Whether your child is in an IB programme in Japan or planning to use the IB Diploma for university, costs are a real concern for many families. The good news is that there are several kinds of support, from Japan’s national tuition support for high schools to grant scholarships for studying at universities abroad. The catch is that each scheme has its own conditions, and some do not apply to every type of school.
This guide is based only on official information from Japan’s Ministry of Education (MEXT), universities and scholarship foundations, all checked on 24 September 2026. Amounts and conditions change, so please confirm the latest guidelines before applying.
What this guide covers
- High School Tuition Support Fund in FY2026 (and what changed for international and foreign schools)
- Examples of IB-related support at Japanese universities
- Grant scholarships for studying at universities abroad
- Support for IB exam fees
1. High School Tuition Support Fund (FY2026)
From April 2026, Japan’s High School Tuition Support Fund (高等学校等就学支援金) no longer has an income limit. The annual caps include ¥457,200 for private full-time high schools, ¥337,200 for private correspondence courses and ¥118,800 for public full-time high schools (MEXT: Support for high school students). An application is required, nationality and residence conditions still apply, and the money goes towards tuition only; other payments such as facility fees are not covered. Whether a separate IB fee is treated as tuition depends on how your school classifies it, so ask the school.
An important change for some international schools: under the new system, foreign schools (外国人学校, a category of miscellaneous schools) were removed from the scheme. Students at eligible foreign schools who were certified by the end of March 2026 and stay at the same school may receive support under transitional measures. Some new students from April 2026 who would have been eligible under the old system may use a separate scheme called the “New Study Support for High School Students” (高校生等・新修学支援), which MEXT materials describe with a cap of ¥396,000 per year for households with an annual income below about ¥9.1 million; students with a “College Student” residence status are excluded, and the amount depends on income and tuition (MEXT: FY2026 briefing materials). Whether support applies depends on how your child’s school is classified, not on whether it offers the IB.
2. IB-related support at Japanese universities (examples)
- NUCB Undergraduate School (Nagoya University of Commerce and Business): the official scholarship page offers IB Diploma holders with an IB score of 32 or more (out of 42, as stated on that page) a tuition reduction of ¥300,000 per year, guaranteed for the first two years; conditions apply for continuation (NUCB: Scholarship System).
- Juntendo University, Faculty of International Liberal Arts: in its IB selection, a small number of successful applicants with especially strong results may receive a first-year tuition reduction of ¥1,000,000 or ¥500,000. This is not given to every successful IB applicant (Juntendo: IB Selection I).
- Okayama University: its official Q&A says that there is no particular scholarship benefit for a score of 40 or more. A high IB score does not automatically lead to a scholarship (Okayama University: IB Q&A).
Universities may also have general scholarships or need-based tuition reductions of their own. When you compare universities, check whether a benefit comes automatically with an IB admission or requires a separate application and review.
3. Grant scholarships for universities abroad
JASSO Study Abroad Support Program (undergraduate degree)
This programme supports students who aim to earn a bachelor’s degree at a university abroad. Applicants must be Japanese nationals or permanent residents living in Japan and meet academic, language and household income conditions; IB qualification holders are included in the eligibility. Support is generally for up to four years. Monthly amounts vary by region and were ¥139,000 to ¥352,000 in FY2026, which may change with the FY2027 budget. For the FY2027 round (study starting between April 2027 and March 2028), the entry deadline was 13:00 on 24 September 2026 and documents are due by 13:00 on 1 October 2026 (JASSO: Study Abroad Support, undergraduate degree). In other words, you apply roughly 6 to 18 months before your study starts, depending on when you begin.
Yanai Tadashi Foundation
The foundation supports Japanese nationals going to designated universities in the US and UK (and Canada for its post-admission type). Annual caps are USD 115,000 for the US and GBP 70,000 for the UK, including tuition, housing, insurance and a separate study and living allowance. The reservation-type round for autumn 2027 entry ran from 16 July to 10 August 2026 and has closed; the next post-admission round is expected around December 2026 (Yanai Tadashi Foundation: Application requirements).
Masason Foundation
The Masason Foundation is not an IB-specific scholarship. It selects “scholars” and supports them case by case, for example with tuition, living costs, research or study abroad, based on the foundation’s review. Support is in principle non-repayable (Masason Foundation: Support).
4. Support for IB exam fees
The IB charges DP assessment fees per subject, and schools see the details on the IB’s Programme Resource Centre; the public pages do not show the total exam cost for students in Japan (IBO: Fees and services). The IB announced that it abolished the candidate registration fee in 2019, but that does not mean subject assessment fees are free. We could not confirm any current national or foundation programme in Japan that pays students’ IB exam fees, so please ask your school’s IB coordinator and your local board of education about school or local support.
Frequently asked questions
Does the High School Tuition Support Fund cover IB course fees?
It is paid towards tuition only. Separately charged items such as materials and exam fees are not covered, and how a school’s own “IB course fee” is classified depends on the school, so ask the school or your prefecture.
Can international school students receive tuition support?
It depends on how the school is classified. From FY2026, foreign schools were removed from the main scheme, with transitional measures for continuing students and a separate scheme for some new students. Check with your school and prefecture.
When should we apply for study-abroad scholarships?
Often many months before university starts. For example, JASSO’s FY2027 round had its entry deadline on 24 September 2026, and the Yanai Foundation’s reservation-type round for autumn 2027 closed on 10 August 2026.
Key takeaways
- The High School Tuition Support Fund has no income limit from April 2026 (¥457,200 private / ¥118,800 public full-time), for tuition only
- Foreign schools were removed from the main scheme in FY2026, with transitional and separate support
- Some Japanese universities offer IB-related tuition reductions; check whether a separate review or condition applies
- Study-abroad grants such as JASSO and the Yanai Foundation have deadlines many months before entry
Financial support can make a big difference, but deadlines come early. Put the key dates in your calendar and talk with your child’s school counsellor well before the final year.
Sources and references
- MEXT: Support for high school students
- MEXT: FY2026 briefing materials on tuition support
- MEXT: Tuition support Q&A
- NUCB: Scholarship System
- Juntendo University: IB Selection I
- Okayama University: IB Q&A
- JASSO: Study Abroad Support Program (undergraduate degree)
- JASSO: FY2027 application guidelines
- Yanai Tadashi Foundation: Application requirements
- Masason Foundation: Requirements
- Masason Foundation: Support
- IBO: Fees and services
This article is based on information checked on 24 September 2026. Scholarship amounts, eligibility and deadlines can change, so please confirm the latest details with each organisation.
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