Yanai Tadashi Foundation International Scholarship

About the Scholarship

The numbers are the story. Up to 115,000 US dollars a year in the United States, 70,000 pounds in the United Kingdom, or 120,000 Canadian dollars in Canada, each split between university charges and a separate subsidy for learning, research and living. Held for four years, or three or four in the United Kingdom.

That buys the whole of an American undergraduate education at list price, which is why the award is restricted to the top 50 or so universities in the United States and comparable institutions in the United Kingdom and Canada.

There are two ways in, and which one applies depends on where a student is in their own admissions process. One round runs from early July to mid-August for students who have not yet matriculated. The other runs from late December to mid-January for students already holding a university acceptance. Around 20 awards are made in each.

Eligibility is narrow by design: Japanese citizenship held throughout enrolment, and preferably Japanese residence when applying. The Foundation is explicit that it is investing in people who will bring international insight back to Japanese society.

The rule on combining awards is more permissive than it first reads. Another Japan-based scholarship is discouraged, but scholarships with repayment obligations, non-Japanese scholarships, and grants that are not for tuition or living costs, including research grants and entrepreneurship funding, can all be held alongside this one.

One practical barrier worth knowing before starting: the Foundation states that the application details are available in Japanese only, even though the programme overview is published in English.

The Foundation's programme page was checked on 16 September 2026.

What It Covers

Tuition
Housing
Health insurance
Living stipend

The maximum award differs by destination and is paid per student per year. In the United States it is 115,000 dollars, made up of up to 100,000 for university charges covering tuition, room and board and insurance, plus 15,000 for learning, research and living expenses. In the United Kingdom it is 70,000 pounds, being up to 59,000 for university charges plus 11,000 in subsidies. In Canada it is 120,000 Canadian dollars, being up to 100,000 plus 20,000. Funding runs four years in the United States and Canada and three or four in the United Kingdom, with the period set by the Foundation at its discretion. The Foundation also runs pre-departure camps and social events and assigns mentors.

Eligibility

Be a Japanese citizen throughout the enrolment period, preferably resident in Japan at the time of applying, and be admitted to an eligible university: the top 50 or so in the United States and comparable institutions in the United Kingdom and Canada. Applicants are expected to be able to use international insight to lead in their chosen field and contribute to Japanese society, and must agree to hold the scholarship for four years, or three or four in the United Kingdom. Recipients preferably hold no other Japan-based scholarship, though awards carrying repayment obligations, non-Japanese scholarships, and grants that are not for tuition or living costs, such as research grants and entrepreneurship funding, may be combined with it. Scholars are also asked to help with public relations and community building.

Eligible Countries

Japanese citizens, who must hold that citizenship throughout the period of enrolment and are preferably resident in Japan when applying.

🇯🇵 Japan

How to Apply

Two rounds run each year and a candidate applies through whichever fits their stage. The round for students applying before matriculation runs from early July to mid-August, and the round for students already accepted by a university runs from late December to mid-January. Around 20 scholarships are awarded in each round across the three countries. The Foundation states that the application details themselves are available in Japanese only, and HLAB administers the programme.

Application Routes and Dates

Prior to matriculation

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Recurring deadline: ago (check provider for current cycle)

Recurring opening: 07 (check provider for current cycle).

Timing source · Checked 2026-09-16

University-accepted students

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Recurring deadline: ene (check provider for current cycle)

Recurring opening: 12 (check provider for current cycle).

Timing source · Checked 2026-09-16