Scholarships for Students and Graduates from Japan

Below, we have summarized the most important DAAD scholarship programmes for students and researchers from Japan.

For a comprehensive list of all available scholarships, please refer to the DAAD scholarship database. In this overview, we give only short descriptions of the funding programmes. For further information, please follow the links to the official announcements.

Important information

Due to the financial cuts, funding for summer and winter courses and all other short-term funding must unfortunately be cancelled this year.

DAAD-Funding Programmes

Adressees: Graduates who have completed a first degree (Bachelor, Diplom or comparable academic degree)

Short description: Participation in a postgraduate Programme after a first undergraduate course of study for the purpose of technical or scientific specialization.
Selection process:
1. Screening of the application documents
2. Interview (only long-term scholarships)

Duration: between 10 and 24 months depending on the chosen study programme

Link to database: Official announcement

Adressees: Young academics and scientists who have completed a Master’s degree or Diplom, or in exceptional cases a Bachelor’s degree

Short description: Doctoral Programmes at a state or state-recognized institution of higher education or a non-university research institute in Germany.
Selection process:
1. Screening of the application documents
2. Interview (only long-term scholarships)

Duration: Long-term: 7-48 months / 【cancelled】Short-term: 1-6 months

Link to database: Doctoral Programmes in Germany / Bi-nationally Supervised Doctoral Degrees /
One-Year Grants /
【cancelled】Short-Term Grants

Adressees: Foreign applicants from the areas of Architecture, Music, Performing Arts as well as Fine Art, Design/Visual Communication and Film

Short description: A postgraduate degree leading to a final qualification, or further training that does not lead to a final qualification.

Duration: between 10 and 24 months depending on the chosen study programme

Link to database: Official announcements:
Architecture,
Music,
Fine Art, Design/Visual Communication and Film
Performing Arts

Adressees: University teachers from a foreign university.

Short description: Study trips for groups of a maximum of 15 students accompanied by one university teacher.

Duration: 7- 12 days

Link to database: Official announcement

Adressees: Students in Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in any subject area. Bachelor students must have completed at least two academic years at the start of the scholarship period.
In principle, applicants must provide proof of a minimum language level of A1-B1.

Short description: The programme supports the attendance of language courses and seminars in the field of area studies.

Duration: about 4 weeks

Link to database: Official announcement

Adressees: Former holders of DAAD research grants or study scholarships (Funding over 6 months)

Short description: Research and working projects at a university or non-university research institute in Germany.

Duration: 1 – 3 months

Link to database: Official announcement

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation offers various funding Programmes for researchers as well as Sponsorship Programmes for Postdoctoral Scientists and Scholars.

Max Planck Insitute
The Max Planck Institute mainly offers scholarships for doctoral candidates, postdocs and experienced scientists:

Individual Doctoral Projects at Max Planck Institutes
International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS)
Advanced Postdoctoral Training for postdocs with at least 2 years of experience
Head of an Independent Junior Research Group at Max Planck Institutes
Experienced researchers

Helmholtz Association
The Helmholtz Association mainly offers scholarships for doctoral candidates and postdocs:

Individual Doctoral Projects at Helmholtz Centeres
International Helmholtz Research Schools and Graduate Schools
Helmholtz-(University) Young Investigators Groups

German Research Foundation (DFG)
The German Research Foundation (DFG) mainly offers scholarships for doctoral candidates, postdocs and experienced scientists:Research Training Group

Leibnitz Institute
Foreign Visiting Scientists at Leibniz-Institutes: www.leibniz-association.eu

Frauenhofer Institute
For further Information please refer to www.fraunhofer.de/en/jobs-career.html

IAESTE
The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience places internships at German firms.

Erasmus Mundus
The EU provides scholarships for students and teachers as part of the Erasmus Mundus Master Programme.

Research in Germany
Find information and announcements of scholarships for doctoral students and researchers in Germany.
https://www.research-in-germany.org/en/research-funding/funding-programmes.html

Jasso
The Japan Student Service Organization (JASSO) provides a comprehensive scholarship database:
https://ryugaku-shogakukin.jasso.go.jp/scholarship_abroad/page?action=swfglsearchjasso

MEXT
The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) also offers a wide range of scholarship opportunities for students from Japan going abroad:
http://www.tobitate.mext.go.jp/