Scholarship information

　In Japan there are three types of economic assistance for international students: scholarships, tuition fee reduction or exemption systems, and material support (bus tickets, etc.)
Scholarships are divided into the following three kinds, depending on the organization that awards them. Each kind includes benefit-type scholarships with no obligation of repayment and loan-type scholarships that must be repaid after graduation.
1) Scholarships from enrolled universities, technical schools, Japanese language schools, etc.
2) Scholarships from companies and other organizations
3) Scholarships from the Japanese government

　Other conditions and amounts of scholarships vary, ranging from about 100,000 yen/year to the equivalent of a year’s tuition fees. Basically, most scholarships must be applied for by students themselves, and in almost all cases after students come to Japan and enroll. Few scholarships can be applied for from overseas before coming to Japan. See related link *1 for the target levels and number of issuing organizations.
　The “newspaper scholarship system” run by newspaper companies provides scholarships that cover all international student costs. This is a system of attending classes while performing work such as morning and evening newspaper deliveries. It is said to give students an advantage later on when job hunting. As well as having all university fees paid from enrollment to graduation, students also receive an allowance and free lodging, which alleviates the insecurity of daily life. So long as students graduate, they have to pay back nothing, or perhaps just a little. If they leave university without graduating, they must pay back any scholarship money they have already received. For more details, see Newspaper Scholarship Student News.
　Most scholarships are intended to cover only a portion of living expenses and academic fees. Carefully calculate your required living expenses and academic fees and make a realistic financial plan that includes personal funds or part-time job income, not only your scholarship.