Full funding · Study in Japan
Yoshida Scholarship Foundation YKK Leaders 21 Scholarship
Monthly stipend, tuition support and a settling-in allowance for the standard length of the degree
- Funder
- Yoshida Scholarship Foundation
- Level
- Postgraduate · Doctoral
- Coverage
- Full
About this scholarship
Established in 1967 by the founder of the YKK Group, the Yoshida Scholarship Foundation funds international graduate students in the natural sciences at a defined list of Japanese universities.
Designated institutions include the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Waseda and Keio, and candidates are recommended by those universities rather than applying directly to the foundation.
🗓️ Deadline
Pre-approval is granted before arrival in Japan, with university nomination deadlines usually in the autumn
Award cycles shift year to year. Confirm the current deadline on the official site before you plan around it.
Eligibility
- Applying to a master's or doctoral course in a natural science field
- Enrolling at one of the universities designated by the foundation
- Recommendation from the Japanese host university — this is the route in
- Pre-approval is normally given before you arrive in Japan
- Support runs up to two years for master's and three for the final doctoral years
How to apply
- Choose a designated university and identify a prospective supervisor
- Ask the university's international office about its Yoshida nomination timetable
- Prepare research plans and transcripts for the internal nomination
- Complete the foundation's forms once nominated
- Ask your Tutopiya counsellor to help approach supervisors at designated universities
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Yoshida Scholarship Foundation YKK Leaders 21 Scholarship: your questions, answered
What does the Yoshida Scholarship Foundation YKK Leaders 21 Scholarship cover?
Monthly stipend, tuition support and a settling-in allowance for the standard length of the degree. Established in 1967 by the founder of the YKK Group, the Yoshida Scholarship Foundation funds international graduate students in the natural sciences at a defined list of Japanese universities.
Who is eligible for the Yoshida Scholarship Foundation YKK Leaders 21 Scholarship?
Core requirements are: Applying to a master's or doctoral course in a natural science field; Enrolling at one of the universities designated by the foundation; Recommendation from the Japanese host university — this is the route in; Pre-approval is normally given before you arrive in Japan; Support runs up to two years for master's and three for the final doctoral years. Eligibility rules are set by the funder and can change each cycle, so confirm on the official site before applying.
When is the Yoshida Scholarship Foundation YKK Leaders 21 Scholarship deadline?
Pre-approval is granted before arrival in Japan, with university nomination deadlines usually in the autumn. Because award cycles shift year to year, always check the official programme website for the current date.
What does the placement service cost?
A flat SGD 50, billed as two monthly instalments of SGD 25. That covers everything: counselling, university matching, application support and guidance right up to your offer. There are no hidden extras, no agent fees and no commission on your tuition, because our counselling is funded by our university partners, the SGD 50 only covers administration. Separately, you pay the university’s own tuition or semester fees directly to the university after you accept your offer.
What exactly do you help with?
Everything from start to finish: understanding your options, shortlisting the right programme, preparing your application and personal statement, submitting to the university, and guiding you through the offer, enrolment and visa paperwork, all with a dedicated counsellor.
Which universities can you place me into?
We place students into a range of UK and international universities, and we shortlist the best-fit options for your grades, budget and goals rather than pushing a single school. On some pages we run dedicated SGD 50 placement drives for a specific partner university, and we are always adding more partners. Tell us your goals and your counsellor will map out your options.