海外留学支援制度（大学院学位取得型） / Overseas Study Support Program - Graduate Degree Type

What you get

You get a monthly scholarship of roughly EUR 1,000 to EUR 2,200 (177,000 to 388,000 JPY), plus a one-off travel grant of about EUR 55 (10,000 JPY) when your funding starts. The exact monthly amount depends on where you study. Higher-cost countries like the USA, UK, Canada and Singapore pay the most, while Germany, France and much of Asia pay less. You do not repay the money. It runs for up to 2 years for a master's degree and up to 3 years for a doctorate, matching the standard length of the programme. Extensions are normally not granted. This is a state-funded scholarship from the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), paid from the Japanese government budget.

Who can apply

• Residence: You are a Japanese citizen or have permanent residence in Japan.
• Where you go: You study abroad at any university worldwide that can award a master's or doctoral degree. Joint-degree and double-degree programmes count.
• Degree: You already hold a bachelor's degree or higher, or will have one before your funding starts. The level and subject you are aiming for must differ from a degree you already hold.
• Field of study: Any subject, except degrees earned purely through artistic performance.
• Type of study: You must physically study abroad. Fully online or distance degrees do not qualify.
• Age (as of 1 April 2026): Under 35 for a master's, under 40 for a doctorate.
• Grades: A GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale in your most recent studies.
• Language: If your studies are in English, TOEFL iBT 95+ or IELTS Academic 6.5+ overall. For another language, level C1 or higher.
• Admission: You must be fully admitted to your target university before funding begins. Conditional offers do not count.
• Employment: You are not employed when funding starts, and you generally do not take paid work during the scholarship.

How to apply

If you are enrolled at or have graduated from a Japanese university, you normally apply through that university, which handles the paperwork with JASSO. If no Japanese university can do this for you, you apply directly through JASSO's individual route. The call opens around September each year with a mid-October deadline. A document review follows (results in early January), and if you pass, you have an online interview.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is open worldwide and to any field, but the requirements are strict: a high GPA, strong language scores, full admission to your target university and, for the top age brackets, applying young. In a recent year about 177 people were selected. Because the bar on grades, language and admission is high, the field narrows to well-prepared applicants. If you clearly meet those thresholds and present a strong research and career plan, your prospects are solid.