While there are many different kinds of scholarships for students outside and inside of Japan to apply for, one of the most popular scholarships for those seeking financial aid during their university studies is JASSO.

What is JASSO?

JASSO, an acronym for Japan Student Services Organization, is an organization that assists students coming to Japan for academic studies. JASSO offers what is called the Monbukagakusho (Japan Ministry of education) Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students. This is a scholarship program for those who have achieved academic excellence and are enrolled in a Japanese college-level academic institution, or Japanese language institution. As of 2018, the scholarship provides a monthly stipend of 48,000 JPY to university students, or 30,000 JPY for Japanese language institution student. The scholarship is awarded for 1 year or 6 months, depending on the enrollment period.  Below are the two different enrollment periods.

  • Spring scholarships (enrollment in April): 12 months (From April to next March)
  • Autumn scholarships (enrollment in September/October): 6 months (From October to next March)

Application Process

In order to receive the scholarship, applicants must complete all the required procedures during the allotted time period. It is highly recommended that the applicants begin the process as soon as possible, as it can be time-consuming  and requires multiple checks to guarantee that there are no mistakes. Prior to proceeding with the application process, please check whether or not the qualifications for the scholarship are met.

There are three steps that Keio University applicants must complete:

(1) Scholarship Application Registration
All of the necessary documents, including a sample for reference, can be found on the International Center website of Keio. Applicants must submit 2 sets of each document (the second set can be copies). Each set of documents must be arranged in order and secured with a paperclip. A copy of the applicant’s residence card (both sides) is also needed.

*This step is done for screening purposes and is separate from the actual JASSO application.

(2) Application for Honors Scholarship (JASSO)
All of the necessary documents can be found on the International Center website of Keio. Also, copies of JAPAN POST BANK savings account bankbook, residence card, and scholarship reservation notice (provided by the school office) are needed.

(3) Confirmation of Registration Signature at the International Office
All applicants must sign their name to confirm official enrollment at the Office of Student Services. All the required documents must be submitted to the Office of Student Services.

 

On a personal note, we would like to remind the readers that there are strict deadlines for each step, and if the applicants fail to make it in time, the applicants will not be recommended by Keio University for the Honors Scholarship. Prior to the first day of classes, those who have been selected for this scholarship program will receive an email from the student office regarding the application process and important deadlines. More information about JASSO will be provided during the international student orientation and if there are any questions, you can ask during that time. Do not hesitate to contact the student office if you are having any problems with the application process.

Good luck!