The Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation Scholarship 2023

The Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation comfortably sits as the Japan’s largest private scholarship organization, both in terms of its program scale and the number of scholarships awarded, supported by contributions of Rotarians throughout Japan. Rotary is proudly supporting the overseas students’ study in Japan.

What Is Rotary?

The Rotary was founded in Chicago in 1905, Rotary is a global network of people who are dedicated to contribute to social development and world peace through their various professions. Today, there are Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and regions of the world. The number of clubs reached 36,945 with 1,204,997 members as of April 20, 2022. Japan’s first Rotary club was established in Tokyo in 1920. There are 2,224 clubs with 83,855 members in Japan as of the end of March 2022.

Aims of Rotary:

The Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Scholarship Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the “Yoneyama Foundation”) supports international students to accomplish high academic achievements, and at the same time demonstrates the spirit of Rotary through interactions with counselors and the sewa clubs. The objective is to deepen mutual international understanding and develop bonds to grow into a bridge between the student’s mother country and Japan. The scholarship qualifications therefore require enthusiasm and excellence in the following;

• Academic work,
• Cross cultural understanding
• Communication skills.

The Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Scholars (hereinafter referred to as “Yoneyama Scholars”) are expected to learn the culture and customs of Japan, foster the awareness for social contribution and participation, and become a mature member of the society who can contribute to the Rotary’s ideala creating and maintaining world peace.

• ​Funding: Full Funding
• ​Level: Bachelor’s & Master’s
• ​Deadline: October 31, 2022.
• ​Type of Study: Full Time
• ​Country: Japan
• ​University: Any Japanese University supported by Rotary.
• ​Field of Study: Various
• ​Nationality: International

Eligibility of The Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation Scholarship:

Those who meet the following requirements;

• Citizenship, visa status and place of residence
• Those who hold citizenship of countries other than Japan at the point of entry. Dual nationality holders not including the Japanese citizenship, and/or stateless persons will be considered as non-Japanese citizens.
• Those who will enter Japan for study purposes, and hold a “Student” visa status.
• Those who will reside overseas until entering Japan to enroll into the institution.
• In case you do not meet the requirements at the time of application, you may apply for the scholarship on condition that the requirements will be met by the time you arrive in Japan.

Age limit:

• Applicant must be born after April 2, 1978. (Under 45 years of age as of April 1 of the year the scholarship is awarded)

Prohibition of dual scholarships:

• It is prohibited to receive scholarships or grants of the same nature that are offered to individuals by other institutions.
• If you wish to receive other scholarships after having been awarded the Yoneyama Memorial scholarship, you must decline the Yoneyama Memorial Scholarship by the following deadline:

1. If the expected enrollment is April 2023, the deadline is March 1, 2023
2. If the expected enrollment is September/October 2023, the deadline is August 1, 2023

Ineligibility of previous Yoneyama Scholars:

Those who have received the Yoneyama Scholarship in the past are not eligible to apply again.

History of residency in Japan;

• Those who do not have a history of staying in Japan until the month the scholarship commences.
• However, if any of the following applies, the application qualification will be acknowledged;

1. If your stay in Japan has not exceeded 31 days in total.
2. If your stay in Japan was due to family reasons. (This applies only until the completion of compulsory education.)
3. If you resided in Japan under the Rotary Youth Exchange program during high school.
4. Eligibility is extended to the above applicants to deepen the understanding and relationship with Rotary.

Academic institution and admission:

1. Those who plan to enter or transfer into the Japanese universities or graduate schools under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports Science and Technology of Japan in April, September or October 2023 with the intention to pursue a degree by attending the regular courses.
2. Those who have been issued a letter of acceptance or an admission permit, or are planning to take the examination at the intended institution.
3. Students enrolled in double degree programs must have their scholarship period for two or more years.

Health requirements:

Those who have an enthusiasm to study, clear future goal, and awareness and respect for cultural differences. Also, those who can express oneself correctly, communicate smoothly, strive to deeply understand the mission of the Yoneyama Scholarship program, and take concrete actions. Good physical and mental health is also required for students who seek to study abroad.

Selected Students Obligations:

• Yoneyama Scholars must attend regular meetings of their sewa Rotary Club at least once a month.
• Submit a report written in Japanese twice a year.
• Give speeches at regular meetings, attend the sewa club and Rotary District activities, and make efforts to deepen mutual understanding throughout such interactions with Rotarians.

After The Rotary Scholarship Period:

After the Yoneyama Scholarship Period, scholars can expand their network through the Alumni association. Scholars are eligible to participate in various Rotary Clubs and Rotary activities. Yoneyama
Alumni Association has 33 groups in Japan, as well as overseas groups in Taiwan, Korea, China, Thailand, Nepal, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Myanmar.

How to Apply for The Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation Scholarship:

Applying Procedures:

The recruitment and application for overseas application scholarships will be handled by the Yoneyama Foundation secretariat. Recruitment starts from early October.

Screening:

• Japan’s Rotary organization consists of 34 districts, and each district has a Rotary Yoneyama selection committee.
• Applicants will be judged by the selection committee of the Rotary district where the university to be enrolled is located (hereinafter referred to as the “District Selection Committee”), and by the Foundation’s own selection committee. The results will be determined basically by documentation review.
• However, under the decision of the District Selection Committee, the committee may conduct direct or online interviews to applicants and/or supervisors, and hearings via telephone and/or email.

Number of Awardees:

Approximately fifteen persons will be awarded Additionally, a maximum of one awardee per district is allowed outside of this framework. It is the district’s decision to determine the number of awardees within the allocated framework.

Benefits of The Rotary Yoneyama Memorial Foundation Scholarship:

This scholarship is a benefit type scholarship. The period is as stated below and there is no subsidy such as entrance fee and/or tuition,

Scholarship amounts:

• Undergraduates: ¥100,000 per month
• Master’s students: ¥140,000 per month
• Doctoral students: ¥140,000 per month

Supplemental for airfare:

For successful applicants, up to 250,000 yen in Japanese yen will be subsidized for actual expenses.

Range of assistance:

Travel expenses for the first visit to Japan after selected as a scholar, including connecting flight ticket fares from home country to Japan, domestic travel expenses both in home country and Japan, accommodationon the first day in Japan, and visa fees. The travel expenses are regulated to
economy class fees only.

The Rotary Scholarship period:

• For April 2023 enrollment;

1. Undergraduates: Two years（April 2023 – March 2025）
2. Graduate students: Two years（April 2023 – March 2025）

• For September / October 2023 enrollment;

1. Undergraduates: Two years (September / October 2023 – August / September/2025）
2. Graduate students: Two years （September / October 2023 – August / September/2025）

Application Deadline:

Application will open From: 13:00 JST on Saturday, October 1, 2022.

To: 13:00 JST on Monday, October 31, 2022.

Selections Process:

• Generally, selections are performed based on the document review. However, it is the District Selection Committee’s decision to take further procedures, such as online interviews, telephone and/or email questionings to the applicant and/or the supervisor.
• Incomplete application documents will not be considered valid for the selection.
• If a candidate fails to enter the intended university, or if the appropriate enrollment procedures are not taken, the applicant loses eligibility for application.
• If a successful candidate (or a tentatively successful candidate) declines to receive the scholarship, another candidate on a waiting list may become entitled to receive the scholarship. However, the deadline for this advancement is the district orientation date (in April).

Selection Results Notification:

• Applicants are to be notified by the middle of March 2023.
• Selection results will be notified to the applicants by email, and a certificate of eligibility will be issued to the successful applicants by the end of March 2023.
• If the admission decision has not been made by the intended institution in Japan, the conditional selection result will be notified to the successful applicants.
• Inquiries on the results will not be responded by the Host.

How do you Receive the Rotary Scholarshi Payment?:

• Successful applicants must arrive in Japan prior to the last day of the month before the designated month of admission. In general, changes to the arrival schedule to Japan are not accepted.
• If not entering in Japan by the designated date, the applicant will lose the eligibility automatically.
• However, if there is any difficulty in doing so, you must notify the Yoneyama Scholarship Foundation in advance.

Document Required:

Documents Rules;

• Applicants short of required documents will not be accepted.
• Application documents must be written in either Japanese or English.
• Write in Japanese if the applicant can do so.
• If applying for more than one university/graduate schools, a full set of documents required per university/graduate school.
• After the application deadline, the school, course, faculty, graduate school, and admission month stated in the application form cannot be changed.
• If the application documents are found to be false or fraudulent, the application will be disqualified, and the selection result will also be voided.
• If the documents are found to be false or fraudulent after the scholar starts to receive the scholarship, the payment of the scholarship will be cancelled and the return of partial or full scholarship up to that point may be required.

Required Documents:

1.  Application form (prescribed form with photograph); University/graduate school name, major/field course, faculty advisor or admission office you are applying to must be clearly mentioned.
2. Copy of submitted admission application form for the intended university/graduate school.
   i. Applicants who have not submitted the forms to the university / graduate school will not be accepted.
   ii. If unable to apply to the intended university/graduate school due to the institution’s application schedules, a copy of submitted application form for admission must be presented promptly after applying to the intended
   university/institution. If a copy of application is not presented, the applicant will be disqualified.
3. Research plan (prescribed form): This must be submitted by both undergraduate and graduate students with the Theme：i. Undergraduate students. “What I want to study at the university or my study plan” ii. Graduate students; “Plans of research at the graduate school・Current status of research”
4. Scholarship essay “Objective for studying in Japan” (prescribed form).
5. Letter of recommendation (prescribed form).
6. Letters of recommendation from applicant or family members will not be accepted. Letters without a hand-written signature of the recommender will not be accepted.

For Undergraduates;

• One recommendation letter between the (i)~(iii) below must be submitted.
• The school you were enrolled in most recently in your country.
• Most recent workplace in your country
• Teacher/staff member of your intended university in Japan.

For Graduates;

• A letter of recommendation from a prospective supervisor of your intended graduate school must be submitted.
• If a letter of recommendation from a supervisor cannot be obtained because the supervisor will be appointed after you enter the graduate school, you must notify the Yoneyama Foundation secretariat in advance.
• If you submit, without notifying the Yoneyama Foundation secretariat, a letter of recommendation written by a person other than the supervisor, this application will be disqualified.

7. Copy of letter of acceptance by the prospective Japanese institution: If the acceptance letter has not been issued at the time of application, it will only be accepted by the following deadline;

• Applicants for April 2023: March 25, 2023.
• Applicants for September/October/ 2023: August 25, 2023.

8. Copy of the document certifying Japanese language proficiency.

• Those who have undertaken the Japanese Language Proficiency Test or similar Japanese language proficiency tests must submit a copy of the result notification.
• It is not necessary for those who have not undertaken the test to provide the above documents.
• A notification copy of the test results on English proficiency is not required.

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