Applications are now being accepted for the 2025 recruitment cycle of the Toshizo Watanabe International Scholarship, which offers young refugees residing in Japan life-changing opportunities. This prestigious scholarship allows refugees from war-torn nations like Syria, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Ukraine to pursue higher education at Japanese universities and graduate schools by providing all-encompassing support that includes tuition costs, living expenses, and more.
From Monday, October 28, 2024, to Monday, January 6, 2025, applications will be accepted. One of the few effective programs in Japan that aims to help refugees integrate into society and give them another chance at education is this one. For those who have been compelled to leave their native countries because of persecution, political unrest, or conflict, this scholarship provides a ray of hope amid the ongoing global refugee crises.
Rebuilding their lives and prospects can be greatly aided by education for refugees. In addition to offering financial support, the Toshizo Watanabe International Scholarship serves as a lifeline for people who have faced extreme adversity. This scholarship enables refugees to thrive by providing access to higher education, regardless of whether they choose to stay in Japan or go back to their countries of origin.
Host Country: Japan
University: Japan Universities
Sponsored By: The Toshizo Watanabe International
Opportunity Type: Bachelor, Masters, PhD
Subjects: All Subjects
Eligibility Country: International Students
Financial coverage: Fully Funded
Refugee Background
- Candidates must live in Japan, have international protection from the UNHCR or a foreign government, be refugees, or be unable to return home because of political upheaval or violence.
Education Requirements
- Candidates must have been admitted into a Japanese university or graduate program and have completed 12 years of formal education, or its equivalent.
Language Ability
- The EJU or JLPT tests are required for applicants whose major language of instruction is Japanese in order to prove their proficiency.
- Proficiency in English and a basic level of Japanese (JLPT N5-N4) are prerequisites for students learning in English.
Financial Need
- Candidates must demonstrate that they are having financial difficulty paying for their higher education.
Government Support Ineligibility
- This award is not available to those who are now receiving government funding under the New Student Support Program for Higher Education.
Expense Coverage
- The Toshizo Watanabe International Scholarship offers financial assistance for both living expenses and tuition; the award amount is determined by the recipient’s financial situation.
Support for Tuition
- The scholarship provides up to 1,700,000 yen annually for tuition.
Monthly Assistance for Living Expenses
- The scholarship offers the following monthly assistance for living expenses:
- For one to two years of undergraduate studies, up to 70,000 yen per month.
- For the third year of undergraduate studies, the monthly maximum is 60,000 yen.
- The fourth year of undergraduate and graduate education might cost up to 50,000 yen a month.
Non-Repayable Grant
- Because this scholarship falls within the benefit-type grant category, beneficiaries are exempt from having to pay back the money they have been awarded.
Combining Scholarships
- In order to encourage students to look for extra financial assistance, recipients are permitted to combine their scholarship with other scholarships.
