ASEAN–Japan Medical Scholarship Programme (Fully Funded)

Application Process | Enrollment in April 2026

If you are looking to study 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 Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW). This merit-based scholarship is available exclusively for undergraduate medical students. It covers full tuition fees, living expenses, airfare, and health insurance in Japan.

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 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: 17 October 2025

Scholarship Coverage

• Tuition and admission fees
• Living expenses
• Airfare between home country and Japan
• Health insurance
• Textbooks

Eligibility Criteria

• Required Language: English
• Eligible Countries: ASEAN Member States
• Eligible Universities and Faculties: Medical students from faculties of medicine at selected ASEAN universities
• Eligible Students: First/second year undergraduate medical 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 recommendation letter.
6. Submit your application to ERIA.
7. ERIA will shortlist and interview candidates.
8. ERIA will notify the results via email.

Required Documents for the ASEAN–Japan Medical Scholarship Programme (Enrolment in April 2026)

1. Application form

• Download from ERIA’s website

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
• 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 September 2025)

• International University of Health and Welfare, Japan

Timeline

• Application opens for the scholarship: 29 September 2025
• Application deadline: 17 October 2025
• ERIA’s application review period: 20–24 October 2025
• Interview with ERIA: 27–31 October 2025 (online)
• Announcement of selected applicants: 3–7 November 2025

Terms and Conditions

• The scholarship covers tuition and admissions fees for a Bachelor of Medical Studies degree, living expenses, textbooks, and airfare.
• Living expenses of ¥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 health test document stating that the applicants are both physically and mentally healthy is required.
• Students must be enrolled full-time to receive the scholarship.
• Students should not withdraw or cancel for any reason. In the case of withdrawal, cancellation, repetition of a year, or any other circumstances in which students cannot continue their studies in Japan, students must refund all scholarships they have received, including those directly transferred to the Japan 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.

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

1. ERIA AJMSP Application Form

2. ERIA AJMSP Essay Template