Foreign Students to Be Excluded from Doctoral Living Expense Support in Japan
Policy to Take Effect from 2026... Research Funding Will Continue
The Japanese government is moving to revise its support program for doctoral graduate students so that living expense benefits are limited to Japanese nationals only. This measure appears to reflect concerns that the proportion of support given to international students, particularly Chinese students, is excessively high.
The Japanese government has decided to exclude international students from living expense support in the scholarship program for doctoral graduate students. This policy comes amid criticism in the Japanese parliament that many Chinese international students have been benefiting from this program. Photo by Getty Images
According to the Yomiuri Shimbun and other Japanese media on June 26, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology plans to amend the operation of the "SPRING" (Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation) program, which was introduced in 2021. This program provides up to 2.9 million yen (approximately 2.72 million won) per year per person in living expenses and research funds to encourage enrollment in doctoral programs in Japan, regardless of nationality.
However, as of last year, out of 10,564 doctoral graduate students who received support, 4,125 were international students, and 2,904 of them were Chinese students. This means that 27.5% of all recipients were Chinese nationals.
In response, some members of the Japanese parliament have argued that "it is inappropriate to support Chinese students with Japanese public funds." The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has stated that, starting next year, living expenses will be provided only to Japanese nationals, while international students will continue to receive research funds only.
However, the amount of research funds will be adjusted based on research content and academic performance, and graduate students who are also employed will be included as eligible recipients. The Yomiuri Shimbun reported, "The main purpose of this program was originally to support Japanese students," and described the changes as a return to its original intent.
Meanwhile, some have expressed concern that this measure could negatively affect Japan's competitiveness in higher education and research. In fact, major European countries such as Germany and France provide both living expenses and research funds to graduate students regardless of nationality, while the United States actively attracts global talent through its own scholarship programs.
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