(From left) Yamada, Kurosaki, Shirahata
Scholarships are great support for student life. However, many students may be worried that repayment will be difficult or the application process will be complicated. In fact, Waseda University has around 150 unique internal scholarships, all of which are "grant-type" scholarships that do not require repayment. There are also many grant-type private scholarships, and these can be used in conjunction with intelnal scholarships (*).
The Spring Scholarship Registration, which allows students to apply for both internal and external scholarships all at once, will finally begin on February 2nd. This time, we spoke to three students with different backgrounds: one who is aiming to go on to graduate school, one who was able to go to university with the support of a scholarship, and one who is balancing their studies and business. We spoke to them about the process of receiving their scholarships and their campus life after receiving them.
*Depending on the regulations of the private organization, it may not be possible to combine certain scholarships with other scholarships.
INDEX
▼ Scholarship registration helping achieve graduation in three years, a step towards the dream of going on to graduate school
▼From zero support to scholarships that provides a strong foundation for university life
▼ Scholarships create an environment where you can devote your full energy to both your studies and your business.
▼About scholarship registration
Scholarship registration helping achieve graduation in three years: a step towards the dream of going on to graduate school
Madoka Kurosaki, third-year student School of Human Sciences
In front of Building 101on Tokorozawa Campus
Scholarship that Kurosaki is currently receiving or will receive
| Internal Scholarship | Katsuhiro Iwata Scholarship | The scholarship is for second- to fourth-year university students who are financially disadvantaged and is 400,000 yen per year. |
| Private Organization Scholarship | Mars Scholarship Foundation | Eligible recipients are students enrolled in designated universities who meet academic and income standards. Monthly subsidy of 50,000 yen. |
| Internal Scholarship | Kimie Teruda Graduate School Scholarship | This scholarship encourages students to continue on to graduate school. It is also open to third-year students who are graduating early. Recipients will be exempt from the spring semester tuition fees of the graduate school they will be attending. |
--What motivated you to apply for scholarships?
Before enrolling, I registered for all internal scholarships, but was not accepted, so I borrowed a loan-type scholarship (with interest) from the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) during my first year. Around autumn of that year, I began to focus on my studies with an eye toward going on to graduate school, but it became difficult to balance my studies with my previous part-time work, and my family's finances subsequently changed suddenly, so I decided to apply for internal scholarship again.
Meanwhile, I picked up the Scholarship information booklet "Scholarship Information Challenge"and learned that Waseda University has many unique scholarships that do not require repayment, so I registered for all of them at once again.
--Please tell us about the type of scholarship you are currently receiving and the application procedure.
The scholarships are the internal scholarship "Katsuhiro Iwata Scholarship", the private scholarship "Mars Scholarship Foundation" recommended by the university, and the internal scholarship "Kimie Teruda Graduate School Scholarship", which will support the equivalent amount of graduate school tuition from next spring. All of them are recommended by the university based on the application conditions starting from the "spring Scholarship registration" There was no need to prepare an application form or recommendation letter, and the procedure was very smooth.
On the other hand, the "Mars Scholarship Foundation" was reviewed by the foundation after the university recommendation, and it took time to prepare the recommendation letter and assignment essay, and the seminar teachers in particular put in their efforts to prepare the recommendation letter. Still, the fact that it was good to follow the instructions through bulk registration was a great help. I am really grateful for the system that reduces the psychological burden of constantly thinking about scholarships. After being offered scholarships, a scholarship student recognition ceremony was held, and I felt that I would be aware of myself as a scholarship student and work even harder on my studies.
--Please tell us how you will use your scholarships.
A photo taken during the preparation of a BBQ at Tokorozawa Campus Festival Editorial Office summer camp.
I use it to cover my living expenses as a single person and my commute to school. I am currently taking on the "three-year graduation system," which means I have to join a seminar earlier than usual and complete research, lectures, and seminar assignments. However, thanks to scholarships, I have been able to reduce the amount of part-time work I do, which has given me more time and mental space, and has greatly improved the quality of my learning. I am also a member of the Tokorozawa Campus Festival organizing committee, and interacting with my classmates has been a great source of emotional support.
--Please tell us your future prospects and give a message for Waseda students considering a scholarship.
Waseda University has a rich research environment where you can come into contact with cutting-edge knowledge, and being able to study in such an environment is a major attraction. In graduate school, I would like to deepen my learning so that I can play an active role in the future as a "bridge" connecting research and society.
For students unsure about applying for scholarships, I recommend first consulting with the Scholarships and Financial Assistance Section. Bulk registration is easy, and they will carefully consider individual family circumstances. Talking to a staff member about things that are difficult for students to discuss with each other can sometimes open up avenues. I myself was able to attempt to graduate in three years thanks to the support of scholarships. I urge you to take the courage to take that step.
From zero support to scholarships, a reassuring presence that serves as the foundation for university life
Shoya Shirahata, third-year student School of Social Sciences
At Building 14 on Waseda Campus
Some of the Scholarships that Shirahata is currently receiving
| Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Scholarship | Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Scholarship (grant and loan types) | Students who meet the household income and asset standards and academic ability standards are eligible. The monthly fee varies depending on whether the school is public or private, and whether they commute from home or away from home. |
| Private Organization Scholarship | Momotani Seijiro Memorial Foundation Scholarship | This scholarship is for university second-year students and above who are excellent in both academics and character, but who are unable to continue their studies for financial reasons. Monthly allowance: 30,000 yen. |
--What motivated you to apply for scholarships?
I was in an environment where I could not receive financial support from my guardians or relatives, so I had to prepare all the expenses necessary for university life by myself, such as the entrance fee, tuition, rent, computer fees, etc. However, I had a strong desire to study at Waseda University, so I researched scholarship programs from my junior high and high school days and chose to go to university by combining multiple scholarships.
--Please tell us about the type of scholarship you are currently receiving and the application procedure.
I am currently receiving the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Scholarship and open scholarships from several private foundations, and I have mainly gathered information on external open scholarships. I applied for the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Scholarship through a pre-application process while I was still in high school and started receiving it immediately after enrolling.
The application process is similar for many scholarships: check the application guidelines, apply online, and submit the required documents. I found information about the Momotani Masajiro Memorial Foundation Scholarship on a bulletin board at my university, checked the guidelines on the website, and applied.
Information about external scholarships is difficult to obtain, and many students from other universities apply, so I gathered information using every possible means, including social media and word of mouth from seniors, and proceeded by thinking things through myself.
--From application to the offering, were there any particular points you paid attention to?
Document preparation and schedule management. Because this was a public scholarship, separate from the bulk registration by the Scholarships and Financial Assistance Section, planning was essential to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, such as the start and end of applications and preparing the necessary documents. I thoroughly organized folders, read the application guidelines, and managed deadlines.
The completeness of the statement of purpose is also important. It can be several thousand words, so I received advice from faculty and staff to help me write it in a way that I was satisfied with. The application process involved many moments where I had to face my own life, which was mentally stressful at times, but I feel that the most important thing is to "persevere and keep trying even if you fail."
--How do you feel about receiving scholarships?
Scholarships, which cover a wide range of expenses from tuition to living expenses and study supplies, are the foundation of university life and a truly reassuring presence. Maintaining a relatively high GPA is often essential for continuing or being accepted as a new student, so I have the opportunity to meet talented classmates while working hard at my studies, which is very encouraging.
I wanted to focus on my studies, so I decided that it would be more beneficial for me to focus on applying for scholarships while also working part-time jobs that friends and seniors introduced me to. As a result, I feel that scholarships have provided me with solid support for my student life, both mentally and financially.
He used scholarships to study abroad in Australia for a short period in 2024. He visited a national park as part of an extracurricular activity at the university where he studied and gained a deeper understanding of Australia's ecosystems.
--Please give a message to Waseda students who are considering applying for scholarships.
The most important thing is to read the recruitment guidelines and founding philosophy and reflect them clearly in your reasons for applying. I think that connections with friends and seniors who are always gathering information and sharing lecture information to help you maintain your GPA will also be a great help. It won't happen overnight, but hard work will surely open the door to a fulfilling student life. I hope you don't give up and keep trying.
Scholarships create an environment where you can give your all in both your studies and your business.
Ryo Yamada, 3rd year student, School of Fundamental Science and Engineering
At the Center for Entrepreneurship in Building 19-3
A scholarship that Yamada is currently receiving
| Internal Scholarship | Suzuki Keita Entrepreneurship Support Scholarship | Entrepreneurship Center community members who are willing to start a business or who have already started a business. Annual fee: 600,000 yen (in principle). |
--What motivated you to apply for scholarships?
I transferred from a technical college to Waseda University using the "Second-Year Transfer System" and started an AI development company in June 2025. I am currently a community member of the university's Center for Entrepreneurship, and my business is centered around "Kotoba.AI," a voice AI for call centers. Initially, I had to work part-time to secure living expenses, and the challenge was not being able to devote enough time to research and classes. Then, a staff member at the center introduced me to scholarships for student entrepreneurs, and I decided to apply.
--Was there anything you paid attention to when applying?
The internal scholarship "Suzuki Keita Entrepreneurship Support Scholarship" is for students who are entrepreneurs (or who intend to start a business). All you need to apply is some basic information about yourself and a document explaining your business, which was much simpler than other scholarship applications I've had. I applied in September 2025, received notification of acceptance in November, and began receiving the scholarship in December.
On the other hand, when I applied for scholarships from private organizations in the past, the preparations were difficult, as I had to obtain transcripts from my technical college days and ask my parents for official documents. From that experience, I feel that it is important to understand the application details and schedule early on, and to proceed in a planned manner, no matter what scholarship you are applying for.
--Please tell us how you used scholarships and how they have changed your student life.
Scholarships are being used to cover living expenses such as rent. In the early days of the company's founding, I was worried about my livelihood, so I worked part-time while running my business, but now I have an environment where I can focus more on my business. As a result, the business is going well, and Kotoba.AI is being adopted in a wide range of industries, including real estate, insurance, hotels, education, and healthcare.
In my studies, I am learning everything from the basics to applications of AI technology, and after being assigned to a research lab next year, I plan to further deepen my expertise in voice AI. I am also active as a leader of an official student club and am learning a lot by working together with my classmates while enjoying student life.
Ever since my days in the technical college, I have felt the difficulty of "delivering technology to society," but Waseda University provides an environment that helps bridge that gap. With the support of scholarships, I am now able to take on a wider range of challenges in both my studies and business, and I feel that my future possibilities have been greatly opened up.
Left: He went to Silicon Valley for training with his colleagues (Yamada is on the far right)
Right: His student club 's photo exhibition at WASEDASAI
--Finally, please tell us your future prospects and give a message for Waseda students.
The call center industry in which Kotoba.AI operates is facing a serious situation, impacted by labor shortages and rising labor costs, coupled with problems such as customer harassment and long working hours. I would like to use the power of AI to address these social issues and contribute to the realization of a better society. At the same time, I would like to continue my research as a student and devote my efforts to balancing my studies and business.
If you are interested in scholarships, I recommend that you first consult with the Scholarships and Financial Assistance Section. The staff will be happy to assist you, and you will surely be able to find a scholarship that suits you from the wide range of available programs.
About Scholarship Registration
At Waseda University, all scholarship applicants must complete "scholarship registration" (online application and submission of required documents) by the designated deadline. From among the students who have completed the scholarship registration, students who best meet the purpose and application qualifications of each organization's scholarship will be selected and recommended. However, if there is a sudden change in household finances, such as the death or job loss of the household breadwinner, or damage caused by a disaster, registration may be permitted on a case-by-case basis, so please consult with the Scholarships and Financial Assistance Section. Furthermore, if disciplinary action is imposed during enrollment, scholarship offers may be rescinded or suspended depending on the nature of the action and the suspension period. Please also check the 2026 edition of "Scholarship Information Challenge."
The 2026 edition of Scholarship Information Challenge is available for download from the Scholarships and Financial Assistance Section website and is currently available at the offices of each faculty and graduate school.
For information on scholarship registration for 2026, click here
Interview and text: Mikiko Watanabe
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