MST Scholarship

Please click below for information on Scholarships and the application process.

MST Scholarship Background

Guided by our core values of confidence, respect and compassion, The Montessori School of Tokyo has helped shape young minds, allowing them to find their strengths and passions, face up to their challenges and be partners in their own education.

We believe that an MST education uniquely prepares students to be proactive, compassionate and thoughtful. In order to provide opportunities for more students to benefit from an authentic Montessori education, we hope that The MST Scholarship programme will attract a wider range of students, allowing them to start on the path to become self-actualised individuals.

The MST Scholarship is aimed at removing some of the financial barriers which may prevent families from choosing a Montessori education. Any student meeting the admissions criteria for admission to MST may apply for the need-based scholarship.

Scholarships will be awarded for a period of up to three years from the initial admissions date, subject to annual reviews of the family's financial circumstances, as well as their conduct and contribution to the MST community and culture, including academic and non-academic performance. At the end of three years, the family would be eligible to re-apply for an additional scholarship of up to a further three years.

The MST scholarship is currently funded for an initial three year period (academic years 2025-2026 up to and including 2028-2029). In its initial phase, priority will be given to students entering MST's growing Middle School programme (12-15 years old). However, students of any age may apply and we aim to continue with the programme indefinitely, through ongoing fund-raising efforts.

Eligibility
Scholarships are only available to students whose parents are personally responsible for the education expenses of their children and who would be unable to meet the full costs of tuition without some financial assistance.

Scholarship Amount
Scholarship awards are not issued for the total amount of tuition costs and are intended to cover a proportion of annual tuition.

Criteria
The committee considers the following criteria when deciding on granting the MST Scholarships:

Financial circumstances of the family
Understanding of and commitment to a Montessori education for their child(ren).
MST community involvement
Number of children in the school
Number of years at MST
Student conduct and social awareness
Enrollment in programmes that are not at capacity

Please be aware that for the 2025-2026 Academic Year, scholarships awards are mainly limited to the following families:

Families who already have students enrolled in MST who are enrolling siblings, or where financial circumstances have dramatically changed.

Before submitting a formal application, all families considering applying should enquire by sending an initial email to scholarship@montessorijapan.com.

Scholarship Applications for Current Students
The scholarship application form and all supporting documents must be submitted by Friday, 13 December 2024 to be considered for the 2025/2026 Academic Year Scholarship Programme. You will receive notification from the MST Scholarship Committee in mid-January 2025. For those families who have been awarded a scholarship your invoice for the following academic year will reflect any scholarship award.

Scholarship Applications for Applicants Seeking New Admissions
The formal scholarship application form and all supporting documents must be submitted by each Application Submission Deadline described on this page. All applications begin with an email to scholarship@montessorijapan.com to share basic financial information and inquire about eligibility.

You will receive notification from the MST Scholarship Committee on the same day you are notified of your general admissions status.

Confidentiality
All scholarship applications, records, and decisions will be treated confidentially. Once a scholarship has been offered and accepted, no special expectations or exemptions from policy will apply to the scholarship holder or their family. Scholarship recipients are required to pay the balance of their accounts as per the due date on the invoice.

Admission Eligibility
Any student's application for the MST Scholarship will be treated independently from the general admissions process and will not be a factor in determining a family's eligibility for acceptance to MST.

Please send an email to scholarship@montessorijapan.com indicating for which of your child(ren) you would like to apply for a scholarship, and why, and giving an indication of annual income. We will get back to you to let you know if it is worth pursuing a more formal application.
Subject to our response, please complete this online scholarship application form. Only one application form is required per family. Please note that submitting an application is not a guarantee of receiving a scholarship.
Please submit one of the following official statements of income earned and/or taxes paid as supporting documents for the most recent two years to scholarship@montessorijapan.com. Key information needs to be translated into English or Japanese. If both parents are working, please submit documents for both parents. You may also include other official documentation that explains your financial situation. Examples include:
1. - Gensen Choshu Hyo
2. - Juminzei Kazei Nozei Shomeisho
3. - Photocopy of Kakutei Shinkoku Sho
4. - Other form of tax returns from abroad as applicable
5. - Official income statement from your employers. The letter should include the parent’s annual income, including bonuses.

If I receive a scholarship, how are the funds applied to the cost of attending MST?

Scholarship awards will be applied in equal amounts according to the frequency of tuition payments. If you pay annually, the full amount will be applied at that time. If you pay by semester, scholarship amounts will be applied in equal amounts as and when tuition invoices are issued.

Will the scholarship be awarded to my family or to each child in my family attending MST?
Awards will be granted to individual students named in the scholarship applications.

Does it reduce my chance of being accepted to MST if I apply for a scholarship?
No. Admissions decisions are made by the Admissions Team which meets independently of the Scholarship Committee.

Can I apply for a scholarship after receiving an admission decision?
Yes, if this is before the deadline for applying for a Scholarship.

How many children in a family can receive an award?
The Scholarship Committee will strive to allocate the funds available to benefit as many families and as many children as possible. Should a family demonstrate sufficient need, scholarships can be awarded to more than one child in a family.

If my family qualifies for a scholarship, how is the amount of the award determined?
The amount of all awards depends primarily on the funds available in the MST Scholarship programme. The Scholarship Committee will determine the amount of each award based on the numbers of families applying for scholarships, each family’s particular financial circumstances, and the enrollment patterns for MST at certain age levels.

If the award I receive is lower than I had hoped or if I don’t receive an award at all, may I appeal the decision?
There is no appeal process and the decision of the committee is final.

Can the scholarship award be used for entry in the middle of an academic year?
No. All MST Scholarship awards are granted for a full academic year, ranging from periods from one to up to three years.

- Maria Montessori