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Japan

MEXT Japanese Government Scholarship

Japan's most generous government scholarship. Two routes: the Embassy recommendation (apply via the Japanese embassy in your country, with written tests and interview) or University recommendation (a professor champions you). A separate undergraduate category also exists.

No application feeResearch plan neededAge limit

Fact sheet

Funding
≈ ¥144,000/month + full tuition + flights
Typical deadline window
Embassy track opens ~Apr – May at Japanese embassies; university track varies
Application fee
None
Language test
None mandatory (English or Japanese ability assessed in screening)
Where you study
Japan

What it covers

  • ✓Monthly stipend (≈ ¥144,000 for research students)
  • ✓Full tuition and exam/enrolment fees
  • ✓Round-trip airfare
  • ✓No bond — no obligation to stay in Japan

Can you apply?

  • ▸Under 35 for the research (graduate) category
  • ▸Bachelor degree or equivalent for the graduate track
  • ▸A separate undergraduate track exists (embassy route, written exams in maths/science/English, age limits apply)
  • ▸Willingness to learn Japanese (basic training provided)

Insider tips

  1. 01For the university track, everything depends on emailing professors with a sharp, specific research plan. Generic emails get deleted.
  2. 02For the embassy track, past written-test takers report English + maths screening — practice samples are on most embassy sites.
  3. 03Your research plan is the single most-weighted document. Two pages, concrete methodology, aligned with the target professor's lab.
Official page ↗Track this applicationDocument checklist

Useful services for this route

How we fund this site

Magoosh IELTS Prep ↗

Self-paced IELTS prep — far cheaper than coaching centres.

Wise ↗

Pay application/deposit fees abroad at the real exchange rate.

StudentUniverse ↗

Student-only fares for your first one-way flight.

Independent services we'd recommend anyway — using them never costs you extra.

Stipend amounts and deadlines shown are recent figures and change between intakes — always confirm on the official page above before planning.