The Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation supports students entering or transferring into full-time degree programs at Japanese universities and graduate schools. Recipients study in Japan and receive both financial support and guidance through a local Sewa Club and counselor.
The program aims to strengthen academic work, cross-cultural understanding, and communication skills. Applications are currently closed; the 2027-entry cycle is scheduled to open on October 1, 2026.
Benefits & funding
- Undergraduates receive 100,000 yen per month; master’s and doctoral students receive 140,000 yen per month.
- Recipients may receive up to 250,000 yen toward eligible travel-to-Japan costs after submitting receipts.
- The scholarship lasts two years: April 2027 to March 2029, September 2027 to August 2029, or October 2027 to September 2029.
- A Sewa Club and counselor provide personal support; scholars must attend a club meeting at least monthly and submit Japanese-language reports twice a year.
Eligibility
- Applicants must enter or transfer into a full-time degree program at a Japanese university or graduate school in April, September, or October 2027; research, short-term, trainee, and other non-degree students are ineligible.
- Applicants must not hold Japanese citizenship when entering Japan; non-Japanese dual nationals and stateless applicants are covered by the guide.
- Applicants are generally expected to live outside Japan until entry; limited prior stays of up to 365 days, compulsory-education family stays, and Rotary Youth Exchange alumni are among the stated exceptions.
- Applicants must have passed JLPT N3 or higher by the application date and must be under 45 on April 1, 2027.
- All fields of study are eligible, but former Yoneyama scholars cannot apply and comparable individual scholarships cannot be held concurrently.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Education required
High School · Bachelor Enrolled · Bachelor · Master
Age requirement
≤ 44 yrs
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Application process
- 1Select and apply to an eligible Japanese university or graduate school before the scholarship application, then gather the admission or examination evidence required for that institution.
- 2Download and complete the designated application form, research proposal, short essay, and recommendation letter; graduate applicants normally need a letter from their prospective academic adviser.
- 3Register on the scholarship portal, enter the applicant information, and upload the complete document set during the application window.
- 4The district committee reviews documents and may interview the applicant online or contact the applicant and academic adviser by phone or email.
- 5Results are issued by mid-March 2027; applicants awaiting admission must provide the university acceptance document by March 25 for April entry or August 25 for September or October entry.
Program timeline
Latest completed-cycle application deadline.
Oct 31, 2025
Applications for 2027 enrollment open at 13:00 JST.
Oct 1, 2026
Applications for 2027 enrollment close at 13:00 JST.
Oct 31, 2026
Selection results announced by email.
By mid-March 2027
Acceptance-document deadline for April entrants whose admission result was pending.
Mar 25, 2027
Scholarship begins for April entrants.
Apr 1, 2027
Acceptance-document deadline for September and October entrants whose admission result was pending.
Aug 25, 2027
Scholarship begins for fall entrants.
Sep 1, 2027 or Oct 1, 2027