KYOTO iUP FULL SCHOLARSHIP – KYOTO UNIVERSITY

To provide talented international students with the opportunity to study under Japan’s high-quality education system, Kyoto University has launched the fully funded International Undergraduate Program scholarship (Kyoto iUP).

Since 2019, the Kyoto iUP program has attracted a lot of attention from students from various countries, including Vietnam. Each year, the program accepts no more than 30 students, and by 2024, the number of Vietnamese students awarded the Kyoto iUP scholarship has reached 8.

As the exclusive media representative of the Kyoto iUP scholarship in Vietnam, Jellyfish Vietnam has been making efforts to bring information to students, helping them understand more about the scholarship as well as application methods.

I. OVERVIEW INFORMATION ABOUT KYOTO UNIVERSITY

– Kyoto University is recognized as one of the best universities in Japan in terms of educational quality, facilities, research environment, and student support policies. Specifically, it is ranked 57th worldwide and 23rd in Asia (QS World University Rankings 2025); 2nd in Japan (Domestic Rankings 2024); 18th in teaching quality and 26th in research (THE World University Rankings 2025).

– With 11 Nobel laureates, 2 Fields Medalists, 5 Lasker Award winners, and 1 Gauss Prize winner, Kyoto University is regarded as a cradle of talent in Japan.

– The university comprises 10 faculties, 18 graduate schools, 12 research institutes, 26 centers, and other affiliated organizations across Japan. As a research-oriented institution with a long-standing tradition, Kyoto University possesses more research institutes than any other university in Japan.

– The university has a total enrollment of 22,600 students, including nearly 3,000 international students from 120 different countries (as of April 2024). The number of faculty members, researchers, and staff amounts to 8,000 in total.

II. KYOTO iUP 2026 – KYOTO UNIVERSITY

The Kyoto iUP (International Undergraduate Program) was established by Kyoto University with the goal of training international talents for Japan and the world.

1. Kyoto iUP – A unique opportunity for undergraduate study in Japan

– A 4.5-year program comprising a six-month preparatory course followed by four years of undergraduate studies 

– Graduates earn a bachelor’s degree in their chosen field of specialization

– No Japanese language proficiency required at the outset 

– Intensive Japanese language training throughout the program which enables students to acquire academic-level language proficiency

– Financial supports including admission/tuition fee waivers and monthly scholarships.

2. Information about the scholarship – Kyoto iUP 2026

• Scholarships and Fee Waivers

Scholarships that include full admission fee waivers and full or partial tuition fee waivers for four-and-a-half years are available for all Kyoto iUP students. Additionally, a monthly allowance of up to JPY 120,000 per month is provided to all Kyoto iUP students during the six-month preparatory course. After enrolling in the undergraduate course, merit-based monthly allowances from a variety of supporting companies and organizations are available for eligible students.

• Accommodation

Accommodation in a Kyoto University International House (dormitory) is available for the first one and a half years of the program (i.e. the tenancy for the initial 12 months can be extended for a maximum of 6 more months). Please visit the following website for more information about the Kyoto University International Houses:
https://kuiso.oc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/housing/facilities/

• Preliminary Japanese language lessons

If deemed necessary (based on their Japanese language ability), successful candidates will be provided with preliminary Japanese language lessons before the commencement of the Preparatory Course. The tuition and textbook fees will be covered by the university.

• Student Support

Various forms of support for study, student life, and career development, including student tutoring services, are offered to all Kyoto iUP students.

• Important Information Regarding the Qualifying Test

Students who perform sufficiently in the Japanese language studies and foundation subjects and complete the Preparatory Course can go on to take the Qualifying Test prepared by the faculty specified in their admission offer. After passing the Qualifying Test, the students can proceed to study in the faculty from April 1, 2027. The fee for the Qualifying Test is JPY 17,000. Fee waivers are not available. Please note that the fee is subject to change without advance notice.

3. Faculties and Majors Available

4. Kyoto iUP: Move Forward Together

Curious about what it’s really like to live and study in the heart of Japan’s cultural capital? In this video, Kyoto iUP students open up about their journey—from overcoming initial cultural shocks to finding a second family in the dorms and pursuing world-class research. Discover how this unique program empowers international students to bridge cultures, master the Japanese language, and prepare for a global career.

III. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must satisfy both of the following requirements:

*1 List of Courses of Foreign Schools Corresponding to Upper Secondary Schools Designated by MEXT (less than 12 years education).

Applicants who intend to apply with the eligibility described in 2(e), above, must complete the eligibility screening process by submitting the documents listed below via the Inquiry Form on the website between July 1 and October 17, 2025.

Applications will have to be submitted through Kyoto University’s online application system from November 4 to December 4, 2025 (5 p.m. JST) (3 p.m Vietnam time).

IV. APPLICATION AND ENROLLMENT SCHEDULE

Application submission time: From November 4 to December 4, 2025

>> Apply now: https://www.iup.kyoto-u.ac.jp/apply/

1. First Screening: Document Review

Application deadline: 3 p.m. (Vietnam Time) on December 4, 2025

The first screening will be a careful examination of the application documents and accompanying materials. The application documents must be submitted through the Online Application System. The results will be announced via the Online Application System on February 6, 2026.

*Note: The expenses required to send the application documents by registered mail must be borne by the applicant.

2. Second Screening: Interview: February 27 – March 16, 2026

Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed online. The interviews will be held between February 27 and March 16, 2026. The interview will be conducted in English.

*Note:

– It is the applicants’ responsibility to check their email for notifications about the interviews and application process. 

– The expenses to attend the interview must be borne by the applicant.

3. Notification of Selection Results: April 6, 2026

Applicants will receive an electronic copy of the result letter via the Online Application System on April 6, 2026.

*Note:

– Admission decisions are non-negotiable.

– Admission deferrals will not be accepted.

– The Admissions Office will not respond to any inquiries regarding admission decisions.

– Applicants who apply with predicted scores/grades must submit the actual scores/grades at a later date when requested to do so by the Kyoto iUP Admissions Office. We request that schools predict applicants’ scores as accurately as possible to prevent a discrepancy between the final scores/grades and the predicted ones. Additionally, the subjects in which the final scores/grades are awarded should be the same as those of the predicted ones.

4. Confirmation of Intent to Enroll: must be received by May 7, 2026

– Successful candidates must notify the Kyoto iUP Admissions Office of their intent to enroll by May 7, 2026. Upon receipt of the letter confirming the applicant’s intent to enroll, the Kyoto iUP Admissions Office will contact the applicant regarding the details of the enrollment procedures, including visa application.

V. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Applications, including the submission of the required documents, must be made via the Online Application System. The application forms (Forms A, B, C, and D) can be downloaded from the following website: https://www.iup.kyoto-u.ac.jp/apply/.

*If it is not possible to have the documents prepared by the relevant school, they can be provided by a person outside of the school. In this case, the person who prepares the documents must be well acquainted with the applicant’s academic performance during secondary/high school, and must specify his/her relationship to the applicant in the form. Please see the instructions on the relevant forms for details.

VI. NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO APPLIED KYOTO iUP AS THEIR FIRST CHOICE

VII. CONTACT

For support regarding the Kyoto iUP full scholarship, please contact:

Kyoto iUP Admissions Office, Kyoto University, Japan  

✦ Address: Yoshida International House Bldg. (B1), Yoshida South Campus, Yoshida Nihonmatsu-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan  

✦ Website:  https://www.iup.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Or contact the sole authorized representative of Kyoto University in Vietnam:

👉👉 Jellyfish Vietnam – Media representative authorized by Kyoto University in Vietnam

✦ Hotline: 096 110 6466

✦ Head Office – Vietnam: 1st Floor, Web3 Tower, Alley 4 Duy Tan Street, Cau Giay District, Hanoi

✦ Branch Office: 2nd Floor, SH5.11 Vinhomes Marina, Vinh Niem Ward, Le Chan District, Hai Phong

✦ Head Office – Japan: SG Terrace 6F, 7-9-5 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, 141-0031, Japan