University of Tokyo MEXT Scholarship for International Science Students

Under the MEXT Scholarship with University Recommendation, each Japanese university conducts a preliminary selection and recommends candidates to MEXT. The programme is aimed at fostering human resources who will become bridges of friendship between the recipient’s country and Japan through study in Japan and who will contribute to the development of both countries and the wider world.

Applications are accepted from international students for study in Japan at the Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, as new students entering Japan in October,. Applicants must plan to study in either the Master’s Program or the Doctoral Program at the Graduate School of Science, and apply through the relevant University of Tokyo instructions for international students applying to the Graduate School of Science (special selection for international applicants).

The Graduate School of Science conducts a preliminary selection and recommends candidates to MEXT. The number of applicants nominated by the Graduate School of Science to the University of Tokyo and the number subsequently nominated by the University of Tokyo to MEXT is finalized after the application period closes. For the last round referenced, each Graduate School was allowed to nominate at most one applicant and the University of Tokyo was allowed to nominate at most three applicants to MEXT.

• Applicant level: must be applying to enter the Graduate School of Science at The University of Tokyo as a new student in the Master’s or Doctoral Program.
• Study location: study in Japan.
• Student status at application for scholarship eligibility: applicants are applying as new students entering Japan in October, 2027.
• Academic record: must have outstanding academic records; if already graduated, final grade point must be 2.30 or higher; if currently enrolled, grade point for current courses must be 2.30 or higher and applicants must be expected to maintain the same academic standards during the course of the scholarship program. Grade points are calculated according to a formula specified by MEXT.
• Admission readiness: applicants must have the necessary qualifications to be admitted to the Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo as a Master’s or Doctoral Program student.
• Field of study: applicants should apply for the field studied at their previous university or a related field, and select a field they are able to research at the chosen host university in Japan.
• Language proficiency: must meet one of the English or Japanese requirements: (English) an English proficiency test score equivalent to B2 or above on the CEFR scale, or completion of an educational program whose primary language of instruction is English that satisfies the entrance requirements to the Master’s Program or Doctoral Program at the Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo; or (Japanese) a JLPT score of N2 or higher, or completion of an educational program whose primary language of instruction is Japanese that satisfies the entrance requirements to the Master’s Program or Doctoral Program at the Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo.
• Health: applicants must be physically and mentally healthy enough to pursue their studies in Japan.
• Arrival timing: applicants must, in principle, be able to arrive in Japan by a date specified by the accepting university that is within two weeks before or after the first day of the semester (October 1) in the year specified by the accepting university.
• Visa requirements: applicants must, in principle, newly obtain a “Student” visa at the overseas establishment of Japan located in the applicant’s country of nationality and enter Japan with the residence status of “Student”; if living in Japan under a residence status other than “Student” before acceptance, applicants must change status to “Student” by the end of the previous month before the installment of scholarship payment. If a recipient does not obtain a new “Student” status before arriving in Japan, scholarship payment is suspended.
• Nationality: must have the nationality of a country with diplomatic relations with the Japanese government; applicants who have Japanese nationality at the time of application are ineligible. Japanese nationals outside Japan at time of application may apply if holding dual nationality with another country and plan to renounce Japanese nationality before arrival (equivalent to the time they enroll as a student at a Japanese university).
• Age: in principle, applicants must be born on or after April 2, 1992.
• Non-eligibility (must decline if selected if any apply): active member of the military or a civilian employed by the military upon arrival in Japan and during the scholarship period; unable to travel to Japan within the period designated by MEXT or the University of Tokyo; previous recipients of Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship programs (including those who withdrew after acquisition of student status), with specific exceptions listed, including prior Research Students program recipients meeting listed conditions and prior Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship recipients; also applying for another Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship for the same AY2027 program; residing in Japan at the time of application under mid- to long-term residence status; planning to receive scholarship, fellowships, or other financial support provided by the Japanese government or affiliated organizations after start of scholarship payment; expected to graduate by the entrance date but cannot provide proof of completing a degree by the designated deadline; Japanese national with dual nationality who cannot provide proof of relinquishing Japanese nationality by the day of arrival; planning a long period of fieldwork or internship in a country other than Japan, or a long-term leave of absence; do not intend to go on to regular (degree-seeking) programs; do not plan on pursuing further academic degrees; as defined by the page, residing in Japan excludes short-term visitors for purposes such as tourism or entrance examinations.

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1. First contact must be the university/graduate school where you wish to study.
2. Apply to the Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo for the MEXT Scholarship with University Recommendation, including completing the admission application for entering the Master’s/Doctoral Program following the instructions for international students applying to the Graduate School of Science (special selection for international applicants).

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