The Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship for Undergraduate Students pays a monthly allowance of 117,000 yen, waives entrance and tuition fees at the university, and provides economy airfare to and from Japan. For the 2027 intake, applicants generally need to be born on or after April 2, 2002, have completed (or be about to complete) 12 years of schooling, and apply through the Japanese embassy or consulate in their country. Applying is free; MEXT warns that anyone asking for fees or deposits has nothing to do with the Japanese government.
Two ways in: embassy or university recommendation
According to Study in Japan, undergraduate MEXT scholars are recruited in two ways:
- Embassy recommendation: the main route. The Japanese diplomatic mission in your country advertises the scholarship, receives applications and runs the first round of selection. The fields available can differ by country
- University recommendation: a smaller route where certain Japanese universities, approved by MEXT and holding a quota, nominate students, typically from partner schools under exchange agreements. Not every university has a quota, so check with the university first
The rest of this article follows the 2027 embassy-recommendation application guidelines (PDF, in Japanese and English) linked from MEXT's recruitment page.
What you would study
Applicants choose a field (Social Sciences and Humanities, or Natural Sciences), then a course and up to three majors:
- Social Sciences and Humanities A: law, politics, pedagogy, sociology, literature, history, Japanese language and others
- Social Sciences and Humanities B: economics, business administration and related fields such as accounting
- Natural Sciences A: mathematics, physics, chemistry and most engineering fields
- Natural Sciences B: agriculture, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, nursing, biology and related fields
- Natural Sciences C: medicine and dentistry
Art fields, including music, are not eligible. Once placed, you cannot switch course or transfer to another university.
The first year: preparatory education
Most grantees spend their first year in an intensive preparatory program centred on Japanese: at ABK College for humanities students or Osaka University for science students. After it, you sit the entrance exam of the national university MEXT designates for you. MEXT decides the placement, taking into account your screening results, preparatory grades, intended major and the university's capacity, and objections are not accepted. If you cannot complete the preparatory course or cannot get into the university, the scholarship ends.
Direct placement
Applicants with strong enough Japanese, or those aiming at a program that does not require Japanese at entry, can ask to skip the preparatory year and enter a university directly. Universities check grades and language scores (such as the JLPT) and may interview. For 2027, these placement talks run from after the second screening until February 12, 2027. Direct entrants may start in April, September or October 2027, depending on the university.
Eligibility checklist for 2027
- Nationality: of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. Japanese nationals cannot apply; dual nationals living abroad must give up Japanese nationality by arrival
- Age: born on or after April 2, 2002, with very limited exceptions (for example, military service obligations); personal or financial reasons do not qualify
- Schooling: 12 years of schooling outside Japan, completion of an equivalent upper secondary school, or an equivalent qualification exam, met by March 2027 (by August 2027 for autumn direct placement)
- Japanese: a willingness to learn Japanese and, in principle, to study in Japanese
- Health: a medical certificate on the official form
- Arrival: able to arrive between April 1 and April 7, 2027 (or within the university's window for autumn direct placement)
- Visa: you must obtain a new "Student" visa before travelling, even if you already hold another status in Japan
You cannot apply if you have received a MEXT scholarship before, are applying to another MEXT program at the same time, or are already enrolled in Japan as a privately financed student (with a narrow exception for those finishing before the scholarship starts). Military personnel are also excluded.
How selection works
- First screening at the embassy: document review, written exams and an interview. Humanities applicants sit Japanese, English and Mathematics (A versions). Natural Sciences A applicants sit Japanese, English, Mathematics (B versions), Chemistry and Physics; Natural Sciences B and C applicants take Biology instead of Physics. Calculators are not allowed
- Second screening at MEXT: passing the first round is not a guarantee. MEXT makes the final selection for each course
- Results: delivered by the embassy from February 2027 onward; reasons are not disclosed
Typical documents include the application form, transcripts for all school years, a graduation (or expected graduation) certificate, a recommendation letter from your teacher or principal, the medical certificate and optional language certificates issued within the last two years. Each embassy sets its own deadline, so ask them for the exact date.
Scholarship period and benefits
- With preparatory year: five years, April 2027 to March 2032; seven years (to March 2034) for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and six-year pharmacy
- Direct placement: four years, or six for those longer programs
- Monthly allowance: 117,000 yen, plus 2,000 or 3,000 yen in some designated regions; the amount can change with Japan's budget each year
- Fees: entrance exam, matriculation and tuition fees are waived
- Travel: an economy ticket to Japan if you arrive in the set window, and a return ticket after graduation
Practical notes for your arrival
The first payment arrives one to one and a half months after you land, so MEXT recommends bringing around US$2,000. Payments go only to a Japan Post Bank account opened after arrival. Housing costs are your own: preparatory students can use the institution's residence, and universities may have limited international dorms. If dorm space runs out, renting a furnished room by the month while you search is a common stopgap. MEXT also suggests that scholars with families arrive alone first to secure housing.
Sources
- 文部科学省「2027年度大使館推薦による国費外国人留学生（学部留学生・高等専門学校留学生・専修学校留学生）の募集について」(checked 2026-10-04)
- 文部科学省「国費外国人留学生制度について」(checked 2026-10-04)
- 日本学生支援機構（JASSO）Study in Japan「Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship」(checked 2026-10-04)
This article was created by OHAYO Stay based on the sources above (edited, reorganized and translated). It is not an official publication. Facts are summarized in our own words; see the linked pages for the official details.
Rules and dates can change. Always confirm with the official source before you apply.