APPLICATION GUIDELINES

JAPANESE GOVERNMENT (MEXT) SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2026

(RESEARCH STUDENTS)

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan offers scholarships to
international students who wish to study in graduate courses at Japanese universities as Research Students (either
regular students or non-regular students) under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program as follows.

1. DEFINITION OF “RESEARCH STUDENTS”

Those who are enrolled in a master’s course, a doctoral course, or a professional graduate course at a graduate
school, or who are conducting research in a specialized field at an undergraduate department, graduate school,
institute attached to a university, etc. with the aim of completing the course, or who are receiving preparatory
education in the Japanese language and other subjects prior to placement at the university, etc. (Excluding Young
Leaders’ Program Students or Teacher Training Students.)

2. FIELDS OF STUDY
Applicants should apply for the field of study they majored in at university or its related field(s). Moreover, the
fields of study must be subjects which applicants will be able to study and research in graduate courses at Japanese
universities. The fields of study may be restricted to the particular fields specified by the Japanese Embassy or
Consulate (hereinafter referred to “Japanese diplomatic mission”) in the applicant’s country.
Traditional entertainment arts such as Kabuki and classical Japanese dances, or subjects that require practical
training in specific technologies or techniques at factories or companies are not included in the fields of study under
this scholarship program.
A student who studies medicine, dentistry or welfare science will not be allowed to engage in clinical training, such
as medical care and operative surgery, until he/she obtains a relevant license from the Minister of Health, Labor and
Welfare under applicable Japanese laws.

3. QUALIFICATIONS AND CONDITIONS

MEXT accepts applications from international students for study in Japan who satisfy the following qualifications
and conditions. MEXT’s aim is to foster human resources who will become bridges of friendship between the
grantee’s country and Japan through study in Japan and who will contribute to the development of both countries
and the wider world.
(1) Nationality: Applicants must have the nationality of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. An
applicant who has Japanese nationality at the time of application is not eligible. However, persons with dual
nationality who hold Japanese nationality and whose place of residence at the time of application is outside of
Japan are eligible to apply as long as they choose the nationality of the other country and renounce their Japanese
nationality by the date of their arrival in Japan (the acquisition of student status). The First Screening must be
conducted at the Japanese diplomatic mission in the country whose nationality the applicant chooses.
(2) Age: Applicants, in principle, must have been born on or after April 2, 1991. Exceptions are limited to cases in
which MEXT deems that the applicant could not apply within the eligible age limit due to the situation or
circumstances of the applicant’s country (military service obligation, loss of educational opportunities due to
disturbances of war, etc.). Personal circumstances (financial situation, family circumstances, state of health,
circumstances related to applicant’s university or place of employment, etc.) will not be considered for
exceptions.
(3) Academic Background: Applicants must satisfy any one of the following conditions for admission to either a
master’s or doctoral course at a Japanese graduate school in which they wish to first enroll. (Applicants who
will definitely satisfy any of the following conditions by the time of enrollment are eligible.)
(a) Master’s course / Doctoral course (first phase)
① Applicants who have completed 16 years of school education in countries other than Japan.
② Applicants who have completed a program with the standard study period of three years or more at
universities or equivalent educational institutions in countries other than Japan and received a degree
equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
③ Other than conditions ① and ② above, applicants who are eligible for enrollment in a master’s course
/doctoral course (first phase) at a Japanese graduate school.
(b) Doctoral course (second phase)
① Applicants who have been awarded with an overseas degree equivalent to a master’s degree or professional
degree.
② Applicants who have graduated from universities and have been involved in research study at universities or
research centers (including overseas universities and research centers) for two years or more, and who are

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 recognized as having academic competency equivalent to persons with a master’s degree by the graduate
school.
③ Other than conditions ① and ② above, applicants who are eligible for enrollment in a doctoral course
(second phase) at a Japanese graduate school.
(c) Doctoral course (faculties of medicine, dentistry, veterinary sciences, and certain areas in pharmaceutical
fields)
① Applicants who have completed 18 years of school education in countries other than Japan.
② Applicants who have completed a program with the standard study period of five years or more at universities
or equivalent educational institutions in countries other than Japan and received a degree equivalent to a
bachelor’s degree.
③ Applicants who have completed 16 years of school education in countries other than Japan and have been
involved in research study at universities or research centers (including overseas universities and research
centers) for two years or more, and who are recognized as having academic competency equivalent to
university graduates in medicine, dentistry, veterinary sciences or certain areas in pharmaceutical fields by
the graduate school.
④ Other than conditions ①, ② and ③ above, applicants who are eligible for enrollment in a doctoral course
(faculties of medicine, dentistry, veterinary sciences and certain areas in pharmaceutical fields) at a Japanese
graduate school.
※ For (c) above, applicants should confirm the necessary academic background details on the websites of the
universities in which you wish to enroll since the academic background needed for admission may vary
according to university. (For example, (c)-① stipulates that applicants must have graduated from an
undergraduate program in medicine, dentistry, veterinary or pharmaceutical sciences.]
(4) Japanese Language: Applicants must be willing to learn Japanese. Applicants must be interested in Japan and
be willing to deepen their understanding of Japan after arriving in Japan. Applicants must also have the ability
to conduct research and adapt to living in Japan.
(5) Health: Applicants must submit a health certificate in the prescribed format signed by a physician attesting that
the applicant has no physical or mental conditions hindering the applicant’s study in Japan.
(6) Arrival in Japan: Applicants must choose, and fill in the choice in the Application Form, either of the following
arrival periods ① or ②. In principle, a change in the arrival period is not permitted after the submission of
the Application Form.
① April term: In principle, applicants must be able to arrive in Japan between April 1, 2026, and April 7, 2026.
Departure from the home residence should be on or after April 1, 2026.
② October term: In principle, applicants must be able to arrive in Japan during the period specified by the
accepting university within two weeks before or after the starting date of the university’s relevant academic
term (September or October) for that year.
Excluding cases in which MEXT deems as unavoidable circumstances, the applicant must withdraw from
this scholarship program if the applicant cannot arrive in Japan by the end of the specified period above,
which is decided by MEXT or the accepting university. If the applicant does not arrive in Japan within the
specified period for personal reasons, travel expenses to Japan will not be paid.
(7) Visa Requirement: Applicants shall, in principle, newly obtain a “Student” visa at the Japanese diplomatic
mission located in the applicant’s country/region of nationality, and enter Japan with the status of residence as
“Student.”
Accordingly, even if the applicant already has other status of residence (“Permanent resident,” “Long-term
resident,” etc.), the applicant must newly obtain a “Student” visa and re-enter Japan. If the applicant resides in
Japan for exceptional reasons before acceptance, the applicant must change or renew his/her status of residence
to that of “Student” by the end of the month prior to the month of the first scholarship payment installment.
Even if the applicant originally held a status of residence such as "Permanent Resident" or "Long-term Resident",
he/she should be aware that the original status might not be necessarily regranted after the expiration of the
status as a MEXT Scholarship student. In case the grantee comes to Japan without newly obtaining the
“Student” visa, the payment of the scholarship will be suspended
(8) Non-eligibility: Those who fall into any one of the following categories are ineligible. If an applicant is
identified as being ineligible after selection as a scholarship student, he/she must withdraw from the scholarship
program.
① Those who are military personnel or military civilian employees at the time of their arrival in Japan or during
the period of the payment of the scholarship;
② Those who cannot arrive in Japan by the last date of the period specified by MEXT or the accepting
university;
③ Those who are previous grantees of Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarship programs (including those
who withdrew from the scholarship program after acquisition of student status). This does not apply to: those
who have educational or work experience exceeding more than three years from the following month of the

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 period of the previous scholarship to the estimated first month of the payment of this scholarship; and the
past grantees of Japanese Studies Students program who have graduated or are going to graduate from
universities in their home countries, Japan-Korea Joint Government Scholarship Program for the Students in
Science and Engineering Departments and Young Leaders’ Program. The Monbukagakusho Honors
Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students is not included in the Japanese Government
(MEXT) Scholarship Programs;
④ Those who are currently also applying to another program under the Japanese Government (MEXT)
Scholarship system. This includes the programs for which scholarship payments will begin in FY2025,
although their final selection results have not been decided yet, and the programs for which scholarship
payments will begin in FY2026;
⑤ Those who are already enrolled in a Japanese university or other institution with a residence status of
“Student,” or who are to be enrolled, or plan to be enrolled, in a Japanese university or other institution as a
privately-financed international student from the time of application to the MEXT scholarship program in
the applicant’s country until the commencement of the period for payment of the MEXT scholarship.
However, this stipulation does not apply to privately-financed international students who, are enrolled, or
are planning to be enrolled, in a Japanese university or other institution but will verifiably complete their
studies before the start of the scholarship payment period and newly acquire the “Student” residence status,
or change his/her status to, or renew his/her status to, that of “Student”.
⑥ Those who are planning to receive other scholarships or fellowships from the Japanese government, a
Japanese government-related organization or others after the start of the scholarship payment period;
⑦ Those who are expected to graduate at the time of application and cannot satisfy the condition for academic
background by the deadline given;
⑧ Holders of dual nationality at the time of application who cannot verify that they will give up Japanese
nationality by the time of the arrival in Japan (the acquisition of student status);
⑨ Those who change their residence status to that of other than “Student” after their arrival in Japan;
⑩ Those who plan to, from the time of application for the MEXT scholarship program, engage in long-term
research (such as fieldwork or internship) outside Japan or plan to take a long-term leave of absence from
the university;
⑪ Those who have no intention of obtaining a degree in Japan;
⑫ Those who are found to have attempted or actually committed any kinds of cheating prohibited by the
examiner during the written examination of the First Screening.
(9) Others: The MEXT Scholarship will be granted to those who are willing to contribute to mutual understanding
between Japan and their home country by participating in activities at schools and communities during their
study in Japan while contributing to the internationalization of Japan. They shall also make efforts to promote
relations between the home country and Japan by maintaining close relations with the university attended after
graduation, cooperating with the conducting of surveys and questionnaires, and cooperating with relevant
projects and events conducted by the Japanese diplomatic mission after they return to their home countries.

4. PERIOD OF SCHOLARSHIP
(1) Non-regular students:
① Grantees who arrived in Japan during the April term: The scholarship period will last from April 2026 until
the end of March 2028.
② Grantees who arrived in Japan during the October term: The scholarship period will last from September or
October 2026 until the end of March 2028.
In either case, the first 6-month period of the scholarship will be devoted to preparatory education of Japanese
language (hereinafter referred to as “the preparatory education”) for those who require such education. In cases
of arrival in Japan in other months than those specified above, MEXT will decide the period of scholarship
separately.
Note: If the university term begins (and the student status is acquired) in the middle of the month, the
scholarship will not be paid for that month. For example, the scholarship payments will begin in
October 2026 if the university’s autumn term starts after September 2, 2026.
(2) Regular students enrolled in master’s, doctoral, or professional graduate courses:
Regardless of the date of arrival, the scholarship period shall be the necessary period for the completion of the
respective regular course (hereinafter referred to “the standard period of study”; see “13. ACADEMIC
PATHWAY FOR RESEARCH STUDENTS” for the standard period of study at each course). In only those
cases where the accepting university deems that preparatory education is necessary for conducting research in a
specialized field, a 6-month preparatory education period will be added prior to the regular degree course.

5. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF SCHOLARSHIP

Non-regular students advancing to a regular degree course in a graduate school as a regular student, or regular

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students in a master’s or professional graduate course wishing to proceed to a doctoral course, either with
outstanding academic achievement that meets certain criteria, may apply for extension of the scholarship period for
advanced study and may have the scholarship period extended upon a successful examination by MEXT. The
following points should be noted:
① The extension of the scholarship period will be permitted only if the successful student has passed an entrance
examination for a regular degree course at a graduate school in which they wish to enroll and expresses
his/her intention to enroll in the course.
② Non-regular students cannot extend the scholarship period as long as they stay in non-regular courses.
③ Students who are admitted to advanced courses without receiving approval for the extension of the
scholarship period for advanced study cannot be granted the extension of the scholarship period. (In such
cases, it is possible for a student to be enrolled in an advanced course as a privately-financed student.)

6. SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS
(1) Allowance: The amounts listed below shall be paid depending on the course enrolled in. A supplemental regional
allowance of 2,000 yen or 3,000 yen per month will be added to the monthly scholarship amount for the grantees
studying or conducting research in specially designated regions. Due to the situation of the Japanese
Government’s budget, the amount of payment may be subject to change each fiscal year. If a grantee is absent
from the university for an extended period, the scholarship shall be suspended for that period.
① Students receiving the preparatory education and non-regular students: 143,000 yen per month
② Regular students enrolled in master’s or professional degree courses: 144,000 yen per month
③ Regular students enrolled in doctoral courses: 145,000 yen per month.
(2) Education fees: Fees for the entrance examination, matriculation, and tuition at universities are waivered. The
entrance examination fee, however, will be borne by the grantees if they cannot proceed to the master’s or
doctoral course or cannot be admitted to the university.
(3) Traveling Expenses
① Transportation to Japan: MEXT stipulates the travel schedule and route, and provides an airline ticket to
grantees who will arrive in Japan during the specified period stated in “3. (6) Arrival in Japan”. The airline ticket
will be an economy-class ticket for the flight from the international airport closest to the grantee’s residence (in
principle, the country of nationality) to an international airport in Japan used on the normal route to the accepting
university. The grantee shall bear at his/her own expense all costs related to domestic travel from the grantee’s
residence to the nearest international airport, airport taxes, airport usage fees, special taxes necessary for travel,
travel expenses within Japan (including airline transit costs), travel insurance expenses, carry-on luggage or
unaccompanied baggage expenses, etc. In a case of (a) or (b) below, MEXT will provide an economy-class
airline ticket from the grantee’s country of nationality to the said third country, and from the third country to an
international airport in Japan used on the normal route to the accepting university, while the grantee shall also
bear at his/her own expense travel and lodging costs incurred in a third country:
(a) The grantee must travel to a third country before coming to Japan for visa purposes because there is no
Japanese diplomatic mission in his/her country or because the Japanese diplomatic mission in his/her country is
temporally closed, or
(b) There is no direct flight from the grantee’s country of nationality to Japan.
In principle, the address given in the space for “Current address” on the application form shall be recognized as
the “residence.” However, if the grantee plans to move within his/her country of nationality after application,
the address given in the space for “Your address before departure for Japan” on the application form shall be
recognized as the “residence”) and the airline ticket will be arranged for a flight from the international airport
nearest to that address. Except for cases when the grantee must travel to a third country to obtain a visa, MEXT
will not provide an airline ticket for cases of travel to Japan from a country other than the grantee’s country of
residence due to the grantee’s personal circumstances. If a grantee will arrive in Japan before or after the
specified period stated in “3. (6) Arrival in Japan”, travel expenses will not be paid.
② Transportation from Japan: Based on the application by the grantee, MEXT will provide an airline ticket to
grantees who will graduate from the accepting university and return to the home country by the end of the final
month of the period of scholarship (See “4. PERIOD OF SCHOLARSHIP”) designated by MEXT. MEXT
shall provide an economy-class airline ticket from the international airport in Japan used for the normal route to
and from the accepting university to the international airport (in principle, in the country of nationality) nearest
to the returning grantee’s residence. The travel schedule change or route change is not allowed after provision
of airline ticket. The grantee shall bear at his/her own expense all costs related to travel from the grantee’s
residence in Japan to the nearest international airport, airport taxes, airport usage fees, special taxes necessary
for travel, travel expenses within the country of nationality (including airline transit costs), travel insurance
expenses, carry-on luggage or unaccompanied baggage expenses, etc. If a grantee returns to the home country
before the end of period of scholarship due to personal circumstances, or reasons stated in “7. SUSPENSION
OF PAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP”, MEXT will not pay for the return travel expenses.

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 If a grantee continues to stay in Japan after the scholarship period has ended (eg., proceeding to further education
or being employed in Japan, continuing to be registered at the university), travel expenses for a temporary return
will also not be paid.

7. SUSPENSION OF PAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP

Payment of the scholarship will be suspended or cancelled for the reasons given below. Should any of the following
reasons apply, the grantee may be ordered to return a part of, or all of, the scholarship paid up to that time. Payment
of the scholarship may also be stopped during the period up to the decision on the disposition of the matter.
① A grantee is determined to have made a false statement on his/her application;
② A grantee violates any article of his/her pledge to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
Technology;
③ A grantee violates any Japanese laws and is sentenced and imprisoned for an indefinite period or for a period
exceeding 1 year;
④ A grantee is suspended from his/her university or preparatory educational institution or receives other
punishment, or is removed from enrollment as a disciplinary action in accordance with school regulations of
the accepting institution;
⑤ It has been determined that it will be impossible for a grantee to complete the course within the standard
period of study because of poor academic grades or suspension or absence from the university or preparatory
educational institution;
⑥ A grantee came to Japan without newly obtaining a “Student” visa, or changed his/her status of residence to
something other than “Student” after entering Japan;
⑦ A grantee has received another scholarship (a scholarship or fellowship from the Japanese government, a
Japanese government-related organization or others) not approved for acceptance in conjunction with the
MEXT Scholarship;
⑧ A grantee proceeds to a more advanced level of education without receiving approval for an extension of the
period of the scholarship.

8. THE PROCESS OF APPLICATION AND SELECTION

The following chart shows the whole process, from the call for applications and selection to final results. See the
following Sections 9. to 12. for more details.
<Notes>
The deadline for submission of application
Call for applications opens at each documents varies according to each Japanese
Around
Japanese diplomatic diplomatic mission. Make sure to confirm
mid-Apr.
mission/Submission of application the deadline at the website of the Japanese
2025
documents diplomatic mission in the country of your
nationality or in some other way.
↓
The dates for the first screening and
Around early
notification of screening results vary
May.-late Jul. First screening
according to each Japanese diplomatic
2025
mission.
↓
Applicants who pass the first screening shall
Until
Request for a provisional acceptance to directly contact the Japanese universities in
Sep. 1,
Japanese universities which they wish to enroll and request
2025
provisional acceptance.
↓
Applicants who pass the first screening shall
submit a completed Placement Preference
Around mid-
Submission of a Placement Preference Application Form to the Japanese diplomatic
Sep-early
Application Form mission. The deadline for submission of this
Oct. 2025
form varies according to each Japanese
diplomatic mission.
↓
From Second screening and university MEXT conducts second screening and
Nov. 2025 placement university placement.

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 ↓
Applicants who pass the second screening
and have an accepting university will be
Jan. Notification of results of selection and
accepted as a MEXT Scholarship grantee.
to Mar. 2026 university placement
Results are notified to applicants via the
Japanese diplomatic mission.

9. APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
Applicants must submit the following documents to the Japanese diplomatic mission in the country of the applicant’s
nationality by the designated deadline. The submitted documents will not be returned.

1 original

2 copies
No. Documents Remarks

① Application Form ○ ○ Use the 2026 Application Form. (See Note 4.)
Placement Preference Application
② ○ Use the 2026 form.
Form
③ Field of Study and Research Plan ○ ○ Use the 2026 form. (See Note 5.)
A transcript issued either by the university attended
Academic transcript for all academic
④ ○ ○ or by the applicant's national government. (See Note
years of university attended
6.)
Certification of graduation or If the applicant has not yet graduated, submit a
⑤ degree certificate of the university ○ ○ certificate of prospective graduation from the
attended university. (See Note 7.)
Recommendation letter from the
president/dean or the academic
⑥ ○ ○ Free format. A sample format is available.
advisor at the current or last
university attended
⑦ Medical certificate ○ ○ Use the 2026 certificate form. (See Note 8.)
Submit if the applicant has written theses. (See Note
⑧ Abstracts of theses ● ●
9.)
Only in case the applicant has documents attesting to
competency in Japanese or English; submit 3 copies.
● No original document necessary. The date of issue of
⑨ Certificate of language proficiency
(3 copies) the certificates should be no earlier than two years
from the date of application to the Japanese
diplomatic mission. (See Note 10.)
Recommendation letter from the Submit if the applicant is currently employed. (Free
⑩ ● ●
present employer format. A sample format is available.)
Photograph(s) showing applicant's
own works of art or a digitally Submit if the applicant is to major in fine arts or
⑪ ● ●
recorded media of musical music.
performance
(Note 1) Documents indicated by the white circle (○) must be submitted by all the applicants. Documents
indicated by the black circle (●) should be submitted only if applicable.
(Note 2) These documents must be written in Japanese or English, or if they are written in any other languages, a
translation in either Japanese or English should be attached.
(Note 3) Ensure that there is no missing information in the application form when printing it out. Write the
document number, from ① to ⑪ (refer to the numbers in the table above) in the upper right-hand
corner of the first page for all the documents.
(Note 4) The applicant’s photograph to be attached to the Application Form should be of clear quality, taken within
six months of submission, and printed on paper specially for photographs. The photograph should be 4.5
x 3.5 cm. upper-body, full-faced, no hats. Please write applicant’s name and nationality on the back of the
photograph. The photograph data can be pasted to the Application Form and printed out.
(Note 5) The sheet of Field of Study and Research Plan should describe the applicant’s past and present field of
study and research theme and plan in Japan as it will serve as an important reference for placement of the
applicant to a university.

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(Note 6) Applicants must submit the following documents according to his/her academic background:
(a) Applicants who have already graduated from a university’s undergraduate program: an academic
transcript of the program;
(b) Applicants who have already completed a degree program at a graduate school: academic
transcripts of both the undergraduate and the graduate programs;
(c) Applicants who are pursuing an undergraduate degree: an academic transcript that covers from the
year of enrollment to the term for which grades have been determined at the time of application for
the scholarship;
(d) Applicants who are pursuing a graduate school degree: an academic transcript of the undergraduate
program and an academic transcript of the degree program at the graduate school that covers from
the year of enrollment to the term for which grades have been determined at the time of application
for the scholarship.
The academic transcripts should show the grade scale applied and the grades earned by the applicant in
all the subjects studied for each year of study at the course attended. A degree certificate or a certificate
simply showing the ranking of the applicant at the time of graduation will not substitute for academic
transcripts. Those who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree must also submit a transcript to
the Japanese diplomatic mission when he/she graduates from that program by the time selection results
are finalized.
(Note 7) Applicants must submit the following documents according to his/her academic background:
(a) Applicants who have already graduated from a university’s undergraduate program: a certificate of
graduation from the undergraduate program;
(b) Applicants who have already completed a graduate school degree: certificates of graduation from
both the undergraduate and graduate programs;
(c) Applicants who are pursuing an undergraduate degree: a certificate of prospective graduation from
the undergraduate program;
(d) Applicants who are pursuing a graduate degree: a certificate of graduation from the undergraduate
program and a certificate of prospective graduation from the degree program at the graduate school.
A copy of the graduation certificate or the degree certificate is acceptable if the copy is attested by an
authorized official of the university. (Do not submit the originals as the submitted documents will not be
returned.) Those who are pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree must also submit a certificate of
graduation to the Japanese diplomatic mission when he/she graduates from that program by the time
selection results are finalized.
(Note 8) If the applicant’s health condition changes (including any serious changes relating to his/her life plan)
after he/she has submitted his/her health certificate, the applicant needs to promptly share such
information with the Japanese diplomatic mission since it concerns the acceptance system of the accepting
university and Japanese medical institution.
(Note 9) For abstracts of the theses, abstracts of the graduation thesis and any presented papers will be acceptable.
These abstracts will be used as basic data for evaluation of the applicant’s academic ability. Make sure
the applicant’s name is on the first page of the abstracts.
(Note 10) Only if you have a completed certificate document of Japanese-language ability or English-language
ability that show your name and level/score, enter necessary information in “21. Japanese language
qualifications” and “22. English language qualifications” of the Application Form and submit a copy of
the certificate. If printing out the certificate from the Internet, print out and submit a page showing the
applicant’s name and the details of the relevant qualification (level, score, etc.). The date of issue of the
certificate should be no earlier than two years from the date of application (“Date of application” entered
on the last page of the application form) to the Japanese diplomatic mission.
(Note 11) If documents are submitted in bound form, they may be dismantled during the review process.

10. FIRST SCREENING

(1) The Japanese diplomatic missions will conduct the First Screening of applicants by means of examination of
submitted application documents, written examinations of language proficiency and interviews.
(2) The subjects of written examinations of language proficiency will be Japanese and English. Both subjects must
be taken by all applicants. The result of the Japanese language examination will be used as reference for the
Japanese-language preparatory education to be provided after the grantee’s arrival in Japan. Moreover, the
English proficiency test may be exempted for countries where English is the official language. Applicants must
follow guidance by the overseas diplomatic establishment of their national origin.
(3) The following policy will apply to each stage of screening:
① Examination of submitted application documents: Must show that the applicant’s academic achievement at
the university that he/she last graduated from equaled to or exceeded a certain level, and state the applicant’s

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 research plan in a detailed and concrete manner;
② Written examination of language proficiency: Must show language proficiency adequate for research in a
Japanese university;
③ Interview: Must reveal that the applicant has a clear sense of purpose relating to his/her study in Japan and
has gathered information about Japanese universities. The interview must also reveal that the applicant has
sufficient Japanese or English language ability to communicate with his/her academic advisor in Japan. If
the applicant desires to study a subject that requires advanced Japanese language proficiency, the interview
must show that the applicant has a considerable degree of Japanese language proficiency.
(4) The date and time of the notification of the results of the First Screening will be specified separately by the
Japanese diplomatic mission in the applicant’s country; the reasons for the results of the screening will not be
disclosed. Those who pass the First Screening will not necessarily be selected as the MEXT Scholarship grantees.
(5) The results of the First Screening will be used as reference for the Second Screening and the university placement.

11. REQUEST OF PROVISIONAL ACCEPTACE AND SUBMISSION OF A PLACEMENT FORM

(1) A letter of provisional acceptance will greatly influence final selection results. Applicants may be rejected if
they have not obtained any such letter. Applicants who have passed the First Screening should, therefore, ask
universities they wish to attend to issue letters of provisional acceptance.
(2) Applicants who have passed the First Screening shall directly contact the Japanese universities they wish to
enter after the notification of the First Screening results by Monday, September 1, 2025 (Japan time) in order
to request the issuance of letters of provisional acceptance as a regular or a non-regular student in graduate
school. Applicants should be aware of the following notes.
① The number of universities which can be filled in the ②Placement Preference Application Form is up to
three universities. The applicants can, however, obtain up to a maximum of two letters of provisional
acceptance. Do not obtain more than two letters of provisional acceptance.
② Applicants can contact up to a maximum of two universities at the same time. Do not contact more than two
universities at the same time. If, however, you have received a rejection from one of the universities and thus
they have been waiting for a reply from less than two universities, then you can newly contact another
university to request a letter of provisional acceptance.
③ If Applicant is rejected by an university, he/she should neither request an acceptance letter from another
faculty member or graduate school at that university, nor lodge an objection to the university.
④ Contact with universities to request issuance of a letter of provisional acceptance made onTuesday,
September 2, 2025 or after is not permitted.
⑤ Since the above “Monday, September 1, 2025," is not the deadline for the universities to issue a letter of
provisional acceptance, applicants should not urge the universities to issue the letter by that date . However,
applicants may confirm with the university if the scheduled time of the issuance is delayed. In addition,
applicants should keep in mind when scheduling request letters of provisional acceptance that universities
generally need one month to issue a letter of provisional acceptance.
⑥ Applicants should first contact the division of international student affairs at the university (not an academic
advisor you wish to be supervised by) to request a letter of provisional acceptance. (MEXT will inform the
divisions of international student affairs beforehand that applicants who have passed the first screening may
contact them.) The Japanese diplomatic mission can provide a list of contact information.
⑦ The information on useful websites to seek information on Japanese universities and researchers is also
available from the Japanese diplomatic mission.
(3) When requesting universities for issuance of a letter of provisional acceptance, applicants must submit directly
to universities the following documents (a) and (b).
(a) Copy of a Passing Certificate of the First Screening issued by the Japanese diplomatic mission
(b) A set of copies of the following documents submitted to the Japanese diplomatic mission among the “9.
APPLICATION DOCUMENTS” that have been stamped by the Japanese diplomatic mission and returned
to the applicants
① Application Form
③ Field of Study and Research Plan
④ Academic transcript for all academic year of university attended
⑤ Certificate of graduation or degree certificate of the university attended
⑥ Recommendation letter from the president/dean or the academic advisor at the current or last university
attended
⑦ Medical Certificate
⑧ Abstracts of theses (*Only if submitted to the Japanese diplomatic mission)
⑨ Certificate of language proficiency (*Only if submitted to the Japanese diplomatic mission)
⑩ Recommendation letter from the present employer (*Only if submitted to the Japanese diplomatic
mission)

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 ⑪ Photograph(s) showing applicant’s own works of art or a digitally recorded media of musical
performance (*Only if submitted to the Japanese diplomatic mission)
Applicants must submit any other necessary documents requested by universities. Do not submit“ ②Placement
Preference Application Form” to the universities.
The above documents (a) and (b) should be sent by e-mail, but in cases when it is difficult to access the Internet,
the documents may be sent by postal mail. Please make sure each document ①, ③ to ⑪ have been stamped,
and that all lettering and photographs are clear and legible. Please also note that if a copy of the Passing
Certificate of the First Screening is not submitted, the university cannot comply with the request to issue a letter
of provisional acceptance.
(4) Applicants must always report the response from the universities and submit the final Placement Preference
Application Form based on the responses from the universities and obtained letters of provisional acceptance to
the Japanese diplomatic mission by the specified deadline. It is not permitted to include in the Placement
Preference Application Form the names of universities or supervisors and all departments at the universities that
have declined the applicant’s request.
(5) Applicants should confirm carefully with the universities the period of arrival in Japan specified in the letter of
provisional acceptance because it is not permitted, in principle, to change the specified period of arrival even if
the applicants have stated in their Application Forms that they are able to arrive by either the April term or the
October term.
(6) Forms other than those specified by MEXT for the letter of provisional acceptance will not be accepted. If a
university issues a letter of provisional acceptance in a different format, the applicant should promptly contact
the university and request that the university issue the letter in the MEXT-specified format.

12. SECOND SCREENING AND UNIVERSITY PLACEMENT

(1) MEXT conducts the Second Screening based on the results of the First Screening conducted by the Japanese
diplomatic mission in the applicant’s country, and selects the applicants as the MEXT Scholarship Students as
long as their placement at a university has been decided.
An application may be rejected if it arouses weapons proliferation concerns, including those over weapons of
mass destruction (WMD) and related items.
(2) An applicant who successfully passes the Second Screening will, in principle, be placed at the university from
which the applicant has received a letter of provisional acceptance. MEXT will hold consultations with the three
preferred universities listed in the applicant’s Placement Preference Application Form and place the applicant
at the university that approves the admittance as result of the consultation.
In case that the applicant’s preferences include a private or non-national public university as well as a national
university, the applicant’s preference order specified in his/her Placement Preference Application Form may not
be met due to restrictions on the Japanese government’s budget, and the option of a national university is
prioritized regardless.
(3) Applicants who receive a letter of provisional acceptance to the regular course at a graduate school will be
directly placed in the said regular course without going through the period of the non-regular student.
(4) If an applicant is judged by the accepting university, based on the results of the written examination of language
given in the First Screening, not to have adequate Japanese language proficiency to understand lectures or
research guidance for experiments or practical training at the university, the applicant will be placed in a course
of Japanese-language preparatory education at an institution designated by the accepting university or MEXT
for the first six-month period after the arrival in Japan. Upon completion of the Japanese language course, the
grantee will enter the accepting university for advanced education.
(5) If a grantee is deemed by the accepting university to have sufficient Japanese language proficiency to conduct
research, the grantee may directly enter the accepting university as a regular student or a non-regular student.
(6) Applicants will be notified by the Japanese diplomatic mission of the final selection results and the grantees’
accepting university from January 2026 to early March 2026. The reasons for the results of the final selection
will not be disclosed. Any objections to the decision on the university placement will not be accepted.
(7) Even if applicants are unable to obtain a letter of provisional acceptance, they will be able to submit a Placement
Preference Application Form, but their period of arrival will be restricted to the October term.

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13. ACADEMIC PATHWAY FOR RESEARCH STUDENTS
The following chart indicates possible academic pathways as a MEXT Scholarship Research Student.
Regular students Com-
Regular students ⇒ in Doctoral course … pleted
⇒ in Master’s course
… Completed
→ Non-regular
students Regular students
⇒ in Doctoral course … Completed
Preparatory
education
Regular students
⇒ in Doctoral course … Completed
→ Regular students
in Master’s course
… Completed
Arrival in Japan

Regular students
→ in Doctoral course … Completed

⇒ Regular students
… Completed
⇒ Regular students in Doctoral course
in Master’s course
Non-regular … Completed
students
⇒ Regular students … Completed
in Doctoral course

※ “Master’s course” includes a

professional degree course.
Regular students ⇒ Regular students … Completed ※ “Completed” means his/her
in Doctoral course
in Master’s course status as a MEXT Scholarship
… Completed student has ended upon
successful completion of the
Regular students last course attended.
… Completed
in Doctoral course
(1) In the above chart, the single-lined arrow → indicates that the application for extension of the scholarship
period is unnecessary. The double-lined arrow ⇒ indicates that the application for extension of the scholarship
period will be necessary to proceed to a higher program. Extension of the scholarship period will be permitted
only if the successful student has passed an entrance examination for a regular degree program at a graduate
school. (See “5. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF SCHOLARSHIP”.)
(2) While the entrance examinations to graduate school vary depending on universities, assessment of the applicant’s
foreign language competence, grasp of the specialized subject for study, plans for the graduation thesis,
interview, etc. are normally included.
(3) The degree courses at the university’s graduate schools under the Japanese school system include as follows.
① Master's degree course: The standard period of study is two years subsequent to graduation from a university.
In some courses, the duration is less than two years but more than one year. Students who complete a master’s
degree course are awarded a Master’s Degree.
② Doctoral degree course: A three-year degree course subsequent to completion of a master’s degree course.
In the fields of medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, and pharmacy which are based on a 6-year
undergraduate course, most of the universities offer only 4-year doctoral courses. Applicants are required to
have completed 18 years of school education. Students who complete a doctoral degree course are awarded
a Doctoral Degree.
③ Professional degree course: A course at a professional graduate school. The standard period of study is two
years. In some fields of study, the duration is less than two years but more than one year. Student who
complete a professional degree course are awarded a Professional Degree. Graduate law schools offer a
three-year course and students who complete the course are also awarded a Professional Degree (a Juris
Doctor degree).

14. UNAVOIDABLE CIRCUMSTANCES

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In the event of unavoidable or unforeseen circumstances, the Japanese Government reserves the right to change or
cancel the arrival date, scholarship, and contents of the application guidelines here within, at any time before or
after notification of the results of the final selection.
Unavoidable Circumstances are defined as events whose effects could not reasonably be prevented or controlled by
MEXT or Ministry of Foreign Affairs (including Embassies and Consulate generals of Japan) including but not
limited to acts of God, acts of government (including local government, hereafter referred to as government), acts
of government authorities (including limitations on travel or immigration enacted by the Japanese government or
other countries’ governments due to the spread of infectious disease), compliance with law, regulations or orders,
fire, flooding and torrential rain, earthquakes, acts of war (regardless of a declaration of war), revolt, revolution or
rebellion, strike or lockout.

15. NOTES
(1) The grantees should learn, before departing for Japan, the Japanese language and acquire information about
Japanese weather, climate, customs, university education, and conditions of the university to be attended in
Japan, as well as about the difference between the Japanese legal system and that of his/her home country.
(2) As the first installment of the scholarship payment will be made from one month to one and a half months after
the grantee’s arrival in Japan, the grantee is recommended to bring at least approximately US$2,000 with
him/her to Japan to cover immediate living expenses and other necessary expenses.
(3) The scholarship payments will be transferred to the bank account of Japan Post Bank (JP Bank) opened by each
grantee after the arrival in Japan. MEXT will not transfer the scholarship payments to other accounts.
(4) Grantees who have tested positive for infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, following a medical exam
must be treated before arrival in Japan. Grantee’s arrival in Japan will not be approved if he/she is not fully
recovered by the time of arrival.
(5) Grantees must enroll in National Health Insurance (Kokumin Kenko Hoken) upon arrival in Japan.
(6) It is suggested that grantees acquire an “Individual Number Card (My Number Card)” upon arrival in Japan.
(7) Accommodations:
① Residence halls for international students provided by universities: Some universities have residence halls
for international students. The grantees enrolled at such universities may reside at these residence halls under
certain conditions. However, due to the limited number of rooms, some of these facilities may be unavailable.
Expenses relating to accommodations will be borne by the grantee. As some universities might ask the
grantees to pay expenses relating to accommodations in advance of arriving in Japan, grantees should check
with the accepting university after its decision on their acceptance.
② Private boarding houses or apartments: Those who are unable to find accommodation in the aforementioned
facilities may live in regular dormitories of the university or in private boarding houses/apartments at his/her
expenses. It is difficult for grantees with dependents (spouse and children) to find appropriate housing in
Japan. The grantee is requested to arrive in Japan alone first to secure housing before having his/her
dependents come to Japan.
(8) Information regarding the MEXT Scholarship Students (name, gender, date of birth, nationality, accepting
university/graduate school/undergraduate school, field of specialty, period of enrolment, career path after
completion of scholarship, contact information [address, telephone number, e-mail address]) may be shared with
other relevant government organizations for the purpose of utilization for international students programs
implemented by the Japanese Government (support during period of study in Japan, follow-up survey,
improvement of the international student system).
Information regarding MEXT Scholarship Students (excluding date of birth and contact information) may be
included in publicity materials prepared by the Japanese Government for promoting the acceptance of
international students in Japan, particularly in order to introduce former MEXT Scholarship Students who are
playing active roles in countries around the world.
These matters are included in the Pledge stipulating rules and regulations which MEXT Scholarship Students
must comply with and submit when they have been granted the Scholarship. Those who consent to this treatment
will be admitted as a MEXT Scholarship Student.
(9) In principle, receiving another scholarship from an organization (including a government organization of the
home country) other than the Japanese government (MEXT or other Japanese government organization) is
permitted. However, applicants should consult with the Japanese diplomatic mission in the home country in
advance, since some scholarships may not be combined.
(10) If an applicant is judged not to meet the conditions for landing in Japan, he/she may be rejected.
(11) The English texts attached to the Application Guidelines and the Application Form are for supplementary use
only. English expressions do not change the Japanese content.
(12) If there are any questions about the content of the written text in this Application Guidelines or any other
matters, applicants/grantees should inquire at the Japanese diplomatic mission in the country of the applicant’s

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 nationality and follow their instructions.
(13) In addition to the regulations stipulated in these Application Guidelines, those that are necessary to implement
the Japanese Government Scholarship programs shall be determined by the Japanese Government.

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