Kobayashi International Scholarship: Your All-Inclusive Funding Gateway to Study in Japan

Looking for a scholarship that does more than simply pay your tuition? The Kobayashi International Scholarship Foundation supports ambitious international students in Japan with funding, mentoring, and a friendly community that lasts well beyond graduation. Below you’ll find everything you need to decide if “Kobayashi” is the right fit—and exactly how to secure your spot.

1 Tracing the Foundation’s Roots & Mission

A Family Legacy of Learning

Established in April 2002 in Osaka by the founding family of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, the Foundation was born out of a conviction that business success should translate into wider social benefit. According to the company’s 2008 Annual Report, the scholarship began by sponsoring 63 Asian students and has expanded every year since.

The Foundation’s mission is clear: “to foster talented individuals who will promote international understanding and goodwill.” It focuses on students from East, South-East, and South Asia, nurturing a network that links campuses, industry, and government across the region. Regular exchange meetings, cultural trips, and joint research presentations ensure scholars gain soft-skills—and friendships—that outlast the stipend.

2 What the Scholarship Covers

Unlike many private awards, Kobayashi provides a monthly living stipend that closely matches MEXT levels while still letting you keep smaller campus grants (up to ¥50,000). Recent guidelines from Tokyo Medical & Dental University confirm the current rates:

Study Level	Monthly Stipend	Maximum Tenure
Undergraduate (3rd year ＋)	¥150,000	2 years
Master’s	¥180,000	2 years
博士	¥180,000	3 years

If you are conducting high-impact science, a separate “Special Research Fellowship” raises funding to ¥200,000 per month for up to five years, allowing you to focus exclusively on experiments, conferences, and publications (official system page).

3 How to Apply: A Step-by-Step Guide

Every university recommended by the Foundation publishes its own call. Common criteria—summarized from 东京大学 和 东北大学 notices—are:

• Asian nationality, under 35 years old
• Regular (degree-seeking) student, 3rd-year undergraduate or higher
• Self-financed and not receiving another large (> ¥50,000) scholarship
• Basic conversational Japanese (usually JLPT N2 equivalent)
• Recommendation letter from the President (or Dean) of your university

Most campuses open applications each January–February. Short-listed students interview in March and learn the final result before June, giving you time to plan visas and housing. For example, Kyoto University’s 2025 call closed on 5 February.

4 Community, Mentorship & Alumni Power

Scholars meet for workshops in Osaka, field trips to historic cities, and a summer retreat that doubles as a leadership boot camp. Attendance is mandatory—but most recipients say the peer feedback and networking far outweigh the travel cost (which the Foundation reimburses). Presenting your research here often leads to invitations from industry labs and government think-tanks.

Because alumni span medicine, engineering, policy, and the arts, the network is an instant gateway to jobs. Recent graduates credit the scholarship—plus the Foundation’s reference letter—for positions at J-POWER, Toyota Research, and the UNESCO Education Progress Lab.

5 Why Kobayashi Could Be Your Edge

Strong stipends, personal mentoring, and a pan-Asian alumni family make Kobayashi one of the most competitive private awards in Japan (JPSS scholarship database). If you’re ready to lead in research, business, or public service, bookmark your university’s scholarship office today—and mark February on your calendar.