University College London 1863 Japan Scholarships Scheme - Inoue Masaru Scholarships (UCL 1863 Japan Scholarships)

Benefit

You will receive a one-off payment of about 3,450 EUR (£3,000) to travel to Japan and study for a semester or part of a semester at a Japanese university. University College London (UCL) awards two of these scholarships each year. You can use the funds to gather material for a dissertation, take a course that counts towards your degree, or spend the time gaining cultural and educational experiences. The grant is paid out in October, at the start of the next academic year. You may combine this scholarship with other scholarships; however, UCL reserves the right to reduce the amount if you receive further funding.

Eligibility

• University: You are a registered student at UCL.
• Degree level: You are studying for a bachelor’s degree or on a postgraduate course.
• Field of study: Every degree programme at UCL.
• Where you live: Your status is ‘Home’, which means you are resident in the United Kingdom. International students are not eligible to apply.
• Grades: You have an excellent academic record.
• Your case: You can clearly explain how studying in Japan will contribute to a better understanding between the UK and Japan.

How to apply

You must submit a personal statement to the UCL Student Funding Office. In this statement, you should set out your objectives for your stay in Japan and explain how these relate to your studies or cultural goals. You will also need a supporting letter from your supervisor or the head of department. Submit all documents via the askUCL system under the ‘Scholarship’ category. The deadline is Monday, 1 June 2026, at 5 BST. An academic panel will decide on the awards, usually within 6 to 8 weeks.

How realistic are your chances?

Only two scholarships are awarded each year, and only UCL students based in the UK are eligible to apply, so the pool of potential candidates is small. If you are already studying at UCL, have good grades and can convincingly explain how your stay in Japan will contribute to understanding between the UK and Japan, your chances are good. A clear, detailed description of your plans for Japan is what will set you apart from other applicants.