The Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation is offering scholarships for international students planning to enroll in Ritsumeikan Asian Pacific University's (APU) Graduate School in Japan for the 2026 academic year. This prestigious scholarship provides substantial financial support for both master's and doctoral program candidates residing outside Japan.
About the Rotary Yoneyama Scholarship
The Rotary Yoneyama Scholarship for Overseas Candidates is specifically designed for international students currently living outside Japan who are planning to enroll in APU's Graduate School. The scholarship is open to both master's and doctoral program applicants.
It's important to note that applicants must apply to both APU and the scholarship organization independently. Candidates should thoroughly review the application and selection process for both institutions to ensure they meet all requirements.
Scholarship Benefits
The scholarship offers generous financial support to successful candidates:
Master's students: 140,000 JPY per month for two years
Doctoral students: 140,000 JPY per month for two years
Additionally, economy air travel and other travel-related expenses are reimbursed up to 250,000 JPY after arrival in Japan.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the Rotary Yoneyama Scholarship, applicants must:
Not hold Japanese nationality (including dual nationality holders)
Obtain a student visa to enter Japan for study purposes
Reside outside Japan until the start of the program
Have not resided in Japan for longer than 31 days in total (exceptions apply for family situations or participation in Rotary Youth Exchange high school program)
Possess Japanese language proficiency at least equivalent to JLPT N4 or above
Be born after April 2, 1980
Have not previously been a Rotary Yoneyama Scholar
For comprehensive details regarding eligibility requirements and other obligations, applicants should review the application guidelines on the scholarship organization's website.
Application and Selection Process
For both April and September 2025 enrollment, applicants must follow these steps:
Request to be considered as a Rotary Yoneyama scholarship candidate in the APU Online Application System and submit the application to APU by September 16, 2025.
Apply directly to the scholarship organization around October 2025. Notify the scholarship organization that the Acceptance Letter from the desired university will be issued after the application deadline.
APU will issue an Acceptance Letter for selected scholarship candidates after the admissions results notification. The results from APU will be announced on November 13, 2025.
Submit the Acceptance Letter to the scholarship organization.
If you have received a conditional selection from the Rotary Yoneyama scholarship organization but missed the application deadline to APU, please contact the university directly.
Important Note: The 2025 scholarship application guidelines have not yet been announced, so there may be changes to the scholarship conditions. Please ensure to check the details on the scholarship organization's website for the most up-to-date information.
Application Timeline
While the scholarship is for the 2026 academic year, the application process begins much earlier:
APU Application Deadline: September 16, 2025
Scholarship Organization Application: Around October 2025
APU Admissions Results: November 13, 2025
Prospective applicants should mark these dates on their calendars and prepare their applications well in advance to ensure they meet all requirements and deadlines.
This scholarship represents an excellent opportunity for international students seeking to pursue graduate studies in Japan. With its generous monthly stipend and travel reimbursement, the Rotary Yoneyama Scholarship significantly reduces the financial burden of studying abroad.
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