Japan Education Pathways
Application Period
The application period for admission in spring 2027 is July 9 (Thursday) to August 2 (Sunday), 2026.
Two information sessions be held online in early July for 2027 spring admissions. Please register to join them. Please note that this program is for students with refugee backgrounds who are already living in Japan.
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July 2, 2026 (Thursday) Overview of the program (What the scholarship covers, who is eligible, how to apply, etc.) Watch the recording
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July 10, 2026 (Friday) from 9:00pm Japan time - Review of the application form and process Watch the recording
What is Japan Education Pathways?
Japan Education Pathways (JEP) is a program for admitting students impacted by conflict to universities in Japan. The program evolved from Japan-Ukraine University Pathways (JUUP), which began supporting Ukrainian students in 2022, and is now open to students from multiple countries. Since 2024, seven universities have recruited new students.
In spring 2027, the following universities will admit new students and provide scholarships. Each button will open individual pages as each university finalizes the details.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
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Currently reside in Japan
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Be single with no dependents
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Be a national of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Syria, Sudan or Ukraine
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Have fled from their home countries after a certain time:
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Syrian nationals who arrived in Japan after 2012
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Burmese nationals who arrived in Japan after February 2021
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Afghan nationals who arrived in Japan after August 2021
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Ukrainian nationals who arrived in Japan after February 2022
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Sudanese nationals who arrived in Japan after April 2023
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Have graduated from high school or will graduate from high school by March 2027
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Have Japanese proficiency equivalent to JLPT N3 or higher
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Be able to submit the required documents for the universities they wish to attend
Some universities have additional eligibility requirements. Please check on each university’s webpage.
Important Note About Applying to Other Scholarship Programs
If you have applied or are applying to the UNHCR Refugee Higher Education Program (RHEP), and you are selected as a finalist for RHEP, you will not be considered for JEP.
If you have applied or are applying to Refugee Vocational Education Program (RVEP) by JELA/Weslay Foundation/UNHCR, and you are selected as a finalist for JEP, you will need to withdraw your RVEP application.
These rules are based on the schedules of the three programs, and put in place to avoid double dipping. Our goal is to ensure that the maximum number of applicants benefit from all three programs.
Timeline
Application will be open from July 9 to August 2 2026 on this page. There is no fee to apply.
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July 9 (Thursday)~August 2 (Sunday), 2026: Application open
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August~September 2026: Document screening & first interview (Only short-listed candidates)
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September~November 2026: Second interview (Only short-listed candidates)
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By December, 2026: Announcement of results (Announcement date differs for each university.)
Required Documents (General)
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High school certificate & English translation (if the original is not in English)
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High school transcript & English translation (if the original is not in English)
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University transcript & English translation (if the original is not in English) - up to the point you completed your studies
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Personal statement (500-600 words)
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Copy of passport
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Copy of residence card
Some universities require additional documents such as English language proficiency test scores, EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students) scores, or Certificate of Resident Registration Details. Please check on each university’s webpage.
Recruitment Figures
For recruitment figures prior to 2025, please refer to the Japan-Ukraine University Pathways page.
2 at Kansai Gaidai University
3 at International Christian University, 1 at Soka University, 1 at Waseda University
1 at Bunkyo Gakuin University, 3 at Ryukoku University, 1 at Tokiwa University, 5 at Waseda University