OSAKA UNIVERSITY (FUNDED BY MEXT, JAPANESE GOVERNMENT)
Osaka University MEXT Scholarship for Robotics and Bioengineering
full · masters, phd
- Full tuition coveredTuition support
- ~144,000 yen/month (est.)Master's stipend
- ~145,000 yen/month (est.)PhD stipend
- Return air ticket includedTravel
- Master's and PhDDegree levels
- Open to all nationalitiesWho can apply
At a glance
full
Funding
€22k
Max amount
Nov 15, 2026
Deadline
Open to international students of all nationalities (countries with diplomatic ties to Japan)
Country
Osaka University (funded by MEXT, Japanese Government)
Provider
The Osaka University MEXT Scholarship for Robotics and Bioengineering funds international students who want to take a fully funded Master's or PhD at Osaka University in Japan, focused on robotics engineering or bioengineering. Osaka University was founded in 1931 and is one of Japan's national universities, with a graduate community drawn from more than 100 countries. The award is financed by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT, Monbukagakusho) and routed through the university, so it covers full tuition, a monthly living stipend that is currently around 144,000 yen for Master's students and about 145,000 yen for PhD students, and a return air ticket between the student's home country and Japan. There is no enrolment or examination fee for award holders. Applicants must be non-Japanese citizens, hold a strong academic record in a relevant field such as robotics, bioengineering or mechanical science, and secure a faculty member at Osaka University willing to act as supervisor before applying. Because the exact stipend, the number of places and the deadline are reset for every intake, confirm the current 2026/2027-cycle figures on the official Osaka University and MEXT scholarship pages before you apply.
What's covered
- Tuition fees — Full tuition, plus enrolment and examination fees, are waived for the standard duration of the Master's or PhD programme.
- Monthly stipend — A monthly living allowance of about 144,000 yen for Master's students and about 145,000 yen for PhD students (roughly EUR 900-1,000 per month, est.), paid directly to the student.
- Travel to and from Japan — An economy-class return air ticket between the nearest international airport in the student's home country and Japan.
- Research environment — Access to Osaka University's robotics and bioengineering laboratories, equipment and supervision for the funded research period.
- No application or entrance fees — MEXT award holders are exempt from the university's entrance examination and admission fees, normally worth several hundred thousand yen.
- Supervision and academic support — A named faculty supervisor guides the research project, with access to graduate-school training and seminars throughout the award.
How to apply
Applications run through Osaka University under the MEXT university-recommendation route, so you contact a supervisor first and then submit documents through the graduate school.
- Choose your field — Decide whether your research goals fit robotics engineering or bioengineering at Osaka University, and identify the relevant graduate school.
- Read the official guidelines — Review the current application guidelines on the official Osaka University and MEXT scholarship pages for the 2026/2027 intake.
- Contact a supervisor — Email a faculty member whose research matches your interests and obtain their agreement to supervise you before applying.
- Prepare your documents — Assemble your application form, academic transcripts, degree certificates, research proposal and language evidence.
- Submit the application — Submit the completed application and documents through the graduate school's online portal before the published deadline.
Eligibility
NationalityYou must be a non-Japanese citizen and hold the nationality of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan.
Academic backgroundYou must hold, or expect to hold, a relevant degree with a strong record in robotics, bioengineering, mechanical science or a closely related field.
Field of studyYour intended research must fall within robotics engineering or bioengineering as offered at Osaka University.
SupervisorYou must secure a faculty member at Osaka University who agrees to supervise your research before you submit the application.
Research proposalYou must present a focused research proposal that aligns with the supervisor's work and the programme's goals.
LanguageYou must meet the English or Japanese language requirements for the chosen graduate programme.
MEXT also sets an age guideline for university-recommendation applicants; check the current age and degree conditions on the official MEXT and Osaka University pages before applying.
Eligible countries
Open to international students of all nationalities (countries with diplomatic ties to Japan)
Deadlines
2026/2027 (Master's and PhD)~15 November 2026 (est.)
Selection
Candidates are assessed on academic record, the quality and fit of the research proposal, and the strength of supervisor support at Osaka University. Shortlisted applicants may be interviewed, and final nominations are confirmed by MEXT. Meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee an award because the number of MEXT-funded places is limited each cycle.
Verified sources
- Osaka University International Scholarshipsosaka-u.ac.jpofficial
- MEXT Scholarships (Study in Japan)studyinjapan.go.jpofficial
About the provider
Osaka University, founded in 1931 and based in Osaka, Japan, is one of the country's national universities and offers undergraduate, Master's and doctoral programmes across engineering, science, medicine, the humanities and more. It hosts a large international graduate community and conducts research in fields including robotics engineering and bioengineering.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Who can apply for the Osaka University MEXT robotics and bioengineering scholarship?
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Non-Japanese citizens with a strong academic record in robotics, bioengineering, mechanical science or a related field who want to take a Master's or PhD at Osaka University.
Is the scholarship fully funded?
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Yes. It covers full tuition, a monthly living stipend and a return air ticket between your home country and Japan.
How much is the monthly stipend?
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It is currently around 144,000 yen per month for Master's students and about 145,000 yen for PhD students (roughly EUR 900-1,000, est.); confirm the exact figure officially.
Which subjects are covered?
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The award here focuses on robotics engineering and bioengineering, including related mechanical science research at Osaka University.
Do I need to contact a supervisor first?
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Yes. You must secure a faculty member at Osaka University who agrees to supervise your research before you submit the application.
Does the scholarship cover travel?
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Yes. It includes an economy-class return air ticket between the nearest international airport in your home country and Japan.
Are entrance and examination fees covered?
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Yes. MEXT award holders are exempt from the university's entrance examination and admission fees.
What degree levels are eligible?
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The scholarship supports both Master's and PhD programmes in the eligible fields.
What is the application deadline?
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It typically falls in mid-November (about 15 November 2026, est.); always confirm the current-cycle date on the official page.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
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Not necessarily. You must meet the English or Japanese language requirements of the specific graduate programme you choose.
Is the scholarship open to all nationalities?
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Yes. It is open to international students from countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Japan.
Where do I confirm the official details?
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On the official Osaka University international scholarship pages and the MEXT website, which list binding amounts, eligibility and deadlines for each cycle.