Tokyo Metropolitan University

Tokyo Metropolitan University Becomes First Japanese University to Partner with South Africa’s Department of Higher Education and Training to Host Scholarship Students

Tokyo Metropolitan University (TMU) has become the first university in Japan to sign an agreement with the Department of Higher Education and Training of the Republic of South Africa to host international students through the department’s scholarship program. This milestone reflects TMU’s strong commitment to advancing internationalization and fostering global academic partnerships.

The agreement was made possible through sustained dialogue with the Embassy of South Africa in Japan since 2024, and was developed through close consultation leading up to its implementation.

The DHET scholarship program aims to address the growing skills gap in South Africa, driven by rapid economic development, by offering young South Africans opportunities to study abroad and gain critical expertise. TMU’s academic programs were recognized for their strong alignment with the goals of the initiative, leading to its selection as the first host institution in Japan.

Beginning in the second half of the 2026 academic year, TMU will welcome graduate students from South Africa into five programs offered by the Graduate School of Science and the Graduate School of Urban Environmental Sciences. Applications opened in early November via the Department’s official website: JAPAN: The DHET Japan Scholarship programme Tokyo Metropolitan University

Through this initiative, TMU aims to foster greater diversity on campus, enhance the quality of its education and research, and strengthen international collaboration through joint research and global academic networks.

 

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Visit by South Africa’s Department of Higher Education and Training (March 2025): From the left to right - Mr. Hidetaka Masuda, Director of the TMU International Affairs Office, Dr Temwa Moyo, Acting Director of International Scholarships, Mr Phumlani Mzobe, Stakeholder & Community Outreach Officer, and Dr. Masayoshi Noguchi, TMU Vice President for International Affairs at TMU

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Visit by Mr. Ghaleeb Jeppie, Minister Counsellor for Science, Innovation & Education at the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa (April 2024)