Lokmani Rijal, Japan: Japan is set to remove foreign PhD scholars from its living support program starting in 2027, according to the Human Resources Committee under Japan’s Ministry of Education.

The plan, approved on July 30, will come into effect from the 2027 academic session, cutting off living allowances for foreign PhD students.

The support program, known as “SPRING” (Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation), was launched in 2021 by the Japan Science and Technology Agency. Under this scheme, PhD students receive up to 2.9 million yen annually to cover living and research expenses.

In the 2024 academic year, out of 10,564 students enrolled under the program, about 40 percent (4,125 students) were international, with Chinese students forming the largest group (3,151). This sparked criticism from lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

In response, the ministry reviewed the policy and proposed that, moving forward, the annual living allowance of up to 2.4 million yen would be provided exclusively to Japanese students.

However, the ministry clarified that research funding under the program would still remain available to foreign students.