Japan JEES Ishibashi Foundation Scholarship 2026 for Art History Students Worldwide

Students planning to pursue advanced studies in art history now have a prestigious funding opportunity on the horizon. The 2026 JEES/Ishibashi Foundation Scholarship (First Term, Inbound/Outbound) has officially been announced by the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES), offering generous monthly support for both international students coming to Japan and Japanese students heading abroad.

Designed to strengthen academic exchange in art history and related fields, this scholarship supports master’s and doctoral students for up to two years starting April 2026. With substantial monthly stipends and a clear academic focus, the program aims to empower the next generation of scholars shaping the global understanding of art, culture, and heritage.

Importantly, this scholarship supports both inbound and outbound mobility—making it a rare dual-direction funding program in Japan’s higher education landscape.

A Generous Monthly Funding Plan for Future Scholars

The JEES Ishibashi Foundation Scholarship 2026 offers a powerful financial package for graduate students pursuing art history and related disciplines. With a generous monthly stipend and multi-year funding duration, this scholarship allows scholars to concentrate fully on academic research and international study without financial pressure.

Funding Benefits for Selected Scholars

Selected applicants will receive the following monthly financial support:

For International Students (Inbound to Japan):

• 150,000 yen monthly stipend
• Funding duration: Up to 2 years starting from April 2026

For Japanese Students Studying Abroad (Outbound):

• 200,000 yen monthly stipend
• Funding duration: Up to 2 years starting from April 2026

This financial support is intended to help cover tuition fees, accommodation, daily living costs, and academic research expenses during the scholarship period. The monthly stipend ensures scholars can maintain financial stability while pursuing master’s or doctoral studies in art history and closely related fields.

The total number of scholarship awards for the 2026 intake has not been officially announced, indicating a highly competitive selection process for qualified candidates worldwide.

Who Can Apply? Academic and Financial Criteria Explained

This scholarship is specifically tailored for serious postgraduate candidates with a clear academic direction and financial need.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be majoring in art history
• Related fields such as architectural history, craft history, history, and curation are also eligible if clearly connected
• Have a well-defined study or research plan
• Demonstrate strong academic performance
• Show financial need
• Be physically and mentally healthy
• Maintain good conduct

Additional student category requirements:

For International Students (Inbound):

• Must be self-financed
• Applying from overseas for master’s or doctoral programs in Japan (including research students)
• Must hold “Student” residence status while in Japan

For Japanese Students (Outbound):

• Must plan to enroll as regular students in a master’s or doctoral program at a university overseas during the 2026 academic year

This opportunity is strictly for graduate-level students (Master’s and PhD).

Apply: https://www.shinshu-u.ac.jp/institution/gec/support_for_International_students/current_students/scholarship/2026jees.php

The deadline for submission from each department to the International Planning Division is Friday, March 27, 2026.