International students planning to pursue a Master’s or Doctoral degree in Japan now have another prestigious fully funded-style funding opportunity to consider. The Honjo International Scholarship Foundation (HISF) has confirmed that applications for its 2027 Scholarship for Foreign Students will open from September 1 to October 31, 2026, offering monthly financial support of up to ¥230,000 to outstanding graduate students from all countries and all academic disciplines.

Unlike many Japanese scholarships that require university nomination or institutional pre-selection, the Honjo International Scholarship Foundation allows applicants to apply directly to the foundation, making it one of the more accessible scholarship competitions for international graduate applicants. Even students applying from outside Japan can submit an application, provided they have already secured admission to a Japanese graduate school before applying.

Why the Honjo International Scholarship Is Worth Considering

For many international students, financing graduate studies in Japan is the biggest challenge. The Honjo International Scholarship Foundation addresses that concern by providing monthly living support throughout the minimum duration required to complete the degree.

The scholarship amount depends on the standard length of the graduate program:

• ¥230,000 per month for graduate programs lasting 1–2 years
• ¥210,000 per month for 3-year degree programs
• ¥180,000 per month for programs extending beyond three years

Instead of paying a single grant, the foundation provides continuous monthly financial support, allowing scholars to focus on research and academic progress throughout their studies.

Who Can Apply?

One of the strongest features of this scholarship is its broad eligibility.

International applicants may apply if they:

• Hold non-Japanese nationality
• Have been accepted into, or are planning to enroll in, a Japanese graduate school
• Are pursuing a Master’s degree or Doctoral degree
• Intend to study at a recognized graduate institution in Japan
• Are conducting research in any academic field
• Meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the official application guidelines

Students do not need their university to nominate them. Applications are submitted individually through the Foundation’s online system.

Subjects and Degree Levels Supported

The scholarship places no restrictions on academic discipline, making it attractive for applicants across virtually every research area.

Eligible graduate programs include:

• Engineering
• Artificial Intelligence
• Computer Science
• Medicine
• Public Health
• Economics
• Business
• Environmental Sciences
• Natural Sciences
• Agriculture
• Education
• Law
• International Relations
• Humanities
• Social Sciences
• Architecture
• Arts and Design
• Technology
• Any other graduate research field offered by Japanese universities

Supported degree levels:

• Master’s Degree
• Doctoral (PhD) Degree

What Makes This Japanese Scholarship Different?

Several characteristics distinguish the Honjo International Scholarship from many other Japanese funding programs:

• Direct application without university recommendation.
• Open to applicants from every nationality.
• Accepts students from all research disciplines.
• Applications may be submitted from outside Japan after admission has been secured.
• Provides generous monthly financial support throughout the standard degree duration.
• Selects only about 10 scholars each year, making it highly competitive and prestigious.

Honjo Scholarship Selection Process

The Foundation follows a multi-stage evaluation process designed to identify students with strong academic potential and research ability and the selection includes:

1. Document screening.
2. Interview for shortlisted applicants.
3. Final scholarship selection.

Only applicants passing the initial document review are invited to the interview stage.

Approximately 10 international students receive scholarships each year.

Can You Hold Another Scholarship at the Same Time?

The Honjo International Scholarship Foundation generally does not permit recipients to receive multiple scholarships simultaneously. However, concurrent funding is allowed for certain programs specifically recognized by the Foundation, including:

• Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship
• Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students
• JSPS International Fellowship
• JST Fellowship (only where the Japan Science and Technology Agency permits concurrent funding)

Applicants already receiving other financial awards should carefully review the official guidelines before applying.

Application Deadline

The Honjo International Scholarship Foundation Scholarship 2027 application period will run from September 1, 2026, to October 31, 2026. Applicants who pass the document screening will be notified on January 31, 2027, interviews are scheduled for February 9, 2027, and the final scholarship recipients will be announced on March 31, 2027.

For students planning graduate studies in Japan, this scholarship is one of the country’s most internationally accessible private funding opportunities. Because only around 10 awards are offered annually, preparing a compelling research proposal, a clear two-minute research presentation, and a complete application package well before the deadline could significantly improve the chances of success.