The Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship — known in Japanese as Monbukagakusho — is offered by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to international students across several levels: research (graduate) students, undergraduates, and specialised tracks such as the college of technology, specialised training, Japanese studies, and teacher training. It has run since 1954. The scholarship is full: it waives tuition, pays a monthly stipend that depends on the level — for example around JPY 117,000 for undergraduates and up to about JPY 145,000 for doctoral-level research students (est.) — and provides round-trip airfare to and from Japan, with no entrance or examination fees. There are 2 main routes to apply: embassy recommendation, through a Japanese embassy in your home country, and university recommendation, through a Japanese university. Because each level and route has its own schedule, there is no single global deadline. Treat the figures here as estimates and confirm the current levels, routes, amounts, and deadlines on MEXT or the relevant Japanese embassy pages.
Choose your level and route (embassy or university recommendation), then apply through that channel on its schedule.
The embassy route runs through the Japanese embassy in your country; the university route runs through the Japanese university directly. Schedules and exact requirements differ by level and route.
Countries with diplomatic relations with Japan (see MEXT/embassy lists)
MEXT selection depends on the level and route: document screening, written examinations (for some embassy-route levels), and interviews assess academic merit, the study or research plan, and language readiness. University-route applicants are also assessed by the host Japanese university.
Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has offered the Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship since 1954. It funds international students at undergraduate, graduate, and specialised levels through embassy- and university-recommendation routes, covering tuition, a stipend, and travel.
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.
The Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship, offered by Japan's Ministry of Education (MEXT) to international students across several levels — research students, undergraduates, and specialised tracks.
Full tuition (and no entrance/examination fees), a monthly stipend that depends on the level, and round-trip airfare to and from Japan.
Around JPY 117,000 per month for undergraduates and up to about JPY 145,000 for doctoral-level research students (est.). Confirm current rates on MEXT/embassy pages.
Embassy recommendation, through the Japanese embassy in your home country, and university recommendation, through a Japanese university directly.
Citizens of countries with diplomatic relations with Japan, within the age and academic requirements for the chosen level.
Research (graduate) students, undergraduates, and specialised tracks such as the college of technology, specialised training, Japanese studies, and teacher training.
It depends on the programme — some are taught in English, others in Japanese, and MEXT provides Japanese-language training where needed.
No — each level and route has its own schedule, so there is no single global deadline. Check your route's current call.
Some embassy-route levels involve written tests and interviews; the university route is assessed by the host university.
Since 1954, making it one of the longest-running government scholarship programmes for international students.
Yes — MEXT funds undergraduate students as well as research (graduate) students and specialised tracks such as the college of technology and Japanese studies, each with its own conditions.
On MEXT's Study in Japan pages and the Japanese embassy in your country, which list the levels, routes, amounts, and deadlines.