2026 Honjo Scholarships at Asia Pacific University (APU)

Location: Japan

Program: Postgraduate – Masters, PhD

Eligibility: International Students

Duration: 1-3 years

Deadline: September 16, 2025

This scholarship is open to international students who study or plan to study in a Japanese graduate school for doctoral or master’s degree. Applications can be submitted from abroad as long as the applicant is accepted into a Japanese graduate school. All nationalities and research fields are welcome. Applicants may directly apply to the foundation without pre-selection by the university. The scholarship is available for all accepted applicants, both admitted and enrolled.

Asia Pacific University (APU) is a private institution established in 2000 and located in Beppu, Ōita Prefecture. It stands out for its multicultural environment, about half of its students and many faculty members are from overseas—spanning approximately 90 countries. APU offers various graduate programs, including Development Studies, Data Science, Sustainability, Management, and more, all conducted in English. The multicultural ethos and bilingual education system (English and Japanese), combined with a broad international community, make it an attractive choice for global-minded graduate students.

Benefits of the Scholarship

The scholarship will be provided every month throughout the minimum period required to acquire the degree. The amount of scholarship depends based on the duration of the studies (amounts subject to change):

230,000 JPY per month for 1–2 years
210,000 JPY per month for 3 years
180,000 JPY per month for beyond 3 years of degree

Eligibility Criteria

Must not have Japanese citizenship
Must be currently admitted to APU or in the process of applying (for either master’s or doctoral program).
Conversational proficiency in Japanese is required. Interviews will be conducted in Japanese.
Applicants for the master’s program must be 29 years old or younger when starting the program; Applicants for the doctoral program must be 34 years old or younger when starting the program.
Must have a strong intention to pursue a future career serving their home country.
Must have a deep understanding of international friendship and goodwill, and be willing to participate in events organized by the Foundation and join its alumni network.