Applications for the 2026 Government of Japan MEXT Scholarship at the University of Tokyo have officially opened for qualified international students interested in pursuing postgraduate studies in Japan.
The Japan Government MEXT Scholarship 2026 is a fully funded opportunity that covers the full tuition fees of successful applicants and also provides annual stipends worth approximately ¥1,774,000 ($11,328) to support living expenses throughout the study period at the University of Tokyo.
Scholarship Summary
- Host Country: Japan
- Category: Postgraduate Scholarships | Masters Scholarships | PhD Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Reward: Full Scholarship | $11,328 per year
- Deadline: October 31, 2025
Scholarship Details
Applications are currently ongoing for the University Recommended Japan Government MEXT Scholarship Program for the 2025/2026 academic session. The scholarship is offered through the University of Tokyo, widely known as Todai, which remains one of Japan’s highest-ranked universities with several English-taught postgraduate programs available for international students.
Under the MEXT Scholarship scheme with University Recommendation, Japanese universities are responsible for conducting the preliminary screening process before recommending selected candidates to the Japanese Government’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Interested applicants are therefore expected to first contact and apply through the university or graduate school where they intend to study.
The scholarship is designed to support academically outstanding international students by giving them access to quality education, advanced research facilities, and global academic exposure in Japan.
Eligibility Criteria
To be qualified for the Japan Government MEXT Scholarship, applicants must:
- Be international students with outstanding academic records
- Have graduated from their previous degree program with a GPA of 2.30 or higher, or currently maintain a GPA of at least 2.30 in their ongoing program
- Be expected to maintain the same academic standard throughout the scholarship period
- Meet the English Language Proficiency requirements
- Be citizens of countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Japan
- Be born on or after April 2, 1990
- Apply for a field related to their previous area of study
- Be physically and mentally fit to study in Japan
- Be available to arrive in Japan within the period specified by the host university, usually within two weeks before or after the semester begins
Scholarship Benefits
Successful applicants for the Japan Government MEXT Scholarship will receive:
- Full exemption from enrollment and tuition fees
- Monthly stipend of:
- 144,000 yen/month for Master’s students
- 145,000 yen/month for Doctoral students
- Additional monthly allowance of 2,000–3,000 yen for students studying in designated regions
- Economy-class flight ticket from the nearest international airport in the recipient’s home country to Japan
- Return airfare at the end of the scholarship period
- Funding for the standard duration of the program:
- Master’s Program: October 2025 – September 2027 (2 years)
- Doctoral Program: October 2025 – September 2028 (3 years)
Required Documents
To apply for this scholarship, applicants must prepare to submit:
- Application Form
- Field of Study and Research Plan
- Letter of Recommendation
- Official academic transcript from the last university attended
- Transcript from current degree program (for currently enrolled students)
- Passport-sized photograph taken within the last 6 months
- Proof of language proficiency
- Abstract of graduation thesis
- Official statement of graduation or expected graduation
- Copy of international passport data page
How to Apply
To apply for the Japan Government MEXT Scholarship:
- Visit the scholarship application webpage
- Submit an admission application for a Master’s or Doctoral program
- Upload all required scholarship documents after completing the admission application
- Ensure all documents are written in English or Japanese
- Prepare all documents in A4 format and print them double-sided where necessary
- Attach Japanese translations for documents written in other languages
- Submit the application before the deadline
- Kindly wait for feedback from the university and MEXT
To begin the scholarship application process, click HERE
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