Call for Applications: ASEAN–Japan Medical Scholarship Programme 2027–2035 (Fully Funded)

Application Process | Enrolment in 2027

If you are looking to study medicine in Japan with a fully funded scholarship, this is a fantastic opportunity. The ASEAN–Japan Medical Scholarship Programme is currently open. This webpage provides a detailed overview of this scholarship, its benefits and requirements, and the step-by-step application process.

The ASEAN–Japan Medical Scholarship Programme is a fully funded medical scholarship programme for students from ASEAN Member States (AMS), managed and sponsored by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) and the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan. This merit-based scholarship is available exclusively for undergraduate medical students. It covers full tuition fees, living expenses, and airfare.

The ASEAN–Japan Medical Scholarship Programme aims to raise medical standards, reduce health disparities, expand educational opportunities, and ultimately foster a diverse and collaborative healthcare environment across ASEAN. It offers AMS undergraduate students the opportunity to study medicine at Japanese medical schools, preparing them to become leading doctors or public health experts.

Scholarship Summary

• Level of Study: Undergraduate
• Institutions: Japanese medical schools
• Host Country: Japan
• Course Offered: Medicine
• Programme Period: 6 years (followed by 2 years of paid initial clinical training in Japan)
• Application Deadline:

Category A (For students who will complete the selection process using English Only):

o 30 April 2026

Category B (For students who hold a Japanese Language Proficiency Certificate and will complete the selection process using both English and Japanese):

o 31 August 2026

Scholarship Coverage

• Tuition and admission fees
• Living expenses
• Return airfare between home country and Japan
• Textbooks

Eligibility Criteria

• Required Language:

Category A:

• English

Category B:

o English and Japanese

• Eligible Countries: ASEAN Member States
• Eligible Students:

Category A:

o First-/second-year undergraduate medical students from faculties of medicine at ASEAN universities that have signed an Mo U with ERIA

Category B:

o First-/second-year undergraduate medical students from faculties of medicine at ASEAN universities

o Only for women students

How to Apply

1. Fill out the application form.
2. Prepare academic transcripts and degree certificates.
3. Prepare an essay.
4. Prepare an English proficiency test certificate (optional).
5. Prepare a Japanese language proficiency certificate (optional for Category A students but an obligation for Category B students). One of the following certificates is acceptable.

o Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT): N1 or N2

o Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students (EJU): 200 points or higher in the Japanese section

6. Prepare a recommendation letter.
7. Submit your application to ERIA.
8. ERIA will shortlist and interview candidates.
9. ERIA will notify the results via email.

Required Documents for the ASEAN–Japan Medical Scholarship Programme

1. Application form

• Download from ERIA’s website (please scroll down to the bottom of the page).

2. Academic transcripts and degree certificates

• High school academic transcript verified with official stamps
• First-year undergraduate academic transcripts verified with official stamps
• Note: If the transcripts are not in English, provide a certified English translation.

3. Essay

• Download the template from ERIA’s website (please scroll down to the bottom of the page).
• Your essay should describe:
• Your purpose of studying in Japan.
• Why you believe you qualify for the scholarship by articulating the following:
• Your knowledge of the health system in your country and your contribution if you are a medical doctor.
• Your achievement, leadership, and teamwork skills in academic and extracurricular settings.
• A brief plan for your medical doctor’s study and future career after graduation.
• Must be less than 1,000 words

4. One recommendation letter from the faculty of your university
5. English proficiency certificate (optional)

Applicable Host University (as of March 2026)

Category A

· International University of Health and Welfare, Japan

Category B

· Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Japan (only women students can apply)
For details, please visit the university website (Japanese | English). Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Japanese-language site for comprehensive information.

Timeline

Category A. For students who will complete the selection process using English Only

• 1 March 2026: Application opens for the scholarship
• 30 April 2026: Application deadline
• 1–8 May 2026: ERIA’s application review period
• 11–20 May 2026: Interview with ERIA (online)
• 25–29 May 2026: Announcement of selected applicants
• June–September 2026: Japanese university’s selection
• October 2026 (P)–March 2027: Japanese language programme
• April 2027: Student enrolment

Category B. For students who hold a Japanese Language Proficiency Certificate and will complete the selection process using both English and Japanese

• 1 March 2026: Application opens for the scholarship
• 31 August 2026: Application deadline
• 1–11 September 2026: ERIA’s application review period
• 14–23 September 2026: Interview with ERIA (online)
• 21–25 September 2026: Announcement of selected applicants
• October–early February 2026: Japanese university’s selection
• April 2027: Student enrolment

Terms and Conditions

• The scholarship covers tuition and admissions fees for a Bachelor of Medical Studies degree and Japanese language programme, living expenses, textbooks, and return airfare.
• Living expenses of up to ¥120,000 per month include dormitory fees, meal allowance, and healthcare insurance premium.
• Students must remain enrolled in the programme as specified in the Letter of Offer issued by the Japanese university.
• A medical checkup result is required after passing the selection.
• Students must be enrolled full-time to receive the scholarship.
• In the event of withdrawal, cancellation, repetition of a year, or any other situation in which students are unable to continue their studies in Japan, unless formally approved due to unavoidable circumstance such as illness, students must refund all scholarships they have received, including those directly transferred to Japanese universities.
• To maintain scholarship eligibility, students must pass all courses in the determined period of study and progress successfully thereafter.
• Deferral of the scholarship is not permitted.
• Upon completion of the postgraduate mandatory rotating residency training, students shall return to their respective home countries and undertake employment at a location designated by ERIA for the duration of the obligatory term of service, which shall be seven (7) years in principle. Students may pursue postgraduate studies in Japan, subject to prior approval by both ERIA and the relevant Japanese university. For the avoidance of doubt, the period spent undertaking postgraduate studies shall not be counted towards the obligatory term of service.
• Students shall comply with all other relevant rules and regulations.

Your completed application form must be submitted as a PDF file by email, with ‘Application for ASEAN-Japan Medical Scholarship Programme’ as the subject line.

Please ensure that all supporting documents are attached to the email. Please send the email to hcu.ajmsp@eria.org and cc achmad.solikhin@eria.org and nanda.putri@eria.org.

The deadline for applications is 5 PM (Jakarta Time/GMT+07:00) on

Category A (For students who will complete the selection process using English Only):

- Thursday, 30 April 2026

Category B (For students who hold a Japanese Language Proficiency Certificate and will complete the selection process using both English and Japanese):

- Monday, 31 August 2026

Please ensure you download and use the official templates provided below.

1. ERIA AJMSP Application Form

2. ERIA AJMSP Essay Template