Nishimura Japan International Scholarship 2027 – 9 Steps Application Process

The Nishimura Foundation International Scholarship 2027 is open for applications thats basically offering something unusually specific: funding for Master’s or PhD study in Japan, but only for ITB alumni entering a defined group of Japanese universities in April 2027.

The scholarship provides JPY 130,000 per month, paid every three months, plus a one-time JPY 150,000 allowance after arrival in Japan to help reimburse airfare and initial settlement costs.

The catch is equally important: this is not an open global scholarship, and it is not enough to win the scholarship selection alone. Applicants must also secure admission to one of the participating Japanese universities, or the award will be cancelled.

2027 Intake Nishimura Scholarship Quick Info Box

Why This Scholarship Works Differently From a Typical Japan Award?

The Nishimura Foundation scholarship is designed around a very narrow applicant profile.

You must be an Indonesian citizen and an alumnus of Institut Teknologi Bandung, and you must plan to pursue graduate study at one of the Foundation’s approved universities in Japan.

Applicants are also expected to be studying at their own expense, while demonstrating that they face genuine financial difficulty in meeting living costs in Japan.

That wording matters. Based on the information supplied for this competition, the scholarship should be understood primarily as a living-support award, not automatically as a full tuition scholarship.

List of Japanese Universities Offering Nishimura Scholarship in 2027

Applicants targeting April 2027 can choose from a following set of Universities to apply for Nishimura scholarships:

• Kyoto University
• Kobe University
• Ritsumeikan University
• Kansai University
• Kwansei Gakuin University
• Doshisha University
• Osaka Metropolitan University
• University of Hyogo
• Kansai Medical University
• Kindai University
• Osaka University of Economics
• Osaka Institute of Technology
• Setsunan University
• The University of Osaka

Applicants planning to study online from Indonesia are specifically excluded. The scholarship is intended for students who will actually relocate to Japan.

What Academic Profile Is Required?

The published criteria distinguish between Master’s and doctoral applicants and applicants should have at least:

• 3.00 undergraduate GPA; and
• 3.50 Master’s GPA where the applicant is seeking doctoral study.

The Foundation also expects applicants to have either Japanese-language ability or a strong willingness to learn Japanese.

That language requirement is not purely academic. The scholarship also looks for applicants who show an interest in Japanese society and culture and who want to contribute to stronger Indonesia–Japan relations.

The Supervisor (LoA) Is a Crucial Part of the Application

One of the more demanding requirements is the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) from a prospective academic supervisor at the Japanese university. This means applicants cannot realistically leave their university search until the end.

Before submitting the scholarship package, candidates should already be engaging with prospective supervisors and developing a credible research direction. The official university admission letter can come later, after entrance examination results are released around February 2027, but the prospective supervisor’s acceptance is required much earlier.

That distinction is easy to miss: Supervisor acceptance first; final university admission can follow later.

What Documents Should You Prepare for Application Submission?

The application package for Nishimura foundation scholarship 2027-2028 requires a fairly complete academic and research profile and the candidates should prepare:

• CV in Japanese or English
• research proposal in Japanese or English
• motivational letter
• legalized diploma and academic transcript in English
• Japanese or English proficiency certificate
• recommendation letter from an academic supervisor
• prospective supervisor’s Letter of Acceptance
• recommendation addressed to the Nishimura Foundation from an academic supervisor, Head of Study Program or Dean

The official university LoA may be submitted later after admission results are released.

How to Build the Application for Nishimura Scholarship Without Getting Stuck?

A practical way to approach this Nishimura scholarship is:

1. First, confirm that you are actually eligible.
   You need Indonesian citizenship, ITB alumni status and an April 2027 Master’s or PhD plan.
2. Choose one of the approved Japanese universities.
   Do not prepare a generic Japan scholarship application before checking whether your intended university is on the list.
3. Identify a prospective supervisor.
   Your research direction should fit the supervisor’s work, not simply the university name.
4. Contact the supervisor early.
   You need a Letter of Acceptance from the prospective academic supervisor for the scholarship file.
5. Draft the research proposal and motivational letter.
   These should explain both the academic project and why Japan is relevant to your long-term goals.
6. Collect legalized academic documents.
   Prepare diplomas and transcripts in English before the final weeks.
7. Secure the required recommendations.
   One recommendation should come from an academic supervisor, and another must be addressed to the Nishimura Foundation by an eligible academic authority.
8. Include language proof.
   Japanese or English certification should be part of the package.
9. Submit your application for Nishimura foundation Scholarship with all these documents.

What Does the Scholarship Actually Pay?

Successful recipients receive JPY 130,000 per month.

The support period is:

• 2 years for Master’s students
• 3 years for doctoral students

Payments are made once every three months.

After arrival in Japan, scholars can also receive a one-time JPY 150,000 allowance, based on host-university recommendation, as reimbursement toward airfare and initial settlement costs.

Applicants should note that the supplied information does not state that tuition is paid by the Foundation. This is important because the eligibility language refers to students who will study at their own expense.

The Award Can Still Disappear After Selection

Passing the scholarship selection does not guarantee that the money will eventually be paid.

If the applicant fails to gain admission to one of the approved Japanese universities, the scholarship is cancelled.

That makes the university application and scholarship application two parts of the same plan.

A strong scholarship file with weak university preparation is therefore risky.

Who Should Seriously Target This?

This opportunity is strongest for an ITB graduate who already has:

a clear Master’s or PhD research plan, an eligible Japanese university in mind, a realistic prospective supervisor, strong academic records and a genuine financial need for living support.

The scholarship becomes particularly attractive because JPY 130,000 per month for two or three years offers substantial stability once the student is in Japan.

The last date to apply for the Nishimura Foundation International Scholarship 2027 is December 5, 2026, and the full document package must reach Yogyakarta by that date.

If you are unsure whether your GPA qualifies, how to approach a Japanese supervisor, whether your university is eligible, what should go into the research proposal, or whether the scholarship covers your particular costs, leave your question in the comments below the article. Mention whether you are applying for a Master’s or PhD and which Japanese university you are targeting so the issue can be addressed more precisely.