by The MEXT scholarship is the Japanese Government’s scholarship for international students. For research students, for example, it pays a monthly allowance, waives tuition and pays for your flight to Japan. This guide explains who can apply, what it pays and how selection works, using the official 2027 guidelines from the Japanese Government.
Last verified: 19 October 2026 against the MEXT 2027 Research Students and Undergraduate guidelines and Japanese embassy pages in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, India, Pakistan and the Philippines. Searching more widely? See our list of fully funded master’s scholarships.
Is the MEXT scholarship 2027 still open?
For embassy recommendation, mostly no. Japanese embassies opened 2027 applications in mid-April 2026, and the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria now lists its 2027 call as closed. Deadlines vary by country, so first check your local Japanese embassy. However, the timeline below shows how each round runs, so you can prepare now for the next one.
What the MEXT scholarship pays
| Benefit | 2027 amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly allowance, preparatory or non-regular research student | 143,000 yen |
| Monthly allowance, master’s or professional degree student | 144,000 yen |
| Monthly allowance, doctoral student | 145,000 yen |
| Extra for specially designated regions | 2,000 or 3,000 yen a month |
| Entrance exam, matriculation and tuition fees | Waived |
| Flight to Japan | Economy ticket from your nearest international airport |
For example, a master’s student receives 144,000 yen (one hundred and forty-four thousand yen) a month. But the first payment arrives one to one and a half months after you land, so the guidelines advise bringing at least US$2,000 (two thousand US dollars). Also, you pay domestic travel, airport taxes, travel insurance and extra baggage yourself.
MEXT scholarship eligibility for research students
- Nationality: a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. However, Japanese nationals cannot apply.
- Age: born on or after 2 April 1992 for the 2027 round, in principle.
- Education for a master’s: 16 years of schooling outside Japan, or a bachelor’s-equivalent degree from a programme of at least 3 years.
- Education for a doctorate: a master’s-equivalent degree, or a graduate degree plus two years of recognised research.
- Language: you must be willing to learn Japanese. The first screening includes written Japanese and English tests, although the English test may be waived where English is an official language.
In addition, medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and some pharmacy doctorates have stricter rules, such as 18 years of schooling.
How MEXT selection works
| Timing (2027 round) | Stage |
|---|---|
| Mid-April 2026 | Applications open at the Japanese embassy |
| Early May to late July 2026 | First screening: documents, written tests and interview |
| Until 1 September 2026 | Successful applicants seek provisional acceptance from universities |
| Mid-September to early October 2026 | Placement preference form submitted |
| From November 2026 | Second screening and placement by MEXT |
| January to early March 2027 | Final results |
So if you want the next round, expect a similar cycle. Therefore, watch your embassy’s website from March onwards, because calls usually open in April.
MEXT scholarship categories and how you apply
The MEXT scholarship isn’t one award. It’s a family of categories, and each one has its own route. You either apply through the Japanese embassy in your country (embassy recommendation) or through a Japanese university that has a MEXT quota (university recommendation).
| Category | Embassy route | University route |
|---|---|---|
| Research Students (master’s, PhD, non-degree) | Yes | Yes, at universities with a quota |
| Undergraduate | Yes | Yes |
| Japanese Studies | Yes | Yes |
| College of Technology (KOSEN) | Yes | Yes, through the college |
| Specialized Training College | Yes | No |
| Teacher Training | Yes | No |
| Young Leaders Program (YLP) | No | No (separate nomination) |
Most of our readers apply through the embassy, because it’s open to anyone who meets the rules in their country. The university route depends on the university having a MEXT quota and nominating you, so it’s harder to plan around.
MEXT stipends for other categories
The research student figures above aren’t the only rates. For 2027, the guidelines list:
- Undergraduate: 117,000 yen (one hundred and seventeen thousand yen) a month.
- Specialized Training College: 117,000 yen a month.
- Young Leaders Program: 242,000 yen (two hundred and forty-two thousand yen) a month.
In every category, entrance exam, matriculation and tuition fees are waived. MEXT pays for an economy ticket to Japan. A return ticket is only given if you apply for it after graduating within your scholarship period.
MEXT undergraduate scholarship: exams and the preparatory year
Undergraduate applicants must be born on or after 2 April 2002, the same limit as for KOSEN and Specialized Training College. Unlike research students, they sit subject exams, and calculators aren’t allowed:
- Humanities and Social Sciences B: Japanese, English and Mathematics A.
- Natural Sciences A: Japanese, English, Mathematics B, Physics and Chemistry.
- Natural Sciences B and C: Japanese, English, Mathematics B, Chemistry and Biology.
Successful undergraduates usually spend their first year on a Japanese preparatory course, at ABK College for humanities and social sciences or at Osaka University for natural sciences. Research students who need it get a six-month Japanese course instead.
2027 embassy deadlines we checked
These dates show how early each round closes. All of them have now passed.
| Country | 2027 deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 8 June 2026 | Hard copy only; Research, Undergraduate, KOSEN and Specialized Training |
| Ghana | 29 May 2026 | Research; only shortlisted applicants are contacted |
| Kenya | 19 May 2026 | Exams in mid-July 2026, interviews a few days later |
| India | 15 May 2026 | Research; applications by email, exam on 5 July 2026 |
| Pakistan | 26 May 2026 | Research; tests and interviews in Islamabad or Karachi |
| Philippines | 29 May 2026 | Research, Undergraduate, Specialized Training and KOSEN |
So if you’re aiming for 2028 entry, expect your embassy to open applications around April 2027 and close in May or June. That’s our estimate from the 2027 round, so confirm the dates on your embassy’s website. The Philippines embassy sets its own age rule too: under 35 for research students and under 25 for other categories, counted at 1 April 2027.
Worked example: your first two months on a MEXT scholarship
Tunde from Ibadan wins a MEXT research scholarship for a master’s in engineering, starting in April 2027. Here’s how his money works in the first weeks:
- MEXT books his economy flight to Japan, but he pays his airport taxes, travel insurance and any extra baggage himself.
- His allowance is 144,000 yen a month, but the first payment arrives one to one and a half months after he lands.
- So he brings at least US$2,000 (two thousand US dollars), as the guidelines advise, to cover rent deposits, food and transport until his first payment.
- If he needs Japanese, he spends his first six months on the preparatory language course before starting his degree.
Plan the same way, and you won’t be caught short in your first month.
Tips to strengthen your MEXT scholarship application
- Write a concrete research plan. Above all, the guidelines say it must be detailed and concrete, and your grades must meet a certain level.
- Get provisional acceptance. The guidelines say a provisional acceptance letter “will greatly influence” final selection. Also, contact no more than two universities at a time, and start with the international student office, not a professor.
- Prepare for the interview. In particular, panels look for a clear purpose, knowledge of Japanese universities and enough Japanese or English to talk with a supervisor.
- Start Japanese early. After all, even basic study shows the willingness the guidelines ask for.
Step-by-step: preparing for the next MEXT round
- Check that you meet the age and education rules for your course level.
- Shortlist Japanese universities and supervisors in your field.
- Draft your research plan and ask referees early.
- Follow your Japanese embassy’s page for the call, usually in April.
- Submit documents by the embassy deadline and prepare for the tests and interview.
Frequently asked questions
Is the MEXT scholarship fully funded?
Largely, yes. For instance, it waives tuition, pays a monthly allowance and covers an economy flight. However, some costs, such as airport taxes and insurance, are yours.
Can Nigerian and Pakistani students apply for the MEXT scholarship?
Yes. Both countries have diplomatic relations with Japan, so their citizens can apply through their local Japanese embassy if they meet the other rules.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
Not fluently. But you must be willing to learn it, and you will sit a Japanese written test in the first screening.
How much does the MEXT undergraduate scholarship pay?
117,000 yen a month for 2027, plus waived tuition and a flight to Japan.
When does the MEXT 2028 application open?
It isn’t announced yet. In the 2027 round, embassies opened applications in April 2026 and closed them in May or June, so watch your embassy’s website from March 2027.
Does MEXT pay for a return flight?
Only if you apply for it after graduating within the scholarship period. The scholarship pays an economy ticket to Japan at the start.
Official sources
- MEXT Scholarship 2027 Application Guidelines (Research Students), Study in Japan
- Embassy of Japan in Nigeria: MEXT Scholarship for 2027 (closed)
- MEXT Scholarship 2027 Application Guidelines (Undergraduate), Study in Japan
- Study in Japan: MEXT scholarship categories
- Embassy of Japan in Kenya: MEXT Research Students
- Embassy of Japan in India: MEXT Research Students
- Embassy of Japan in Pakistan: MEXT Research Scholarship
- Embassy of Japan in Ghana: MEXT Scholarship
- Embassy of Japan in the Philippines: MEXT Scholarship
Amounts may change each fiscal year. Confirm details with the Japanese embassy in your country before applying.
