Scholarships - SCHOOL OF SCIENCE THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO

1. Qualifications and Conditions

Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo accepts applications from international students for study in Japan who satisfy the following qualifications and conditions. Its aim is to foster 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.

(10) Visa Requirements

An applicant shall, 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 the applicant lives in Japan exceptionally under a residence status other than “Student” before acceptance, the applicant must change his/her status to “Student” by the end of the previous month before the installment of scholarship payment. Please be aware that even if the applicant applies for the permanent-resident or long-term resident status of residence after the expiration of the status as a Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship student, the possibility exists that the application may not be approved. Moreover, as the Japanese government requires pre-arrival tuberculosis screening for some countries, applicants obtaining a visa shall follow guidance at the overseas establishment of Japan located in the applicant’s country of nationality. Based on the administrative notice dated March 24, 2025 (Reiwa 7) regarding the partial revision of “Implementation of Japan Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening (JPETS),” applicants from the Philippines, Nepal, and Vietnam, who are subject to tuberculosis screening, shall be required to submit a Certificate of Non-Tuberculosis at the time of visa application. If a recipient does not obtain a new "Student" status before arriving in Japan, the payment of the scholarship shall be suspended.

(4) Suspension of Scholarship Payment

The scholarship will be cancelled in the following cases. If a recipient receives the scholarship even though he or she is judged ineligible due to one of the following cases, the recipient may be ordered to return all or a part of scholarship money received. Please note that payment of the scholarship may be stopped during the time while decision is being made on the disciplinary action. • If any portion of the recipient's application documents is found to be false or wrongly stated. • If a recipient is in breach of his or her pledge made to the Minister of MEXT (Monbukagakusho). • Given life or more than one year of imprisonment with or without hard labor having been convicted of breaking the law in Japan. • If a recipient is punished by expulsion, suspension, admonishment, or any other similar disciplinary action, in accordance with the university rules. • If a student is deemed not to be able to complete the program within the standard duration due to unacceptable academic performance, student's suspension or student's leave of absence. • If a recipient does not obtain a new "Student" status before arriving in Japan or the recipient's resident status of "Student" changes to any other status. • If a a recipient receives another scholarship which is prohibited to receive together; such as other scholarships or fellowships funded by the Japanese government or its affiliated organizations. • If a recipient proceeds to a higher academic program without obtaining permission to extend the scholarship period from MEXT. • If a recipient leaves the host university or is transferred to another graduate school.

(1) Application Documents

• The name of the addressee stated in the letter must be "the President of the University of Tokyo" • The letter must be printed on your university's letterhead. • The letter must be written by and signed by a dean or above. Digital signature is not acceptable. • Applicants must submit the required documents for MEXT Scholarship after completing their 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)". • These documents must be written in either Japanese or English. They must be created in A4 format using software such as MS Word and must be printed double-sided (duplex printing). A document written in any other language must be accompanied with a Japanese translation. • Submitted documents will not be returned. • An application passed the submission deadline is not acceptable. • An application will not be considered unless all application forms and necessary documents are completed correctly and all accompanying documents are complete. • In some countries, a graduation certificate and other documents are issued by a government administrative office. In this case, the University of Tokyo may need to confirm with a student's previous university that the certificate issued contains no erroneous information.

5. Application Period

From October 15 to October 30, 2026, Japan Standard TimeThe electronic application must be submitted within the application period.

6. Application Submission Method & Contact Address

Applicants must submit the required documents to apply for the MEXT Scholarship after applying for admission to the Graduate School of Science (Master's/Doctoral Program). For an application to count, both MEXT scholarship application as well as the Graduate School of Science admission application must be completed before the application deadline through the respective online forms.

Electronic Application

To submit the electronic application, applicants must upload all application documents through the designated application form, as instructed below, before the application deadline. Note that other forms of submission such as via email will not be accepted. Complete your electronic application through the online application below, following all of the following instructions: • You must scan in each item of the application documents listed in 4 (1) and upload it in the file format designated in the application form (such as PDF). • Upload all of your application documents and submit your electronic application before the application deadline: Online Form for MEXT Electronic Application • Be sure to check the contents of the automated email that you receive upon submitting your electronic application.

2027 University Recommended Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship

In the scheme of the MEXT Scholarship with University Recommendation, each Japanese university will conduct the preliminary selection and recommend their candidates to MEXT. All prospective applicants’ first contact must be the university/graduate school where they wish to study. Last updated: May 22, 2026

(1) Number of Places

The number of applicants to be nominated by the Graduate School of Science to the University of Tokyo, as well as the number to be subsequently nominated by the University of Tokyo to MEXT, shall be finalized after the application period has closed. In the last round (application for 2026 entrance) 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.

(2) Eligibility

International students with outstanding academic records (*1) who wish to enter Japan in October, 2027 as a new student (*2) to study in the Master's or Doctoral Program at the Graduate School of Science. Additionally, applicants who have completed their 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)” (*1)  Applicants who have already graduated from their latest degree program should have a final grade point of 2.30 or higher, while current students should have a grade point of 2.30 or higher for their current courses, and both should be expected to maintain the same academic standards during the course of the scholarship program.

• Grade points shall be calculated according to a formula specified by MEXT. Furthermore, students must meet one of the criteria given under "(7) Language Proficiency" given below. (*2)  Please refer to (11) Non-eligibility 5. to confirm your eligibility.

(3) Nationality

Applicants 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. However, Japanese nationals that reside outside of Japan at the time of application, holding dual nationality with another country, and plan to renounce their Japanese nationality before arrival (equivalent to the time when they enroll as a student at a Japanese university), may apply.

(4) Age

In principle, applicants must be born on or after April 2, 1992.

(5) Academic background

Applicants must have the necessary qualifications to be admitted to the Graduate School of Science, the University of Tokyo as a Master's or a Doctoral Program student.

(6) Field of Study

Applicants should apply for the field of study that they studied at their previous university or a related field. Applicants should select a field that they are able to research at their chosen host university in Japan.

(7) Language Proficiency

Applicants must meet one of the language requirements in either English or in Japanese as described below: • English

Holds an English proficiency test score equivalent to B2 or above on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale (e.g. TOEFL iBT 72 or above, IELTS 5.5 or above).

• To see what counts as "B2 or above on the CEFR scale", please refer to the CEFR Equivalency Chart. Has completed 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. • Holds an English proficiency test score equivalent to B2 or above on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale (e.g. TOEFL iBT 72 or above, IELTS 5.5 or above).
• To see what counts as "B2 or above on the CEFR scale", please refer to the CEFR Equivalency Chart. • Has completed 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. • Japanese

Has passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) with a score of N2 or higher. Has completed 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. • Has passed the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) with a score of N2 or higher. • Has completed 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.

(8) Health

Applicants must be physically and mentally healthy enough to pursue their studies in Japan.

(9) Arrival in Japan

Applicants must, in principle, be able to arrive in Japan by a date specified by the accepting university which in principle shall be within two weeks before or after the first day of the semester (October 1) in the year specified by the accepting university. If applicants cannot arrive in Japan by the date specified, they must withdraw their application unless under unavoidable circumstances as deemed by MEXT. Furthermore, if applicants travel outside of the period specified above due to personal reasons, the cost of travel will not be paid.

(11) Non-eligibility

Applicants in the following categories are ineligible for the Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarship. They must decline the scholarship offer if they are found to fall under any one of the following criteria upon their selection. • An active member of the military or a civilian employed by the military upon arrival in Japan and during the scholarship period. • An applicant who is unable to travel to Japan within the period designated by MEXT or the University of Tokyo. • Those who are previous recipients of Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship programs (including those who withdrew from the scholarship program after the acquisition of student status). However, this does not apply to those who wish to apply for Research Students program and meet any one of the following conditions. In addition, since the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students does not come under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship programs, the previous recipients can apply.

those who have at least three years of educational or work experience following the end of the payment of the previous scholarship and the start of this scholarship; the past recipients of Japanese Studies Students program who have graduated or are going to graduate from universities in their home countries, Japan-Korea Joint Government Scholarship Program for the Students in Science and Engineering Departments and Young Leaders’ Program; those who have obtained or are expected to obtain a degree as undergraduate students of the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship programs (university recommendation/special selection). • those who have at least three years of educational or work experience following the end of the payment of the previous scholarship and the start of this scholarship; • the past recipients of Japanese Studies Students program who have graduated or are going to graduate from universities in their home countries, Japan-Korea Joint Government Scholarship Program for the Students in Science and Engineering Departments and Young Leaders’ Program; • those who have obtained or are expected to obtain a degree as undergraduate students of the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship programs (university recommendation/special selection). • An applicant who is also applying for a Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship for another AY2027 program. • An applicant who is residing in Japan at the time of application.※1 • An applicant who is planning to receive scholarship, fellowships, or other financial support provided by the Japanese government or affiliated organizations after the start of the scholarship payment (the acquisition of student status). • An applicant who is "expected to graduate by the entrance date" at the time of application but then cannot provide proof of completing a degree by the designated deadline. • A Japanese national who has dual nationality with another country, and is not able to provide proof of relinquishing Japanese nationality by the day of arrival. • An applicant who is, as of the time of application, planning a long period of fieldwork or internship in a country other than Japan or a long-term leave of absence, etc. • Those who do not intend to go on to regular (degree-seeking) programs. • Those who do not plan on pursuing further academic degrees. ※1: "At the time of application" refers to the date on which the application documents for this scholarship are submitted to MEXT. An applicant is considered to be “residing in Japan” if they are staying in Japan under a mid- to long-term residence status. This does not include short-term visitors staying in Japan for purposes such as tourism or entrance examinations.

Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo accepts applications from international students for study in Japan who satisfy the following qualifications and conditions. Its aim is to foster 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.

An applicant shall, 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 the applicant lives in Japan exceptionally under a residence status other than “Student” before acceptance, the applicant must change his/her status to “Student” by the end of the previous month before the installment of scholarship payment. Please be aware that even if the applicant applies for the permanent-resident or long-term resident status of residence after the expiration of the status as a Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship student, the possibility exists that the application may not be approved. Moreover, as the Japanese government requires pre-arrival tuberculosis screening for some countries, applicants obtaining a visa shall follow guidance at the overseas establishment of Japan located in the applicant’s country of nationality. Based on the administrative notice dated March 24, 2025 (Reiwa 7) regarding the partial revision of “Implementation of Japan Pre-Entry Tuberculosis Screening (JPETS),” applicants from the Philippines, Nepal, and Vietnam, who are subject to tuberculosis screening, shall be required to submit a Certificate of Non-Tuberculosis at the time of visa application. If a recipient does not obtain a new "Student" status before arriving in Japan, the payment of the scholarship shall be suspended.

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