Japanese Govt Opens MEXT Scholarship 2027 for Indian Students for Research Students: Apply By May 15

The Embassy of Japan in India has officially announced the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship 2027 for Research Students, inviting applications from eligible Indian candidates aspiring to pursue graduate-level education at Japanese universities. The scholarship, offered by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), covers Master’s and Doctoral degree programmes across a wide range of academic disciplines.

The application deadline is May 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m.), and the preliminary application form must be submitted exclusively via email to scholarship-india@nd.mofa.go.jp in Microsoft Word format only. The scholarship offers full financial support including a monthly stipend, tuition fee exemption, and round-trip airfare — making it one of the most comprehensive government-funded study abroad opportunities available to Indian students.

MEXT Scholarship 2027: Key Details at a Glance

Eligibility Criteria: Who Can Apply for the MEXT Research Student Scholarship?

Applicants must fulfil the following eligibility conditions as specified in the official Application Guidelines:

Academic Qualifications

Master’s Course / Doctoral Course (First Phase):

•       Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in the relevant field with a minimum of 70% marks. Candidates must obtain their mark sheet and degree certificate on or before September 30, 2027, for the October 2027 intake batch.

Doctoral Course (Second Phase):

•       A Master’s Degree in the relevant field with a minimum of 70% marks is required. Candidates must additionally have practical research, teaching, or professional work experience after obtaining the prescribed qualification, on or before September 30, 2027.

Humanities and Social Sciences (Special Provision):

•       Applicants from the humanities and social sciences fields are eligible with a Bachelor’s Degree carrying a minimum of 65% marks, as against the standard 70% requirement.

Fields of Study Available Under MEXT Scholarship 2027

The MEXT Research Student Scholarship covers an extensive range of academic disciplines across 20 fields, classified as follows:

MEXT Scholarship Benefits: Stipend, Tuition Waiver, and Travel Support

The MEXT Scholarship 2027 is a fully-funded scholarship offering comprehensive financial support. Winners are entitled to the following benefits:

In addition to the monthly stipend, the scholarship also includes:

•       Full tuition fee exemption — all education fees are completely waived for MEXT scholarship holders.

•       Round-trip airfare — economy class international travel expenses between India and Japan are covered.

How to Apply for MEXT Scholarship 2027: Step-by-Step Process and Selection Schedule

How to Apply

The application process for the MEXT Research Student Scholarship 2027 is conducted in two phases:

Phase 1 — Preliminary Application Form:

1.    Download the Preliminary Application Form from the Embassy of Japan in India’s official website and fill it out in Microsoft Word format. The completed form must be emailed to scholarship-india@nd.mofa.go.jp as an email attachment. The file size must not exceed 1 MB. No supporting documents are required at this stage.

Important Submission Rules:

2.    Applications submitted after the deadline (May 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m.) will be automatically rejected. Similarly, forms submitted in formats other than Microsoft Word — such as scanned copies, PDF files, PowerPoint files, Google Drive links, or Google Docs — will not be accepted.

Phase 2 — Full Application (Shortlisted Candidates Only):

3.    Candidates shortlisted after the Preliminary Application Form screening will be separately required to submit a detailed application form along with all supporting documents, as specified in the official Application Guidelines.

Selection Schedule 2026–27

Term of Scholarship and Academic Pathways for Research Students

The duration of the MEXT scholarship differs based on the student’s academic status:

Non-Regular Students:

•       The scholarship period starts in April, September, or October 2027 and continues until the end of March 2029. Candidates are advised to read Points 4, 5, 12, and 13 of the official Application Guidelines carefully to understand the full term and academic pathways available for non-regular students.

Regular Students (Master’s or Doctoral Courses):

•       Regardless of the date of arrival in Japan, the scholarship period covers the standard period required for the completion of the enrolled regular course. The standard period of study for each course is detailed under ‘13. Academic Pathway for Research Students’ in the official guidelines.

Contact Details: Embassy of Japan in India

For genuine queries related to the MEXT Scholarship 2027, applicants may contact the Japan Information Centre (JIC) at the Embassy of Japan in India:

Note: The Embassy has requested applicants to refrain from calling to confirm information already stated in the guidelines or for trivial queries. Applicants are encouraged to read the official guidelines thoroughly before reaching out.

Source: Embassy of Japan in India — Education Section. Official MEXT Scholarship 2027 Notification (Updated: April 20, 2026). Refer to the official Application Guidelines PDF at studyinjapan.go.jp for complete details, terms, and eligibility conditions before applying.