EligibilityDeadline Date: 15-May-2026
To be eligible, an applicant must:-
- have been born on or after 2nd April 1992
- be willing to learn the Japanese language
For Master’s/Doctoral Course (1st Phase):
- have completed 16 years of school education in countries other than Japan
- have completed a program of at least three years' standard duration at a university or equivalent educational institution in a country other than Japan
- hold a relevant bachelor's degree or equivalent with a minimum of 70% marks
Note:- Candidates must obtain their official transcripts and degrees by 30th September 2027, to be considered for the October 2027 cohort.
For Doctoral Course (2nd Phase):
- have been awarded with an overseas degree equivalent to a master’s degree or professional degree
- hold a graduation degree and have at least 2 years of research experience at a university, research center, or overseas equivalent
- possess academic competence equivalent to a master's degree from a graduate school
- have secured a minimum of 70% marks in a master's degree
Note:- Candidates must have obtained practical research, teaching, or work experience after acquiring the prescribed qualification by 30th September 2027 to be eligible for the October 2027 batch.
For Doctoral Course in Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Sciences, and Certain parts in Pharmaceutical Fields:
- have completed 18 years of school education in countries other than Japan
- have completed a program with a standard study period of at least 5 years at a university or equivalent institution outside of Japan, leading to a degree equivalent to a bachelor's degree
- have completed 16 years of education outside of Japan, followed by at least 2 years of research experience at a university or research center including institutions abroad (Note:- This experience must be recognised by the graduate school as granting academic competency equivalent to a university graduate in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, or specific areas of pharmacy.)
Other Qualifications:
- Applicants must have the ability to do research and adapt to living in Japan.
- Applicants must be interested in Japan and be willing to deepen their understanding of Japan after arriving in Japan.
- Applicants should possess a strong interest in Japan and a willingness to deepen their understanding of the country after arrival. Additionally, research skills and adaptability are essential for success in this program.
Note:- For detailed information related to eligibility and ineligibility, refer to the 'Scholarship Guidelines' document.
Benefits
The selected scholars will receive the following benefits, along with travelling expenses:
- Students receiving preparatory education and non-regular students will receive ¥1,43,000 (approximately ₹84,100) per month
- Regular students enrolled in master's or professional degree courses will receive ¥1,44,000 (approximately ₹84,300) per month
- Regular students enrolled in doctoral courses will receive ¥1,45,000 (approximately ₹85,300) per month
A regional allowance of ¥2,000 or ¥3,000 per month will be provided in addition to the scholarship amount for grantees studying or conducting research in specially designated regions.
MEXT will cover the fees for university entrance exams, matriculation, and tuition. However, grantees will be responsible for their entrance exam fees if they are unable to progress to the master's or doctoral program, or if they are not admitted by the university.
Note:-
- Due to the Japanese Government's budgetary situation, the amount of payment and scholarship may be subject to change each fiscal year. Similarly, the scholarship will be suspended if a grantee is absent from the university for an extended period.
- For detailed information related to travelling expenses, kindly refer to the 'Scholarship Guidelines' document.
Documents
- Application form
- Placement preference application form
- Academic transcript for all academic years of university attended
- Certification of graduation or degree certificate from the university attended
- Recommendation letter from the president/dean or the academic advisor at the current or last university attended
- Medical certificate
- Abstracts of theses
- Certificate of language proficiency (if applicable)
- Recommendation letter from the present employer
- Photograph(s) showing the applicant's works of art or a digitally recorded media of musical performance
Note:- For detailed information related to file type and size of the documents, kindly refer to the 'Scholarship Guidelines' document.
How can you apply?
Eligible candidates can apply by following these steps:-
Step 1: Click on the 'Apply Now' button.
Step 2: Click the 'Register' button and fill in the required registration details. (Note - If already registered, log in using Gmail/Mobile number/Email ID)
Step 3: Navigate to 'How to apply' section, click 'The Preliminary Application Form' and download it.
Step 4: Fill in the required details and send the application form along with all the necessary documents in a single file through email at: scholarship-india@nd.mofa.go.jp
Note:- Files in other formats, such as scanned copies of handwritten documents, PDFs, PowerPoints, Google Drive links, or Google Docs, will not be accepted.
Important Dates
Application Deadline: 15th May 2026
Selection Criteria
First Screening:
- The first screening of applicants will be conducted by Japanese diplomatic missions through examination of submitted application documents, written examinations of language proficiency, and interviews.
- The written examinations will assess proficiency in both Japanese and English. These examinations are mandatory for all applicants. The results of the Japanese language exam will be used to determine appropriate preparatory education after the grantee arrives in Japan. Additionally, the English proficiency test may be waived for applicants from countries where English is an official language. Applicants are advised to follow the guidance provided by their home country's overseas diplomatic establishment.
- The date and time for notification of the first screening results will be announced separately by Japanese diplomatic missions in the applicant's country.
- The reasons for the results will not be disclosed. Passing the first screening does not guarantee selection as a MEXT Scholarship grantee. The results will be used as a reference for the second screening and university placement.
Second Screening:
- MEXT conducts the second screening based on the results of the first screening, which is overseen by the Japanese embassy or consulate in the applicant's country. Applicants are selected as MEXT scholarship students once their placement at a university is confirmed.
- Applications may be rejected due to proliferation concerns, including those related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and related items.
University Placement:
- Successful applicants are generally placed at the university that issued them a provisional acceptance letter.
- MEXT will consult with the three universities listed on the applicant's placement preference application form. The applicant will be placed at the university that approves their admission after these consultations.
- If an applicant's preferences include both national and private or non-national public universities, the Japanese government's budget may prioritise placement at a national university, regardless of the applicant's ranking on the placement preference application form.
- If the university judges, based on the results of the written language exam taken during the first screening, that an applicant's Japanese language proficiency is not sufficient to understand lectures and research guidance, including those for experiments and practical training, the applicant will be placed in a six-month Japanese-language preparatory course at an institution designated by the university or MEXT upon arrival in Japan. Upon completion of the course, the grantee will enter the university for advanced education.
- Applicants deemed to have sufficient proficiency for research by the accepting university may be directly admitted as regular or non-regular students.
- The Japanese diplomatic mission will notify applicants of the final selection results and their assigned university between January and March 2027. The selection rationale will not be disclosed, and objections to university placement cannot be accepted.
Important documents
Terms and Conditions
- Applications received after the specified date and time will be automatically rejected.
- No supporting documents are required for the preliminary application stage.
- If shortlisted after the preliminary screening, applicants will be notified and instructed to submit the application form along with the required supporting documents as detailed in the guidelines.
- Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Japanese Government reserves the right to modify or cancel the arrival date, scholarship award, and application guidelines outlined here. This right applies at any time, before or after the announcement of final selection results.
- Unforeseen circumstances are events beyond the reasonable control of MEXT or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Japanese embassies and consulates general. This includes but is not limited to acts of God, government actions including local governments, hereafter referred to as "government", actions by government authorities such as travel or immigration restrictions due to infectious diseases imposed by Japan or other countries; compliance with laws, regulations, or orders, fires, floods, torrential rain, earthquakes, acts of war (declared or undeclared), riots, revolutions, strikes, or lockouts.
- Scholarship payments will be transferred to each grantee's Japan Post Bank (JP Bank) account opened after arrival in Japan. MEXT cannot transfer funds to other accounts.
- To cover immediate living expenses, grantees are advised to bring approximately US$2,000, as the first scholarship instalment arrives one to one and a half months after arriving in Japan.
- Grantees who test positive for infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, during the mandatory medical exam must undergo treatment and be fully recovered before arrival in Japan.
- Upon arrival in Japan, grantees are required to enrol in the National Health Insurance (Kokumin Kenko Hoken).
- While not mandatory, it is highly recommended for grantees to acquire an Individual Number Card (My Number Card) upon arrival in Japan. This card simplifies various administrative procedures in the country.
Note:- For detailed information, kindly refer to the 'Scholarship Guidelines' document.
Important Links
Media Link
Apply online link
FAQ's
Question: Who is offering this opportunity?
Answer: The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) is offering this opportunity.
Question: What is the mode of application?
Answer: The application is online to the specified email address.
