MEXT Scholarship to Study in Japan 2027-28: Eligibility, Dates, Stipend and How Indian Students Apply

MEXT Scholarship at a Glance (2027 Batch, India)

These are the Embassy’s published terms for the 2027 batch. Rules and amounts can change for later batches, so use them as a guide for planning and check the next announcement.

What Is the MEXT Scholarship?

MEXT is Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Its scholarship program brings international students to Japan for undergraduate, master’s and doctoral study and for research and training. The award exempts tuition, provides round-trip airfare and a monthly allowance. The Embassy’s pages state that no application fee is charged, and warn that anyone asking for fees or deposits has no relation with the Japanese Government (Embassy of Japan in India).

Also Read: Types of scholarships for international students

MEXT Scholarship Categories for Indian Students

The Embassy page does not list stipend amounts for the smaller categories, so check each category’s own page before you apply.

Eligibility Criteria

Research Students (Master’s and Doctoral)

• Age: under 35; in principle born on or after 2 April 1992 for the 2027 batch.
• Education: a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with at least 70 percent marks for master’s or first-phase doctoral study (65 percent for humanities and social sciences); a master’s with at least 70 percent plus research, teaching or work experience for second-phase doctoral study.
• Dates: degrees and mark sheets must be obtained on or before 30 September 2027.
• Language: the Embassy page does not state a language requirement; check the application guidelines and your target university’s requirements.

Undergraduate Students

• Age: born on or after 2 April 2002.
• Marks: at least 80 percent in Grade 12 if you finished in 2026 or earlier; if results are pending, 80 percent in Grade 10 plus a provisional school document expecting above 80 percent in the 2027 board exams.
• Japanese: Japanese language proficiency is preferred.

For all categories, applicants must be nationals of a country with diplomatic relations with Japan and meet the health requirement, and MEXT guidelines apply. See the Study in Japan application page for the guidelines.

Also Read: Motivation letter for scholarship

Stipend, Tuition and Airfare

Tuition is exempted and round-trip airfare is provided for both categories (Embassy of Japan in India). Stipend amounts are set by MEXT and can differ by year and by recommending institution: for example, Science Tokyo’s page lists ¥146,000, ¥147,000 and ¥148,000 for research, master’s and doctoral students and ¥120,000 for undergraduates (Science Tokyo). Confirm the exact amount in your award letter.

Housing is not described as a separate benefit in the pages we checked, so treat the monthly stipend as your allowance for living costs, including rent.

Also Read: Fully funded scholarships for Indian students

Application Process and Timeline (Research Students, 2027 Batch)

The dates are from the Embassy’s page for the October 2027 batch (Embassy of Japan in India) and the schedule and arrival timing are described by Japanese embassy guidance (Embassy of Japan in Luxembourg). Undergraduate applicants had a written test on 20 June 2026 and an online interview on 22 June 2026; about 12 candidates passing the first screening go to MEXT’s worldwide final screening (Embassy).

Applications are submitted to the Japanese embassy or consulate, never directly to MEXT. The Embassy’s undergraduate page notes that email submissions are not accepted for that category and that you must post, courier or hand in your documents.

Embassy Recommendation vs University Recommendation

• Embassy Recommendation: you apply through the Japanese embassy in your country, take its tests and, if selected, go to MEXT’s final screening. Undergraduates usually start with a one-year preparatory course; research students may have a Japanese language course after arrival.
• University Recommendation: a Japanese university nominates its own students or applicants for a MEXT scholarship, and recipients must study at that university. You cannot hold both recommendations at the same time (Science Tokyo).

How to Improve Your Chances

• Prepare early: the cycle opens around April and closes in May, so start gathering documents and recommendation letters at least six months before.
• Build a strong research plan: research applicants submit a plan and a placement preference; contact potential supervisors in Japan early.
• Keep your marks and certificates in order: minimum percentage rules are strict, and degree documents must be ready by the stated date.
• Learn basic Japanese: it is not required for research students but helps; Japanese language proficiency is preferred for undergraduates.
• Avoid agents that charge fees: the Embassy states that no application fee is charged.

Read our guides on how to secure scholarships for studying abroad and how to write a winning scholarship essay.

Related Articles

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• Fully funded scholarships for Indian students
• Indian government scholarships to study abroad
• DAAD scholarship for Indian students
• Commonwealth masters scholarships

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