Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for 2026 (undergraduate students)

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan offers scholarships to international students who wish to study at Japanese universities as Undergraduate Students under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program as follows.

Recruitment for those arriving in Japan next April is made between April and May of the previous year. First screening is conducted between May and August by the Japanese Embassies or Consulates General. As the application process and specific schedule differ according to the country of your nationality, please inquire the Japanese Embassy or Consulate General in your country for details. DO NOT send any application documents directly to MEXT in Japan.

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.

Age: Applicants, in principle, must have been born on or after April 2, 2001. However, applicants who satisfy the conditions for Academic Background stipulated in ③ below must be 18 years of age or older at the time of admission to a university in Japan.

Academic Background (Undergraduate): Applicants must meet one of the following conditions:

① Applicants who have completed 12 years of schooling in countries other than Japan. (Applicants who will meet the above condition by March 2026 are eligible. However, applicants wishing to enroll from the autumn term through direct placement must be expected to complete 12 years of schooling by August 2026.)

② Applicants who have completed their studies at a school equivalent to a Japanese upper secondary school in countries other than Japan. (Applicants who will meet the above condition by March 2026 are eligible.)

③ Applicants who have successfully passed an academic qualification examination showing equivalency to the completion of 12 years of schooling in countries other than Japan. (Applicants who will meet the above condition by March 2026 are eligible.)

④Other than the above ①, ② and ③ conditions, applicants who are eligible for enrollment in a Japanese university at the time of application. 

Japanese Language: Applicants must be willing to learn Japanese.

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. 

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS

Allowance: 117,000 yen per month.

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 or the preparatory educational institution for an extended period, the scholarship shall be suspended for that period.

Education Fees: Fees for the entrance examination, matriculation, and tuition at universities will be paid by MEXT.

Traveling Expenses: Transportation from Japan, Transportation from Japan.