University of Tokyo MEXT Scholarship 2027: Fully Funded Scholarship in Japan

The University of Tokyo MEXT Scholarship 2027 is a fully funded Japanese Government scholarship opportunity for international students who wish to pursue a Master’s or Doctoral degree at the Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, in Japan.

The scholarship is offered through the Japanese Government’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) under the University Recommendation route. The Graduate School of Science conducts the initial selection and recommends successful candidates to the University of Tokyo, which then recommends candidates to MEXT for final selection.

For the 2027 intake, the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Science is accepting applications from international students who intend to begin their Master’s or Doctoral program in October 2027. Applicants must also complete the relevant admission application for the Graduate School of Science.

The scholarship provides a monthly allowance, exemption from enrollment and tuition fees, and airfare to and from Japan under the applicable MEXT conditions. The 2027 monthly stipend has not yet been finalized by the university; the university currently lists the 2026 amounts as a reference.

Degree Level

The University of Tokyo MEXT Scholarship 2027 at the Graduate School of Science is available for:

Master’s degree
Doctoral degree

The scholarship period for students beginning in October 2027 is normally:

Master’s Program: October 2027 to September 2029
Doctoral Program: October 2027 to September 2030

A Master’s scholarship recipient may apply for an extension to continue into a Doctoral program, but an extension is not automatic and is subject to MEXT requirements, academic performance, admission, and approval.

Available Subjects

The scholarship is intended for students applying to the Graduate School of Science.

Applicants should select a field related to their previous academic background and one that they can pursue as a research area at their chosen host university in Japan.

The Graduate School of Science covers scientific and research areas including:

Physics
Astronomy
Chemistry
Biological Sciences
Earth and Planetary Science
Mathematical Sciences
Related areas of natural and fundamental sciences

Applicants should review the specific department and research area information before submitting their application.

Benefits

The University of Tokyo MEXT Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support for selected international students.

Benefits include:

Monthly MEXT scholarship allowance
Exemption from enrollment fees
Exemption from tuition fees
Economy-class airfare to Japan under MEXT travel conditions
Economy-class return airfare after completion of the scholarship under applicable conditions
Opportunity to study at The University of Tokyo
Access to the academic and research environment of the Graduate School of Science
Guaranteed accommodation placement in a University of Tokyo International Lodge for the first year, subject to the conditions stated by the university

The monthly stipend for the 2027 academic year has not yet been determined. As a reference, the University of Tokyo lists the 2026 actual amounts as ¥144,000 per month for Master’s students and ¥145,000 per month for Doctoral students. An additional ¥2,000 or ¥3,000 per month may apply to students conducting study or research in designated regions.

The university states that the stipend amounts may change depending on the annual fiscal budget and other factors. Therefore, the 2026 figures should not be presented as the confirmed 2027 stipend.

Is the University of Tokyo MEXT Scholarship Fully Funded?

Yes. The University of Tokyo MEXT Scholarship provides the major components normally associated with a fully funded government scholarship, including a monthly allowance, tuition and enrollment-fee exemption, and international airfare under the applicable MEXT conditions.

However, not every personal expense is automatically covered. For example, MEXT specifies that certain local transportation, airport taxes, travel insurance, baggage, and other expenses may be the recipient’s responsibility.

Applicants should therefore understand “fully funded” as referring to the scholarship package provided under MEXT regulations rather than unlimited coverage of every personal expense.

Eligible Nationalities

Applicants must have the nationality of a country that maintains diplomatic relations with the Japanese Government.

Applicants holding Japanese nationality at the time of application are generally not eligible.

The scholarship is therefore open to international students from eligible countries, subject to the MEXT and University of Tokyo eligibility requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants for the University of Tokyo MEXT Scholarship 2027 must satisfy the scholarship requirements as well as the admission requirements of the Graduate School of Science.

In general, applicants must:

Be an international student
Hold nationality from a country with diplomatic relations with Japan
Intend to enter the Graduate School of Science in October 2027
Apply for a Master’s or Doctoral program
Meet the academic admission requirements of the Graduate School of Science
Have outstanding academic records
Meet the minimum academic grade requirement specified by MEXT
Meet the required English or Japanese language proficiency condition
Have a research field related to their previous academic background
Be able to undertake research in the selected field at the University of Tokyo
Complete the relevant Graduate School of Science admission application
Meet MEXT’s age and other eligibility conditions

Applicants should carefully review the official scholarship regulations because MEXT eligibility conditions can include additional restrictions concerning previous scholarships, residence in Japan, and other financial support.

Academic Requirements

Academic performance is an important requirement for the scholarship.
Applicants who have already graduated from their latest degree program must have a final grade point of at least 2.30 under the MEXT calculation method.
Applicants who are still enrolled in their current degree program must have a grade point of at least 2.30 for their current courses.
Applicants are also expected to maintain the required academic standard throughout the scholarship period.
The 2.30 requirement refers to the MEXT grade-point calculation method and should not automatically be interpreted as a 2.30/4.00 GPA under every university’s grading system.

Age Requirement

For the 2027 University Recommended MEXT Scholarship at the Graduate School of Science, applicants must, in principle, have been born on or after April 2, 1992.
Applicants should check the official 2027 requirements carefully because MEXT eligibility conditions can be updated.

Language Requirements

Applicants must meet the required language proficiency condition in either English or Japanese.

For English, the Graduate School of Science currently accepts evidence equivalent to CEFR B2 or higher.

Examples listed by the university include:

TOEFL iBT: 72 or above
IELTS: 5.5 or above

Applicants may also satisfy the English requirement through an educational program conducted primarily in English if it meets the university’s stated conditions.

Applicants should check the current Graduate School of Science admission instructions to determine which language documents are acceptable for their particular program.

Previous Academic Background

Applicants should normally apply for a field of study that they previously studied at university or a related field.
The selected research field should also be one that can be pursued at the University of Tokyo.
This means applicants should ensure that their previous degree, proposed research, and intended Graduate School of Science department are academically connected.

Who Is Not Eligible?

The University of Tokyo lists several situations that can make an applicant ineligible.

These include applicants who:

Hold Japanese nationality at the time of application
Are applying for another MEXT scholarship program for the same academic year
Have already received or are receiving certain MEXT scholarships
Have received a MEXT scholarship after 2024, subject to the stated exceptions
Are residing in Japan at the time of application
Plan to receive another Japanese Government or affiliated scholarship after the MEXT scholarship begins
Do not satisfy the required academic or language conditions
Do not meet the admission requirements of the Graduate School of Science

Applicants should review all non-eligibility conditions before applying.

Accommodation

The University of Tokyo states that recipients of this scholarship are guaranteed a room in the University of Tokyo International Lodge for the first year, subject to the applicable accommodation arrangements.

The university currently gives approximate monthly rent figures of:

Kashiwa Lodge: approximately ¥50,000 per month
Komaba Lodge: approximately ¥70,000 per month

The applicable lodge depends on the location of the student’s laboratory. Accommodation is not free, and the listed rent is separate from the MEXT scholarship allowance.

Application Procedure

The application process involves both the MEXT scholarship application and the Graduate School of Science admission application.

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Review the MEXT requirements and Graduate School of Science admission requirements.

Pay particular attention to:

Academic background
GPA calculation
Age
Nationality
Language proficiency
Previous scholarships
Residence status
Proposed research field

Step 2: Select Your Research Field

Choose a research area that is connected to your previous academic studies and available at the Graduate School of Science.
Applicants should investigate the relevant department and potential research area before applying.

Step 3: Apply for Graduate School Admission

Applicants must complete the admission application for the Graduate School of Science’s Master’s or Doctoral program.
The scholarship application is linked to the graduate admission process, and both applications must be completed within the relevant application period.

Step 4: Prepare Your Documents

Applicants should prepare the documents required by both the Graduate School of Science and MEXT.

Depending on the application requirements, documents may include:

Application form
Academic transcripts
Degree certificate or expected graduation certificate
Proof of language proficiency
Research plan
Recommendation documents
Passport or nationality documentation
Other documents specified by the Graduate School of Science

Applicants should follow the current official document checklist rather than relying on previous years’ requirements.

Step 5: Submit the MEXT Application Online

The 2027 University Recommended MEXT Scholarship application must be submitted electronically through the designated application form.
The university states that applications sent by email will not be accepted.
Applicants must upload the required documents in the specified format before the deadline.

Step 6: Complete Both Applications Before the Deadline

For an application to count, applicants must complete both:

The MEXT scholarship application
The Graduate School of Science admission application

Both must be completed through their respective online systems within the stated application period.

Step 7: Graduate School of Science Selection

The Graduate School of Science conducts its preliminary selection and identifies candidates for recommendation to the University of Tokyo.
The number of candidates that can ultimately be recommended is limited.

Step 8: University of Tokyo Selection

Candidates recommended by the Graduate School of Science undergo the University of Tokyo’s selection process.
Successful candidates are then recommended to MEXT.

Step 9: MEXT Final Selection

MEXT conducts the final scholarship screening.
A university recommendation does not by itself guarantee the final award because the final decision is made through the MEXT selection process.

Step 10: Receive the Final Result

For the 2027 intake, the Graduate School of Science expects to notify its nominees in mid-February 2027.
Candidates selected at the University of Tokyo stage are expected to receive further notification in April 2027.
The official MEXT scholarship result is tentatively expected in June 2027.