Tohoku University Scholarships for International Students

Tohoku University is a public research university in Sendai, Tohoku region of Japan. It was established in 1907 and currently hosts over 17,000 students across four campuses. It consists of 10 faculties, 16 graduate schools, and 6 research institutes including the Institute for Materials Research or IMR which is considered to be the most advanced research organization in the world.

Tohoku University is a regular on Top Universities lists. In 2020 and 2021, it was ranked No. 1 university in Japan by British Times Higher Education magazine. Together with the Japanese government and private funding foundations, Tohoku University offers a variety of scholarships to international students on all levels of university education.

Tohoku University Scholarships

Undergraduate Scholarships at Tohoku University

1. Japanese Government (MEXT) Undergraduate Scholarship

• Scholarship Amount: 1,000 USD (119,000 JPY) per month + tuition fees + accommodation + airfare travel expenses to Japan
• Eligibility Criteria: positive exam or interview at the local Japanese embassy or consular office, submitting a Letter of Provisional Acceptance
• Scholarship Link

Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship is intended for international students who want to study but are presently not living in Japan. This scholarship available at Tohoku University covers entire tuition fees through all years of undergraduate study and also awards a monthly stipend of roughly 1,000 USD to cover living expenses etc.

Undergraduate students can apply for the funding through Japanese embassy recommendations. The students are then interviewed at the embassy and if successful they are recommended to the MEXT office for approval. Each student that is awarded the Japanese Government Scholarship has to study their first year at the either University of Tokyo or the University of Osaka before transferring to Tohoku University.

2. President Fellowship for International Undergraduate Students

• Scholarship Amount: entrance fee, tuition fees up to four years
• Eligibility Criteria: great academic merit
• Scholarship Link

President Fellowship for International Undergraduate Students is a form of funding unique to Tohoku University. It is offered to foreign students with a great academic standing. The best students who receive this Tohoku University scholarship are also awarded a monthly stipend to cover their living expenses. Students can apply for the scholarship upon being accepted into the desired program. Apart from demonstrating academic excellence, the students are required to submit a motivational letter and take English language proficiency tests with at least a C grade according to CAE.

3. Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship

• Scholarship Amount: a monthly stipend of roughly 425 USD (48,000 JPY) for 1 year
• Eligibility Criteria: undergraduate self-financed international full-time student, good academic merit (GPA of at least 2.3), N2/B2 level Japanese or at least 200 points on EJU
• Scholarship Link

The Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students is a form of monthly stipend offered by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO). Applicants have to demonstrate a GPA of 2.3 and score at least 200 points at the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU). After the grant of the scholarship, students must maintain their GPA and participate in the obligatory surveys conducted by JASSO. Eligible students can apply to Tohoku University Academic Affairs Section.

These are some of the undergraduate scholarships offered at Tohoku University. There are more to choose from, many of which are handled through the Japan Student Services Organization. More on international scholarships and application processes can be found on JASSO’s website and on government-approved sites for studying in Japan – Study in Japan.

Postgraduate Scholarships at Tohoku University

1. Japanese Government (MEXT) Graduate Scholarship

• Scholarship Amount: 1,300 USD (145,000 JPY – 147,000 JPY) per month + tuition fees + accommodation + airfare travel expenses to Japan
• Eligibility Criteria: positive exam or interview at the local Japanese embassy or consular office, submitting a Letter of Provisional Acceptance
• Scholarship Link

Japanese Government Scholarship is offered both at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Similar to the undergraduate application process, international students have to come into contact with a Japanese embassy and pass a test at the embassy to be further considered for the scholarship. After the successful primary screening, students have to obtain a Letter of Provisional Acceptance from Tohoku University.

To obtain the letter, students must select their academic instructor at their respective graduate school, faculty, or institute. A list of academic employees at Tohoku University can be found here. After selecting the instructor, students can request the Letter through an email. They also have to provide information on their academic background, research plan, graduation thesis, and attaching obligatory documentation.

2. Park Yong Koo Scholarship Foundation

• Scholarship Amount: 620 USD (70,000 JPY) monthly
• Eligibility Criteria: full-time graduate international student, enrolled in Tohoku University School of Engineering, under the age of 30 (for master’s programs), under the age of 35 (doctoral programs), academic merit, good knowledge of Japanese
• Scholarship Link (from official Tohaku University site – only in Japanese)
• Scholarship Link 2 (equivalent from Saitama University site)

Park Yong Koo Scholarship is intended for international students obtaining their master’s or doctoral degrees who have a great academic performance but struggle financially. Application, interviews, and all communication are held in Japanese, so students with good knowledge of the language are preferred. The students have to apply through the official Foundation website but have to inform the University about their application.

3. Tohoku University Scholarship for International Students in Japan

• Scholarship Amount: tuition fees for up to 12 months
• Eligibility Criteria: enrollment in a graduate program at the home institution that has a student exchange agreement with Tohoku University, majoring in a field of natural science
• Scholarship Link

Tohoku University Scholarship for International Students in Japan is offered to students who plan to study up to a full year at the Tohoku University through a student exchange program. To apply for this Tohoku University scholarship, students must pick their academic instructor and submit the necessary documentation through them. If students’ home institution does not have an agreement with Tohoku University, they should consult their academic instructor for further information. This scholarship is solely funded by Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), so please visit JASSO’s website for further information on the application process.

These are some forms of scholarships at Tohoku University. There are many more scholarships and financial aids offered to international students by the Japanese government or private foundations. Please visit Study in Japan pamphlet for more information.

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