The Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Scholarship supports students from African countries in eligible two-year master’s programs at the International University of Japan in Minamiuonuma, Japan. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines funds the award, while IUJ screens admitted applicants and nominates suitable candidates for the provider’s final decision.
The scholarship is intended to develop people who can contribute to the future economic development of African countries. The 2026 application cycle has closed; IUJ has published 2027 admission dates but not yet confirmed this scholarship for that intake.
Benefits & funding
- Admission fee: ¥300,000; recipients initially pay ¥50,000, which is reimbursed after enrollment.
- Tuition: ¥3,200,000 per year.
- Monthly stipend: ¥150,000.
- Award period: two academic years in principle.
- Recipients remain responsible for expenses not listed as covered.
Eligibility
- Be from an African country and qualify as a privately funded applicant seeking scholarship support.
- Apply to an eligible two-year IUJ master’s program: International Relations, International Development, Public Management and Policy Analysis, Japan-Global Development in either school, or the two-year MBA.
- Have an excellent academic record, good character, and good health.
- Be available for an online interview with IUJ faculty during admissions.
- Not receive this scholarship simultaneously with another institutional scholarship.
- Normally hold or expect to receive a bachelor’s degree with 16 years of formal education; applicants from 15-year systems may be considered based on undergraduate performance. A 14-year route requires age 22 plus either one year of academic research experience or, for the alternate bachelor’s or associate-degree route, two years of work experience and IUJ recognition of equivalent ability.
- A Japan Student Visa is required for non-Japanese recipients. Domestic and international residency routes are both listed as eligible.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cabo Verde · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · DR Congo
+ 42 more
Republic of the Congo · Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Egypt · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Eswatini · Ethiopia · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Kenya · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Nigeria · Rwanda · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Seychelles · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sudan · Tanzania · Togo · Tunisia · Uganda · Zambia · Zimbabwe
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Application process
- 1Read IUJ’s admissions and scholarship guidelines for the relevant intake.
- 2Create an IUJ online application and apply to an eligible two-year master’s program.
- 3Select Non-Sponsored as the sponsorship status if seeking scholarship support.
- 4Complete the scholarship section in the second phase and submit it with all admission materials by the applicable deadline.
- 5Pass IUJ admissions screening and, if nominated, complete the provider’s final selection process.
Program timeline
December 10, 2025
First international application deadline for the 2026 intake.
First domestic application deadline.
January 22, 2026
Second international application deadline.
February 12, 2026
Second domestic application deadline.
March 24, 2026
Final international application deadline.
April 15, 2026
Final domestic application deadline and latest deadline in the most recent cycle.
May 28, 2026
IUJ master’s programs begin.
Early September 2026
December 10, 2026
First published international admission deadline for September 2027; scholarship availability remains unconfirmed.