Master's Scholarship•Japan

MEXT Scholarship — Research Students (Japanese Government Scholarship)

Funding

Fully Funded

Program dates

Apr 1, 2027

The Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship for Research Students is Japan’s flagship state scholarship for international students pursuing graduate study or research at a Japanese university. Administered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), it supports non-degree research students as well as those enrolling in master’s or doctoral degree programs. Awardees may study at any Japanese national, public, or accredited private university across any field of study. This record covers the Embassy Recommendation track, where applicants apply through the Japanese embassy or consulate-general in their home country; a separate University Recommendation track also exists. The award carries no repayment and no return-service obligation.

Benefits & funding

  • Monthly stipend: ¥143,000 for non-degree research students, ¥144,000 for master’s students, and ¥145,000 for doctoral students (amounts may change each fiscal year).
  • Regional supplement of a few thousand yen per month for grantees in designated areas (e.g. ¥3,000 for Kyoto City, ¥2,000 for Uji/Inuyama).
  • Tuition exemption: examination, admission, and tuition fees are paid by MEXT.
  • One round-trip economy-class air ticket between the home country and Japan.
  • For non-degree research students, the award runs up to 2 years, which may include a six-month preparatory Japanese-language course (waivable for those with sufficient ability); degree students are funded through the standard length of their program.
  • No repayment and no return-service requirement.

Eligibility

  • Nationality: open to nationals of countries that have diplomatic relations with Japan; applicants must not also hold Japanese nationality. Applicants apply through the Japanese diplomatic mission in their own country.
  • Age: in principle under 35 years old (34 or younger as of 1 April of the year of arrival).
  • Degree held: must have graduated, or expect to graduate, from a Bachelor’s (or higher) program, and be eligible for admission to a master’s or doctoral program at a Japanese graduate school.
  • Health: in good physical and mental condition.
  • Must not concurrently hold another scholarship from the Japanese government.
  • Field of study: open to all academic fields.

Application process

  1. 1
    Apply to the Japanese embassy or consulate-general in your home country during the recruitment window (do NOT send documents directly to MEXT in Japan).
  2. 2
    Pass the embassy’s first screening, including written examinations (Japanese and English) and an interview.
  3. 3
    Be nominated by the embassy to MEXT; secure a letter of acceptance/placement from a Japanese university, then receive the final selection result.

Program timeline

  1. embassy recruitment / application window.

    April–May (year before arrival)

  2. first screening by Japanese embassies or consulates-general.

    May–July

  3. April 2027 or September/October 2027

    arrival in Japan for the 2027 intake.