If you're weighing your options for scholarships in Japan, the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship sits right at the top of that list. It covers tuition, airfare, and a living stipend, and you can apply either through your local Japanese embassy or directly via a Japanese university.
And MEXT isn't the only option on the table. JASSO, university-specific awards, and foundation grants like Honjo all open doors depending on your level of study, be it Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD.
Here's everything you need to know: which scholarships exist, who qualifies, how to apply, and what deadlines to watch for.
Top Scholarships in Japan and Their Types
Most scholarships in Japan generally come from three places, the government, individual universities, and private foundations. Here's how they break down.
Government and National Scholarships
For anyone exploring a scholarship for Indian students in Japan, these government options are usually the first stop, and for good reason. Since India is an ADB member country, the ADB-Japan program is also fully open to Indian applicants.
Scholarship Name
Who Can Apply
Benefits and Coverage
MEXT Scholarship
Strong academic record, generally under 35
Full tuition waiver, monthly stipend of ¥143,000–¥145,000 (around ₹83,655–84,810), round-trip airfare
JASSO Honors Scholarship
Privately financed international students at Japanese institutions
¥48,000/month (around ₹28,075)
JASSO Exchange Support Program
Students on short-term university exchange agreements
¥80,000/month (around ₹46,792)
ADB-Japan Scholarship Program
Graduate students from ADB member countries, including India
Full tuition waiver, monthly stipend of ¥147,000 (around ₹85,980), airfare, and other study costs
University-Specific and Foundation Scholarships
If you're mapping out a study in Japan scholarship strategy beyond MEXT, most universities run their own awards alongside it, usually bundled with your admission offer with no separate application needed. Foundation scholarships work differently, since you apply to them directly.
University of Tokyo: MEXT-linked awards give Master's students ¥144,000/month (around ₹84,227) and PhD students ¥145,000/month (around ₹84,810). Foundation Scholarships offer partial tuition waivers for both undergrad and grad students.
Kyoto University: MEXT-linked awards for graduate students, plus a Kyoto International Student Scholarship with a partial tuition waiver and monthly allowance. Private donor scholarships are also available to select students each year.
Waseda University: Partial tuition waivers and merit scholarships for high performers, along with JASSO-linked stipends for exchange students.
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU): One of the more generous options, with tuition reductions ranging from 30% to 100% based on academic performance.
Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Tech): Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Tech) is a strong pick if you're inengineering, science, or technology. MEXT scholars here get ¥147,000/month (around ₹85,980) for Master's and ¥148,000/month (around ₹86,565) for PhD, with tuition fully waived.
Honjo International Scholarship Foundation: Tiered by degree length rather than a flat rate: ¥230,000/month (around ₹1,34,527) for 1–2 year programs, ¥210,000/month (around ₹1,22,829) for 3-year programs, and ¥180,000/month (around ₹1,05,282) for anything longer.
ADB-Japan Scholarship Program: Full tuition, ¥147,000/month (around ₹85,980), and return airfare.
Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship (JJ/WBGSP): Full tuition, stipend, and travel for students from World Bank member countries in development-related fields.
Japan Foundation for UNU (JFUNU) Scholarship: ¥120,000/month (around ₹70,188) plus full tuition for UNU Master's students in Tokyo.
Japan Educational Exchange and Services (JEES) Scholarships: ¥50,000/month (around ₹29,245), funded through private donations.
Rotary Peace Fellowships: Full tuition, living costs, and travel for Master's students studying peace and conflict resolution.
Each scholarship has its own rules, but there's a general pattern most of them follow.
Academic Requirements
Whatever study in Japan scholarship you're aiming for, your transcripts are the first thing any shortlisting committee looks at.
A Bachelor's degree is required for Master's programs, and even high school scholarships for international students in Japan expect a solid academic record at the undergraduate entry stage.
Most government scholarships, including MEXT, look for a minimum of 70% marks or the equivalent GPA.
You'll need academic transcripts from a recognised institution, translated into English or Japanese if needed.
Foundation scholarships like Honjo and ADB-Japan genuinely favour applicants with a research background or publications.
Language Proficiency
For most study in Japan scholarship applications, English-medium programs need proof of proficiency, while Japanese-medium ones ask for JLPT instead.
IELTS: 6.0 to 7.0 depending on the university and program.
MEXT waives the English test requirement if your previous degree was taught in English.
Work Experience, Research Background, and Age Limits
If you're eyeing a PhD scholarship in Japan specifically, this part varies a lot, so it's worth checking carefully before you assume you're eligible.
Most MEXT and university scholarships don't need work experience for fresh graduates.
ADB-Japan and JJ/WBGSP typically ask for 2 to 3 years of relevant professional experience.
PhD applicants should already have research experience and a ready research proposal.
Age limits: MEXT Research Scholarship (under 35), MEXT Undergraduate (generally under 25), ADB-Japan (under 35), JJ/WBGSP (under 45). Honjo, JEES, and most university scholarships don't have a fixed age limit.
A strong Statement of Purpose genuinely matters here too. It should explain clearly why Japan, connect your past academic work to what you want to do next, and be written fresh for each scholarship rather than copied across applications.
Figuring out how to get a scholarship in Japan from India really comes down to which route you're targeting, MEXT has two separate application paths, university scholarships are tied to your admission, and foundation scholarships need a direct application.
Start with research. Head to the official Study in Japan portal and shortlist scholarships that match your level and field.
Check eligibility carefully. Go through nationality, age, academic, and language requirements one by one for each scholarship you're considering.
Get your documents ready early. Academic transcripts, SOP, recommendation letters, language scores, and a health certificate all take time to arrange properly.
Apply to the university first. For MEXT university recommendation and university-specific scholarships, admission comes before or alongside the scholarship.
Apply for the scholarship itself. Embassy route MEXT applicants go through the Embassy of Japan in India, and this whole process runs alongside your regularStudent Visa for Japan application. Foundation scholarships are applied to directly. University scholarships go through the university's own portal.
Track your deadlines. The MEXT embassy route typically opens April to May. Foundation scholarships fall between January and April. University deadlines vary by institution.
Wait for results. MEXT shortlisted candidates go through written exams and an embassy interview.
A few documents come up again and again across almost every application: academic transcripts, degree or provisional certificates, a valid Indian passport, IELTS/TOEFL or JLPT scores, your SOP, an updated CV, two recommendation letters, a medical certificate (mandatory for MEXT), and a research proposal if you're applying for a PhD.
Deadlines vary quite a bit depending on the route, so it helps to have them side by side.
Scholarship Name
Application Timeline
Result Declaration
MEXT (Embassy Recommendation)
April to May
August to September
MEXT (University Recommendation)
September to December (varies by university)
March to April
JASSO Scholarship
After arrival, through host university
Same academic semester
ADB-Japan Scholarship Program
December to January
March to April
Foundation Scholarships
January to April
2 to 3 months after deadline
University Scholarships
November to March
May to June
A few things genuinely make a difference in a competitive application:
Start your MEXT preparation at least 12 months before your intended start date, since the process is long.
Reach out to a potential academic supervisor before applying, especially for the MEXT university recommendation route.
Write a separate SOP for each scholarship, naming specific professors or research areas you'd want to work with.
Get recommendation letters from people who actually know your academic work.
Don't apply for two MEXT programs at the same time, it disqualifies you from both.
Top Japanese Universities Offering Scholarships
If you're serious about studying in Japan on a scholarship, it helps to see how the top five universities actually structure their awards, since this often matters as much as the scholarship type itself.
University of Tokyo is Japan's most prestigious institution and one of Asia's top research universities. Master's students on the MEXT-linked track get ¥144,000/month (around ₹84,227), and PhD students get ¥145,000/month (around ₹84,810). There's also a UTokyo Fellowship for doctoral researchers alongside the Foundation Scholarships mentioned earlier.
Kyoto University is one of Asia's leading research institutions, strong across science, engineering, and humanities. Beyond the MEXT-linked awards, its own Kyoto International Student Scholarship offers a partial tuition waiver plus a monthly allowance, and select students can also access private donor funding.
Waseda University is one of Japan's top private universities, with a large international student community and strong English-medium programs. Its MBA program through Waseda Business School is particularly well-regarded, and merit scholarships are available on top of JASSO-linked stipends.
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) is genuinely one of the most internationally diverse campuses in Japan, drawing students from over 90 countries. Its tuition reduction structure (30% to 100%) is based purely on academic performance, alongside MEXT and JASSO-linked options.
Science Tokyo (formerly Tokyo Tech) is a strong pick if you're in engineering, science, or technology. MEXT scholars here get ¥147,000/month (around ₹85,980) for Master's and ¥148,000/month (around ₹86,565) for PhD, with tuition fully waived.
Scholarships typically cover tuition and give you a monthly stipend that goes a long way toward daily expenses. Here's what to realistically expect from the overallCost of Living in Japan.
Conclusion
Scholarships in Japan are competitive, but they're genuinely within reach if you plan early, whether you're applying straight out of high school, for a Master's, or for a PhD scholarship in Japan down the line. Between MEXT, JASSO, and the university-specific awards, Indian students have real options at every level and the funding often covers a lot more than just tuition.
Start early, figure out which route actually fits your profile, and put real effort into your SOP and recommendation letters. Japan rewards preparation, and its scholarship committees notice it.
When it comes to scholarships in Japan, the MEXT Scholarship is your best shot at a full ride, it covers tuition, gives a monthly stipend, and pays for return airfare. You can apply either through the Embassy of Japan in India or through a university recommendation route. Keep your academic record strong and start preparing at least a year in advance, since the process is long.
How to get a scholarship in Japan from India?
If you're wondering how to get a scholarship in Japan from India, start by checking your eligibility against MEXT, JASSO, or a university-specific scholarship, since each has different criteria around age, marks, and language scores. Indian students can apply for MEXT through the Embassy of Japan in India, and for ADB-Japan since India is an ADB member country. Get your transcripts, SOP, and recommendation letters ready well before the deadline.
How to apply for a scholarship to study in Japan?
Applying for a study in Japan scholarship through MEXT means you either go through the embassy route or get nominated by a Japanese university. Foundation scholarships like Honjo need a direct application to the foundation itself. University-specific scholarships usually get sorted out through the same portal you use for admission.
Which country provides 100% scholarships?
Several countries offer fully funded scholarships, and Japan is genuinely one of the strongest through MEXT, which covers tuition, stipend, and airfare together. Germany, France, and parts of Scandinavia also offer low-cost or free public education for international students. The right pick really depends on your field and the specific scholarship you qualify for.
Can Indian students get a scholarship in Japan?
Yes, a scholarship for Indian students in Japan is very much on the table. Indian students are eligible for MEXT, JASSO, ADB-Japan, and most university-specific and foundation scholarships, and India being an ADB member country makes the ADB-Japan program fully accessible too.
Can I study in Japan for free?
Yes, mainly through the MEXT Scholarship, which waives full tuition and adds a monthly stipend on top. Some university-specific scholarships also offer up to 100% tuition reductions, like at APU. Living costs still apply, though the stipend usually covers them comfortably outside Tokyo.
Do I need to know Japanese to apply for scholarships in Japan?
Not necessarily, and this is one of the more common questions around any study in Japan scholarship. Most MEXT and English-medium programs don't require Japanese proficiency, though JLPT N2 or higher is needed if you're applying to a Japanese-medium course. Knowing basic Japanese still helps with daily life and part-time work once you're there.
What is the age limit for MEXT Scholarship applicants?
It depends on the program. A PhD scholarship in Japan through the MEXT Research route caps out around 35 years, while the Undergraduate Scholarship is generally limited to under 25. Foundation scholarships like Honjo don't usually have a fixed age limit.
Is GPA or percentage important for Japan scholarships?
Yes, most government scholarships including MEXT look for a minimum of 70% marks or an equivalent GPA, and this holds even for high school scholarships for international students in Japan at the entry-level stage. Foundation scholarships also weigh your research background and publications heavily, especially for PhD applicants.
Can I apply for both MEXT and a university scholarship together?
You can hold a university scholarship alongside a JASSO stipend, and that's actually a common combination. But applying to two MEXT programs at the same time automatically disqualifies you from both, so pick one MEXT route and stick with it.
How long does the MEXT Scholarship process take from application to arrival?
It typically takes 10 to 12 months from application to actually arriving in Japan. That's why starting your prep at least a year ahead of your intended start date makes such a big difference.
upGrad Abroad Editorial Team |4861 articles published
We are a dedicated team of study-abroad experts, ensuring intensive research and comprehensive information in each of our blogs. With every piece written, we aim at simplifying the overseas education ...
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