Saitama University Japan MEXT Scholarship

The Energy System–Information Technology Innovation (ESITI) International Professional Program in the Graduate School of Science and Engineering at Saitama University offers highly qualified students the opportunity to conduct research and pursue doctoral studies in engineering, leading to a doctoral degree. Applicants apply through the ESITI program for the MEXT Scholarship University Recommendation pathway.

The program covers research fields in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering. It begins in April or October and requires residency to complete the doctoral degree, with classes, research supervision, dissertations, reports, examinations, and presentations conducted in English.

Applications are evaluated based on scholastic ability and research potential assessed from previous credentials, recommendation letters, and essays on specific topics. Short-listed candidates are contacted for internet-based interviews or other appropriate means, and a mathematics exam could be held depending on supervisor demand. After the university selection procedure, nominees are sent to the MEXT Office for final approval.

For MEXT Scholarship University Recommendation, the scholarship provides fees covered (application, admission, and tuition) and a monthly stipend of 148,000 JPY (including a regional allowance of 3,000 JPY per month), plus a round-trip airfare between the awardee’s home country and Japan at enrollment and upon completion. Support duration is up to 3, subject to satisfactory academic performance, and it is not extendable.

• Have or expect to have a Master’s Degree before enrollment.
• Be a national of a country that has diplomatic relations with the Japanese Government.
• Be under 35 years of age as of April 1st.
• Have excellent academic achievements.
• Provide proof of English language proficiency, such as an indicative minimum score of English language proficiency test taken within the past two years (example scores: 72 for TOEFL (IBT) / 5.5 for IELTS or equivalent to CEFR B2 Level).
• Be in good mental and physical health.
• Be residing outside Japan at the time of application and not a holder of Japanese nationality.
• Be able to arrive at Saitama University by October 1st.
• Not be an awardee of the Japanese Government Scholarship during the last three years.
• For applicants applying through the MEXT Scholarship University Recommendation pathway: apply through the ESITI program (University Recommendation by ESITI).
• Privately funded students with secured scholarships or other financial support must provide a certificate issued by the supporter (separate from the MEXT scholarship requirements).
• Applicants residing in Japan at the time of application must apply for regular admission to the Graduate School of Science and Engineering, using procedures different from the ESITI program.

• Fees covered: application fees, admission fees, and tuition fees.
• Monthly stipend: 148,000 JPY (includes a regional allowance of 3,000 JPY per month).
• Round-trip airfare between the awardee’s home country and Japan at enrollment and upon completion.
• Duration: up to 3 (subject to satisfactory academic performance; not extendable).

1. Apply through the ESITI program under the MEXT Scholarship University Recommendation (recruitment by ESITI) pathway.
2. Send the required documents to the Foreign Student Office by email before the deadline.
3. After reaching the final selection stage, send the original documents via an international courier service such as EMS.

• Application form (Form A).
• Field of Study and Research Plan (Form B).
• Official Certificate of Grades from the most recent academic institution attended (undergraduate or graduate degree program).
• Official Certificate of Graduation or Expected Graduation from the most recent academic institution attended (graduate degree program).
• Abstract of thesis written for the most recent academic degree awarded (brief summary; no more than one A4 page; or, if no thesis, a graduation project or term paper).
• Copy of the passport page containing the applicant’s name and date of birth, or a copy of your family register or residence certificate.
• Certificate of English Proficiency (original or attested copies of IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC, or equivalent; taken within the past 2 years; or, if the master’s program was instructed in English, an official certificate or letter verifying English as the medium of instruction instead).
• Two Letters of Recommendation addressed to “The President of Saitama University.”
• For the recommendation letters: the first letter must be from the dean or a person of equivalent or higher position at the applicant’s school or institution; the second letter can be from the supervisor or a person of equivalent; letters may be on the institute’s official letterhead or using the ESITI program’s standard form; letters must be sent as an email attachment directly by the recommender to [email protected] from their official institutional email address.