MEXT Scholarship

The MEXT Scholarship Japan programme is a fully funded scholarship offered by the Japanese Government to international students. It’s managed by MEXT, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and it supports undergraduate, master’s, PhD and training programmes in Japan.

Selected students receive a monthly stipend between ¥117,000 and ¥242,000 (₹67,860 and ₹1,40,360), along with a tuition fee waiver and a round-trip economy air ticket. The scholarship has seven categories, and you can apply through the Embassy of Japan or a Japanese university. In India, the 2027 Research Students round closed on 15 May 2026, and the Undergraduate round closed on 25 May 2026.

In this article, you’ll find the seven MEXT Scholarship categories, the full list of benefits, the MEXT Scholarship requirements for each category, the application steps for India, documents, deadlines, the written test, the MEXT interview and tips to build a stronger application.

Types of MEXT Scholarships

MEXT Scholarship Japan is split into seven categories, and each one suits a different study level or career stage. Five categories accept applications through both the embassy and a university, while Teacher Training and Specialized Training are open only through the embassy.

The table below shows who each category is meant for and how you can apply:

Scholarship Category	Who It’s For	Embassy Recommendation	University Recommendation
Research Students	Master’s or PhD study at a Japanese graduate school	Yes	Yes
Undergraduate Students	A bachelor’s degree after Class 12	Yes	Yes
Teacher Training Students	Working school teachers	Yes	No
Japanese Studies Students	Undergraduates studying Japanese language or culture outside Japan	Yes	Yes
College of Technology Students	Technical education at a Japanese college of technology (KOSEN)	Yes	Yes (through the college)
Specialized Training College Students	Practical training at a specialized college	Yes	No
Young Leaders Program (YLP) Students	A master’s for young professionals and public officers	No	No (separate selection)

Your category decides almost every rule that follows, so it’s worth choosing it first. In India, the Undergraduate route leads to a 5-year bachelor’s programme, while College of Technology runs for 4 years and Specialized Training for 2 years.

For a wider look at universities, student life and costs, read our guide on Study in Japan.

MEXT Scholarship Benefits

MEXT Scholarship Japan covers three of the biggest costs of studying abroad: living expenses, tuition and airfare. Tuition, matriculation and entrance exam fees are all waived for selected students.

Students placed in certain regions of Japan also get a small top-up of ¥2,000 or ¥3,000 (₹1,160 or ₹1,740) a month. Each part of the funding is covered in detail below.

MEXT Scholarship Stipend

The stipend is a fixed monthly allowance meant for your living costs in Japan. Among the regular categories, PhD research students receive the highest amount at ¥145,000 (₹84,100) a month.

These amounts can change from one financial year to the next. Here’s what each category currently receives:

Scholarship Category	Monthly Stipend (JPY)	Monthly Stipend (INR)
Research Students (preparatory or non-degree)	¥143,000	₹82,940
Research Students (master’s or professional degree)	¥144,000	₹83,520
Research Students (doctoral)	¥145,000	₹84,100
Teacher Training Students	¥143,000	₹82,940
Undergraduate, Japanese Studies, College of Technology and Specialized Training Students	¥117,000	₹67,860
Young Leaders Program (YLP) Students	¥242,000	₹1,40,360

Tuition Fees and Admission Fee Waiver

As a MEXT scholar, you won’t pay tuition at your Japanese university. The 2027 guidelines confirm that tuition, matriculation and entrance exam fees are all waived.

The waiver comes with a few conditions worth knowing:

• Exam fee exception: You’ll have to pay the entrance exam fee yourself if you can’t join the course or the university doesn’t admit you.
• No application fee: There are no MEXT exam fees or application fees when you apply through an embassy or consulate.
• Fee scams: Japan’s consulates have warned that websites asking for application fees have no link to the Japanese Government.

Airfare and Travel Expenses

MEXT pays for an economy-class ticket from the international airport closest to your home to Japan. It also pays for your flight back after you finish your course, as long as you apply for it.

Some travel costs still fall on you. This table shows what’s covered and what isn’t:

Travel Item	Covered by MEXT?	What to Know
Flight to Japan	Yes	Economy class, from the nearest international airport
Flight home after the course	Yes	Only if you leave by the end of your final scholarship month and apply for it
Travel to the airport in India	No	You pay for this yourself
Airport tax, insurance and extra baggage	No	You pay for these yourself
Arriving outside the set travel period	No	No travel costs are paid

Other Expenses Students Should Plan For

The MEXT Scholarship Japan package is fully funded, though a few personal costs aren’t part of it. It’s a good idea to keep some savings aside before you leave India.

Plan for these expenses on your own:

• Getting to the airport: Train or cab fare from your city to the international airport.
• Extra luggage: Any baggage beyond your ticket’s allowance.
• Your first few weeks: Bedding, a phone plan and local travel before your first stipend comes in.
• Personal spending: Weekend trips, eating out and shopping.

You can compare overseas study costs in Cost of Studying Abroad and plan your own budget with the upGrad Expense Calculator.

Suggested Read: Fully Funded Masters PDF

MEXT Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

MEXT Scholarship requirements change with each category, from age limits to past education and test subjects. For example, Research applicants must be under 35, while Undergraduate applicants must be under 25.

The main eligibility rules are explained one by one below.

Nationality Requirements

You must be a citizen of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan, and India meets this condition. Applicants who hold Japanese nationality at the time of applying aren’t eligible.

Two more points apply here:

• Dual nationals: You can apply if you live outside Japan and give up Japanese nationality by the time you arrive.
• Where Indians apply: Through the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi or the consulate that covers your state.

Academic Qualifications

Your past education is one of the key MEXT Scholarship requirements, since it decides which category you qualify for. The Embassy of Japan in India also sets minimum marks: 70% in a bachelor’s degree for Research and 80% in Class 12 for Undergraduate.

Here are the academic rules for each category:

Scholarship Category	Academic Requirement
Research Students	Eligible for a master’s or PhD at a Japanese graduate school; in India, a bachelor’s degree with 70% (65% for humanities and social sciences)
Research Students (PhD second phase)	A master’s degree with 70%, plus research, teaching or work experience
Undergraduate Students	12 years of school education; in India, 80% in Class 12
Teacher Training Students	A degree from a college or teacher training college, plus at least 5 years of teaching experience
Japanese Studies Students	Currently studying Japanese language or culture at a university outside Japan
College of Technology Students	At least 11 years of school education
Specialized Training College Students	12 years of school education
Young Leaders Program (YLP) Students	A degree with work experience, or a young public officer

Students still waiting for Class 12 results can apply for the Undergraduate route too. You’ll need 80% in Class 10 and a school letter stating that you’re expected to score above 80% in your 2027 board exams.

Age Requirements

Age is one of the strictest MEXT Scholarship requirements, and it’s checked against your exact birth date. For the 2027 Research round, applicants had to be born on or after 2 April 1992, and for the Undergraduate round, on or after 2 April 2002.

Here are the age limits by category:

Scholarship Category	Age Limit	Birth Date Rule (India)
Research Students	Under 35	Born on or after 2 April 1992 (2027 round)
Undergraduate Students	Under 25	Born on or after 2 April 2002 (2027 round)
Teacher Training Students	Under 35	Born on or after 2 April 1991 (2026 round)
Japanese Studies Students	18 to 29	Check the current guidelines
College of Technology Students	Under 25	Check the current guidelines
Specialized Training College Students	Under 25	Check the current guidelines
Young Leaders Program (YLP) Students	Under 40, in principle	Check the current guidelines

Language Requirements

Your language skills are tested mainly in the written exam. Most embassy categories test Japanese and English, and Undergraduate applicants also sit papers in Mathematics and Science.

For the Undergraduate route in India, the embassy prefers students with some knowledge of Japanese. Here are the written test subjects for each category:

Scholarship Category	Written Test Subjects
Research Students	Japanese, English
Teacher Training Students	Japanese, English
Undergraduate Students	Japanese, English, Mathematics, Science (science students pick 2 from Chemistry, Physics and Biology)
Japanese Studies Students	Japanese
College of Technology Students	Japanese, English, Mathematics, Physics or Chemistry
Specialized Training College Students	Japanese, English, Mathematics

Other Eligibility Conditions

A few categories have extra conditions beyond age and marks. In India’s 2026 Teacher Training round, for example, only in-service teachers from selected education boards could apply, and there were up to 6 places.

Check these conditions before you apply:

• Teacher Training: At least 5 years of teaching in a primary or secondary school.
• Japanese Studies: You must stay enrolled at your home university during the scholarship.
• Research Students: Your degree and mark sheets must be ready by 30 September 2027 for the October 2027 batch.
• Other scholarships: You can’t hold another scholarship at the same time unless it’s approved.

How to Apply for MEXT Scholarship

You can apply for the MEXT Scholarship through the Embassy of Japan or through a Japanese university. Most Indian students choose the embassy route, and recruitment for students arriving in April or September 2027 took place in April and May 2026.

Both routes and the full set of steps are covered below.

Embassy Recommendation

Under this route, you apply through the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi or a Japanese consulate in India. The method depends on your category, since Research applicants start by email and Undergraduate applicants send their forms by post.

Here’s how the embassy route worked in India for the 2027 round:

Step	Research Students	Undergraduate Students
How to apply	Email a Preliminary Application Form in Word (.docx) format, under 1 MB, to scholarship-india@nd.mofa.go.jp	Send the application by post or courier to your regional office
Formats not accepted	PDF, scanned files and Google Drive links	Email submissions
Next stage	Shortlisted students send the full application and documents	Shortlisted students take the written test
Written test	5 July 2026	20 June 2026 (New Delhi schedule)
Interview	16 to 19 July 2026, online	22 June 2026, online (New Delhi schedule)

Undergraduate forms go to the office that covers your state:

• Chennai: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
• Kolkata: West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha.
• Mumbai: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu.
• Bengaluru: Karnataka.
• New Delhi: All other states and union territories.

Whichever category you choose, never send your documents directly to MEXT in Japan.

University Recommendation

Under this route, a participating Japanese university selects you and recommends you to MEXT. Students chosen this way usually arrive in September or October, though some arrive in late March or early April.

Keep these points in mind if you plan to go this way:

• Participating universities: Only some Japanese universities use this route.
• University deadlines: Each university sets its own dates, which may differ from the embassy’s.
• Number of places: Seats vary from one university to another.

Step-by-Step Application Process

The whole process can take close to a year, from your first form to your flight. For the 2027 Research round, the notice came out on 23 April 2026, and final results are due between January and March 2027.

Follow these steps in order:

1. Choose your category: Match it with your study level and goals.
2. Read the latest guidelines: Use only the current year’s rules and forms.
3. Pick your route: Check whether your category is open through the embassy, a university or both.
4. Note the deadline: Mark the date for your route and regional office.
5. Prepare your documents: Get your mark sheets, recommendation letter and health certificate ready early.
6. Submit your application: Send it in the exact format your office asks for.
7. Take the test and interview: Prepare for the written test and the MEXT interview.
8. Track official updates: Follow screening results, university placement and the final decision.

To compare degree options in other countries as well, see Masters Programs Abroad and Bachelors Abroad.

Suggested Read: Best Countries to Study Abroad

Documents Required for MEXT Scholarship

The documents you need depend on your category and route. In India, Research applicants first send only a short preliminary form, and they submit the full set of documents later if they’re shortlisted.

Here’s the list the Embassy of Japan in India shares for the two main categories:

Document	Research Students	Undergraduate Students
Preliminary Application Form (Word format)	Yes, at the first stage	No
Application Form	Yes	Yes
Field of Study and Research Plan	Yes	No
Recommendation letter	Yes	Yes
Certificate of Health	Yes	Yes
Placement Preference Application Form	Yes	Sent only to students who clear the first screening
Letter of Provisional Acceptance	Yes, later in the process	No

Small slips in your paperwork can cost you a place. Keep these rules in mind:

• This year’s forms only: Forms from earlier rounds won’t be accepted.
• Health certificate: A qualified doctor must fill it in.
• Recommendation letter: Any format or style is accepted.
• Academic records: Keep your mark sheets and degree certificates ready.

MEXT Scholarship Deadline

The MEXT Scholarship has no single deadline, since dates differ by country, category, route and university. For Indian applicants, the 2027 Research and Undergraduate rounds have already closed.

Here are the latest official dates for India:

Scholarship Category	Application Deadline	Written Test	Interview	Status
Research Students (2027)	15 May 2026	5 July 2026	16 to 19 July 2026	Closed
Undergraduate, College of Technology and Specialized Training (2027)	25 May 2026	20 June 2026 (New Delhi)	22 June 2026 (New Delhi)	Closed
Teacher Training Students (2026)	6 February 2026	February 2026	February 2026	Closed; 2027 round not yet posted

The embassy usually recruits in April and May for students who’ll arrive in Japan the following year. Based on this pattern, the next Research and Undergraduate rounds are expected to open around April 2027, so keep checking the Embassy of Japan in India’s website.

MEXT Scholarship Selection Process

Selection happens in stages, and fewer applicants move ahead at each one. For the 2027 Research round, students who cleared the first screening had to request provisional acceptance letters from universities by 1 September 2026.

Clearing the first screening still doesn’t confirm the scholarship. Each stage is explained below.

Document Screening

Document screening checks whether you meet the MEXT Scholarship requirements for your category. For the 2027 Research round, preliminary screening took place in May 2026, with results in early June.

At this stage, the embassy usually checks:

• Eligibility: Your age, marks and nationality.
• Complete forms: Every field filled in, in the right format.
• Your plan: A focused research plan, for Research applicants.

Written Examination

The written test checks your subject knowledge and language skills, and the papers change by category. Research applicants take Japanese and English, while Undergraduate applicants also take Mathematics and Science.

Here’s how you can prepare:

• Practise past papers: Official past exam papers are free on the Study in Japan website.
• Check your subjects: Use the subject table in the language section above.
• No exam fee: There are no MEXT exam fees for the embassy written test.

Interview

The MEXT interview follows the written test and is usually held online. For the 2027 Research round, interviews ran from 16 to 19 July 2026, while Undergraduate interviews for the New Delhi schedule took place on 22 June 2026.

The panel usually asks about:

• Your goals: What you want to study and why.
• Why Japan: What you hope to gain from studying there.
• Your plan: How your research or degree connects to your future career.
• Your background: Your past studies and any work or research experience.

Practise your answers out loud without memorising them word for word. A natural, honest MEXT interview tends to leave a better impression than a rehearsed one.

University Placement and Final Selection

After the interview, Research applicants need a provisional acceptance letter from a Japanese university. Final results for the 2027 round are due between January and March 2027.

This final stage usually includes:

• University acceptance: You contact universities and request a provisional acceptance letter.
• Placement: MEXT and the universities confirm where you’ll study.
• Final award: MEXT makes the final selection and announces the results.

How to Check MEXT Scholarship Results?

Where you check your result depends on the route you applied through. Embassy applicants get updates from the embassy or consulate, which in 2026 posted a “Written Test and Interview Result 2026” document on its website.

Here’s where to look for your result:

Route	Where to Check
Embassy Recommendation	The Embassy of Japan in India or your regional consulate’s website, plus your email
University Recommendation	The Japanese university that recommended you

Results are released in stages, so check after each round:

• First screening result: Tells you whether you’ve moved to the test and interview.
• Test and interview result: Tells you whether you’ve cleared the embassy round.
• Final result: Confirms your scholarship and university placement.

How to Get MEXT Scholarship: Tips to Strengthen Your Application

A strong MEXT Scholarship Japan application usually rests on good marks, careful paperwork and a clear study plan. Since the Embassy of Japan in India sets cut-offs of 70% for Research and 80% for Undergraduate, your academic record is the first thing that counts.

These tips can make your application stand out:

• Pick the right category: Choose the one that fits your past studies and goals.
• Read the guidelines twice: Check every rule for your category before you start.
• Write a focused research plan: Keep it clear, realistic and tied to your field.
• Practise past papers: Get comfortable with the format using official past exam papers.
• Prepare for the MEXT interview: Be ready to explain your goals and why you chose Japan.
• Ask for letters early: Give your teachers enough time to write a good recommendation.
• Follow the format: Send files exactly as asked, such as Word format for the Research preliminary form.

If you find it hard to structure your ideas, our guide on Statement of Purpose Format can help you plan your research plan more clearly.

Common Reasons for MEXT Scholarship Rejection

Many applications are rejected for reasons that could have been avoided. The Research route in India, for instance, automatically rejects PDFs and scanned files, even before anyone reads your plan.

Here are the most common reasons applications fall through:

• Eligibility mismatch: Your age, marks or past studies don’t meet the MEXT Scholarship requirements.
• Wrong format: Sending a PDF when the embassy asks for a Word file.
• Missed deadline: Late applications aren’t accepted.
• Incomplete documents: Missing forms or unsigned certificates.
• Weak research plan: A plan that’s vague or doesn’t match your field.
• Low test scores: A weak performance in the written test.
• A shaky interview: Struggling to explain your goals during the MEXT interview.
• No university acceptance: Not getting a provisional acceptance letter in time.

Selected students can also lose the scholarship later. This can happen if you gave false information, took another scholarship without approval or couldn’t finish your course on time because of poor grades.

If MEXT doesn’t work out this year, look at Study Abroad Scholarships and How to Study Abroad for Free for other options.

Suggested Read: Cheapest Countries to Study Abroad

Important Pointers for Indian Students Applying for the MEXT Scholarship

Indian students applying for MEXT Scholarship Japan need to follow a few India-specific rules. Undergraduate forms go to a regional office based on your state, and Research applicants start with an email in Word format.

Keep these pointers handy while you apply:

• Check your regional office: Undergraduate forms go to New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai or Bengaluru, depending on your state.
• Use the latest forms: Download this year’s guidelines and forms from the embassy website.
• Follow the exact method: Research forms go by email, while Undergraduate forms go by post or courier.
• Watch the dates: Late or incomplete applications aren’t accepted.
• Don’t pay anyone: There are no MEXT exam fees or application fees, so stay away from agents asking for money.
• Don’t send forms to Japan: Send them only to the embassy or consulate.

Suggested Read: Why Study Abroad

Conclusion

The MEXT Scholarship Japan programme is one of the most generous fully funded options open to Indian students. It covers tuition, a monthly stipend of ¥117,000 to ¥242,000 (₹67,860 to ₹1,40,360) and round-trip airfare.

The 2027 Research and Undergraduate rounds in India have closed, and the next rounds are expected around April 2027. Your next step depends on where you are right now:

• If you’ve just finished Class 12: Aim for the Undergraduate route and keep your marks above 80%.
• If you’re a graduate: Look at the Research route and start your research plan early.
• If you’re a school teacher: Check whether your board is part of the Teacher Training round.
• If you missed the 2027 rounds: Use the coming months to practise past papers and prepare for the MEXT interview.
• If you’re unsure about eligibility: Read the MEXT Scholarship requirements for your category on the embassy website.

If you need help choosing the right category, preparing your research plan or getting ready for the written test and interview, you can book a free 1:1 counselling session with upGrad’s study abroad experts today! They’ll guide you through every step of your study abroad journey, from your first form to your flight to Japan.