(From left) Andy Ozawa, Oizumi, and Georgie Ozawa in Toyama Campus Building No.33
In order to support students' studies, various organizations, including the national and local governments and companies, are now running numerous scholarship programs. However, many students give up on applying for these programs because they think that repaying them is too difficult or the hurdles are too high. Waseda University has about 150 unique scholarships provided by the University, all of which are "grant-type" scholarships. There is no need to worry about repayment. There are also many private scholarships that are grant-type, and they can be awarded in addition to scholarships provided by the University (※1).
The "Spring Scholarship Registration (Undergraduate)" which allows applications to scholarships all at once will finally start on February 1st. This time, we interviewed three students who are receiving scholarships about the application process for each scholarship, the benefits of receiving the scholarships, and campus life after receiving the scholarships. Please take a look!
(※1) Due to regulations of the private organization, it may not be possible to combine this scholarship with other Scholarship.
Thanks to the scholarship, I am able to focus on both my studies and extracurricular activities
Tokiwa Oizumi, 1st year student School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Andy Ozawa, 3rd year student School of Law
George Ozawa, 3rd year student School of Sport Sciences
(From left) Georgie Ozawa, Oizumi, and Andy Ozawa
--First of all, please tell us what prompted you to apply for the scholarships.
Oizumi: I was accepted through a designated school recommendation, but because I come from a rural area, I was concerned about the burden on my household finances, including tuition and rent for my boarding house. I had seen my older brother, who had borrowed a loan-type scholarship from Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), struggling to repay it after entering the workforce, so I was even more worried about whether to apply. Then, among the materials sent by the university for students from rural areas, I found the university's own grant-type scholarship, and since the application requirements met, I thought, "This is my chance!" and applied.
Ozawa Jo: My brothers and I have been playing rugby since we were four years old, and together with Andy, we went to a strong local high school. When it came time to decide on our future paths, we both decided that we wanted to join the rugby team at Waseda University, which we had always dreamed of, and aim to be the best in Japan in both academics and sports, so we took a year off before going to college. However, since attending a private university together would be a big expense for our household, we discussed it with our parents before enrolling and decided to take out a loan-type Scholarship from Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO).
Ozawa A: But once we enrolled, we realized that even with a scholarship, it would be financially tough. In the middle of our first year, we were so desperate that we had to quit the club or drop out, so we started considering combining the scholarships.
If the conditions for "Scholarship registration" do not apply, you can also apply through the general public.
--Please tell us about the type of scholarship you are currently receiving and the application procedure.
Oizumi: I am receiving the "Aim for it! Miyako Northwest of City Scholarship" (on campus). This is a reservation-based Scholarship that requires prior application, so after filling out the application form on the website in my third year of high school, I gathered the necessary documents and sent them in.
The procedure wasn't particularly difficult, but it did take time and effort because you needed official documents such as your parents' income certificates. You can't just go ahead and do it for yourself, so it's important to check the details and schedule carefully.
Scholarships currently being received by Tokiwa Oizumi
| On-campus Scholarship | Aim for it! Northwest of City Scholarship | The scholarship is for applicants who graduated from high schools outside of the Tokyo metropolitan area and three prefectures (Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa). The annual tuition fee is 450,000 to 700,000 yen (depending on the faculty). |
Ozawa A: In addition to the Waseda University Alumni Association Grant Scholarship (on campus), I also received the Kusuda Scholarship (off campus) through an external public application process together with Georgie. Basically, if you register for a scholarship, you can register for both ones provided by Waseda and private scholarships at the same time.
After that, the university would select and recommend students who matched scholarship 's purpose and qualifications, and if they were accepted for one of the scholarships, they would be notified by Waseda mail. As for the "Waseda University Alumni Association Grant Scholarship," there was no need to prepare any documents individually after registering, and the procedure was not particularly difficult.
Scholarships currently being received by Andy Ozawa
| On-campus Scholarship | Waseda University Alumni Association Scholarship (Undergraduate) | The scholarship is available to 1st to 4th year students in all faculties. Its purpose is to support students who are financially challenged to continue their studies. The scholarship is 400,000 yen per year. |
| Private organization Scholarship | Kusuda Scholarship Foundation | The scholarship is available to those in their second year or above at university, who are mentally and physically healthy, have excellent academic ability, and are unable to continue studying for financial reasons. Monthly scholarship is 30,000 yen. |
Jo Ozawa: I'm an off-campus Scholarship Received from Kusuda Ikueikai, Maki Tobe Foundation, etc. It does.
I found the page for scholarships outside of Waseda (private and local government scholarships) on Scholarships and Financial Assistance Section website, and learned that there were many open-call scholarships outside of the university, so I applied for them all. To apply, you access each foundation's website from Scholarships and Financial Assistance Section 's Private and Local Government Scholarship page, and basically the process is to go through a document screening and interview before being selected (※2).
(※2) Scholarship eligibility requirements may change depending on the year.
Some of the scholarships that Georgie Ozawa is currently receiving
| Private organization Scholarship | Tobe Maki Foundation Scholarship | The scholarship is available to third-year university students and above who have excellent academic ability and are unable to continue their studies for financial reasons. The scholarship is 60,000 yen per month. |
The key is to read the recruitment guidelines carefully and clearly state your reasons for applying.
--Were there any difficulties you faced from application to employment, or anything you should be careful about?
Ozawa A: Since the conditions and selection process differ for each scholarship, it is important to first read the application guidelines carefully. In particular, you must read the purpose of the scholarship, the type of people they are looking for, and whether or not you can receive multiple scholarships. I have applied for many scholarships, but there were many that I was not able to get because I did not meet the application requirements, such as the GPA standards. If you are considering applying for scholarships, I recommend that you make an effort to have a high GPA from your first year.
Jo Ozawa: The deadlines for external scholarship applications are concentrated in April every year, so if you are applying for multiple scholarships, you need to manage your schedule. I tried a lot of things, but I think the reason for applying is important in the document screening process. I made sure to clearly state my vision for the future and to express it accurately while deepening its novelty and specificity so that the foundation staff would want to support me.
Oizumi: The reason for applying is important. Especially for scholarships provided by the University, I think it is important to express why you want to apply for that particular scholarship by linking it to your vision for the future and what you can and want to learn at Waseda University.
--How did you use your scholarship, and what are your thoughts on receiving it?
Oizumi: I pay for my living expenses other than tuition and rent with my part-time job earnings, and scholarship is used to supplement those living expenses. I feel that the existence of scholarship gives me peace of mind, and I can fully participate in classes and Extracurricular activity such as student club without having to put part-time work into a tight schedule. I have a vague desire to work in a job that solves inequality and prejudice around the world in the future, and I am very much looking forward to studying in the Middle East and Islamic Studies course, which I have been interested in since my second year.
On the other hand, I also feel a sense of responsibility to behave in a way that I can be proud of as a scholarship recipient. There are times in student life when I lose motivation, but this sense of responsibility gives me a positive motivation to "enjoy both my studies and extracurricular activity to the fullest."
This photo was taken during a trip to Egypt in January 2024. It sparked my interest in the Middle East and Islamic world.
Ozawa Jo: For both of us, scholarship cover all of our tuition, club fees, dormitory fees, training camp fees, and living expenses. To be honest, I can't imagine what would have happened if we didn't have scholarships. That's why I feel happy to be able to take classes at Waseda Campus, which I've always dreamed of, and to be able to participate in club activities on the Kamiigusa grounds. My goal in the future is to "solve the problem of reemployment of athletes," so in order to achieve that, I would like to continue to devote my all to my studies and rugby.
Ozawa A: Waseda University Alumni Association, which donates the Alumni Waseda University Alumni Association Scholarship, has given me the opportunity to participate in the scholarship certificate ceremony, social gatherings, and volunteer activities at the university, which has further deepened my love for my alma mater. Thanks to scholarships, I can concentrate on my classes in a great environment and truly enjoy my dream of joining the rugby club. What I especially like is the moment when we sing Alma Mater and club song together. I really feel that I am a part of Waseda, and I am really glad that I entered this university.
A photo of the rugby club during a match.
Left: Andy passing the ball to Georgie
Right: Andy is wearing number 11 and Georgie is wearing number 14. Both of them play as wingers.
--Finally, please give us a message for Waseda students.
Oizumi: I hear that many people give up on scholarships because they think they are too difficult to get. However, Waseda University has a wide variety of scholarships, so if you are a high school student taking the entrance exam or a current student, you will surely be able to find one that suits you if you actively gather information.
Jo Ozawa: Through receiving scholarships, I have had the valuable opportunity to interact with people from various foundations and attend exchange meetings with other scholarship recipients, and I feel that my horizons have broadened and I have grown. I think that this scholarship will open up many possibilities and opportunities, so if you are interested, I encourage you to apply.
Ozawa A: As Oizumi said earlier, if you have the motivation of a scholarship, you will be able to work hard at your studies, club activities, volunteering, and part-time jobs so that you do not shame yourself. Many people overlook the scholarship registration, and even if you do not meet the requirements for university recommendations like us, there are ways to research and apply for scholarships on your own, so I hope you will do your best with hope.
About Scholarship registration
At Waseda University, all Scholarship applicants must complete "Scholarship registration" (submitting an online application and necessary documents) by the designated deadline. From among students who have completed Scholarship registration, students who best fit the purpose and Scholarship qualifications of each organization will be selected and recommended. However, if there is a sudden change in household finances, such as the death or loss of a job of the household's financial supporter, or damage caused by a disaster, registration may be allowed on a case-by-case basis, so please consult with Scholarships and Financial Assistance Section. In addition, if disciplinary action is imposed during enrollment, Scholarship will be abolished or suspended depending on the nature of the action and the suspension period. Please also check the 2025 edition of "Scholarship Information Challenge".
The 2025 edition of Scholarship Information Challenge is available at the offices of each faculty and graduate school, and can also be downloaded from Scholarships and Financial Assistance Section website.
Click here to register for Scholarship for 2025
Interview and text: Mikiko Watanabe
Photo: Shiori Bansho
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