Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) MEXT University Recommendation Scholarship 2026 , Japan (Fully Funded)

The MEXT University Recommendation (UR) Scholarship is a prestigious fully funded Japanese government scholarship offered to outstanding international graduate students who wish to study in Japan. The scholarship is provided by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and is awarded through a university nomination process. Students must first apply for admission to Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), which then selects and recommends eligible candidates to MEXT.

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) is an internationally oriented private university located in Beppu, Japan, and is widely known for its multicultural campus and global education model. Founded in 2000, APU offers English- and Japanese-taught undergraduate and graduate programs in areas such as international management, social sciences, sustainability, and Asia-Pacific studies. With students and faculty from more than 90 countries, APU emphasizes cross-cultural learning, bilingual education, and global leadership development. Its strong international partnerships and focus on practical, globally relevant education make APU a distinctive hub for international studies in Japan.

The MEXT (UR) Scholarship is fully funded and includes:

• Full admission fee waiver
• Full tuition fee coverage
• Monthly living allowance (approximately 144,000 JPY, including housing – subject to change)
• Round-trip economy-class airfare between the home country and Japan
• Official Student visa (residence status) support

Graduate Programs Only

• Master’s Degrees
• Doctoral (PhD) Degrees (where applicable)

Applicants may apply for APU Graduate School programs, including but not limited to:

• International Relations
• Asia Pacific Studies
• Management
• Economics
• Business Administration
• Social Sciences
• Sustainability and Development Studies

(Eligibility depends on the chosen graduate program.)

Open to applicants who are:

• Nationals of MEXT-designated countries
• Residing outside Japan at the time of application

Applicants must:

• Intend to study in Japan from overseas
• Be a citizen of a MEXT-designated country
• Meet the age requirement set by MEXT for the relevant intake year
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.30 on a 3.00 scale (or equivalent)
• Hold (or be eligible to hold) a Student visa in Japan
• Not be receiving another unapproved scholarship concurrently

Additional Notes

• Applicants currently on active military service are not eligible
• Previous MEXT scholarship recipients are generally ineligible, with limited exceptions
• Applicants must comply with all MEXT and APU regulations
• English Language Requirements
• Only recent English proficiency test scores are accepted
• Accepted tests and validity periods are determined by MEXT guidelines, which may change annually
• Applicants should carefully review the official scholarship guidelines for their intake year

• Apply for admission to APU Graduate School
• APU reviews applications and selects candidates for MEXT recommendation
• Recommended applicants are notified along with their APU admission result
• Final scholarship selection is conducted by MEXT
• Successful applicants receive official scholarship confirmation from MEXT

Deadlines

The MEXT University Recommendation (UR) Scholarship follows a strict annual application cycle, and:

• Application deadlines vary each year
• The scholarship is typically offered for one graduate intake per year
• Applicants must submit their APU admission application by the deadline specified for that intake

Note: Always check the official APU and MEXT websites for the most current deadlines and requirements.

Why Choose the MEXT (UR) Scholarship at APU?

• Fully funded graduate study in Japan
• Monthly stipend covering living and housing expenses
• International learning environment
• High academic reputation
• Strong post-study career opportunities
• Support from both APU and the Japanese government