The Honjo scholarship 2027 is open to Pakistani students who want to do a master’s or PhD at a graduate school in Japan. The Honjo International Scholarship Foundation pays up to ¥230,000 a month, and you do not have to repay it. The last date to apply online is 31 October 2026.
About ten students from all countries are selected each year, so a strong research plan and a clear career goal matter. Below are the eligibility rules, the documents you need and the steps to apply.
Key details
| Organisation | Honjo International Scholarship Foundation (HISF), Japan |
|---|---|
| Programme | Scholarship for Foreign Students (master’s and PhD in Japan) |
| Scholarships | About 10 students |
| Monthly stipend | ¥230,000 (1 to 2 year degree), ¥210,000 (3 year), ¥180,000 (4 to 5 year) |
| Study start | April 2027 |
| Age limit | Master’s: start by age 30. PhD: start by age 35 |
| Last date | 31 October 2026 (online) |
| Official website | hisf.or.jp |
Honjo scholarship eligibility for Pakistani students
All nationalities and research fields can apply. You do not need your university to nominate you, as you apply directly to the foundation. According to the 2027 guideline, you must:
- Not hold Japanese citizenship.
- Be enrolled in, or applying to, a master’s or doctoral programme at a Japanese graduate school as of April 2027. You can apply from Pakistan, but you need an admission or acceptance letter from the Japanese university.
- Start the master’s course by age 30, or the PhD course by age 35. The foundation says there are no exceptions.
- Have more than 12 months left until graduation.
- Be able to hold a basic conversation in Japanese. The interview is in Japanese.
- Show a strong commitment to serving your home country in your future career.
Students at professional graduate schools are generally not eligible unless they submit a research plan.
Benefits of the scholarship
The stipend is paid every month for the minimum time needed to finish your degree, starting from April 2027. The amount depends on the length of the degree, as shown in the table above. It is a grant, so there is nothing to pay back.
You can hold it alongside a small number of other awards, including the Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarship, the JSPS International Fellowship and the JICA scholarship. Other scholarships cannot be combined with it. During the award you may only take part-time work linked to your studies, such as teaching or research assistant roles.
Documents required
- Face photo (.jpg or .gif, up to 500 kB).
- A video of up to 2 minutes explaining your research (.mp4 or .mov, Japanese or English, face visible). This is compulsory.
- An optional 30 second self-introduction video.
- Undergraduate transcript, with a translation if it is not in English or Japanese.
- Research proposal on the foundation’s template (Japanese preferred, English accepted).
- Recommendation letter from your supervisor, signed or stamped.
- Admission letter, acceptance letter or enrolment certificate from the Japanese graduate school.
If your admission letter is not ready by 31 October, the guideline allows you to enter the expected date in the system and email the letter later.
How to apply for the Honjo scholarship 2027
- Read the 2027 application guideline on the foundation’s website and confirm you meet every condition, especially the age limit.
- Download the research plan template and write your proposal, including how your research will help Pakistan.
- Record your 2 minute research video and prepare scanned PDFs of your documents.
- Open the HISF online application system, fill in the form and upload all files.
- Submit before 31 October 2026. Save the PDF and application number you receive, as results are announced by application number.
Applications by post are not accepted. You can edit your data in the system until the deadline.
Selection schedule
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Online applications | 1 September to 31 October 2026 |
| Document screening result | 31 January 2027 |
| Interview (Tokyo or video call) | 9 February 2027 |
| Final result | 31 March 2027 |
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for the Honjo scholarship from Pakistan?
Yes. You can apply from abroad, but you must already be accepted to a Japanese graduate school, or expect your admission letter for an April 2027 start.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
Yes, basic conversation is required because the interview is held in Japanese. The research video and proposal can be in English.
Is the Honjo scholarship fully funded?
It is a monthly stipend of ¥180,000 to ¥230,000 that does not need to be repaid. The foundation describes it as a monthly stipend, so check the guideline and your university for tuition and travel costs.
See more study abroad and local awards in our Scholarships section, including the Maastricht University Scholarship 2027.
Note: Always confirm details on the official website before you apply or pay any fee. Great Pak Times is not affiliated with any government body.
Source: Honjo International Scholarship Foundation, Scholarship for Foreign Students and 2027 application guideline. Checked 5 October 2026.