Japan offers scholarships, top STEM Programs — So why aren't Indian students going?

The Hindu

22-05-2025

As of May 2024, there were approximately 1,600 Indian students studying in Japan, a relatively low figure compared to other countries. For instance, China had over 123,485 students, Nepal over 64,816 and Vietnam over 40,323 in Japan during the same period, as per the International Student Survey in Japan, 2024.
Last week, IIT-Bombay announced plans to open an international centre in Japan by 2025 to launch joint PhD programmes, a move aimed at bridging the academic gap between Indian and Japanese institutions.
Land of possibilities
Indian students who studied in the country by chance or by choice are taken aback by the culture, the many opportunities and the Japanese way of life. Japan was the first choice for Shibani Melba, 25, when she pursued under-graduation in International Relations and Peace Studies. 'A combination of factors motivated me to pursue higher education in Japan. At fourteen, I had the opportunity to visit the country through a trip organised by the Japan government after winning a Japanese speech contest. I was deeply drawn to the Japanese way of life—their hospitality, discipline, and respect for others. Since I was already familiar with the language, applying to a Japanese university felt like a natural choice,' Shibani Melba, who graduated from the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, said.
The Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT) provides substantial financial support to international students, including Indians, which helps alleviate monthly expenses. Additionally, Japan offers advanced STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) courses that are popular among Indian students.
Electrical, Civil, Mechanical, and Chemical Engineering are a few of the best programmes in the University of Tokyo, the top-ranked institution in the country. In 2011, it came second only to Harvard for the number of alumni in CEO positions in Fortune 500 companies. Kyoto University, the second most ranked in the country, boasts of producing world-beating researchers, including 13 Nobel Prize laureates. Advanced studies in Environmental, Nuclear, Materials Science and Energy Engineering at Kyoto University are well regarded.
'There are two common ways Indians come to Japan for higher education and research,' says an Assistant Professor (Research) at the University of Tohoku. 'One is through the Japanese embassy in India, which offers the MEXT scholarship covering studies from Bachelor's to PhD. The other is through direct guidance from Japanese professors. They often support international collaborations and help students navigate the research landscape here.'
Institutes like the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) are well known among Indian students, especially those keen on research. Many IIT graduates choose these institutes for their postdoctoral studies. Top universities like the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, and Osaka University are globally recognised.
Jai (name changed on request), a postdoctoral fellow in organic chemistry, chose to study in a Japan University 'to adopt their research culture and to learn their way of thinking.' 'Their development in organic chemistry is just enormous,' Jai said. 'They are hardworking, strict in data collections and there would be no manipulations,' he adds.
Students who pursue education in Japan often recommend the country to their peers. Ashwin Rajeev, a former student of IIT Gandhinagar, was selected for a student exchange program between IIT Gandhinagar and Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. 'Having spent a year in Japan and liking the place, I did my masters there. If everything falls in place, I would do my PhD in Japan,' he told The Hindu.
Post COVID, foreign enrollment in Japan is drastically increasing. According to ICEF monitor, a market intelligence resource for the global education industry, Japan hosted more than 336,000 students in 2024, exceeding pre-pandemic numbers, representing a historic high, and reflecting year-over-year growth of 21%.
In 2023, Waseda University, a Tokyo-based private institution, accepted 5,560 international students, while the national institution, the University of Tokyo, accepted 4,658 students from abroad. That year, there were more than a quarter of a million international students in higher education institutions in Japan, as per Statistica.
Here is another advantage: GRE and GMAT scores are not required for undergraduate admissions in Japan. Only the SAT is mandatory for engineering courses, while it is optional for Arts and Science programs.
The language barrier
While nursing care and construction sectors in Japan have seen a growing influx of Indian workers over the past five years, the same trend hasn't translated into education. So why are fewer Indian students choosing the land of blossoms?
The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) has five levels from N5 (beginner) to N1 (advanced). Achieving at least N3 level can provide advantage during admissions.
From getting a scholarship to landing a part-time job to meet the monthly expenses, mastering Japanese is a necessity. 'After my undergraduation, I needed to be proficient with N1 and N2 levels of Japanese to get a job while I had cleared N3 (a level less) way back when I was in Class 11,' Shibani said.
For students starting from scratch, it may take over two years to reach N3. When P. Krithika, a Chhattisgarh resident, wanted to do Masters in Management, she chose Canada over Japan even though the extreme climatic conditions in the former scared her. 'Learning a whole new language with an unfamiliar script felt impossible,' she said.
However, learning Japanese pays off by opening doors to deeper cultural engagement, financial independence, and valuable career-building experiences. Shibani, who received scholarships from Rotary International and Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), shared how reaching even the N3 level significantly broadened her horizons. 'That said, language skills alone are not enough. Good academic performance and active involvement in extracurricular activities also play a key role in accessing scholarships and work opportunities,' Shibani said.
Secondly, though it is perceived that the cost of living in cities like Tokyo is considerably high, it is actually lower than the U.S. and Europe. 'When people think about the conversion rate (since Japanese Yen is lower than INR), they prefer not to go to Japan, but prefer the West, where the exchange rate is way higher,' Ashwin Rajeev said.
In Tokyo, living expenses, including accommodation and food, can amount to approximately ₹1 lakh per month for students staying outside the campus, while those living in university hostels typically spend around ₹30,000 to 40,000 per month. In smaller cities across Japan, the cost of living is generally 10 to 15 percent lower than in Tokyo, said S Kamalakkannan, deputy representative of Non-Resident Tamil Indians Association (NRTIA) Japan, who has been living in Tokyo for the past ten years.
There is a misconception that the tuition fees in Japan are just unaffordable. In Japan, tuition fees for a four-year course in government-aided universities in Japan cost approximately ₹3 lakh in total for Engineering (about ₹75,000 per year) and around ₹2 lakh in total for Arts and Science courses (about ₹50,000 per year), without any scholarship support. In comparison, private universities charge typically two to three times higher than government institutions, Mr. Kamalakkannan said.
Career concerns, awareness
The Hindu reached out to six consultancies involved in facilitating overseas education. While all of them had extensive information about universities in the U.S. and Europe, none expressed interest or expertise in opportunities in Japan. There are other factors affecting preferences of Indians in Study abroad programs. A 2017 study published in the International Journal of Management in Education identified key factors influencing Indian students' decisions to study abroad. These include scholarships, social media influence, institutional reputation, country image, program structure, and personal aspirations.
Research in the Journal of Teaching in International Business highlighted that quality of education, safety and the reputation of host institutions are significant considerations for Indian students. Despite being one of the safest countries in the world in terms of crime, parents hesitate to send their children to a place they perceive as volatile even if the facts say otherwise. 'Earthquakes and Tsunamis, these are real fears for Indian families,' Maria Charles, who runs a consultancy at Ramanathapuram, said.
A 2021 study found that Indian students often prefer destinations with better understanding of Western education systems and migration opportunities. 'Japan has failed to market itself in India,' Ms. Charles said.
It may be noted that countries like Germany, Canada and the U.K. regularly host education fairs and build institutional partnerships in India. Indian students have limited word-of-mouth support or alumni guidance. 'It's hard to trust what you don't know. Many students can't even gauge the credibility of Japanese universities without rankings or Indian references,' Ms. Charles added.
Japan's fixed curriculum structure gives little room for exploration. 'In the U.S. or Canada, students can mix disciplines, take electives and even change majors. Japan doesn't easily allow that,' A Mahendran, a study abroad consultant, said.
For many, the goal of studying abroad is to build a global career. In Japan, landing a high-paying job post-graduation is tougher than in English-speaking countries. 'Most companies expect fluent Japanese speakers, and even then, career growth can be limited for foreigners. Getting Permanent Residency (PR) in Japan is a long, unclear process,' said Mr. Mahendran. And the hurdles don't stop at employment.
Mr. Kamalakkannan, who has been living in Tokyo for the past ten years, said that there is a lack of awareness about Japanese universities among Indian students. 'There are Japanese universities that offer English medium courses. The Indian embassy in Japan should be aggressive in creating awareness among students through the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) about the many opportunities Japan offers,' Mr. Kamalakkannan said.