Honjo International Scholarship 2027 in Japan for Master’s and PhD Students

The Honjo International Scholarship Foundation accepts applications from international students pursuing graduate degrees in Japan. Applicants apply directly to the foundation without university preselection. Approximately ten awards are available.

The monthly award depends on the scholarship duration:

• ¥230,000: one or two years.
• ¥210,000: three years.
• ¥180,000: four or five years.

Document-screening results are scheduled for 31 January 2027, interviews for 9 February, and final results for 31 March. Follow the foundation’s subsequent instructions for confirmed interview arrangements.

Japanese preparation matters

The research proposal must be submitted in Japanese. An English version may accompany it, but cannot replace it. Interviews are also conducted in Japanese, although the foundation explains that they are not a language examination. Applicants should be able to explain themselves and their research in simple Japanese.

Our take: check your readiness before applying

Start by explaining your research aloud without reading your proposal. Can you describe the problem, your planned approach and why the results would matter? Practising those three points can reveal whether your explanation is clear enough for someone outside your narrow research area.

Prepare a separate study budget. List tuition, relocation expenses and recurring living costs, then compare them with the stipend. Do not treat the monthly amount as evidence that every expense will be paid separately.

Keep your university admission timeline beside the scholarship timeline. This helps you identify documents that may arrive later and communicate realistic dates rather than submitting unsupported promises.

Can you apply before receiving admission?

The foundation’s FAQ allows applications from candidates preparing for entrance examinations for spring or autumn 2027. If acceptance documents are unavailable, applicants should provide the expected result date and follow the foundation’s instructions for supplying them later.