Scholarships in Japan

Studying in Japan with a scholarship

Japan offers several different funding routes for international students, so it is important not to treat every scholarship as though it works the same way.

The main options include:

• Japanese Government MEXT Scholarships
• JASSO scholarships
• university scholarships
• tuition reductions or exemptions
• local government funding
• private foundation scholarships
• exchange scholarships

Japan’s official Study in Japan service specifically advises students not to assume that scholarships will cover every cost. Many awards are intended to provide partial support, so applicants should calculate tuition, housing, living expenses and travel before deciding whether an opportunity is financially realistic.

Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship

The Japanese Government Scholarship, commonly known as the MEXT Scholarship or Monbukagakusho Scholarship, is one of Japan’s most important funding opportunities for international students.

MEXT currently provides seven main scholarship categories:

• Undergraduate Students
• Research Students
• Teacher Training Students
• Japanese Studies Students
• College of Technology Students
• Specialized Training College Students
• Young Leaders’ Program students

The scholarship has existed since 1954 and is designed to bring international students to Japan with government financial support.

Applicants should first determine which MEXT category actually matches their education level and goals.

A student who wants a regular bachelor’s degree, for example, should not use the Research Student application simply because it sounds more advanced.

Two main ways to apply for MEXT

There are two major application routes:

Embassy Recommendation

Under this route, applicants are initially screened by the Japanese embassy or consulate responsible for their country.

The embassy manages the first stage of selection, which may include:

• document screening
• written examinations
• interviews

For students applying for 2027 entry, MEXT has already published official Embassy Recommendation application materials for undergraduate, College of Technology, specialised training and research applicants.

University Recommendation

Some Japanese universities can recommend international students directly to MEXT.

This route is not available in exactly the same way for every scholarship category, and university quotas are limited. Applicants need to check whether their intended institution participates and whether the programme is eligible.

Do not submit applications randomly through both routes without checking the current rules.

MEXT 2027 applications

For 2027 entry, the Embassy Recommendation process began during 2026.

For undergraduate applicants, recruitment generally takes place around April to May in the year before arrival, with first-stage screening conducted by Japanese diplomatic missions during the following months. Exact deadlines differ by country.

Research applicants for April or September/October 2027 entry also generally applied through embassies during April and May 2026, with first screening taking place between May and July.

This means there is no single worldwide MEXT deadline.

A deadline announced by the Japanese Embassy in Indonesia, Ghana or Kenya may not be the same as the deadline in another country.

Applicants should always check the Japanese embassy or consulate responsible for their nationality.

What MEXT can cover

MEXT is more comprehensive than many ordinary scholarships.

Current official scholarship support includes monthly allowances, tuition support and travel-related benefits subject to the programme rules.

JASSO currently lists the following monthly MEXT scholarship amounts:

• Undergraduate, College of Technology and specialised training students: ¥117,000
• Non-degree research students: ¥143,000
• Master’s and professional degree students: ¥144,000
• Doctoral students: ¥145,000
• Teacher training students: ¥143,000
• Young Leaders’ Program students: ¥242,000

Additional support may apply in certain designated regions.

Applicants should still check the actual 2027 application guideline because scholarship amounts and conditions can change.

Tuition and entrance fees

MEXT scholarship recipients generally receive exemption from entrance examination, matriculation and tuition fees at the institution where they are placed under the scholarship.

This is one reason MEXT is significantly more valuable than a simple monthly stipend.

Students applying without MEXT should understand that Japan’s normal university fees vary according to institution type.

Current official Study in Japan estimates place first-year fees at roughly:

• ¥820,000 at national undergraduate universities
• around ¥910,000 to ¥930,000 at local public universities
• around ¥1.1 million to ¥1.3 million at private universities, excluding especially expensive programmes such as medicine, dentistry and pharmacy

Graduate school fees average approximately:

• ¥820,000 at national universities
• ¥900,000 at local public universities
• around ¥1.1 million at private universities

These figures include typical admission and tuition costs and should be used only as general estimates.

Always check the university’s own fee schedule.

The undergraduate MEXT route

The standard MEXT Undergraduate Scholarship is designed for students seeking a bachelor’s degree in Japan.

The route commonly includes preparatory education before the degree, particularly Japanese-language and academic preparation, unless the student qualifies for direct placement.

The scholarship can normally run for around five years including preparatory education, while medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and certain pharmacy courses can have longer scholarship periods.

Applicants should read the current application guideline carefully because academic subject choices and examination requirements differ between humanities and science applicants.

MEXT undergraduate examinations

Embassy-recommended undergraduate applicants may sit written examinations.

Official MEXT guidance lists subjects such as:

• Japanese
• English
• mathematics
• science subjects for science applicants

Science applicants may also be tested in subjects such as chemistry, physics or biology depending on their chosen field.

Students should therefore begin preparing for the examination before the embassy shortlist is announced.

Past examination papers can also be useful for understanding the expected level.

Research Student scholarships

The MEXT Research Student route is aimed mainly at postgraduate applicants.

This category can include students entering:

• research programmes
• master’s programmes
• doctoral programmes

The 2027 Embassy Recommendation application includes a Field of Study and Research Plan, which is a major part of the application.

A strong research application should explain:

• what the applicant wants to study
• the research problem
• academic background
• proposed methodology
• expected contribution
• why Japan is suitable for the research

Generic statements about Japan being technologically advanced are not enough.

Finding a Japanese university for research

Research applicants may eventually need to identify suitable Japanese universities and academic supervisors.

This stage should be approached carefully.

Instead of emailing large numbers of professors with the same message, applicants should identify researchers whose work genuinely matches their proposed project.

Before contacting a professor, read:

• recent publications
• current research themes
• laboratory information
• graduate programme requirements

A short, focused email showing real academic fit is more useful than a long generic message.

Japanese-language ability

Japan has more English-taught degree programmes than in the past, but Japanese remains important.

Most undergraduate university programmes are still taught mainly in Japanese, although fully English-taught bachelor’s programmes exist.

Applicants should check the actual programme language.

Do not assume that a university offers an English degree simply because its website has an English version.

For Japanese-taught programmes, universities may require:

• JLPT
• EJU Japanese results
• internal language assessment

Requirements vary.

EJU

The Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students, or EJU, is used by many Japanese universities when assessing international undergraduate applicants.

Depending on the programme, students may take subjects such as:

• Japanese as a Foreign Language
• Mathematics
• Science
• Japan and the World

Not every university uses EJU in the same way.

Applicants should confirm whether their intended university requires it and which subjects must be taken.

High EJU performance can also be relevant to JASSO scholarship opportunities.

JASSO scholarships

JASSO provides additional financial support for international students.

One important programme is the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students.

Current monthly support is:

• ¥48,000 for eligible undergraduate and graduate-level students
• ¥30,000 for eligible students at Japanese-language institutions

The scholarship is primarily aimed at privately financed international students with strong academic performance who also need financial assistance.

Unlike MEXT, this is usually supplementary support rather than a full funding package.

JASSO academic requirements

For students applying after entering Japan, JASSO currently requires an academic performance score equivalent to at least 2.30 under its specified calculation system and expects recipients to maintain that level.

Applicants also need to meet relevant Japanese or English language standards and financial conditions.

Universities normally handle nominations, and not every institution has the same number of recommendation places.

Students should ask their international office after enrolment.

Exchange students

JASSO also supports short-term international exchange students through the Student Exchange Support Program.

The programme is designed for students participating under an exchange agreement between their home institution and a Japanese institution.

Eligible periods can range from 8 days to one year, and current support is ¥80,000 per month.

This is different from a full degree scholarship.

Students remain connected to their home university and normally return there after the exchange.

University scholarships and tuition reductions

Many Japanese universities operate their own funding schemes.

These can include:

• tuition reductions
• entrance-fee waivers
• merit scholarships
• research assistant funding
• university foundation scholarships
• international student grants

Some can be applied for before arriving in Japan, while many others are available only after enrolment.

The official Study in Japan service notes that university and private scholarships make up an important part of the funding landscape, but availability differs significantly between institutions.

Students should check each university’s scholarship page separately.

Living costs

The cost of living in Japan depends heavily on where the student lives.

According to current official Study in Japan data, the average monthly living cost for privately financed international students is around ¥105,000, excluding tuition and research expenses.

Housing represents a significant part of that amount.

Average monthly rent is approximately:

• ¥41,000 nationally
• around ¥57,000 in Tokyo

Tokyo and other major cities are generally more expensive than regional locations.

Students should therefore compare the total cost of the city, not only the reputation of the university.

Build a realistic budget

Before travelling, calculate more than tuition.

Your budget should include:

• admission fees
• tuition
• accommodation
• housing deposit
• utilities
• food
• transportation
• health insurance
• textbooks
• visa expenses
• airfare
• furniture and household items
• emergency expenses

Japan’s official guidance specifically warns applicants to plan their finances carefully rather than expecting scholarships or part-time work to solve every financial problem.

Student visa and Certificate of Eligibility

International students studying long-term in Japan generally use the Student residence status.

Before applying for the visa, the university or another representative in Japan commonly applies for a Certificate of Eligibility, known as a COE, through the Japanese immigration authorities.

Once the COE is issued, the student can normally proceed with the visa application at the Japanese embassy or consulate.

Applicants may also be asked to demonstrate that they have enough financial resources to cover their expenses in Japan.

Scholarship certificates can be important evidence where applicable.

Part-time work

Students should not plan to finance their entire education through part-time employment.

International students with Student residence status need permission before engaging in paid work outside the activities covered by that status.

With the required permission, students are normally limited to 28 hours per week, with longer daily hours permitted during designated long university holidays.

Official data indicates that privately financed international students who work part-time earn around ¥59,000 per month on average, which is not enough to cover the full cost of tuition and living expenses.

Part-time work should therefore be treated as supplementary income.

Documents applicants may need

Requirements differ between MEXT, universities and other scholarships, but students may need:

• passport
• application form
• academic transcripts
• graduation certificate
• recommendation letter
• medical certificate
• language certificate
• study plan
• research proposal
• photographs
• proof of financial resources

For 2027 Embassy Recommendation MEXT applications, official application forms, medical certificates and recommendation materials are already published by MEXT.

Research applicants also need the official Field of Study and Research Plan.

Do not send MEXT applications directly to MEXT

This is an important practical point.

For Embassy Recommendation, applicants should follow the Japanese embassy or consulate instructions in their country.

The official Study in Japan guidance specifically warns applicants not to send Embassy Recommendation application documents directly to MEXT in Japan.

Submitting documents to the wrong place can cause an applicant to miss the actual selection process.

Scholarship scams

MEXT applications are free.

Japan’s Ministry of Education specifically warns that organisations or individuals requesting fees, deposits or guarantees in connection with Japanese Government Scholarship applications are not affiliated with the Japanese Government.

Applicants should be cautious if someone promises:

• guaranteed MEXT selection
• guaranteed embassy nomination
• guaranteed university placement
• guaranteed visa approval
• priority selection in exchange for money

No private individual can guarantee a competitive government scholarship.

Application quality matters

A strong scholarship application should show why the chosen programme fits the applicant’s background.

For undergraduate students, this means connecting previous education and interests with the intended field.

For postgraduate applicants, the research plan becomes especially important.

Avoid filling scholarship essays with generic statements such as:

“Japan is developed and has advanced technology.”

Instead, explain:

• what you have already studied or worked on
• what problem interests you
• why the proposed programme fits
• what you hope to learn
• how you intend to use the experience afterward

The application should sound like a real person with a clear academic direction.

What to check before applying

Before applying for a scholarship in Japan, confirm:

• scholarship type
• eligible nationality
• age requirement
• academic qualification
• language requirements
• written examinations
• application route
• embassy deadline
• university deadline
• scholarship duration
• monthly stipend
• tuition coverage
• airfare conditions
• preparatory education requirements
• whether the programme is taught in Japanese or English

For MEXT, the current year’s official application guideline should always override information from older scholarship articles.

Final advice

Japan offers several good funding routes, but MEXT, JASSO and university scholarships serve different purposes.

MEXT is the strongest option for students seeking comprehensive government support. JASSO can help privately financed students and exchange participants, while university scholarships and tuition reductions provide additional opportunities.

For students interested in 2027 entry, the official MEXT Embassy Recommendation materials have already been published. Applicants should use those current documents and follow the Japanese embassy responsible for their country rather than relying on old deadlines circulating online.

The scholarship listings below can help students discover opportunities in Japan, but the final eligibility check and application should always be completed through MEXT, Study in Japan, the relevant Japanese diplomatic mission or the university offering the scholarship.

Last reviewed: September 10, 2026