most other scholarships
How to apply
Apply online directly to the foundation during the October window. Results around mid-March. The best published odds of any award on this page — roughly 600–700 scholars selected a year across all tracks.
Honjo International Scholarship Foundation
Honjo International Scholarship Foundation
What you get¥180,000–¥230,000/mo — the highest-paying private award in Japan
- Study level
- Master's / PhD
- Apply from
- Either
- Duration
- Length of the degree (amount tapers for longer programmes)
- Japanese needed
- Not required
- Intake
- April 2027
Runs 1 September – 31 October each year; document result 31 January, interview early February
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- Enrolled in, or accepted by, a Japanese graduate school
- All nationalities and all research fields accepted
- Applications accepted from abroad once a graduate school has admitted you
- Approximately 10 scholars selected per year
How to apply
Online application system on the foundation's site during the September–October window. Document screening result on 31 January, interview in Tokyo or by video call around 9 February.
Mitsui & Co. Scholarship Program for India
Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
What you get¥145,000/mo + tuition + ¥5,000 lodging + textbooks + return airfare
- Study level
- Bachelor's / After class 12
- Apply from
- From India
- Duration
- 5.5 years — 1.5 years Japanese language + 4-year degree
- Japanese needed
- Taught from scratch during the 1.5-year language stage
- Intake
- Depart October 2027, university enrolment April 2029
Expected dates, based on the last cycle. Confirm with the provider. 2026 cycle ran 10–22 February 2026 — a very short 13-day window
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- Indian nationals only — this programme is built specifically for India
- School leavers heading into an undergraduate degree at a Japanese university of their choice
- Strong class 10 and 12 results; selection includes tests and interviews in India
- EJU examinations are taken during the language-training stage
How to apply
Online form during the February window announced on Mitsui's India scholarship channels and the Study in Japan news feed. Set a reminder for late January — the window is under two weeks long.
ADB–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP)
Asian Development Bank, funded by the Government of Japan
What you getFull tuition + ¥144,000–¥154,000/mo + airfare + medical insurance
- Study level
- Master's / PhD / Mid-career professionals
- Apply from
- From India
- Duration
- 1 year, extendable to 2 for Master's programmes
- Japanese needed
- Most designated programmes are taught in English
- Intake
- April or September/October 2027
Expected dates, based on the last cycle. Confirm with the provider. No single global deadline — each designated institution sets its own, typically falling between December and March for an autumn start
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- Citizen of an ADB borrowing member country — India qualifies
- Under 35 years (occasional exceptions up to 45 for senior officials)
- Bachelor's degree plus at least 2 years of full-time professional experience
- Must agree to return home and work there for at least 2 years after graduating
- Apply at least 6 months before your intended start date
How to apply
You never apply to ADB directly. Pick a designated institution in Japan — University of Tokyo, Keio, GRIPS, IUJ, Ritsumeikan APU and others — apply for admission there, and tick the ADB-JSP box in that institution's application.
Joint Japan / World Bank Graduate Scholarship (JJ/WBGSP)
World Bank, funded by the Government of Japan
What you getFull tuition + monthly living allowance + travel + insurance
- Study level
- Master's / Mid-career professionals
- Apply from
- From India
- Duration
- Programme length, up to 2 years
- Japanese needed
- English-taught
- Intake
- Academic year 2027–28
2027 cycle has two windows — Window 1: 18 Jan – 26 Feb 2027; Window 2: 29 Mar – 21 May 2027
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- National of an eligible developing country — India qualifies
- Bachelor's degree earned at least 3 years before the deadline
- At least 3 years of paid development-related work in the last 6 years
- Admitted to one of the 44 designated Master's programmes at 24 universities, several of them in Japan
- Cannot hold dual citizenship of a developed country
How to apply
Secure unconditional admission to a participating programme first — university admission deadlines fall well before the scholarship window — then apply to the World Bank in the window that matches your programme.
JICA SDGs Global Leader Program
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
What you getFull tuition + living allowance + airfare + settling-in allowance
- Study level
- Master's / Mid-career professionals
- Apply from
- From India
- Duration
- 2 years (Master's), some doctoral places
- Japanese needed
- English-taught programmes
- Intake
- September 2027 or April 2028
Calls are issued through the JICA India office and partner ministries, usually in the October–January period for the following academic year
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- Normally for serving government officials or employees of public bodies nominated through official channels
- Bachelor's degree plus relevant work experience
- Fields tied to SDG priorities — infrastructure, governance, health, environment, disaster management
- Nomination by the Government of India is usually required
How to apply
Not an open public call in most cycles. Check the JICA India office announcements and your department's training cell; applications are routed through the nodal ministry.
Ito Foundation for International Education Exchange
Ito Foundation (public interest foundation)
What you getRoughly ¥180,000/mo depending on the category
- Study level
- Master's / PhD
- Apply from
- After arriving in Japan
- Duration
- Up to 2 years
- Japanese needed
- Varies by category
- Intake
- April 2027
Expected dates, based on the last cycle. Confirm with the provider. University nomination deadlines usually fall around 31 October for the following April
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- Already enrolled at a designated Japanese graduate school
- Nominated by your university — you cannot apply directly
- Privately financed students, not already holding a major scholarship
How to apply
Watch your university's scholarship noticeboard from September. Designated-school lists change yearly, so confirm your institution is on the list before preparing documents.
Atsumi International Foundation Scholarship
Atsumi International Foundation (Sekiguchi Global Research Association)
What you get¥200,000/mo
- Study level
- PhD
- Apply from
- After arriving in Japan
- Duration
- 1 year, for your final doctoral year
- Japanese needed
- Helpful; the scholar community is bilingual
- Intake
- April
Expected dates, based on the last cycle. Confirm with the provider. Window typically runs 1–20 September for the following April
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- Doctoral students in the Kanto region expecting to submit their dissertation that year
- Maximum 16 scholars per year, with a cap of around 5 per country
- Active participation in the foundation's Raccoon Dogs scholar network is expected
How to apply
Direct application to the foundation during the September window. Very small intake; strongest fit for final-year PhD candidates in Tokyo and nearby prefectures.
Otsuka Toshimi Scholarship Foundation
Otsuka Toshimi Scholarship Foundation
What you get¥1.0m–¥2.0m per year (¥500,000 if you hold another award)
- Study level
- Master's / PhD
- Apply from
- After arriving in Japan
- Duration
- 1 year, renewable up to 3 years in total
- Japanese needed
- Varies by university
- Intake
- April
Expected dates, based on the last cycle. Confirm with the provider. Application period typically 1 April – 15 May, with each university setting an earlier internal deadline
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- Privately financed international students with a 'college student' visa
- Fields tied to human health — medicine, pharmacy, nutrition, sports science — or business administration
- Usually 38 years or younger at the start of the scholarship year
- Separate forms for new and renewing applicants
How to apply
Through your university's scholarship office, which screens candidates before forwarding to the foundation. Interviews are held later in the year, results around February.
University tuition reduction and exemption schemes
Individual Japanese universities (national, public and private)
What you get30%, 50% or 100% of tuition, plus admission-fee waivers at some schools
- Study level
- Bachelor's / Master's / PhD / Diploma / Associate degree
- Apply from
- Either
- Duration
- Per semester or per year, usually reviewed annually
- Japanese needed
- Depends on the programme
- Intake
- April and September/October
Deadlines are set per university — private universities often decide at admission, national universities decide after enrolment with results around late July
Who can apply and how
Who can apply
- The single largest pool of money for international students in Japan, and the most ignored
- Kyoto, Kyushu and Tohoku are shifting from need-based to merit-based schemes for 2026–27 entrants, so your entrance exam score becomes part of your funding case
- Many private universities — including APU and Waseda — fix your reduction at the admission stage
- At national universities you may need to pay roughly ¥817,800 in tuition and admission fees first and claim the waiver later
How to apply
Ask every shortlisted university two questions in writing about 12 months out: what tuition reduction is available for my entry year, and does the entrance examination carry a merit waiver. Then use the official directory to compare schemes side by side.
Deadline calendar
Every scholarship that has fixed dates. Dates marked expected are projections from the last cycle.
How to apply, in four steps
The details change for every scholarship, but the order stays the same.
-
Choose your route
Decide whether you apply from India, after you arrive, or through your university. Your study level narrows the list further.
-
Check eligibility and dates
Age limits, marks and language results differ for each award. Dates marked as expected are projections, so plan with a buffer.
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Gather what they ask for
Typical items are degree certificates and marks, a research or study plan, a university admission, and language results such as JLPT where required.
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Apply on the official page
Follow the method written under “Who can apply and how” on each card, whether that is email, post or your university. Never pay anyone to apply for you.
Common questions
Do I need to know Japanese?
Not always. MEXT research tracks often work in English-taught labs, and Honjo, YLP, ADB and Joint Japan/World Bank programmes are in English. The undergraduate MEXT and Mitsui India tracks include a language year or more. Rotary Yoneyama asks for JLPT N4 or above at application.
Can I hold more than one scholarship?
Often not. The MEXT embassy research track does not allow another scholarship at the same time, and the Otsuka Toshimi amount drops to ¥500,000 if you already hold another award. Check the eligibility on each card before you apply.
What does “expected” mean on a date?
It means the scholarship has not announced its new dates yet, so we show the dates from the previous cycle. Plan ahead with them, then confirm on the official page once the new window is published.
Is there an application fee?
No genuine Japanese scholarship charges an application fee or works through a paid agent. If someone asks you to pay for a scholarship application, treat it as a warning sign.
What is the yen worth in rupees?
All amounts on this page are in Japanese yen (¥). As of October 2026, ¥1 is about ₹0.59. Rates move, so check the live rate before you plan a budget.
Source of Infromation-https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/