Institute of Science Tokyo MEXT Scholarship 2026 in Japan (Fully Funded)

The Institute of Science Tokyo MEXT Scholarship 2026 is a distinguished opportunity offered by the Japanese Government for international students aiming to pursue graduate studies in Japan. Sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), this fully funded scholarship is available through the University Recommendation track. It covers tuition fees, a monthly stipend, and round-trip airfare, allowing exceptional students to study at the prestigious Institute of Science Tokyo without financial concerns. This is an ideal pathway for aspiring researchers and future academic leaders. There are two study tracks:

1. Master’s Program – A standard two-year program requiring completion of coursework, a thesis, and a final exam. Exceptional students may complete it in less time.
2. Integrated Doctoral Education Program –  It's a a combined Master's and Doctoral course designed as a single program. Ithe Master’s segment, students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance may be able to reduce their period of study. Similarly, in the Doctoral segment, students who demonstrate outstanding academic and research performance during the program may be able to reduce their period of study. Such students may be able to complete the entire Master’s and Doctoral Program in the minimum period of three years. Conventionally, in a Japanese postgraduate program, students studying for a master’s degree must take 30 credits or more within a two-year period and for a doctoral degree must take 24 credits or more within an additional three years of study follows a master’s program. The Program requires students to enroll in the Science Tokyo Master’s Program, regardless of whether or not they have already earned a master’s degree. 

NOTE: When proceeding to a doctoral program, students must have a grade point average of 2.50 or above out of 3.00 in the master's program and satisfy certain criteria. The scholarship will be cancelled if a student proceeds to a more advanced level of education without receiving approval for extension of the scholarship period.

Eligibility

• Applicants must have demonstrated excellent academic achievement with a grade point average of 2.30 (out of 3.00) or above in the last-attended degree program and meet certain criteria.

• Applicants must have the nationality of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. 

• Applicants, in principle, must be 34 years old or younger as of April 1 of the first year of the MEXT Scholarship period.

• Applicants have academic ability equal or superior to that of a Japanese university graduate.

• The field must be the one in which the applicant majored at university, or a related field, and be one in which the applicant will be able to do research at Tokyo Tech.

• Applicants must possess proficiency in the English language and satisfy one of the following conditions:

  (1) Have obtained an English language proficiency test score that is equivalent to CEFR level B2 or higher

  (2) Have completed or expect to complete the required curriculum at an institution where all instruction was in English and which satisfies the qualifications for enrollment in a master's or doctoral program at Science Tokyo

  (3) Have been determined by Science Tokyo to possess a level of proficiency in English that is equivalent to or exceeds the level indicated in (1)

Program Dates

• Application Period: Usually mid-September to late December
• Admission Announcement (by University): March 2026
• MEXT Scholarship Final Results: July–August 2026
• Program Start Date: September 2026

Program Benefits

• Stipend: JPY 147,000 for master’s students; JPY 148,000 for doctoral students

• Education fees: Enrollment fee and tuition will be waived by Science Tokyo. 

• Travel expenses: Air tickets to/from Japan will be provided by MEXT under certain conditions.

There is an entrance examination (application) fee (it was JPY 30,000  for 2025 admission) that will be reimbursed if the applicant is allocated to Science Tokyo by MEXT.

Application Process