Fees and Funding
Generally students who study overseas in many countries around the world are usually expected to pay tuition fees and receive little or no financial support from government sources. The Green Asia program which was established for the education of a small elite group of international and domestic students is intensively supported by the Japanese government.
Consequently, all Green Asia students are provided with a generous financial subsidy of $1,800 to $2,000 USD per month (approximately 100 JPY = 1 USD).
Income tax may be applicable depending on if the student’s home country has a tax treaty with Japan. If your total income is greater than 1.95 million yen / year then the rate of income tax payable is 5% in the first year. In the 2nd year the rate increases to 10% where total income exceeds 1.95 million yen / year. In the case of a country with a tax treaty with Japan, you must submit the appropriate paperwork to qualify for a tax rebate.
Furthermore if no tax treaty with Japan exists, students must pay an annual city tax of approximately 226,000 JPY, however this is not required in the first year.
The Green Asia Program was launched in academic year 2012 with an intended operation period of 7 years. The consequence of this is that the financial support from the Japanese government is up to now guaranteed only until March 2019. Consequently for those aspiring students who apply to join in October 2016 there will be only 2.5 years funding from the Green Asia Program. You are therefore strongly encouraged to seek additional sources of scholarship from your own government and academic institutions as well as the numerous Japanese sources of funding mentioned on this website.
Further options of financial support:
In addition to the allowance which students receive in the Green Asia program, students can also apply for scholarships, which offer a higher payment that are provided by foundations and companies after already being enrolled in Kyushu University. If a student is awarded such a scholarship then they must cancel their Green Asia allowance. General information regarding the availability of scholarships for international students is given here.
・Scholarships for International Students in Japan 2014-2015 provided by JSSO
One of the most attractive scholarships for Ph.D candidates is a scholarship provided by JSPS (Japan Science for the Promotion of Science). This scholarship includes not only a living expense of 200,000 JPY per month but also a research fund of up to 1.5 million JPY per year, thus, a student who is supported by this scholarship is in general recognized as a young active researcher with decent knowledge. Another advantage of these scholarships against the Green Asia allowance is that a scholarship is not taxed.
The initial travel expenses of the student from their home country to Japan are fully covered upon acceptance into the program.
Kyushu University International Student and Researcher Support Center, Green Asia clerical and academic staff will consult extensively with any students who feel under financial strain during their time in Japan.
Tuition Fees
The various tuition, enrollment and administration fees are summarized in the table below.
| Tuition Fee (Annual payment) |
Enrollment Fee (One off payment) |
Administration Fee (One off payment) |
| 535,800 JPY/year | 282,000 JPY | 30,000 JPY |
Students of the Green Asia program who can demonstrate an excellent academic aptitude as well as serious financial hardship, may apply for a bursary which covers up to 50% of the tuition fees and up to 100% of the enrollment fee. - Applicants must pay an administration fee during the admission process several months before enrollment (See How to apply).
The due date of the admission fee is around September 20, but students may be allowed to postpone the payment until around the end of February by submitting a petition of extension.
The due date for the tuition fees is in the first month of each semester (October 31 and April 30). Students are encouraged to pay the tuition fees on time, however there is no penalty if the payment is delayed until December of the 1st semester and July of the second. If the fees are still unpaid after December or July, there is a substantial penalty.
Living Costs, Fees and Taxes Approximation
These tables give an indication of the fees, taxes and living expenses for a student from a country which must pay income tax on their allowance. The table is a rough approximation only and the living expenses will vary on a case by case basis. However many luxuries remain feasible even if there are no bursaries reducing the fees and all students of the GA program should enjoy a fairly good lifestyle during their time at Kyushu University.
The catogories describing phone bills, utilities, home and internet, apartment rental, food and drink, travel, commuting and return home trip are purely an estimation only and depend greatly on the personal situation and lifestyle of the student in question. We at the Green Asia education center asume no responsibility for such personal expenses and they are provided as a guide and for your convenience only.
Issues relating to the tuition fees, income tax, city tax, government health insurance, and the KU supplimentary allowance are now handled by the Student Affairs Division of IGSES. If you have any specific questions regarding the inancial matters discussed on this page please don’t hesitate to send an email to
srggakusien[at]jimu.kyushu-u.ac.jp .