Rakuno Gakuen University Scholarships 2027 Open in Japan

Can your institution participate, and how do you secure a host before submitting? This guide explains the route, the costs to plan for, and the separate scholarships currently advertised for students already at RGU.

01. Who can join RGU’s 2027 research programme?

You must be a full-time professor, associate professor, assistant professor or lecturer at an institution with an RGU academic-cooperation agreement. Substantial academic experience is required. Student status alone does not qualify you for this visiting-academic programme.

Start with RGU’s partner-institution list. It includes institutions across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas, so the opportunity is not confined to the Thai audience of the announcement you may have seen. Some agreements name particular faculties or departments; match your actual affiliation, not simply your country.

RGU’s faculty and laboratory directory covers areas including soil science, animal genetics, crop nutrition, plant pathology and livestock nutrition. I would shortlist hosts by shared methods and research questions, then send a concise project idea explaining what you could accomplish together.

02. What does RGU fund—and what must you budget?

RGU provides housing and a capped living allowance, but this is partial funding. The monthly maximum is subject to the FY2027 budget; shorter-than-month stays receive prorated payments.

Researchers pay return travel, utilities and bedding. Research expenses must be secured by you or your host laboratory. I recommend agreeing a written budget with the host before choosing your stay length, including laboratory consumables and travel costs.

03. How do you apply for the RGU research visit?

Secure your host’s agreement, complete RGU’s forms, and send your application to its International Affairs Division.

Read the official 2027 research guidelines before assembling the application. Match your affiliation against RGU’s partner list and find a suitable host through its faculty directory.

1. Agree the research plan. The official application form currently linked by RGU asks for your institution, position, qualifications, publications, host, proposed dates, and research plan with a schedule. Additional sheets are permitted. Make the proposed output realistic for the time requested.
2. Prepare the documents. Use the RGU download page for designated forms. Assemble the checklist below; do not substitute an ordinary admissions application.
3. Coordinate submission. Send applicant documents to [email protected], addressed to Ms. Ai Hanada. The host may submit acceptance and previous-collaboration documentation directly. Keep copies and request receipt confirmation.

• Application with JPEG photo; separate 4 × 3 cm visa photo.
• CV and institution-head recommendation.
• Designated host acceptance letter; prior joint-research documentation where applicable.
• Designated health certificate for visits exceeding three months.
• Japanese translations unless documents are in English or Japanese.

The health certificate must be completed by a physician in Japanese or English. If it applies to your visit, arrange the appointment early enough for the doctor to complete the required examination entries.

For outbound awards, use the current spring and graduate call, scholarship fund guidelines and outbound programme instructions. The separate enrolled-student funding page describes standing tuition-relief and merit schemes.

For existing RGU students, programme applications also serve as scholarship applications. Submit to RGU’s Social Cooperation Division using the outbound programme instructions: Japanese/English forms, pledge, faculty recommendation and language evidence; discuss missing TOEIC scores with the office. Graduate applicants may use TOEFL and should include available research or acceptance evidence. Selection includes an interview.

04. Which other RGU scholarships are open?

Other open awards support existing RGU students travelling abroad, rather than new international applicants entering Japan. These fall under the Mitsugu Sato / Snow Brand Milk Products–Rakuno Gakuen–University of Alberta scholarship fund (佐藤貢・雪印乳業―酪農学園・アルバータ大学奨学金).

The current spring and graduate recruitment announcement and scholarship guidelines distinguish these routes:

RGU also lists tuition relief and a JPY 240,000 special scholarship for qualifying enrolled students. These standing schemes are not evidence of a currently open admission scholarship for overseas newcomers; no additional open incoming degree-scholarship call was verified.

05. Which application mistakes should you avoid?

06. RGU applicant questions, answered

07. When do applications close?

The research period runs from 1 April 2027 to 31 March 2028. RGU expects to notify applicants within one month after the deadline, according to its official 2027 guest researcher guidelines.