Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship 2025 | Apply Now

The Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship supports outstanding privately-financed international students in Japan by providing monthly financial assistance to help continue their studies.

Learn what you need in this guide such as eligibility, required documents, benefits, deadlines, and how to apply.

About the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship:

The Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship is a financial support program for privately-financed international students in Japan who demonstrate excellent academic and character records. It is intended for those enrolled in undergraduate schools, graduate schools, junior colleges, colleges of technology, specialized courses in specialized training colleges, university preparatory courses, or Japanese language institutes and are facing financial difficulties.

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

Applicants must:

• Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a graduate school in Japan, or must have at least an undergraduate degree and be enrolled as a research student at the graduate level.
• Must be enrolled as a full-time student in an undergraduate school, junior college, college of technology (3rd year or above), or a specialized course in a specialized training college in Japan.
• Must be enrolled as a full-time student in an advanced course in an undergraduate school, junior college, or college of technology in Japan, or in a preparatory Japanese language program.
• Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a university preparatory course at an educational institution in Japan with the objective of enrolling in a university.
• Must be enrolled in a Japanese language institute with the objective of advancing to an undergraduate school, graduate school, junior college, college of technology, or specialized course in a specialized training college in Japan.

Note: For detailed information about the eligibility criteria, visit the official website of the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship.

Benefits:

The Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship provides financial support to privately funded international students, with the given benefit below:

• A monthly stipend of 48,000 yen is provided to students enrolled at the graduate or undergraduate level. The scholarship is granted for a duration of either 12 months (from April to March) or 6 months (from October to March).
• A monthly stipend of 30,000 yen is provided to students enrolled in Japanese language institutes. The scholarship is awarded for either 12 months (from April to March) or 6 months (from October to March).

Note: For detailed information about the eligibility criteria, visit the official website of the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship.

Application Deadline:

To apply for the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship, submissions must be made by the date and time indicated below.

• April 2026 Enrollment: February 20, 2026 (Fri)
• September 2026 Enrollment: August 20, 2026 (Thu)

Note: For most up-to-date information, visit the website of Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship.

Requirements:

To complete the application for the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship, applicants must complete the online application and submit the following required documents below:

• Academic Transcript
  • Must show a GPA of 2.30 or higher from the previous academic year at the graduate, undergraduate, or Japanese language institute level. If GPA is not applicable, the academic evaluation must be equivalent or higher.

• Language Proficiency Certificate
  • Proof of Japanese or English language proficiency is required, except for students enrolled in preparatory Japanese language programs, university preparatory courses, or Japanese language institutes.
  • Acceptable Japanese proficiency includes:
    • JLPT(Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) N2 level or higher
    • EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students) score of 200 or above in Japanese as a Foreign Language
    • Other language levels separately recognized by JASSO
  • Acceptable English proficiency:
    • CEFR B2 level or higher

• Agreement Form for Career Path Survey
  • A signed agreement indicating willingness to participate in JASSO’s career path survey after receiving the scholarship.

• Proof of Allowance
  • A document showing that any allowance (excluding enrollment and tuition fees) does not exceed an average of 90,000 yen per month.

• Proof of Financial Supporter’s Income (if applicable)
  • If the candidate has a financial supporter in Japan, submit proof that their annual income is below 5 million yen.

• Certificate of Scholarship Non-Duplication
  • A statement confirming that the candidate is not receiving any other scholarship that cannot be combined with the Honors Scholarship.

• Certificate of Non-Participation in Other JASSO Programs
  • A document verifying that the candidate is not receiving support under JASSO’s other international student support programs.

Note: For more details, visit the official website of the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship.

How to Apply: Step-by-step

To apply for the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship, follow these steps provided below:

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Verify that all eligibility criteria are met, including academic performance, language proficiency (if applicable), financial conditions, and enrollment status in an eligible educational institution in Japan.

Step 2: Gather Required Documents

Gather all necessary documents based on the eligibility requirements to complete the application.

Step 3: Submit to the Educational Institution

Submit the complete set of documents to the designated office of the current school or university. Internal screening will be conducted before forwarding nominations to JASSO.

Step 4: Wait for Nomination and Screening

The institution will review submissions and, if qualified, nominate candidates to JASSO. Final selection and confirmation are carried out by JASSO.

Step 5: Receive Confirmation

Once approved, confirmation of scholarship approval will be issued through the educational institution. Monthly stipend disbursement will follow according to the scholarship schedule.

Note: For complete details about the application process, visit the official website of the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship.

Contact Details:

For inquiries about the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship, visit the official JASSO website for the most accurate and updated contact information:

• The Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students

Note: No specific contact details are provided for this scholarship. Refer to the official website above for guidance and updates.

Final Thoughts:

The Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship offers financial support to dedicated, privately-financed international students pursuing their studies in Japan. With its monthly stipend and accessible application through educational institutions, it serves as a valuable opportunity to ease financial burdens and stay focused on academic goals.

Make sure to review the available programs within the chosen faculty and prepare the application thoroughly, as this could be a significant step toward achieving academic and career goals in Japan.

Don’t forget to explore other scholarships that may assist in funding your education, whether they are local, National, or international.

Check out the scholarship guides on this website for additional options.

Reference:

• Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. (n.d.). The Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately‑Financed International Students who participated in the Study in Japan Global Network Project. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://admissions.apu.ac.jp/costs_scholarships/after_enrollment/jasso/
• Japan Student Services Organization. (n.d.). The Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately‑Financed International Students. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from https://www.jasso.go.jp/en/ryugaku/scholarship_j/shoreihi/about.html