Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship - Research Students

The Japanese government's MEXT scholarship is run by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The 2027 research students guidelines state its aim as to "foster human resources who will become bridges of friendship" between Japan and other countries. Research students study for a master's or doctorate at a Japanese university, or as non-regular research students.

You cover housing and National Health Insurance from the allowance. Entrance examination, matriculation and tuition fees are waived. The monthly allowance is 143,000 yen for preparatory and non-regular students, 144,000 yen for regular master's students and 145,000 yen for regular doctoral students, with a regional supplement of 2,000 or 3,000 yen in some areas. MEXT provides an economy-class flight to Japan from the nearest international airport, and a flight home for grantees who finish their programme and return before the scholarship ends.

You must hold the nationality of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan and not be a Japanese national. You cannot be military personnel, a past MEXT grantee within the last three years, or a privately funded student already in Japan. In principle you must have been born on or after 2 April 1992. For a master's you need 16 years of school education outside Japan, or an equivalent route. For a doctorate you need a master's-level degree or equivalent research record. You must be in good health, with a physician-signed certificate.

You apply in the field you majored in or a related one. The embassy screens your documents, tests your English and Japanese in writing and interviews you. The interview looks for a clear purpose behind studying in Japan. A provisional acceptance letter from a Japanese university carries real weight in the final selection.

The fields of study may be restricted by the embassy. Traditional performing arts and subjects needing factory or company training are excluded. Students who cannot begin their studies, or are not admitted, bear their own entrance examination fees.

Documents

• Application formRequired
• Placement preference application formRequired
• Field of study and research planRequired
• Academic transcriptsRequired
• Certificate of graduation or degreeRequired
• Letter of recommendation, any style acceptedRequired
• Health certificate in the prescribed formRequired
• Thesis abstractOptional
• Japanese or English language certificatesOptional
• Employer's recommendation letter, if currently employedOptional
• Portfolio or performance media, for fine arts or musicOptional