Kyoto University Scholarships for International Students

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Kyoto University, founded by the imperial ordinance in 1897, is the second oldest university in Japan. With its home in Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan, students are also exposed to a rich cultural classroom outside the university. It is a smaller, more peaceful city than others, making it a good destination and second home, especially for newcomers and outsiders.

The university offers an extensive range of undergraduate, graduate, double-degree, and non-degree programs, as well as English-taught programs aimed at catering to international students. Japanese-taught degrees are also open to non-Japanese speaking students, as the university also offers preparatory courses that teach about the language, culture, and customs of the country.

As of 2020, KyotoU has a total student population of over 20,000 students, with almost 3,000 international students. To these international students, Kyoto University offers various scholarships that are fully funded. This university take pride in having produced notable alumni such as Prime Ministers and Nobel Prize winners, among others. Over the decades, the university has also collected a number of awards and recognitions, especially for its excellence in research.

In this article, we will be tackling some of the scholarships available to undergraduate and graduate students who are keen to study at Kyoto University.

 

Kyoto University Scholarships

Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships at Kyoto University

1. Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship (Gakushushoreihi)

  • Scholarship Amount: JPY 48,000 per month
  • Eligibility Criteria:
    • Holds a student visa
    • Enrolled as a full-time student
    • Must have a GPA of 2.30 or higher
  • Scholarship Link

The Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship, organized by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), aims to provide financial support to privately-funded international students for one academic year. JASSO grants this scholarship to a total of 6,640 undergraduate and graduate students annually from different partner institutions, including Kyoto University. Applications are forwarded to the university the student is enrolled in, and accepted scholars will receive a monthly stipend of JPY 48,000 for one year.

This scholarship available for Kyoto University also has 7,200 scholarships for short-term (6 to 12 months) studies and 560 for Japanese language institutes.

2. Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship

  • Scholarship Amount: JPY 117,000 per month
  • Eligibility Criteria:
    • International students
  • Scholarship Link

Funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT), the Japanese Government Scholarship assists international students throughout their college education in Japan. The selection of grantees is made by the Japanese Embassy/Consulate General, University, or Authority based on the applicants’ submitted documents, written exams, and interviews.

For undergraduate students, a monthly stipend amounting to JPY 117,000 plus an additional monthly payment of JPY 3,000 is provided, which will be provided until the completion of their degree. On top of the four-year program, students are also covered by this scholarship available at Kyoto University for an additional year for the Japanese language training.

The application and selection process for graduate students are similar. Master’s and professional degree students will receive JPY 144,000 while Doctoral students will get JPY 145,000 each month until the completion of their studies.

3. Student Exchange Support Program (Scholarship for Short-term Study in Japan)

  • Scholarship Amount: JPY 80,000
  • Eligibility Criteria:
    • Students from countries with diplomatic relations with Japan
    • Eligible to apply for a student visa
  • Scholarship Link

Also organized by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), the Student Exchange Support Program provides opportunities for international students to study short-term in a Japanese university. The exchange program can last for as short as eight days or a maximum of one year. To apply, students are to submit their applications to JASSO, which will then be forwarded by the organization to the Japanese university who will make the final decision of acceptance. Exchange students will receive a monthly stipend of JPY 80,000 for the duration of their short-study basis. Upon completion of the study in Japan, students will go back to their home school to complete their studies.

Aside from the above-mentioned, KyotoU has some other partner foundations that provide scholarships each year. However, limited information is provided online. To learn more about these scholarships at Kyoto University, students may inquire upon their application or at the administrative offices if they are already currently enrolled in the university.

 

I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Scholarships Page.