MEXT University Recommendation Scholarship 2026 at APU (Fully Funded)

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Beppu, Japan, offers the MEXT University Recommendation (UR) Scholarship to outstanding international students applying for graduate programs. This scholarship is awarded by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to enhance international competitiveness and promote active exchange of international students in Japanese universities. The scholarship is available for September 2026 enrollment.

Eligibility

Nationality: Must be a national of a MEXT-designated country
Study Intent: Must intend to study in Japan from overseas.
Age: Must be born on or after April 2, 1991.
Academic Performance: Must have achieved a GPA of at least 2.30 on a 3.00 scale at their most recent university.
Military Status: Individuals currently serving on active military duty or employed as civilian staff by the military at the time of application are not eligible.
Previous MEXT Scholarship: Generally ineligible if previously received a Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship, except under specific conditions.
Concurrent Scholarships: Must not receive other scholarships not approved for concurrent acceptance with MEXT.
Visa Status: Must hold a “Student” visa status in Japan.
English Language Requirement Updates:
- Applicants must submit scores from approved tests; the English/Japanese Proficiency Evaluation Form is no longer accepted.
- Minimum accepted test scores updated:
  - TOEIC: 1600+ (first-year enrollment), 1730+ (transfer)
  - EIKEN: CSE 2304 (first-year), CSE 2630 (transfer)
  - PTE Academic: 60 (first-year), 65 (transfer)
  - IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Duolingo, Cambridge Linguaskill: Scores remain the same as previous requirement.
Extracurricular Activity Evaluation Changes:
- Categories consolidated into:
  - Student Council Activities
  - Social Activities (e.g., Volunteer or community service)
  - Culture, Arts, Academic or Sports Awards
- Applicants no longer submit proof of activities outside these categories; relevant activities should be mentioned in essays or interviews.
Elimination of Online Assessments:
- The previous Core Abilities Assessment and Watson-Glaser III Critical Thinking Appraisal have been removed.
- A recorded video interview is still required as part of the application process.

Program Dates/Location

Application Deadline: November 12, 2025
APU Selection: APU reviews application documents and selects suitable candidates to recommend to MEXT.
Final Scholarship Decision: End of June 2026

Note: Applicants must first apply to APU. Selection for the scholarship is automatic through the recommendation process.

Program Benefits

Tuition: Full tuition fee coverage.
Monthly Allowance: 144,000 JPY per month (amount subject to change).
Admission Fee: Full admission fee coverage.
Medical Insurance: Coverage provided.
Travel Expenses: Economy class airfare between the home country and APU at the beginning and end of the program.
Books and Instructional Materials

Study Fields at APU

Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies (Master’s Programs)

International Relations (IR)
Society and Culture (SC)
International Public Administration (IPA)
Public Health Management (PHM)
Sustainability Science (SS)
Tourism and Hospitality (TH)
Development Economics (DE)

Master of Business Administration (MBA Program)

Accounting and Finance (AF)
Marketing and Management (MM)
Innovation and Operations Management (IOM)
Japanese Management (JM)
Dual Degree International Material Flow Management (IMAT) Program (2 years)

Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies (Doctoral Program) (3 years)

Asia Pacific Studies

Required Documents

English Proficiency Test Scores: Only English proficiency test scores from exams taken on or after mid-March 2024 will be considered valid.
Academic Transcripts: From the most recent university attended.
Recommendation Letter: From an instructor at the most recent educational institution attended.
Research Proposal: Outlining the intended research during the graduate program.
Application Form: Completed APU graduate application form