Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan: Up to ¥230,000 Monthly for Master’s and PhD Students
Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan: Up to ¥230,000 Monthly for Master’s and PhD Students. The Honjo International Scholarship Foundation (HISF) is accepting applications for its 2027 Scholarship for Foreign Students, supporting international students who plan to study or are already studying at a Japanese graduate school for a Master’s or PhD degree.
The scholarship offers monthly support of up to:
💰 ¥230,000 PER MONTH
depending on the length of the degree programme. Approximately:
🎓 10 SCHOLARSHIPS
are expected to be awarded for the 2027 cycle. Applications are open from:
📅 1 SEPTEMBER–31 OCTOBER 2026.
The scholarship is open to non-Japanese citizens of all nationalities and research fields, and students may apply directly to the Foundation without university pre-selection. Applicants may even apply from outside Japan if they are planning to enter a Japanese graduate school.
⚠️ Important Accuracy Note
The Honjo International Scholarship should not be described as a blanket “fully funded scholarship” covering every possible study expense.
The confirmed financial support is a:
MONTHLY SCHOLARSHIP
of:
¥230,000 per month for 1–2 years
¥210,000 per month for 3 years
¥180,000 per month for 4–5 years
for the minimum period required to complete the intended degree.
Recipients may also receive a travel grant for attending an international conference, subject to the Foundation’s scholarship rules.
The scholarship guidelines do not state that university tuition, airfare to Japan or all visa costs are separately and automatically paid.
🌍 Honjo International Scholarship 2027: Quick Overview
Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan: Up to ¥230,000 Monthly for Master’s and PhD Students
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Foundation | Honjo International Scholarship Foundation |
| Country | Japan |
| Scholarship | Scholarship for Foreign Students |
| Year | 2027 |
| Study Level | Master’s & PhD |
| Eligible Applicants | Non-Japanese International Students |
| Nationalities | All Nationalities |
| Research Fields | All Fields |
| Number of Awards | Approximately 10 |
| Monthly Scholarship | ¥180,000–¥230,000 |
| 1–2 Year Degree | ¥230,000/Month |
| 3-Year Degree | ¥210,000/Month |
| 4–5 Year Degree | ¥180,000/Month |
| Repayment | Not Required |
| Conference Travel Grant | Available Subject to Rules |
| University Nomination | Not Required |
| Japanese Ability | Basic Conversation Required |
| Interview Language | Japanese |
| Research Proposal | Required |
| 2-Minute Research Video | Required |
| Application Opens | 1 September 2026 |
| Deadline | 31 October 2026 |
| Document Screening Results | 31 January 2027 |
| Interview | 9 February 2027 / Early February |
| Final Result | 31 March 2027 |
| Scholarship Start | April 2027 |
🏛️ About the Honjo International Scholarship Foundation
The Honjo International Scholarship Foundation was established in Japan in 1996 and supports students with the potential to become future leaders who can contribute to the peaceful development of global society.
The Foundation provides several scholarship schemes, including support for:
INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENTS IN JAPAN
JAPANESE GRADUATE STUDENTS
JAPANESE STUDENTS STUDYING ABROAD
and:
HIGH SCHOOL & KOSEN STUDENTS.
The 2027 foreign-student scholarship is specifically designed for international students who are:
CURRENTLY STUDYING
or:
PLANNING TO STUDY
at a graduate school in Japan.
🎓 Which Degrees Are Eligible?
The scholarship supports:
MASTER’S DEGREES
and:
DOCTORAL / PhD DEGREES
at Japanese graduate schools.
Undergraduate programmes are:
NOT ELIGIBLE.
🌍 Are All Nationalities Eligible?
Yes.
The Foundation states that its Scholarship for Foreign Students is open to:
NON-JAPANESE CITIZENS OF ALL NATIONALITIES.
Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan: Up to ¥230,000 Monthly for Master’s and PhD Students
This means qualified applicants from:
AFRICA
ASIA
EUROPE
THE AMERICAS
THE MIDDLE EAST
and other regions can apply.
🇿🇼 Can Zimbabwean Students Apply?
Yes.
Zimbabwean students can apply because the scholarship is open to:
ALL NON-JAPANESE NATIONALITIES.
Applicants from Zimbabwe must still meet the academic, age, Japanese-language and graduate-school requirements.
💰 Scholarship Amount
The amount depends on how long the recipient’s degree programme will take.
1–2 Year Degree
💰 ¥230,000 PER MONTH
This is the highest monthly award.
3-Year Degree
💰 ¥210,000 PER MONTH
4–5 Year Degree
💰 ¥180,000 PER MONTH
⏳ How Long Is the Scholarship Paid?
The scholarship is paid for the:
MINIMUM PERIOD REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE DEGREE.
The payment period is determined at the beginning and:
CANNOT BE CHANGED AFTER IT STARTS.
Applicants whose remaining enrolment period is:
LESS THAN ONE YEAR
are not eligible.
💸 Is the Scholarship Repayable?
No.
The 2027 application guidelines clearly state that scholarship recipients are:
UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO REPAY
the scholarship money received from the Foundation.
✈️ International Conference Travel Grant
Recipients may also receive financial assistance to attend:
INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC CONFERENCES
through a travel grant provided under the Foundation’s scholarship rules.
The exact amount is not stated in the 2027 guideline and should not be invented.
📚 Are All Research Fields Eligible?
Yes.
The Foundation states that:
ALL RESEARCH FIELDS ARE WELCOME.
This means applicants may potentially come from areas including:
🔬 SCIENCE
⚙️ ENGINEERING
🏥 HEALTH SCIENCES
📊 ECONOMICS
💼 BUSINESS
📚 HUMANITIES
⚖️ LAW
🌱 ENVIRONMENT
🧠 SOCIAL SCIENCES
and many other disciplines.
🎯 Core Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet all published requirements.
1. Non-Japanese Citizenship
Applicants must:
NOT HOLD JAPANESE CITIZENSHIP.
Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan: Up to ¥230,000 Monthly for Master’s and PhD Students
2. Japanese Graduate-School Study
Applicants must either:
BE ENROLLED
or:
BE APPLYING TO ENROL
in a Japanese graduate school for 2027.
Applicants planning to enter graduate school in:
SPRING 2027
or:
FALL 2027
may apply.
💼 Can Employed Applicants Apply?
Yes.
The guidelines explicitly state that people who are:
CURRENTLY EMPLOYED
may apply if they intend to enrol in a qualifying Japanese graduate programme in 2027.
🏫 Professional Graduate Schools
Students enrolled in professional graduate schools are:
IN PRINCIPLE NOT ELIGIBLE.
However, an exception is possible if the applicant can submit an appropriate:
RESEARCH PLAN.
🎂 Age Limit
The scholarship has strict age requirements.
PhD Applicants
Applicants entering a doctoral programme must start the PhD course by the age of:
35.
Master’s Applicants
Applicants entering a Master’s programme must start the course by the age of:
30.
The Foundation explicitly states:
NO EXCEPTIONS.
🇯🇵 Japanese-Language Requirement
This is one of the most important eligibility conditions.
Applicants must be able to hold:
BASIC CONVERSATION IN JAPANESE.
The selection interview will be conducted:
IN JAPANESE
with:
NO EXCEPTIONS.
Therefore, this scholarship is not ideal for applicants who have:
NO JAPANESE LANGUAGE ABILITY.
📝 Research Proposal Language
The official 2027 guideline requires the designated research proposal to be written:
IN JAPANESE.
Applicants who are not confident in Japanese may also submit:
AN ENGLISH VERSION IN ADDITION TO THE JAPANESE VERSION.
The Japanese research proposal must explain:
YOUR RESEARCH CONTENT & SCHEDULE
YOUR ULTIMATE RESEARCH GOAL
HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY
and:
YOUR PREVIOUS RESEARCH, ACADEMIC & SOCIAL ACHIEVEMENTS.
🌍 Commitment to Your Home Country
Applicants must demonstrate a:
STRONG COMMITMENT TO SERVING THEIR HOME COUNTRY
Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan: Up to ¥230,000 Monthly for Master’s and PhD Students
as part of their future career plans.
This means successful applicants should be able to explain how their education and research in Japan will contribute to:
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
POLICY
INDUSTRY
or another form of meaningful impact in their home country.
🤝 International Friendship and Alumni Participation
Applicants must also have a strong understanding of:
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP
and:
GOODWILL.
Scholarship recipients are expected to attend Foundation events and participate in its alumni network both during and after completing their studies.
🏫 Do You Need University Nomination?
No.
Applicants may apply:
DIRECTLY TO THE FOUNDATION
without being pre-selected or nominated by their Japanese university.
This is an important advantage compared with scholarships that require an internal university nomination.
🌍 Can You Apply From Outside Japan?
Yes.
Applicants may submit an application from outside Japan if they are:
ACCEPTED
or:
PLANNING TO ENTER
a Japanese graduate school.
Applicants who have not yet completed their entrance examination can still apply for the 2027 cycle.
📄 Do You Need an Admission Letter Before Applying?
Not necessarily.
If your official admission or acceptance letter is not available by:
📅 31 OCTOBER 2026
you can enter the expected date of the admission decision in the application system and send the document to the Foundation when it becomes available.
🎥 Required Research Video
Applicants must upload a:
2-MINUTE VIDEO
explaining their:
RESEARCH PLAN.
The video may be presented in:
JAPANESE
or:
ENGLISH.
The applicant’s face must be visible.
🎬 Optional Self-Promotion Video
Applicants can also submit an optional:
30-SECOND SELF-PROMOTION VIDEO.
This may also be recorded in:
JAPANESE OR ENGLISH.
📄 Required Documents
The application includes several required files.
1. Face Photograph
The photo must meet the Foundation’s digital size and file-format requirements.
2. Undergraduate Academic Transcript
Required.
Documents must be in:
JAPANESE OR ENGLISH.
If the original document is in another language, a translation must be attached.
3. Graduate Transcript
Optional if the applicant already has one.
4. Research Proposal
Required using the Foundation’s:
DESIGNATED TEMPLATE.
5. Recommendation Letter
A recommendation letter from the applicant’s:
CURRENT SUPERVISOR
or suitable previous academic supervisor is required.
The recommendation should address:
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
and:
FUTURE POTENTIAL.
The recommender’s:
SIGNATURE OR SEAL
is required.
6. Admission or Enrolment Evidence
Applicants should provide documents proving:
ADMISSION
ACCEPTANCE
or:
CURRENT ENROLMENT
where available.
💼 Can Scholarship Recipients Work?
Employment is restricted while receiving the scholarship.
Recipients generally cannot take ordinary employment.
Permitted part-time work is limited to roles connected to their studies or international exchange, such as:
TEACHING ASSISTANT
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
TRANSLATOR
or:
INTERPRETER.
💰 Can You Receive Another Scholarship at the Same Time?
In general:
NO.
The Honjo scholarship normally cannot be held together with other scholarships.
However, the 2027 rules list several permitted exceptions, including:
JAPANESE GOVERNMENT MEXT SCHOLARSHIP
MONBUKAGAKUSHO HONORS SCHOLARSHIP
JSPS INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP
ELIGIBLE JST FELLOWSHIPS
and:
JICA SCHOLARSHIPS.
Applicants receiving other funding should check carefully before accepting multiple awards.
📅 Application Period
Applications are accepted from:
📅 1 SEPTEMBER 2026
until:
📅 31 OCTOBER 2026.
The online system opened at:
11:00 AM ON 1 SEPTEMBER 2026.
🏆 How Many Scholarships Are Available?
Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan: Up to ¥230,000 Monthly for Master’s and PhD Students
The Foundation expects to award approximately:
10 SCHOLARSHIPS.
This means selection is likely to be highly competitive.
📝 How to Apply
Step 1 — Confirm Eligibility
Check:
NATIONALITY
AGE
DEGREE LEVEL
JAPANESE-LANGUAGE ABILITY
and:
2027 ENROLMENT STATUS.
Step 2 — Apply to a Japanese Graduate School
Choose a qualifying:
MASTER’S
or:
PhD
programme at a Japanese university.
The Foundation does not restrict applicants to one specific university.
Step 3 — Prepare Your Research Proposal
Use the official:
HISF RESEARCH PLAN TEMPLATE.
Step 4 — Record Your Research Video
Prepare a clear:
2-MINUTE RESEARCH PRESENTATION.
Step 5 — Obtain Your Recommendation Letter
Ask a supervisor who can comment credibly on your:
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
and:
FUTURE RESEARCH POTENTIAL.
Step 6 — Complete the Online Application
Submit the application through the Foundation’s:
ONLINE APPLICATION SYSTEM.
Step 7 — Save Your Application Number
After submission, applicants receive an:
APPLICATION NUMBER.
This number is important because successful candidates are identified on the Foundation website using application numbers.
Step 8 — Submit Before the Deadline
Applications close on:
📅 31 OCTOBER 2026.
The Foundation does not accept application documents through ordinary postal mail.
🧠 Selection Process
The selection process consists of:
DOCUMENT SCREENING
and:
INTERVIEW.
First Selection
Document-screening results will be published by:
📅 31 JANUARY 2027.
Interview
Interviews are scheduled for:
📅 9 FEBRUARY 2027
according to the Foundation’s main scholarship page.
The detailed guideline describes the interview period as:
EARLY FEBRUARY 2027.
The interview is planned in:
TOKYO
or may be conducted by:
VIDEO CALL.
Importantly:
THE INTERVIEW IS CONDUCTED IN JAPANESE.
Final Results
Final scholarship decisions will be announced on:
📅 31 MARCH 2027.
💴 Scholarship Start
The 2027 guidelines state that scholarship payments begin from:
APRIL 2027
for the applicable intake.
Students entering in Fall 2027 are also allowed to apply under the 2027 programme.
📋 Application Checklist
Before submitting, confirm:
✅ Non-Japanese Citizenship
Required.
✅ Master’s or PhD Programme
Required.
✅ Japanese Graduate School
Required.
✅ 2027 Enrolment
Required.
✅ Minimum Remaining Study Period
More than 12 months.
✅ Master’s Age Limit
Start by age 30.
✅ PhD Age Limit
Start by age 35.
✅ Basic Japanese Conversation
Required.
✅ Japanese Interview
Mandatory.
✅ Home-Country Commitment
Required.
✅ Research Proposal
Required.
✅ Japanese Research Plan
Required.
✅ 2-Minute Research Video
Required.
✅ Undergraduate Transcript
Required.
✅ Recommendation Letter
Required.
✅ Admission / Enrolment Evidence
Required where available.
✅ Application Deadline
31 October 2026.
🎯 How to Strengthen Your Application
Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan: Up to ¥230,000 Monthly for Master’s and PhD Students
🇯🇵 Improve Your Japanese Before the Interview
Even if your research programme is taught in English, this scholarship requires:
BASIC JAPANESE CONVERSATION
and a:
JAPANESE-LANGUAGE INTERVIEW.
Prepare accordingly.
🔬 Develop a Specific Research Plan
Avoid broad statements.
Clearly explain:
WHAT YOU WANT TO STUDY
WHAT PROBLEM YOU WILL INVESTIGATE
HOW YOU WILL CONDUCT THE RESEARCH
and:
WHAT YOU EXPECT TO ACHIEVE.
🌍 Show Home-Country Impact
The Foundation explicitly wants candidates committed to serving their home country.
Explain how your research can contribute to:
YOUR COUNTRY’S DEVELOPMENT
or:
YOUR PROFESSIONAL FIELD AT HOME.
🏆 Demonstrate Previous Achievement
Your research plan should highlight relevant:
RESEARCH
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
and:
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES.
🎥 Prepare the Research Video Carefully
Two minutes is short.
Focus on:
YOUR RESEARCH QUESTION
WHY IT MATTERS
and:
WHAT YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE.
⚠️ Common Application Mistakes
Avoid:
- Applying for an undergraduate degree
- Ignoring the age limits
- Applying with less than 12 months of study remaining
- Assuming Japanese is optional
- Preparing only an English research plan
- Forgetting the two-minute video
- Submitting an unsigned recommendation letter
- Assuming university nomination is required
- Assuming admission must already be finalised
- Taking an incompatible scholarship without checking the concurrent-funding rules
- Assuming unrestricted employment is permitted
- Missing the 31 October deadline
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Honjo International Scholarship 2027?
It is a scholarship from the Honjo International Scholarship Foundation for international students undertaking:
MASTER’S
or:
PhD
study at Japanese graduate schools.
How much does the scholarship pay?
The amount depends on programme duration:
¥230,000/month for 1–2 years
¥210,000/month for 3 years
¥180,000/month for 4–5 years.
Is the scholarship repayable?
No.
How many scholarships are available?
Approximately:
10.
Are all nationalities eligible?
Yes, provided the applicant is not a Japanese citizen.
Can Zimbabweans apply?
Yes.
Are all research fields eligible?
Yes.
Can Master’s students apply?
Yes.
Can PhD students apply?
Yes.
Can undergraduate students apply?
No.
Can students already in Japan apply?
Yes.
Students already enrolled in eligible Japanese graduate programmes can apply.
Can I apply from outside Japan?
Yes.
Can I apply before receiving my admission result?
Yes.
Applicants planning to enter a graduate school in Spring or Fall 2027 may apply even if the admission process is still ongoing.
What is the age limit?
Master’s applicants must begin by age:
30
and PhD applicants by age:
35.
Is Japanese required?
Yes.
Applicants must be capable of basic Japanese conversation, and the interview is conducted in Japanese.
Is IELTS required by the scholarship?
The Foundation’s 2027 scholarship guideline does not list IELTS as a universal scholarship requirement.
Individual Japanese universities may have their own English-language admission requirements.
Is a recommendation letter required?
Yes.
Is a research video required?
Yes.
A:
2-MINUTE VIDEO
Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan: Up to ¥230,000 Monthly for Master’s and PhD Students
explaining the research plan is mandatory.
Is university nomination required?
No.
Applicants apply directly to the Foundation.
Can I receive another scholarship at the same time?
Generally no, except for the specific concurrent awards allowed in the 2027 guideline, including certain MEXT, JASSO-related, JSPS, JST and JICA scholarships.
Can recipients work part time?
Only certain study-related or international-exchange jobs are permitted under the scholarship rules.
What is the deadline?
📅 31 OCTOBER 2026.
When are document-screening results announced?
📅 31 JANUARY 2027.
When is the interview?
📅 9 FEBRUARY 2027
according to the current programme page, with the detailed guideline describing the interview as taking place in early February.
When are final results announced?
📅 31 MARCH 2027.
🚀 Final Thoughts
Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan: Up to ¥230,000 Monthly for Master’s and PhD Students
Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan: Up to ¥230,000 Monthly for Master’s and PhD Students. The Honjo International Scholarship 2027 is an attractive funding opportunity for international students planning to pursue:
🎓 MASTER’S
or:
🔬 PhD STUDY
at a Japanese graduate school.
Approximately:
10 STUDENTS
are expected to be selected, with monthly funding ranging from:
💰 ¥180,000 TO ¥230,000
depending on the length of the degree programme.
The scholarship is especially appealing because:
🌍 ALL NON-JAPANESE NATIONALITIES ARE WELCOME
📚 ALL RESEARCH FIELDS ARE ELIGIBLE
🏫 NO UNIVERSITY PRE-SELECTION IS REQUIRED
and:
🌐 APPLICATIONS CAN BE SUBMITTED FROM OUTSIDE JAPAN.
However, applicants should pay close attention to one major requirement:
🇯🇵 JAPANESE LANGUAGE ABILITY IS REQUIRED
because applicants must be able to conduct basic conversation in Japanese and the scholarship interview will be held in Japanese.
Applications close on:
📅 31 OCTOBER 2026
with final results scheduled for:
📅 31 MARCH 2027.
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🔑 Key Details
Foundation: Honjo International Scholarship Foundation
Country: Japan
Programme: Scholarship for Foreign Students
Year: 2027
Study Level: Master’s & PhD
Nationalities: All Non-Japanese Citizens
Research Fields: All Fields
Number of Scholarships: Approximately 10
Monthly Award: ¥180,000–¥230,000
1–2 Year Degree: ¥230,000/Month
3-Year Degree: ¥210,000/Month
4–5 Year Degree: ¥180,000/Month
Repayment Required: No
International Conference Travel Grant: Available Subject to Rules
University Nomination: Not Required
Applications From Abroad: Allowed
Master’s Age Limit: Start Course by Age 30
PhD Age Limit: Start Course by Age 35
Japanese Language: Basic Conversation Required
Interview Language: Japanese
Research Proposal: Required
2-Minute Research Video: Required
Recommendation Letter: Required
Application Period: 1 September–31 October 2026
Document Screening Results: 31 January 2027
Interview: 9 February 2027 / Early February
Final Results: 31 March 2027
Scholarship Start: April 2027
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