Japan Scholarship at Soka University Hachioji

Soka University runs a scholarship system for international (foreign national) students enrolled at the university to minimize financial strain. From the undergraduate level, the page describes two scholarship types for the period tied to the stated academic year: (1) the Soka University Undergraduate International Student Designated Country Grant and (2) the Soka University Makiguchi Foundation for Education Tuition Fee Reduction Scholarship for Undergraduate International Students.

The designated-country grant is for students with specific residence statuses or who are dependents of a guardian residing in designated countries and regions. It applies to students admitted to a faculty of the university (excluding the Distance Learning Division) and who have a willingness to actively participate in international exchange activities conducted by the university. The tuition fee reduction scholarship is for international students enrolled (or to be enrolled) in the Undergraduate Program who demonstrate excellent academic performance and good character and are experiencing difficulty continuing enrollment due to financial strain.

For the designated-country grant, recipients are determined through eligibility tied to enrollment and (after enrollment) a limited number of regular undergraduate students who meet the requirements and express willingness to participate in international exchange activities. For the tuition fee reduction scholarship, screening is conducted before enrollment, and the reduction is applied from the first year; those who want continuation must apply for each respective year. These scholarships are in the form of a grant, not a loan requiring repayment, and the tuition reduction applies to tuition and school fees only, not admission or application fees, registration fee, course materials, or club association fees.

• International students (foreign national) enrolled in the Undergraduate Program of Soka University.
• Designated Country Grant eligibility includes: at the time of enrollment, applicants must be admitted through undergraduate admissions for international students and meet the eligibility requirements below; after enrollment, up to the stated recipient limits apply to regular undergraduate students who meet the eligibility requirements and have willingness to actively participate in international exchange activities conducted by the university.
• Faculty/department scope for the Designated Country Grant: must be admitted to a faculty of the university (excluding the Distance Learning Division).
• Designated Country Grant residence/nationality criteria: a person holding a passport issued by a designated country or region with a residence status of “Student” as stipulated in Appended Table I of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, or with residence status such as “Permanent Resident,” “Spouse or Child of Japanese National,” “Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident,” or “Long-Term Resident.”
• Designated Country Grant alternative criteria: a dependent of a guardian who resides in a designated country or region and has the nationality, permanent residence, citizenship, or equivalent qualification of that country.
• Designated countries and regions include: Korea, Brazil, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and all over the African region as defined by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Tuition Fee Reduction Scholarship eligibility: international students who are/will be enrolled in the Undergraduate Program of Soka University, who demonstrate excellent academic performance and good character, and who are experiencing difficulty continuing enrollment because of financial strain.
• Both scholarship types: the university accepts applications from international students with a student visa and also Japanese national students who are dependents of a parent residing outside Japan and who possess citizenship, permanent residency, or a corresponding right of the relevant country or territory.
• Both scholarship types do not apply to students who have exceeded the standard length of enrollment.
• Undergraduate students are required to earn at least the stated number of credits by the end of each semester (to remain within the required credit thresholds per year/semester progression).

• Soka University Undergraduate International Student Designated Country Grant: 200,000 JPY as a lump-sum payment (one provision per individual) for eligible students at the time of enrollment.
• Soka University Undergraduate International Student Designated Country Grant: 300,000 JPY per year (up to four provisions per individual) for eligible regular undergraduate students after enrollment, within the stated recipient limits per school year and total.
• Soka University Makiguchi Foundation for Education Tuition Fee Reduction Scholarship for Undergraduate International Students: tuition fee reduction based on household annual income criteria—50% reduction if household annual income is below 8,000,000 JPY; no reduction if household annual income is 8,000,000 JPY or above.
• For the reduction scholarship, the reduced tuition fee applies to tuition and school fees, and does not apply to the application fee, admission fee, registration fee, course materials, or Gakuyu-kai Club Association fees.
• These scholarships are grants (not loans requiring repayment).

1. Apply for Undergraduate Admissions for International Students.
2. If applying for the Makiguchi Foundation tuition fee reduction scholarship, apply for it simultaneously with the undergraduate admissions application.
3. Wait for combined results: results for both the admissions application and the scholarship application are announced together.
4. For the tuition fee reduction scholarship, if you want to continue after the initial reduction period, apply for continuation for each respective year.