Kyushu University Scholarships for International Students
Kyushu University (or Kyudai) is a national research university located in Fukuoka, Japan. It consistently ranks within the top 10 universities in Japan and is considered one of the top research institutions in the country. The university is home to many faculties relating to sciences, humanities, cultural studies, and many more.
Because of its prestige and reputation, Kyushu University is highly popular among international students. According to the school’s official website, there are a total of 91 countries represented by the university. To further promote its status as a global university, Kyudai offers several scholarships catered for international students, both funded by the university and funded by external organizations.
Below is a list of some of the available scholarships for international students at Kyushu University. For a list of all available scholarships, please refer to this page.
Related Scholarships
Kyushu University Scholarships
Undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarships at Kyushu University
1. Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship
- Scholarship Amount: fully-waived tuition fee, monthly allowance, round-trip airfare
- Eligibility Criteria
- must intend to enroll for an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at Kyushu University
- must have proof of Japanese language proficiency or must enroll in a non-degree Japanese language program before pursuing a degree
- must be over 17 and under 25 for undergraduate studies, or over 17 and under 35 for graduate studies
- Scholarship Link
Japanese Government Scholarships are funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology. It aims to attract talented students from all over the world to study in Japan. It hopes to foster relationships between Japan and the students’ home countries and to bring about development to both countries and the rest of the world.
Both undergraduate and postgraduate courses can be covered by this scholarship available at Kyushu University. There are two ways one can receive this scholarship—through recommendation from Kyushu University, or recommendation by the Japanese embassies in your country.
Those applying for undergraduate studies can only do so by embassy recommendation. There are different requirements and application processes for each country, so make sure to contact your respective Japanese embassies to ask for more details on how to apply. Generally, however, required documents will include the application form, proof of Japanese language proficiency (e.g., TOEFL), certificate of graduation, academic transcripts, and other documents. The same applies to graduate studies plus a recommendation letter from your university, a research plan, and a recommendation letter from a Kyushu University professor.
The first round of screening involves a written examination and an interview. These will both be conducted in Japanese. This not only gauges your fluency in Japanese but also lets them know if you are truly deserving of the scholarship. If you pass this first stage, you will need to obtain an acceptance letter from Kyushu University and then pass another round of screening before getting the scholarship.
On the other hand, you could also apply for the scholarship through Kyushu University. This requires more or less the same documents. However, this method is much simpler as the scholarship does not require a separate application. Your application for admission can also count as your application for the scholarship. Kyushu University will be reviewing your application and recommending you to the Ministry themselves. This is only available for graduate students.
All successful recipients will get to study comfortably in Japan. The scholarship comes with fully-waived tuition and enrollment fees, a monthly allowance of ~¥120,000 (undergraduate) or ~¥147,000 (postgraduate), and round-trip plane tickets. This scholarship is renewable as long as you can maintain grades of at least 2.5.
2. Nitori International Scholarship Foundation
- Scholarship Amount: monthly allowance of ¥50,000 to ¥80,000
- Eligibility Criteria
- must be a self-funded international student taking an undergraduate or master’s degree
- must be taking up a part-time job—20 hours or more per month
- must be under 26 years old
- Scholarship Link
The Nitori International Scholarship Foundation was established to address problems international students commonly face in Japan. While the international student population has grown steadily through the years, problems such as language barriers, poor housing conditions, and high cost of living continue to prevail. The foundation hopes to ease the strain financially-struggling students face by providing monthly allowances. It also hopes to encourage more international students to study in Japan and contribute to Japanese society.
This is an external scholarship available at Kyushu University, so you will need to apply to the foundation directly. Their official website can be found here. Take note that the entire application process will be conducted in Japanese.
The application process has three stages. The first step is registering for an account on their website and filling out the online application form. Here, you will fill out your personal information including your current set-up at Kyushu University and your financial situation. There will also be a section for personal statements where you’ll talk about why you’re interested in this scholarship and why you’re particularly deserving among other applicants.
The second step is submitting your required documents. They will tell you what these are if you pass the first stage. Expect to submit academic transcripts, CVs, bank statements, and other documents that will prove your academic standings and financial situation. At this stage, you are also required to take a personality test. This will also be done online.
The third step is an interview with a representative chosen by the foundation. This is a formal, face-to-face interview that is also your last chance to impress the foundation. Make sure to have all of your statements ready and brush up on your Japanese—the interview will be held entirely in Japanese.
If you receive this Kyushu University scholarship, you are required to submit a monthly report on how you are doing in school and how you have used your monthly allowance in your day-to-day life. You will also be required to join the welcoming ceremony and participate in exchange meetings to talk about your experience with the scholarship.
Postgraduate Scholarships at Kyushu University
1. College Women’s Association of Japan Non-Japanese Graduate Scholarship
- Scholarship Amount: ¥2,000,000
- Eligibility Criteria
- must have no Japanese citizenship or Japanese permanent residency
- must be enrolled in their first year of Ph.D. studies at Kyushu University
- should not be receiving other scholarships greater than ¥1,500,000
- Scholarship Link
The College Women’s Association of Japan was established after the Second World War. Japanese students, in particular female students, struggled to finish their education due to the financial struggles of that time. Through the efforts of the organization, travel grants and scholarships were awarded to hundreds of deserving women who later on became leaders in their field. The organization has since expanded its reach to international students taking up doctorate degrees in Japan.
Applications must be mailed to the association’s headquarters in Tokyo. Downloadable PDFs of all required forms can be found on the scholarship link. It consists of the application form, reference letters for your advisers or professors to fill out, and detailed instructions.
On the application form for this Kyushu University scholarship, you will be asked for personal information, current and proposed study program, academic and work experience, awards and certificates, significant publications, and financial information. There is also a section for your essay, where you should talk about your proposed study program, why you think it’s important, and what your plans for the future are. This essay should be written in English.
Make three sets of the application forms and place them in an envelope along with certified transcripts of all universities you’ve ever attended; your two letters of reference, signed and sealed; certificate of enrollment at Kyushu University; two envelopes affixed with stamps and marked with your name and address, and a bank transfer receipt of the ¥2000 application fee. Before you mail your application, make sure to read and re-read the instructions sheet very carefully—they are very strict with requirements, and failure to follow any instruction can lead to you being disqualified. The due dates and address will be listed on the instructions sheet as well.
Finalists will be invited for a face-to-face interview in Tokyo two weeks in advance. This is the last step of the application process and is mandatory. The interview will be conducted in English and is for you to share more about yourself and your career plans.
All applicants will hear back about their applications, whether positive or negative, via email.
I hope that this article was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Scholarships Page.