Maki Tobe Foundation Scholarship 2026
The Tobe Maki Foundation Scholarship’s 2026 application cycle wrapped up in May; online submissions closed on 8th May 2026, with original documents needing to arrive by post no later than 12th May. If you’re catching this after the fact, take heart: the foundation runs this award every single year without fail, on a near-identical calendar, so this piece doubles as both a record of exactly how the 2026 round worked and a head start on the 2027 cycle.
Don’t Forget To Read: Top Scholarships in Germany for International Students
One thing worth flagging upfront, since several sites get this wrong: this scholarship is not fully funded. It’s a monthly living stipend only, with no tuition waiver attached, so factor that into your budgeting if you’re weighing it against other Japan-based awards. The scholarship is available to both Japanese students and self-funded international students studying in Japan. Successful applicants will receive monthly financial support for up to two years, with the possibility of extension.
Must-Read: Top Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships in Europe
Maki Tobe Foundation Scholarship Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Tobe Maki Foundation |
| Host Country ⇒ | Japan |
| Study Level ⇒ | Undergraduate, Masters and PhD |
| Benefits ⇒ | Up to ¥840,000/year (partial funding — stipend only, no tuition coverage) |
| Funded by ⇒ | Tobe Maki Foundation |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All countries |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | 2026 cycle closed 8th May (online) / 12th May (postal). Based on the annual pattern, expect the 2027 cycle to open around April 2027 with a similar early-May deadline |
Who’s Behind the Scholarship
The Tobe Maki Foundation is a Japanese private grant-making body built around a specific mission — catching talented students who are academically strong but financially stretched, and giving them breathing room to focus on their studies rather than their bank balance. It isn’t tied to one university; recipients can be enrolled anywhere in Japan, from Tokyo to Osaka to any accredited institution in between, provided their field of study lines up with the foundation’s priority areas.
Don’t Miss: Top Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students 2026
Those areas are notably specific and a little unusual as a group: chemistry, food science, art and design, physical education and sports science, and business-adjacent fields, including public management and marketing. You don’t need a department with a matching name; what matters is whether your actual coursework or research fits one of these categories.
The scholarship is open to:
- Undergraduate students in their third year or above
- Master’s students
- Doctoral students
Professional courses are also eligible if they require a thesis or an equivalent project.
The Financial Package, Broken Down
The stipend scales by study level and runs monthly, not as a lump sum:
- Graduate students (Master’s and PhD): ¥70,000 per month, totalling ¥840,000 a year.
- Undergraduate students: ¥60,000 per month, totalling ¥720,000 a year.
- Students already receiving certain Japanese government doctoral funding — specifically the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship or the Japan Science and Technology Agency’s Next Generation Researcher Challenging Programme — see their award reduced to ¥420,000 a year rather than the full amount.
- Funding runs for up to two years, with the possibility of extension, and payments are made directly to recipients rather than routed through the university.
- Students in their final year, studying abroad, or starting in the fall semester can apply for a shorter funding period rather than the full two years.
Eligibility Requirements
- You must be enrolled at a university or graduate school in Japan for the full scholarship period.
- You must be an undergraduate student in your third year or above, or a master’s or doctoral student.
- Your studies or research must relate to chemistry, food science, art and design, physical education/sports science, business administration, public management, or marketing — regardless of your department’s official name.
- You must be under 30 years old as of 1st April of the application year, though exceptions apply for documented circumstances like childcare, illness, or natural disasters.
- You need a strong academic record, demonstrated good character, and genuine financial need.
- International applicants must be self-funded and hold a valid “Student” residence status.
- Already holding another scholarship doesn’t automatically disqualify you, unless your other provider prohibits simultaneous funding — though your Tobe Maki award may be reduced if your combined outside funding is substantial.
Applicants may still apply if they are already receiving another scholarship, unless the other scholarship provider does not allow simultaneous funding. Projects or studies already supported by another non-repayable scholarship may receive a reduced award from the foundation.
Application Paper Trail
Assembling documents for this one takes real lead time, so it’s worth listing everything together:
- Scholarship application form, in the foundation’s own format.
- Letter of recommendation, also in the foundation’s format, signed and stamped by both your university president, dean, or department head (or equivalent) and your academic supervisor.
- Certificate of enrolment.
- Official academic transcripts — graduate applicants must include undergraduate transcripts too, and transfer students need records from every previous institution.
- A GPA certificate, if your transcript doesn’t already show one.
- Residence certificate and a copy of your residence card, with your My Number details removed.
- A passport-style photo taken within the last three months.
- Art and Design students may attach up to three A4 pages of portfolio or supporting material.
Getting Your Application In: A Two-Track Process
This is the part that trips up the most applicants, so pay close attention: you must complete both an online submission and a postal submission, and the two need to match exactly.
- Register on the foundation’s official application system and set up your personal application page.
- Complete the entire form in Japanese — there’s no English-language option, and correspondence after selection is conducted in Japanese too.
- Upload every required document as a PDF and submit online before the deadline. Once submitted, the web form locks and can’t be edited, so proofread thoroughly first.
- Print the mailing invoice generated after your online submission.
- Post the original documents — mailing invoice, recommendation letter, enrolment certificate, transcripts, GPA documents, and residence certificate — to the foundation’s Osaka office, timed to arrive by the postal deadline (four days after the online cutoff in the 2026 cycle).
- Double-check that your mailed documents are identical to what you submitted online. A mismatch, an incomplete set, or a late arrival on either side results in disqualification.
Application Deadline
The 2026 cycle closed on 8th May for online submission and 12th May for the arrival of posted originals — both firm, with no extensions granted. The foundation hasn’t announced its 2027 dates yet, but going by this year’s pattern, expect the application system to open around early April 2027, with a deadline landing close to 8th May 2027. Given the tight gap between the online and postal cutoffs, start gathering your recommendation letter and transcripts at least two months ahead of that window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Tobe Maki Foundation Scholarship fully funded?
No. It’s a partial-funding award — a monthly living stipend of ¥60,000 to ¥70,000, with no tuition fee coverage included. You’ll need to cover tuition through another source, whether that’s personal funds, a separate scholarship, or a university fee waiver.
Can Nigerian or other African students apply for the Tobe Maki Scholarship?
Yes. The scholarship is open to international students of any nationality, provided you’re self-funded, enrolled at a Japanese university or graduate school, and hold a valid Student residence status.
Do I need to submit my application in English or Japanese?
Japanese only. The application form itself must be completed in Japanese, and all communication after you’re selected is also conducted in Japanese, so factor in translation or language support time if Japanese isn’t your strongest language.
What happens if my online and postal documents don’t match exactly?
Your application won’t be considered. The foundation explicitly rejects applications where the mailed originals differ from what was submitted online, so treat the two submissions as one single package that has to be identical.
Can I still apply if I’m already receiving another scholarship?
Generally, yes, unless your existing scholarship provider doesn’t permit simultaneous funding. If your total outside funding is high enough, though, your Tobe Maki award may be reduced rather than cancelled outright.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official Tobe Maki Foundation website before submitting your application. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the Tobe Maki Foundation.
Official Application Portal
Join ScholarWaka Community
Get the latest scholarship updates and study abroad opportunities before anyone else.
