MEXT Scholarship 2026 (Fully Funded) Application Process
Start your study journey in Japan. Good news! MEXT
Scholarship applications are now open. In this article, we’ll guide you through
the details of the MEXT scholarship, its benefits, and the step-by-step
application process.
The MEXT Scholarship 2026-2027 is a fully funded opportunity
for international students. It supports undergraduate, master’s, PhD, and
training studies at top Japanese universities. The scholarship covers tuition
fees, accommodation, a monthly living allowance, and round-trip airfare from
your home country to Japan.
Offered by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science and Technology (MEXT), this prestigious scholarship is part of the
Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program. It’s designed for
high-achieving students who aspire to study in Japan and contribute to
international exchange and academic development.
Master's Program Advice
The application cycle usually opens in April, and it’s
important to note that knowledge of the Japanese language, as well as
IELTS/TOEFL scores, is not mandatory. This is the embassy-recommended MEXT
scholarship, which means applicants must apply through the Japanese embassy in
their home country.
MEXT Scholarship Summary
- Level
of Study: Undergraduate / Master’s / PhD / Training
- Institution(s): Japanese
Universities
- Study
in: Japan
- Courses
Offered: All types of courses are offered in all Japanese
universities, from social science to engineering, medical to health, arts,
humanities, etc. There are no academic field restrictions.
- Program
Period: Undergraduate: 4-5 Years, Master’s: 2-3 Years, PhD: 3-4 Years
- MEXT
Scholarship Deadline: Varies
from Embassy to Embassy (Click here to check deadlines)
MEXT Scholarship Coverage
The MEXT Scholarship is a fully funded scholarship for
international students to study in Japan for free. This scholarship will
provide the recipient with the following benefits:
Japanese Language Courses
- Allowances: Monthly
Stipend Allowance, Preparatory Allowance (2026 Rate)
- Education
Fees: Fees for the Entrance Examination and Tuition Fee at
Universities will be paid by MEXT.
- Travelling
Expenses: Transportation to Japan: MEXT will cover your round-trip
airfare travel expenses from your country to Japan. The airline
ticket will be an economy-class ticket for the flight.
- Accommodations: Residence
halls for international students are provided by universities.
Eligibility Criteria for MEXT Scholarship 2026
To qualify for the MEXT Scholarship, the candidate must
fulfill all of the following requirements:
Master's Program Advice
- Required
Language: English
- Eligible
Countries: All countries
- Applicants
must have the nationality of a country that has diplomatic relations with
Japan.
- An
applicant who has Japanese nationality at the time of application is not
eligible.
- For
Undergraduate Students: You must be at least 17 and under 25 years of age
and have completed 12 years of school education or have completed courses
in a school comparable to a high school (includes prospective graduates)
- For
Master’s/PhD Students: You must be under 35 years of age and a college
graduate (including prospective graduates). Or you must have completed 16
years / 18 years of education.
- For
teacher training students: You must be under 35 years of age and a
graduate of a college or teacher training college. You must have at least
five years of active experience as a teacher in a primary, secondary, or
teacher-training college in your country.
- For
Japanese Study Students: Applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old.
Applicants must be enrolled as undergraduate students in faculties or
schools that major in Japanese language or Japanese culture at a
university outside Japan at the time when they come to Japan and must be
enrolled in the home institution at the time when they return to their
home countries.
How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship 2026?
Please follow the following application instructions to
apply for the MEXT Scholarship:
- Find
the Japanese Embassy or Consulate of your country from here.
- Visit
the website of the Japanese Embassy in your country. Under the
Education/Scholarship tab, you will find the MEXT scholarship.
- Download
the MEXT scholarship application form and fill it out.
- Submit
the required documents (list given below) to the Japanese Embassy of your
country.
- A
written test will be conducted by the Japanese Embassy. Find a sample written test with answers here.
- After
that, interviews of the candidates will be conducted.
- The
successful candidates will be informed through email or the embassy
website.
Japanese Language Courses
Documents Required for MEXT Scholarship 2026
(1) MEXT Scholarship Application form
(2) The highest degree verified with official stamps.
- Bachelor’s
program applicants: 12 Years of Education
- Master’s
program applicants: Bachelor’s degree
- Ph.D.
program applicants: Master’s degree
Note: If the degree is not in English, a notarized copy of a translation in English is required.
(3) The highest degree transcript verified with
official stamps. (Including the grading system)
Master's Program Advice
- Bachelor’s
program applicants: 12 Years of Education
- Master’s
program applicants: Bachelor’s degree Transcripts
- Ph.D.
program applicants: Master’s degree Transcripts
Note: If the diploma is not in English, a notarized copy of a translation in English or
required.
(4) Two recommendation letters: The letters of
recommendation must be written by the applicant’s teachers/advisors/employers
(who can evaluate your academic performance and research potential) in English.
(for research students)
(5) Passport Scan (if available at the time of
application)
Document preparation service
(6) Curriculum Vitae (CV) (for research students)
(7) Photographs
(8) Study plan / Statement of purpose. The study plan
is written in English. Basic content shall include motivation for application,
education/research background, and prospective study at APU. (for research
students)
(9) English Language Proficiency Document: Those
students whose language institute was in English can submit an English
Proficiency Certificate from their home university, and they are exempted from
the language test.
(10) Academic thesis or relevant publications (for
research students)
(11) Other reference documents (if applicable)
Website
To learn more about the MEXT Scholarship, please visit the
official website:
For more scholarships in Japan, click here.
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