Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship — University Recommendation 2027: eligibility, funding, deadline and how to apply

🇯🇵 Japan · Offered by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) · For Master's, PhD, Research student applicants.

Updated 10 November 2026 · Researched from the sources listed at the end. Confirm current details on the official website before you apply.

Country: 🇯🇵 Japan
Provider: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
Degree levels: Master's, PhD, Research student
Funding: Tuition, admission and exam fees waived; monthly allowance; round-trip airfare.
Deadline: Set by each graduate school, mostly Nov 2026 – Jan 2027 for October/April 2027 entry (e.g. University of Tokyo about 22 Jan 2027, estimated).
Expected opening: Open now at many universities (Oct 2026 – Jan 2027)
Duration: Length of the degree (Master's 2 years, PhD 3 years), with possible research-student period.
Professor contact: Required: you need a professor's acceptance before or during the application.

Official website

About the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship

The Japanese university nominates you to MEXT. In practice a professor there must already want to supervise you, so contacting a professor comes first.

Eligibility

Who can apply

Nationals of countries with diplomatic relations with Japan, including Pakistan. You can be recommended by only one university.

Academic requirements

Master's: Bachelor's degree. PhD: Master's degree. Usually under 35. Excellent grades (often GPA 2.3/3.0+ by MEXT's formula). An informal acceptance from a professor is normally needed.

Language requirements

English-taught programmes: TOEFL/IELTS as the graduate school requires. Japanese not required for English programmes.

What the scholarship covers

Tuition, admission and exam fees waived; monthly allowance; round-trip airfare.

Tuition: Full tuition, admission and examination fees.
Stipend and benefits: About JPY 143,000–145,000/month (Master's/PhD/research student) plus round-trip economy airfare.
Duration: Length of the degree (Master's 2 years, PhD 3 years), with possible research-student period.

Deadline and opening date

Set by each graduate school, mostly Nov 2026 – Jan 2027 for October/April 2027 entry (e.g. University of Tokyo about 22 Jan 2027, estimated).

Expected opening: Open now at many universities (Oct 2026 – Jan 2027).

Required documents

University application form
Research plan
Transcripts and degree certificate
Recommendation letters
Letter of informal acceptance from a professor
Language scores
Certificate of health
Abstract of thesis

How to apply

Contact a professor at a Japanese university first. If they agree, apply to that graduate school's MEXT university-recommendation programme; the university nominates you to MEXT.

Find a professor for the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship

A professor's acceptance can decide this application. ScholarReach finds professors in Japan whose research matches yours, writes a personal email to each one, and tracks every reply.

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Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship?

Nationals of countries with diplomatic relations with Japan, including Pakistan. You can be recommended by only one university. Master's: Bachelor's degree. PhD: Master's degree. Usually under 35. Excellent grades (often GPA 2.3/3.0+ by MEXT's formula). An informal acceptance from a professor is normally needed.

What does the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship cover?

Tuition, admission and exam fees waived; monthly allowance; round-trip airfare. About JPY 143,000–145,000/month (Master's/PhD/research student) plus round-trip economy airfare.

What is the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship deadline?

Set by each graduate school, mostly Nov 2026 – Jan 2027 for October/April 2027 entry (e.g. University of Tokyo about 22 Jan 2027, estimated). Expected opening: Open now at many universities (Oct 2026 – Jan 2027).

Is IELTS required for the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship?

English-taught programmes: TOEFL/IELTS as the graduate school requires. Japanese not required for English programmes.

Do I need a supervisor or professor's acceptance for the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship?

Required: you need a professor's acceptance before or during the application.

How do I apply for the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship?