MEXT Research Student Scholarships offer college graduates and graduate students the opportunity to study and research a specific field at a Japanese university. In 2026, the scholarship amount was ¥143,000～145,000 per month of study in Japan.
Applicants can either seek recommendation from the Embassy, or from a graduate school in Japan. For university recommendations, not all universities in Japan are able to recommend international students. Only a select number of universities approved by the MEXT can make recommendations to the MEXT. Therefore, if you are interested in applying for a scholarship with a recommendation from a university, you need to check first whether the school you are interested in has a recommendation quota.
Please note, as of the 2026 competition, this application was either mailed (tracking suggested) or handed in in person at the Japanese Embassy (appointment required):
All applications must arrive by mail at the address listed below, or delivered in person to the Japan Information Center. For in-person submission, please email scholarship@ny.mofa.go.jp to schedule an appointment with the MEXT Scholarship Coordinator.
Attn: MEXT Scholarship Program
Consulate General of Japan in New York
299 Park Ave, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10171
For inquiries, call the Japan Information Center at (212) 418-4463, or email us at scholarship@ny.mofa.go.jp. Phone inquiries will be answered Mon-Fri 9:15 AM - 5:45 PM, except on holidays.
Eligibility
To apply, applicants must :
- Hold U.S. citizenship
- Be under 35 years of age (refer to MEXT website each year for specific date of birth requirements for each competition year)
- Satisfy the qualification requirements for admission to a master's degree course or a doctoral degree course at a Japanese graduate school (Includes applicants who are certainly expected to satisfy the requirements by the time of enrollment)
- Be willing to learn Japanese. Applicants must be interested in Japan and be willing to deepen their understanding of Japan after arriving in Japan. Applicants must also have the ability to do research and adapt to living in Japan
- When selecting an April state date, applicants must be able to arrive in Japan the first week in April. For October selection, applicants must be able to arrive in Japan during the period specified by the accepting university within two weeks before and after the starting date of the university's relevant academic term (September or October) for that year.
Program Eligibility
- Applicants should apply for the field of study they majored in at university or its related field. Moreover, the fields of study must be subjects which applicants will be able to study and research in graduate courses at Japanese universities.
- Traditional entertainment arts such as Kabuki and classical Japanese dances, or subjects that require practical training in specific technologies or techniques at factories or companies are not included in the fields of study under this scholarship program.
- A student who studies medicine, dentistry or welfare science will not be allowed to engage in clinical training such as medical care and operative surgery until he/she obtains a relevant license from the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare under applicable Japanese laws.