Prospective Students

Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship (Embassy Recommendation)

At a glance

  • When to apply
    June in the year prior to intended enrollment
    (Apply to Japanese embassy/consulate general in the applicant’s country)

  • Applicable Program
    No need to apply for graduate programs*
    (Successful applicants start as a non-regular students)
    * There are a few exceptions: Please see the general prospectus.

  • Pursued Degree
    Bachelor / Master / Doctor / Non-degree

  • Admission
    April / September

  • Stipend
    Up to JPY 148,000/month

  • Period
    Within the standard period required for completion

General Prospectus

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan offers scholarships to international students who wish to study at Japanese universities under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program.

MEXT asks the Japanese embassies to recommend candidates for the MEXT Scholarship. Since application periods differ by country, those who wish to receive an embassy recommendation should check with the Japanese embassy in their home country.

Undergraduate students

Those wishing to receive the MEXT Scholarship as undergraduate students should plan to arrive in Japan in April. Successful applicants are required to receive preparatory education at Osaka University for one year prior to admission to Tokyo Tech, and may enroll in April of the following year if they pass the Special Screening Examination for International Undergraduate Students administered by Tokyo Tech.

Graduate-level students

Those wishing to receive the scholarship as graduate-level students should plan to arrive in Japan in either April or September. They are accepted at Tokyo Tech as Japanese Intensive Course Students and attend the Japanese Intensive Course for the first six months after their arrival in Japan. (Those selected through Chinese Embassy Recommendation, ASCOJA, the Ministry of Railways (India) are exceptions: see below.) After that period, they may apply for a master's or doctoral program, or enter Tokyo Tech as Research Students (non-regular students) and aim to enroll in a degree program within the scholarship period. Detailed schedules will be announced after successful applicants are allocated to Tokyo Tech.

Students selected through recommendation from the Japanese embassy in China generally attend a one-year preparatory course in basic and specialized Japanese language at the Preparatory School for Chinese Students to Japan, taught at the Northeast Normal University of China, before coming to Japan. They enter Tokyo Tech as Research Students (non-regular students) after the preparatory study. Students who already have adequate Japanese language skills may be able to take only the specialized Japanese language course at the Preparatory School, or they may be permitted to enter Tokyo Tech as Research Students without taking any preparatory courses.

Students selected through recommendation from ASCOJA take the Japanese language preparatory course at the Tokyo Japanese Language Education Center for the first six months. Then they will enter Tokyo Tech as Research Students or may be eligible to apply for the entrance examination to enroll in a Tokyo Tech’s master’s or doctoral program.

Students selected through recommendation from the Ministry of Railways (India) are eligible to apply for the IGP(C) entrance examination to enroll in Tokyo Tech’s master’s program in either April or September in a designated year.

Qualifications

Undergraduate students

Applicants must refer to the guidelines provided by the Japanese embassy in their home country.

Graduate-level students

In addition to the qualifications stated below, applicants must also see the guidelines provided by the Japanese embassy in their home country.

1. NationalityOpen/CloseOpenClose

2. AgeOpen/CloseOpenClose

3. Academic BackgroundOpen/CloseOpenClose

4. Field of StudyOpen/CloseOpenClose

5. Language ProficiencyOpen/CloseOpenClose

6. HealthOpen/CloseOpenClose

7. Arrival in JapanOpen/CloseOpenClose

8. VisaOpen/CloseOpenClose

9. Non-eligibilityOpen/CloseOpenClose

10. OtherOpen/CloseOpenClose

Scholarship Period

Undergraduate students

For 5 years (1 year for preparatory education + 4 years for undergraduate study)

Graduate-level students

Within the standard period for completion

Note: For those who first enter Tokyo Tech as non-regular students (Japanese Intensive Course Students or Research Students), the initial scholarship period is until March in the following academic year (i.e., for 2 years if they arrive in Japan in April; for 1 year 6 months if they arrive in Japan in September). They must enter a degree program within the period to receive the scholarship until their completion.

Scholarship Benefits

Undergraduate students

Stipend: JPY 120,000/month
Education fees: Fees for entrance examination (application), enrollment, and tuition will be waived.
Travel expenses: Air tickets to/from Japan will be provided by MEXT under certain conditions.

Graduate-level students

Stipend: JPY 146,000/month for non-regular students; JPY 147,000 for master’s students; JPY 148,000 for doctoral students
Education fees: Enrollment fees and tuition will be waived. The entrance examination (application) fee will be waived or reimbursed if the applicant is allocated to Tokyo Tech by MEXT.
Travel expenses: Air tickets to/from Japan will be provided by MEXT under certain conditions.

Cessation of Scholarship Benefits

MEXT will stop provision of scholarship benefits in the following situations. Should any of the following apply, the scholarship recipient may be ordered to return part or the entirety of the scholarship benefits received up to that time. Provision of scholarship benefits may also be suspended during the period up to the decision on the disposition of the matter.

1.
The recipient made a false statement on their application.
2.
The recipient violated an article of the Pledge to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
3.
The recipient violated a Japanese law and was sentenced and imprisoned for an indefinite period or for a period exceeding 1 year.
4.
The recipient was suspended from Tokyo Tech or received other punishment, or was removed from the Tokyo Tech register as a disciplinary action in accordance with the regulations of Tokyo Tech.
5.
It has been determined that it will be impossible for the recipient to complete their graduate program within the standard period of study because of poor academic grades or suspension or absence from Tokyo Tech.
6.
The recipient arrived in Japan without having newly acquired “Student” status, or changed their residence status to one other than “Student.”
7.
The recipient received another scholarship (excluding those specified for research expenditures).
8.
The recipient proceeded to a more advanced level of education without receiving approval for the extension of the period of the scholarship.

Application

Undergraduate students

Applicants must follow the guidelines provided by the Japanese embassy in their home country.

Graduate-level students

Those who pass the first round of screening at the Japanese embassy must obtain a Letter of Acceptance from a Tokyo Tech faculty member. Such candidates should directly contact a Tokyo Tech faculty member as soon as possible, no later than August 25, 2023, to ask for the Letter of Acceptance.

Candidates can find potential Tokyo Tech academic supervisors and their contact details using STAR Search (the Tokyo Tech researcher database) on the Tokyo Tech website. Note that it may take around a month for the faculty member to issue the Letter of Acceptance. In accordance with MEXT's announcement, the faculty member should issue the Letter of Acceptance by September 27, 2023.

The Letter of Acceptance confirms that the Tokyo Tech faculty member will act as the candidate's academic supervisor if the candidate is allocated to Tokyo Tech as a MEXT Scholarship Student.

Notes

  • Information on this page is as of 2023 and subject to change as specified by the regulations of the MEXT Scholarship program.
  • Tokyo Tech administrative divisions do not contact its faculty members on behalf of the applicants.