The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan offers scholarships to international students who wish to study in graduate courses at Japanese universities as Research Students (either regular students or non-regular students) under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program as follows.
Research Students Definition
Those who are enrolled in a master’s course, a doctoral course, or a professional graduate course at a graduate school, or who are conducting research in a specialized field at an undergraduate department, graduate school, institute attached to a university, etc. with the aim of completing the course, or who are receiving preparatory education in the Japanese language and other subjects prior to placement at the university, etc. (Excluding Young Leaders’ Program Students or Teacher Training Students.)
Japanese MEXT Scholarship 2025 Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
| Scholarship Type | Research Students |
| Level | Graduate school level (Research/ Masters Course/ Ph.D. course) |
| Age | Under 35 years old (Applicants, in principle, must have been born on or after April 2, 1990) |
| Fields of Study | (A)Humanities (B)Social Science (C)Mathematical Science (D)Physics (E)Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (F)Biology and Biotechnology (G)Agriculture and Fishery (H)Environmental Science (I)Pharmaceutical Science (J)Geology and Geoinformatics (K)Civil Engineering (L) Architecture (M)Material Science / Engineering (N)Electrical Engineering (O)Electronics & Communications Engineering (P)Mechanical Engineering (Q)Aerospace Engineering (R)Robotics (S)Information Technology (T)Sports Science |
| Qualifications and conditions | In addition to the Qualifications and Eligibility Criteria listed in the Guidelines, the following would apply: 1.For Master’s course / Doctoral course (first phase) Bachelor’s Degree in the relevant field with minimum 70% marks. The candidates should obtain their mark sheet and degree on or before September 30, 2025 for the October 2025 batch. 2. Doctoral course (second phase) Master’s degree in the relevant field with minimum 70% marks. Candidates should have practical research/teaching/work experience after obtaining the prescribed qualification on or before 30th September 2025 for the October 2025 batch. |
| Scholarship Terms | Non-regular students: The scholarship period will start from April, September or October 2025 until the end of March 2027. *From last year, research only (non-regular) course is abolished. Regular students enrolled in master’s, doctoral, or professional graduate courses: Regardless of the date of arrival, the scholarship period shall be the necessary period for the completion of the respective regular course (hereinafter referred to as “the standard period of study”. See “13. ACADEMIC PATHWAY FOR RESEARCH STUDENTS” for the standard period of study for each course). |
| Stipend | 1.Students receiving the preparatory education and non-regular students: 143,000 yen (Approx. Rs.78,600) per month 2. Regular students enrolled in master’s or professional degree courses: 144,000 yen (Approx. Rs.79,200) per month 3. Regular students enrolled in doctoral courses: 145,000 yen (Approx. Rs. 79,700) per month. |
| Education Fees | Exempted |
| Travelling Expenses | Round-trip airfare will be provided |
| Past Examination Questions Available Here | https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/scholarships/mext-scholarships/examination.html. |
| Contact Details | Japan Information Centre (JIC), Embassy of Japan, 50-G, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi – 110021. Tel: +91-11-46104865 We will try to answer your genuine queries as much as possible but avoid calling us for confirming information already mentioned in the guidelines/website or for trivial questions. |
Eligibility
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 of which the applicant chooses the nationality.
Age
Applicants, in principle, must have been born on or after April 2, 1990. 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 for admission to either a master’s or doctoral course at a Japanese graduate school in which they wish to first enroll. (Applicants who will certainly satisfy any of the following conditions by the time of enrollment are eligible.)
Japanese Language
Applicants must be willing to learn Japanese. Applicants must be interested in Japan and be willing to deepen their understanding of Japan after arriving in Japan. Applicants must also have the ability to do research and adapt to living in Japan.
Preliminary Selection Schedule
Application Deadline (must): 3 May 2024
Application Screening: May 2024
Notification of result of Preliminary Application Form – 4th Week of May
Written Examination: 15 June 2024
Interview: June 15-17
* After the written test, interview will continue from June 15, 3pm onwards, and it will continue for the next two days. You are therefore advised to make necessary arrangement to attend the interview.
Application Procedure
The document screening will be conducted on the basis of the preliminary application form given below. If you wish to apply, please e-mail the form (as an attachment) to us. The last date of submission of the application form is 3 May, 11.59 pm.
Please note that the file should be a Microsoft Word file only and should not exceed 1 MB. Applications received at the following email id only, shall be considered as submitted application form.
The Preliminary Application Form
Email: scholarship-india@nd.mofa.go.jp
Application received after the aforesaid date and time will be automatically rejected. Also, files in other formats such as scanned copies of hand written documents, pdf, PowerPoint, google drive, link to google drive, google docs etc. will also be rejected automatically
No supporting documents are required to be submitted with the preliminary application.
You will only submit the application form along with supporting documents as mentioned in the guidelines if you are shortlisted after the Preliminary Application Form Screening round.
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