Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT) 2026
About the scholarship
Applications are now open for students wishing to study in Japan in April 2026 or September/October 2026. The Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT) is one of the largest fully-funded scholarships in the world, enabling applicants to study for bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees at Japanese universities. The scholarship is offered through the Japanese embassy or consulate-general in the applicant's home country.
The state
- Japan.
Academic stage and duration of study
- Bachelor's: 4-5 years.
- Master's: 2-3 years.
- PhD: 3-4 years.
Six months are added to this period to study the Japanese language.
Available universities
- Most Japanese universities are available for application.
Available majors
- Social sciences.
- engineering.
- Medicine and health.
- Arts.
- humanities.
Countries available for application
- All countries of the world are eligible to apply.
Financing
The scholarship covers all tuition and living costs, including:
- 100% tuition waiver.
- Admission fees and book fees.
- Monthly salary ranging from 117,000 to 143,000 Japanese yen (depending on the academic level).
- Accommodation and covered meals.
- Travel allowance.
- Round trip airline tickets.
Application requirements
- Japanese nationality is not required.
- The applicant must be able to provide all required documents.
- To be medically fit.
- To intend to come and study in Japan and not participate in any other activity.
- Applicants must be between 17 and 35 years old.
Required documents
- MEXT Scholarship 2026 Application Form . From here
- Preference form if you want a specific university. From here
- A copy of the graduation certificate.
- A copy of the academic record or transcript.
- Study and research plan (for graduate studies only). From here
- Master's thesis abstract (for PhD applicants only).
- A copy of the passport.
- Letters of recommendation. From here.
- Medical certificate. From here
- the biography.
Eligibility criteria
- Research Students: You must be under 35 years of age and hold a university degree (including prospective graduates), or have completed 16 years of study.
- Teacher training students: You must be under 35 years old, a graduate of a teacher training college or institute, and have at least five years of practical experience as a teacher.
- Undergraduate students: You must be at least 17 years old and no younger than 25 years old and have completed 12 years of school education.
- Japanese Studies Students: You must be between 18 and 30 years old and be enrolled as an undergraduate student in a college or institute specializing in Japanese language or culture.
- College of Technology Students: You must be at least 17 years old and no younger than 25 years old and have completed school education equivalent to high school.
- Students of specialized training colleges: You must be at least 17 years old and no younger than 25 years old and have completed 12 years of study.
- Young Leaders Program (YLP) students: Must be under 40 years old, university graduates with work experience, and young public administrators.
Tests required to obtain an embassy recommendation
- Research students: Japanese and English.
- Teacher training students: Japanese and English.
- Undergraduate students: Japanese, English, Mathematics, Science.
- Japanese Studies Students: Japanese.
- College of Technology students: Japanese, English, Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry.
- Students of specialized training colleges: Japanese, English, and mathematics.
How to apply?
There are two ways to apply:
- Embassy Recommendation:
- For this type of scholarship, applicants are selected and screened by the Japanese Embassy or Consulate General, depending on the country concerned.
- There are additional application requirements that may be more detailed, so it is recommended to contact the Japanese Embassy or other Japanese diplomatic mission in your country for accurate information.
- Application fields and types may vary from country to country, so it is best to check with the Japanese embassy or any Japanese diplomatic mission in your country to see if there are opportunities available in the field you wish to apply for.
- Furthermore, the Japanese Embassy or other diplomatic mission abroad will conduct all required documents and interviews in your country.
- University Recommendation:
- University Recommendation is a system used by Japanese universities and other educational institutions to identify suitable candidates for scholarships through student exchange agreements with educational institutions abroad.
- After evaluating candidates, universities refer them to the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) as potential scholarship candidates. Programs available under this framework include graduate students, undergraduate students, students of Japanese culture, and colleges of technology.
- Students who receive a university-recommended MEXT scholarship usually arrive in Japan in September or October, while some may arrive in late March or early April.
- It is important to note that not all universities in Japan have the ability to provide recommendations for international students.
- Only a limited number of universities accredited by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology can submit recommendations, and these universities must be outstanding and deserving of MEXT scholarships.
- So, if you want to apply for a scholarship based on a recommendation from a particular university, you should first check whether that university has a recommendation quota.
- Application requirements and academic standards vary from university to university.
- Also, the duration of the scholarship and eligibility criteria may vary depending on the type of recommendation framework adopted by the university, so it is recommended to check with the university you wish to apply to for more details.
Steps for applying through the embassy:
- Visit the official website of the Japanese embassy in your country.
- Obtain the application form and complete it accurately.
- Submit all required documents within the specified application period.
- Pass the personal interview if you are shortlisted.
- Wait for the final results announced by the embassy.
Application deadline
- It varies from country to country, but most expire at the end of May 2025 .
Book your application through us and guarantee your increased chance of acceptance.
Don't miss the opportunity to realize your dream of studying in Japan, where culture, technology, and education meet!