Application procedure

The deadline for Daiwa Scholarships 2026 was 4 December 2025.

Daiwa Scholarships 2026 will begin in late July/August 2026 and will finish on 31 March 2028 (tbc).

• The first-round interviews are scheduled to take place from 9 to 12 February 2026.
• The second stage is scheduled for 19 February 2026.
• The final interviews, conducted by a panel made up of our trustees , is scheduled for 12 and 13 March 2026 (subject to change)

Up to eight Scholars will be selected in 2026.

The selected Daiwa Scholars will undertake a one-month intensive, residential Japanese language course in the UK from late July/early August 2026 and will move to Japan for the rest of the Scholarship in early to mid September. There is also a short orientation on arrival in Tokyo.

Here you can view a Daiwa Scholarships 2026 flyer.

Here you can view a Duty of Care document relating to the Daiwa Scholarships.

Applying

The application form for Daiwa Scholarships 2026 is available below.

The application notes (for reference) can be found via the link below:

APPLICATION NOTES

The application form for the Daiwa Scholarships can be found below:

Application Forms

Reference letters should be emailed to Scholarships@dajf.org.uk

Ideally the references should be typed on letterheaded paper – where possible – and emailed as PDF attachments. The applicant should not be copied in.

Deadline

The deadline for applications and submission of three reference letters for the 2026 programme is also Thursday 4 December 2025. If candidates’ circumstances change (for instance, change address) after submitting an application, they must inform the Foundation in writing. Candidates shortlisted for the first-round interviews will be contacted from mid-January 2026 onwards.

The preliminary screening of application forms will take place during January 2026. Candidates will be notified (towards the end of January 2026) whether or not they are invited to a Stage 1 interview (held in February 2026).

Stage 2

Candidates who successfully pass Stage 1 will be invited to sit a language aptitude test and attend a lunch at Daiwa Foundation Japan House on 19 February 2026. Candidates will be notified whether they are invited to Stage 3 interview shortly afterwards.

Stage 3

The final shortlist of candidates will be interviewed by the Trustees  on 12 and 13 March 2026. Candidates will be notified of the final outcome soon afterwards.