Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships for Research Students 2027 Apply Now

Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships for Research Students 2027 Apply Now, The Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships for Research Students 2027 is a prestigious scholarship programme offered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT) for international students interested in pursuing graduate-level studies at Japanese universities as research students, either as regular or non-regular students.

Under this scholarship programme, selected candidates will receive a monthly stipend of up to ¥145,000 (approximately ₹85,300), along with several additional academic and living support benefits during their studies in Japan.

Please read the complete article to learn about the details like scholarship Funding Amount, Eligibility Criteria and Selection Process and apply before deadline.

Last Date of Application: 15^th May 2026

Table of Contents

Eligibility Criteria for Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships for Research Students 2027 Apply Now

To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must meet the following conditions:

Applicants must have been born on or after 2nd April 1992.
Candidates should be willing to learn the Japanese language.

Eligibility for Master’s / Doctoral Course (1st Phase)

Applicants applying for the Master’s or Doctoral Course (1st Phase) must:

Have completed 16 years of formal education outside Japan.
Have completed a programme of at least three years’ duration at a university or equivalent educational institution outside Japan.
Hold a relevant Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification with a minimum of 70% marks.

Note: Applicants must obtain their official transcripts and degree certificates by 30th September 2027 to remain eligible for the October 2027 intake.

Eligibility for Doctoral Course (2nd Phase)

Candidates applying for the Doctoral Course (2nd Phase) should:

Hold an overseas qualification equivalent to a Master’s or professional degree.
Possess a graduation degree along with at least two years of research experience at a university, research institution, or equivalent overseas organisation.
Demonstrate academic competence equivalent to a Master’s degree from a graduate school.
Have secured a minimum of 70% marks in their Master’s degree.

Note: Applicants must complete the required research, teaching, or professional experience after acquiring the prescribed qualification by 30th September 2027 for eligibility in the October 2027 batch.

Eligibility for Doctoral Courses in Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science & Pharmaceutical Fields

Applicants in these disciplines must:

Have completed 18 years of education outside Japan.
Have successfully completed a programme of at least five years at a university or equivalent institution outside Japan leading to a qualification equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree.
Have completed 16 years of education outside Japan along with a minimum of two years of research experience at a university or research institution, including overseas institutions.

Note: The graduate school must recognise the applicant’s academic competence as equivalent to that of a university graduate in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, or specified pharmaceutical disciplines.

Additional Requirements for Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships for Research Students 2027 Apply Now

Applicants should:

Possess the ability to conduct research effectively and adapt to life in Japan.
Demonstrate a strong interest in Japan and willingness to deepen their understanding of Japanese culture and society after arrival.
Have adequate research capability and adaptability necessary for successful participation in the programme.

Note: Applicants are advised to carefully review the official Scholarship Guidelines for complete eligibility and ineligibility details.

Benefits for Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships for Research Students 2027 Apply Now

Selected candidates will receive the following benefits in addition to travel support:

¥143,000 per month (approximately ₹84,100) for students receiving preparatory education and non-regular students.
¥144,000 per month (approximately ₹84,300) for regular students enrolled in Master’s or professional degree programmes.
¥145,000 per month (approximately ₹85,300) for students enrolled in Doctoral programmes.

Additional Regional Allowance

An additional regional allowance of ¥2,000 to ¥3,000 per month may be provided to candidates studying or conducting research in specially designated regions of Japan.

Tuition & Academic Fees

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT) will cover:

University entrance examination fees
Matriculation fees
Tuition fees

However, applicants who fail to progress into Master’s or Doctoral programmes or who are not admitted by the university will be responsible for their own entrance examination fees.

Important Notes

Scholarship amounts may change depending on the annual budgetary decisions of the Japanese Government.
Scholarship payments may be suspended if a grantee remains absent from the university for an extended period.
Applicants should refer to the official Scholarship Guidelines for detailed information regarding travel expenses and other provisions.

Required Documents

Applicants must submit the following documents:

Application form
Placement preference application form
Academic transcripts for all years of university education
Graduation certificate or degree certificate
Recommendation letter from the President/Dean or academic advisor of the current or last attended university
Medical certificate
Thesis abstracts
Language proficiency certificate (if applicable)
Recommendation letter from the current employer
Photographs of artwork or digitally recorded media of musical performances (if applicable)

Note: For complete details regarding file formats, document size, and submission specifications, applicants should refer to the official Scholarship Guidelines document.

How to apply?

Eligible applicants can complete the application process by following the steps below:

Step 1: Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button.
Step 2: Select the ‘Register’ option and complete the registration process by entering the required details.
(Note: Applicants who are already registered can log in using their Gmail account, mobile number, or email ID.)
Step 3: Go to the ‘How to Apply’ section, click on ‘The Preliminary Application Form’, and download the form.
Step 4: Fill in all the required information and submit the completed application form along with all necessary documents in a single file via email to: scholarship-india@nd.mofa.go.jp

Important Note

Applications submitted in formats such as scanned handwritten documents, PDFs, PowerPoint files, Google Drive links, or Google Docs will not be accepted.

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Selection Process for Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships for Research Students 2027 Apply Now

First Screening

The initial screening of applicants will be conducted by Japanese diplomatic missions through evaluation of submitted application documents, language proficiency examinations, and interviews.

Applicants are required to appear for written examinations in both Japanese and English languages.
The Japanese language test results help determine whether preparatory Japanese language education will be required after arrival in Japan.
In certain cases, the English proficiency examination may be waived for applicants from countries where English is an official language.
Applicants are advised to follow the instructions provided by the Japanese embassy or consulate in their respective countries.
The schedule and announcement date for first screening results will be communicated separately by the concerned Japanese diplomatic mission.
Reasons for selection or rejection will not be disclosed.
Clearing the first screening stage does not guarantee final selection for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT) Scholarship.

Second Screening

The second stage of selection is conducted by MEXT based on the results of the first screening carried out by the Japanese embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country.

Applicants will be officially selected as MEXT scholarship recipients only after confirmation of placement at a Japanese university.
Applications may also undergo review from the perspective of international security and proliferation concerns related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and related materials.

University Placement

Selected applicants are generally placed at the university that issued their provisional acceptance letter.
MEXT consults with the three universities listed in the applicant’s placement preference form before finalising admission.
Final placement will depend on university approval following these consultations.
In cases where applicants select both national and private/non-national public universities, priority may be given to placement at a national university based on Japanese government budget considerations, irrespective of the order of preference mentioned by the applicant.
Applicants whose Japanese language proficiency is considered insufficient for academic lectures, research, experiments, or practical training may be required to undertake a six-month Japanese language preparatory programme at an institution designated by the university or MEXT.
After successful completion of the language course, students will proceed to their respective universities for advanced studies.
Applicants demonstrating adequate Japanese proficiency may be directly admitted as regular or non-regular research students.
Final selection results and university placement details will be announced by the Japanese diplomatic mission between January and March 2027.
The reasons for placement decisions will not be disclosed, and requests for changes in university allocation will not be entertained.

Terms and Conditions for Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships for Research Students 2027 Apply Now

Applications submitted after the prescribed deadline will be automatically rejected.
Supporting documents are not required during the preliminary application stage.
Candidates shortlisted after preliminary screening will be informed separately and asked to submit the application form along with the required supporting documents as specified in the official guidelines.
The Japanese Government reserves the right to amend or cancel the scholarship programme, arrival schedules, or application guidelines at any stage due to unforeseen circumstances.
Such unforeseen situations may include government restrictions, immigration controls, infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters, war, riots, strikes, floods, earthquakes, or other events beyond the control of MEXT and Japanese diplomatic missions.
Scholarship payments will be deposited only into a Japan Post Bank (JP Bank) account opened by the grantee after arriving in Japan.
Since the first scholarship payment may take approximately one to one and a half months after arrival, applicants are advised to carry around US$2,000 for initial living expenses.
Candidates diagnosed with infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, during the mandatory medical examination must complete treatment and fully recover before travelling to Japan.
All grantees must enrol in Japan’s National Health Insurance programme upon arrival.
Although optional, applicants are strongly encouraged to obtain a My Number Card after reaching Japan, as it simplifies several administrative procedures.

Note: Applicants are advised to carefully review the official Scholarship Guidelines document for complete details.

Contact Details

Embassy of Japan in India – Japan Information Centre (JIC)

50-G, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri
New Delhi – 110021