MEXT Scholarship 2026 for Indian Students - Requirements, How to Apply

MEXT Japanese Scholarship Duration

The duration of the MEXT scholarship in Japan varies with the type of academic student enrolled in various institutions of study. Check out the MEXT scholarship duration based on the institution or academic standing of the applicant in the table below:

If you plan to apply for admission to Japanese universities next year then you will have to apply for scholarships a year before. There are different levels of check essential to get scholarships to study in Japan. 

MEXT Scholarship for Short Durational Courses

Short-term student exchange is expected to further expand globally. The Japanese government has implemented Student Exchange Support Program as part of the MEXT that aims to develop responsible support system. Under Student Exchange Support Program (Scholarship for short-term study in Japan/Scholarship for short-term study abroad), the Japanese government supports short-term international students studying in Japan and Japanese students wishing to study abroad for the purpose of encouraging inter-university exchanges, the internationalization of universities, and the globalization of Japanese society, fostering internationally-minded personnel, expanding international understanding and knowledge, and establishing a cross-border network of personal contacts.

Top Japanese Universities Accepting MEXT Scholars

Majority of universities in Japan accept MEXT scholars. To name a few, the top ranking universities in Japan which offer admission to MEXT scholars annually are as follows:

• University of Tokyo
• Kyoto University
• Osaka University
• Tohoku University
• Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Nagoya University
• Hokkaido University
• University of Tsukuba

This is not an exhaustive list of universities, there are more that accept and offer admissions to those who get MEXT scholarships. 

MEXT Scholarship Eligibility

Applicants applying for the Monbukagakusho MEXT scholarship to study in Japan must fulfil certain eligibility criteria based on the level of the program. Details are as follows:

Monbukagakusho MEXT Scholarship Eligibility for Undergraduates

To be eligible for the Monbukagakusho MEXT scholarship as undergraduate students, applicants should have passed high school and should be able to fulfil the following minimum eligibility criteria:

• Nationality: Applicants must belong to a country with which Japan shares diplomatic ties. Applicants who are official Japanese citizens cannot apply for this scholarship.
• Age: Applicants must be 18 years old or above at the time of admission. There may be exceptions to the rule for not a wide range of applicants.
• Academic Background: Applicants should have completed 12 years of schooling equivalent to a Japanese upper secondary school. At least 80% in classes X, XI and XII is an important factor.
• Japanese Language: Applicants should be interested in learning the Japanese language. Also, applicants should ideally be interested in learning about the different aspects of Japan.
• Health: Applicants should be in good health and submit a health certificate in the proper format to be eligible for the scholarship.
• Student Visa: A new and recent student visa that applicants are issued will also be required when applying for the MEXT Japan scholarship.

Monbukagakusho MEXT Scholarship Eligibility for Postgraduates

Those applying for a Master’s course / Doctoral course should hold a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 70%. For Doctoral course admissions (second phase), a Master’s degree in the relevant field with a minimum of 70% marks is required. Candidates should have practical research/teaching/work experience after obtaining the qualification.

There are only three programs that come under the graduate study; if applicants are applying for them, then they should fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

• Research Students: Applicants should be under 35 years of age and hold a graduate degree, or they must have completed 16 years of schooling.
• Teacher Training Students: Applicants should be under 35 years of age with a graduate degree from a teacher training college and five years of teaching experience in primary, secondary, or at a teacher training college in the applicant's home country. Applicants who are midway through the five-year teacher training experience are not eligible to apply. 
• Young Leaders Program (YLP): In this case, applicants must be under 40 years of age, hold a graduate degree, have practical experience, and be young public administrators who can play a pivotal role in Asia and other countries. 

Exams Required for Embassy Recommendations to Get MEXT Scholarships

The following are some of the key subject exams which must be cleared to get an embassy recommendation for a MEXT scholarship for studying in Japan:

Check out: Popular Japan Scholarships for Indian Students

MEXT Scholarship Deadlines for 2026 Admissions

The application deadline for the Monbukagakusho MEXT scholarship 2026-27 in Japan varies by academic student type and their institution. The following is the application deadline as proposed and given on the official website for Indian students applying for MEXT scholarships:

Deadlines have passed now results for shortlisted applicants is being released. Those who had applied can check if they made it. 

How to Apply for MEXT Scholarship 2026?

There are two ways in which Indian students can apply for Monbukagakusho MEXT Japanese Scholarships. Applicants can apply for MEXT Japanese Scholarships in two ways: 

1. Based on the Embassy's Recommendation: Submit applications, qualify for entrance, go for the interview and qualify for the first screening. Once the Embassy screens the applicant and the applicant qualifies for the written test and interview by the consulate in their country, they are then prompted to apply for the MEXT scholarship. The applicants will have to submit their documentation as well. This is for research, undergraduate, College of Technology, Japanese studies and specialised training college students. 
2. Based on the University's Recommendation:  On the other hand, applicants can be recommended by the universities they are studying in and exchange programs with various Japanese universities based on the applicant's merit and quality of research. This applies to both research and Japanese studies students. 

From Where to Get MEXT Scholarship Application Form?

The application forms for MEXT Japanese scholarships for the year 2026 are available online on the official websites of Embassies for Teacher Training and Japanese Language applicants till January 2026; the applications for MEXT scholarships for others close as per their deadlines. The applicants can download the PDF version of the MEXT Japanese scholarship application, complete it, and send it with the following documents in an envelope to the concerned authorities. 

Documents Required for MEXT Scholarship Application

The following documents will be required by applicants applying for the Monbukagakusho MEXT - Japanese government scholarship for the year 2025:

• Trascripts
• Direct placement preference form
• Academic transcripts of school and previous years at university or college
• Graduation certificate from both school and college
• LOR (recommendation letter) from the previous class teacher or the principal of the school
• Medical certificate
• Enrollment certificate for those who are already enrolled at a Japanese university
• English or Japanese language proficiency certificates (Check: How to Learn Japanese Language?)
• University-specific enrollment qualification exam certificate

Several copies of the documents mentioned above will be required at application submission for Monbukagakusho MEXT scholarships in 2026-27. Applicants are required to check all possible details and then begin their applications. 

MEXT Scholarships Available in 2026

In 2026, the number of Monbukagakusho MEXT Scholarships that will be awarded have been released officially. Some numbers are yet to be disclosed. The number of MEXT scholarships being offered in 2026 are as follows:

Those planning to apply for an MEXT scholarship to study in Japan must begin preparing their applications well in advance. Prospective applicants must note that having Japanese language proficiency is not necessary (unless applying for the Japanese Language Course) to get funded through the MEXT scholarship. 

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