The wait is over for the most prestigious Japanese Government Scholarship is now open for applications! You heard it right—applications are open for the MEXT Japan Government Scholarships 2026 (Embassy Track). The MEXT scholarships are offered to applicants belonging to countries that have diplomatic ties with Japan.
The Japanese Government, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) offer fully funded scholarships to international students who wish to study Undergraduate, Masters & PhD degree programs in Japan. MEXT is your chance to pursue your Higher education in one of the leading higher education institutes in Japan. The scholarships are available in almost all fields and majors covering Arts, science, medicine, engineering, dentistry, and other relevant fields, candidates belonging to diverse academic backgrounds are invited to submit the applications – Do you know what’s the best part of the MEXT Scholarship? There is no IELTS/TOEFL requirement. Yes! you can participate in the scholarship without a language test.
About MEXT Research Scholarship
This is a fully funded scholarship by the Government of Japan for international students from eligible member countries. The scholarship covers accommodation, education fees, monthly stipends, round airfare travel expenses, and more. All the students who want to do research in a country that is known for tech innovation and rich culture are encouraged to apply.
Moreover, this scholarship will enrich students with the international experience of studying. You can collaborate with candidates from all over the world for the same purpose. So, why delay? Read below to learn what documents you need to apply for.
MEXT Japan Government Scholarships 2026 Details:
| Country | Japan |
|---|---|
| Eligible Countries | International Students |
| Degree Programs | Masters & PhD |
| Scholarship Coverage | Fully Funded |
| Deadline | May 10, 2024 |
Study Areas:
- Social Science
- Medical and Health Sciences
- Engineering
- Business
- Humanities
- Arts
Scholarship Coverage:
The scholarship covers all the expenses including:
-
- Monthly Allowance
- Education Fees
- Traveling expenses (To and from Japan)
- Accommodation
- Meals
Eligibility Criteria:
- Candidates must be nationals of a country with diplomatic relations with Japan.
- A candidate of Japanese nationality will not be eligible for the MEXT scholarship in Japan.
- To be eligible for undergraduate study, a student must be under 25 years old. You must have finished 12 years of formal education with complete coursework at a school equivalent to a high school.
- For Masters and PhD programs, candidates must be college graduates and under 35 years old. Alternatively, you should have finished 16 or 18 years of school.
- Students enrolled in teacher training programs must be recent college or teacher training college graduates and under 35 years old. You must have worked as a teacher in a primary, secondary, or teacher-training college within your country.
Required Documents
The documents that need to be submitted:
- Mark Sheet form
- Research Plan
- Application Forrm (Orignal)
- Attested copy of Hope certificate or degree from previous institute
- Recommendation letter from the Dean/President of the academic advisor of the previous institute
- Abstract of theses if applicable
- Recommendation letter from the employer
All the documents need to be unstapled and must be printed in A4 size, you can assemble the papers with paper clips.
You can check the complete details regarding the documentation in your country’s embassy link.
Mext Scholarship Timeline:
Sure! Here’s the MEXT Embassy Recommendation Scholarship 2026 (Projected Timeline) in a table format:
| Stage | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Application Period | April – May 2025 | Application opens via the Japanese Embassy |
| Application Deadline | 31sy May 2025 | Application closes |
| Primary Screening | June – July 2025 | Document screening, written exams, and interviews at the embassy. |
| Obtain Provisional Acceptance | July – August 2025 | Contact Japanese universities to get a Letter of Provisional Acceptance. |
| Letter Submission Deadline | Mid-August 2025 | Submit university acceptance letters to the embassy. |
| Submit Placement Docs | Mid–September 2025 | Submit the Placement Preference Form + letters to the embassy. |
| Secondary Screening | October 2025 – February 2026 | MEXT and universities conduct final screening and placement. |
| Final Notification | February 2026 | MEXT announces official results. |
| Departure to Japan | April or October 2026 | Scholars travel to Japan and begin their program. |
Application Routes
The program offers 2 primary application routes to apply that are:
-
Embassy Recommendation: In the embassy recommendation applicants need to apply via the Japanese embassy or consulate in their home country the application process includes document screening, written exams, and interviews.
-
University Recommendation: Applicants applying through a university recommendation track need to directly apply to a Japanese university and the institute will nominate candidates for the MEXT scholarship
Online degree programs
Note: Currently the applications are open via Embassy Track, therefore follow the Embassy Track instructions to submit your applications.
How Do I Apply?
The application process is through the Embassy Track, the application process is set by each country’s embassy.
Interested applicants can select their country and check the scholarship section where they will find all the details regarding the MEXT Scholarships 2026.
The application is open for most countries anyhow if the scholarship is not open for some countries they can keep the opening dates for their country.
Important Points:
- No need to contact the Japanese institutes or professors at the time of application.
- A health certificate is not required at the initial stages of the application.
- The 1st screening of scholarship results will be announced in June.
