ELIGIBILITY:

MEXT accepts applications from international students for study in Japan who satisfy the following qualifications and conditions. MEXT’s aim is to foster human resources who will become bridges of friendship between the grantee’s country and Japan through study in Japan and who will contribute to the development of both countries and the wider world:

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:

below must be 18 years of age or older at the time of admission to a university in Japan. Exceptions are limited to cases in which MEXT deems that the applicant could not apply within the eligible age limit due to the situation or circumstances of the applicant’s country (military service obligation, loss of educational opportunities due to disturbances of war, etc.). Personal circumstances (financial situation, family circumstances, state of health, circumstances related to applicant’s university or place of employment, etc.) will not be considered for exceptions.

Academic Background: Applicants must satisfy any one of the following conditions. However, applicants desiring direct placement must satisfy condition ①, or condition ③, or condition ④.

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.)

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.)

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.)

Other 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. Applicants must be interested in Japan and be willing to deepen their understanding of Japan before and after arriving in Japan. In addition, in principle, applicants must be willing to carry out their academic studies in Japan in 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.

Arrival in Japan: In principle, applicants must be able to arrive in Japan between April 1, 2026, and April 7, 2026. Departure from the home residence should be on or after April 1, 2026. If an applicant is to enroll in his/her university from the fall semester through direct placement, he/she must be able to arrive in Japan during the period specified by the accepting university, normally within two weeks before and after the starting date of – 4 – the university’s relevant academic term for that year.

BENEFIT:

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 waived.

Traveling Expenses