Kyoto University Scholarships 2024-2025
Being a key national institute located in the capital city of Japan, Kyoto University (KyotoU) is a prestigious research institution that is financially supported by the Japanese Government. Established in 1897, Kyoto University is the second oldest university in the mainlands of Japan, and due to its long history, this institution was able to enlarge its academic programs by adding graduate courses.
Having a large student body, Kyoto University currently holds a number of around 20,000 students who are enrolled in its undergraduate and graduate programs. Among those enrolled, nearly 10% of the student body is comprised of international students from all over the world.
In order to maintain a good learning environment for international students, this institution has a really low faculty-to-student ratio of 1:11. This means that there is at least 1 faculty member for every 11 students who are residing on campus. In addition, smaller classes mean more face-to-face interactions with your professor, which can lead to a more in-depth learning experience.
How Do I Apply To Kyoto University Scholarships?
In order to help international students who are in financial need, Kyoto University has established various scholarship programs and financial awards for eligible applicants. Some of the scholarships are offered and funded by Kyoto University, but some of the other awards are funded by the Japanese Government and other private organizations.
If you want to apply for these scholarships at Kyoto University, you have to first know the basic steps for admissions application. For undergraduate programs, Kyoto University has listed all the necessary information in the link above, and you will be able to note the eligibility requirements and the selection process so that you can file your admissions application on time.
For graduate programs, Kyoto University has posted a graduate admissions guide for international applicants since many international students have faced certain problems when applying for a graduate course offered by Kyoto University. If you have any questions regarding the admissions process, make sure to contact the Office of Admissions at Kyoto University for possible solutions!
Kyoto University Scholarships for International Students
1. Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT)
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Monthly Living Stipend, Coverage of Academic Fees, Airfare
- Degrees Offered: Undergraduate, Masters, and Ph.D.
Nowadays, many countries from all over the world have established government scholarship programs to attract talented international students, and Japan is just one of those many countries. Since the entire funding comes from the Japanese Government, the scholarship recipients of the MEXT Scholarship Program basically receive full-ride benefits, and you don’t have to worry about financial expenses since all necessary costs are already paid for!
Since MEXT Scholarship Program is hosted by the Japanese Government, you need to apply separately for MEXT, and then, your next step should be applying for Kyoto University Admissions. Open to all international applicants, this scholarship program at Kyoto University is probably the most prestigious scholarship in Japan due to its full-ride benefits.
2. Kyoto University Scholarships for Admission
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Monthly Stipend
- Degrees Offered: Undergraduate and Graduate
Offered only to privately-financed international applicants, Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarships are awarded to international students who got accepted into a Japanese institution. In this case, the scenario would look very similar to this. First, you apply for University of Kyoto Admissions by following the admissions guideline, and then, you get accepted into either an undergraduate or a graduate program at Kyoto University.
After being accepted into this institution, you are now eligible to apply for Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarships since you got already accepted into a Japanese institution. If you get selected as one of its scholarship recipients, you will receive a fixed amount of Japanese Yen as a monthly stipend.
3. Scholarships From Private Foundations / Foreign Governments
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Varies
- Degrees Offered: Varies
If you have applied for MEXT and scholarships offered by Kyoto University, you can also apply for external aid to finance your education overseas. As an international student, you can apply for funding from your own national government, and the only way to find information regarding this topic is by going to your national government website. If you can find a government official from your country to answer your question, that would be also great!
If you can’t find any funding option from your national government, you can try to apply for scholarships offered by private organizations. Please keep in mind that scholarships from private sectors can include mandatory internship/work service after graduation. To avoid future complications, make sure to take a close look at the Kyoto University scholarship awards and application requirements!
