Scholarships in Japan for Indian Students: 2027–28 Guide

Scholarships in Japan for Indian students are funding programmes that pay for study at Japanese universities. The Government of Japan, the Asian Development Bank, the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) and individual universities fund them. The Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship is the largest programme, because it covers tuition, return airfare and a monthly stipend.

Key facts

• Largest programme: MEXT Scholarship, Embassy Recommendation route
• Levels covered: undergraduate, master’s and doctoral study (through the research-student stage)
• MEXT stipend: about 750–930 USD per month, depending on level
• Latest closed round: MEXT 2027 (research deadline 15 May 2026, undergraduate deadline 25 May 2026)
• Next MEXT round: expected to open around April 2027 for the 2028 intake

The 2027 MEXT round for India is closed. The Embassy of Japan in India ran that round in a window of roughly four weeks, so applicants for the 2028 intake should prepare months ahead. This guide explains every route, the documents, the selection stages and the mistakes that cost applicants their place.

What Scholarships Are Available in Japan for Indian Students?

Indian students can use four funding routes: the MEXT Scholarship, the ADB-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP), the JASSO Honors Scholarship and university-specific awards. MEXT and ADB-JSP fund the full cost of study. JASSO and most university awards supplement living or tuition costs.

Scholarship	Funder	Level	Coverage	Monthly amount	How to apply
MEXT Research Student	Government of Japan (MEXT)	Master’s and doctoral, through the research-student stage	Tuition, return airfare, stipend	About 915–930 USD (143,000–145,000 JPY)	Embassy of Japan in India, or a university’s own MEXT nomination
MEXT Undergraduate	MEXT	Bachelor’s (4 years direct, 5 years with a preparatory year)	Tuition, return airfare, stipend	About 750 USD (117,000 JPY)	Embassy or consulate of Japan in India
ADB-JSP	Asian Development Bank, financed by Japan	Master’s in development-related fields	Tuition, admission fees, subsistence and housing allowance	About 940 USD (147,000 JPY, per one university guide)	Directly to a designated institution
JASSO Honors Scholarship	JASSO	Undergraduate and graduate, privately financed students	Stipend only	About 310 USD (48,000 JPY)	Through the university after admission, or the EJU reservation programme
University awards	Meiji, Keio, Ritsumeikan APU and others	Varies	Varies	Varies	The university’s own process

The University of Tokyo also lists a separate JDS programme for India. Check its official page for eligibility, because this guide has not verified its terms.

Who Should Apply — and Who Should Not

The students who should apply are those with a clear academic purpose, a route that matches their degree level and the ability to meet the age, health and arrival-date conditions. A student who meets those tests has a realistic case.

Your profile	Best-fit route	Why it fits
Bachelor’s graduate who wants a master’s or PhD and has a specific research topic	MEXT Research (Embassy route)	The route funds graduate research and places you at a university
Class 12 graduate who wants a full bachelor’s degree in Japan	MEXT Undergraduate	The route funds 4–5 years, including a preparatory year
Graduate aiming at a master’s in development, economics, management or science and technology	ADB-JSP	The programme funds master’s degrees at 27 designated institutions
Student already admitted to a Japanese university with limited family funds	JASSO Honors Scholarship	The scholarship supports privately financed students with living costs
Researcher in contact with a professor at a Japanese university	University-recommended MEXT	The university nominates its own candidates

Do not apply (or choose another route) if:

• You were born before 2 April 1992 and want the MEXT Research route. The 2027 guidelines set that age limit, in principle.
• You want to study art or music through MEXT Undergraduate. Those fields are not eligible.
• You want medicine or dentistry through MEXT Undergraduate in India. The Embassy states that this field is not offered in India.
• You cannot reach Japan in the fixed arrival window. The 2027 research guidelines set 1–7 April 2027 for the April term.
• You expect JASSO alone to pay for tuition and living costs. The 48,000 JPY monthly amount does not cover both.

How Much Do Japan Scholarships Pay?

MEXT pays a monthly stipend of 117,000 JPY for undergraduates and 143,000–145,000 JPY for research students, and it also covers tuition and return airfare. At the reference rate of 156 JPY per USD (mid-September 2026), a master’s grantee receives about 925 USD per month, or roughly 11,080 USD per year. The exchange rate moves daily, and MEXT states that amounts are subject to change.

• MEXT research (preparatory and non-regular students): 143,000 JPY, about 915 USD
• MEXT master’s or professional degree: 144,000 JPY, about 925 USD
• MEXT doctoral: 145,000 JPY, about 930 USD
• Regional allowance: 2,000–3,000 JPY (about 13–19 USD) in specially designated regions
• JASSO Honors: 48,000 JPY (about 310 USD) for 12 months with April entry, or 6 months with September entry

Step-by-Step Application Guide

MEXT Research Student (Embassy route)

1. Read the guidelines. Open the Embassy of Japan in India’s Research Students page and read the Application Guidelines before anything else.
2. Check eligibility. Confirm that you hold a bachelor’s degree, meet the age limit and have good physical and mental health.
3. Define a research field. Choose a specific topic and shortlist Japanese universities for the Placement Preference Form.
4. Complete the Preliminary Application Form. The Embassy accepts this form in Microsoft Word format only, and the file must stay under 1 MB. No supporting documents go with it.
5. Email it before the deadline. Send it to scholarship-india@nd.mofa.go.jp. The 2027 deadline was 15 May 2026 at 11:59 pm.
6. Wait for the screening result. The Embassy notified preliminary results in early June in the 2027 round.
7. Submit the full application. Shortlisted applicants file a separate application form with the supporting documents listed below.
8. Attend the written exam and interview. The Embassy tests shortlisted candidates and nominates the strongest to MEXT.
9. Prepare for arrival. Successful grantees must reach Japan in the window their application form specified.

MEXT Undergraduate

1. Check that your intended major is eligible, because art and music are excluded.
2. Collect the application form, the Certificate of Health and the recommendation letter in the Embassy’s sample format.
3. Submit the application by post, courier or in person to the relevant Embassy or Consulate General of Japan (New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata or Bengaluru). The 2027 deadline was 25 May 2026.
4. Watch for the shortlist notice. In 2027 it arrived in the second week of June.
5. Sit the written examination (20 June 2026) and the online interview (22 June 2026).
6. Receive the first screening result. The Embassy announced it at the end of July 2026.
7. If you clear the first round, request the Direct Placement Preference Form.

The scholarship lasts five years (April 2027 to March 2032) with a one-year preparatory programme, or four years if you enrol through direct placement.

ADB-Japan Scholarship Program

1. Confirm eligibility. Applicants must be nationals of an ADB developing member country, and India is on the list. The guidance reviewed sets an age limit of 35, with possible waivers.
2. Choose a designated institution. The programme covers 27 institutions, including 17 in Japan.
3. Apply for admission to that institution’s master’s programme and state your interest in the scholarship. The ADB Japan Scholarship Program page explains the process, and direct applications to the ADB are not accepted.
4. Submit the ADB-JSP information sheet to the institution by its own deadline. Institutions listed 31 July and 30 August 2026 for the 2026/27 call.
5. Wait for the institution’s nomination and the ADB’s final selection, made in consultation with the Government of Japan.

JASSO Honors Scholarship

1. Choose a Japanese university that participates in the JASSO reservation programme or recommends students after enrolment.
2. Tick the Apply box for the reservation programme in EJU Online if you sit the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students.
3. Enrol as a privately financed student.
4. The university recommends you, and JASSO approves recipients.

Required Documents Explained

The MEXT Research route requires a core set of documents, and each one has a specific purpose. The India Embassy asks for only the Preliminary Application Form first. The table below follows the standard MEXT research checklist, so confirm each item against the Embassy’s current guidelines.

Document	What it is	Practical note
Application Form (with photo)	The official MEXT form with your details	Use the form for the correct year
Field of Study and Research Plan	Your topic, method and reason for studying in Japan	The most heavily weighted document, so make it specific
Placement Preference Application Form	Your preferred universities and supervisors	Choose institutions that offer your field
Official academic transcripts	Marks for every year at university	Request the certified, sealed copy from your university
Certificate of graduation	Proof of your degree	Final-year students submit a prospective graduation certificate
Recommendation letter	A reference from your dean, president or academic advisor	Use the sample format and keep the envelope sealed
Certificate of Health	A medical form signed by a physician in the prescribed format	Use the Embassy’s format only
Language certificate	Proof of Japanese or English ability	Submit it only if you hold one
Employer recommendation	A letter from your current employer	Required only if you are employed

For MEXT Undergraduate, the core documents are the application form, the Certificate of Health and a recommendation letter. The Direct Placement Preference Form follows only after you clear the first screening.

How the Selection Process Works

MEXT selection for Indian applicants runs in two stages. The Embassy of Japan screens and nominates candidates, and MEXT in Tokyo makes the final decision.

Stage	Research Students (2027 round)	Undergraduate (2027 round)
1. Document screening	Preliminary form screened in May, result in early June	Shortlist notice in the second week of June
2. Embassy tests	Written exam and interview for shortlisted applicants	Written exam on 20 June, online interview on 22 June
3. Embassy result	The Embassy nominates candidates to MEXT	First screening result at the end of July
4. Final decision	MEXT in Tokyo	MEXT in Tokyo
5. Placement	University placement based on your preferences	Preparatory year or direct placement

The Study in Japan scholarship examination page publishes past examination papers, which makes it the best preparation resource.

ADB-JSP selection follows a different path. The institution ranks applicants on its own criteria, and the ADB makes the final selection.

Common Mistakes Applicants Make

Mistake	Why it hurts	Fix
Missing the deadline	The Embassy fixed 11:59 pm on 15 May 2026, and its undergraduate page says it cannot respond to extension requests	Submit at least a week early
Sending the wrong file format	The research preliminary form must be Word format and under 1 MB	Save as a Word file and check the size
Writing a generic research plan	A vague plan gives screeners little to assess	Name a topic, a method and a reason Japan suits it
Ignoring age or field rules	Age limits and excluded fields end an application before screening	Check eligibility first
Submitting incomplete documents	Embassies in other countries state that incomplete files are not screened	Tick every item on the checklist
Breaking document seals	Several Embassy checklists tell applicants to keep sealed envelopes intact	Follow the India instructions exactly
Posting to the wrong office	Undergraduate applications go to the Embassy or a designated consulate	Confirm which office covers your state
Treating JASSO as a full scholarship	The 48,000 JPY monthly amount does not cover tuition	Budget for tuition separately
Choosing an arrival date you cannot meet	The guidelines do not allow changes to the arrival period after submission	Pick the term you can meet before filling the form

Previous Years’ Trends

The MEXT application calendar for India is compact, and Japan’s international student numbers are rising. The pattern below comes from published figures, and it contains no invented selection ratios.

Indicator	Earlier figure	Latest figure	What it shows
International students in Japan	231,146 (May 2022)	408,069 (May 2025)	Growth of about 77% in three years
Annual growth in 2024	336,708 students	21% rise over 2023	Record numbers at every institution type in 2025
Indian students in Japan	1,015 (2016)	1,685 (2024)	Growth of about 66% in eight years
Comparison cohorts (2024)	China: 123,485; Nepal: 64,816	India: 1,685	India is a small cohort with room to grow
MEXT India calendar	Opening on 20 April 2026	Undergraduate results at the end of July 2026	A four-month cycle, from April to July
JASSO Honors amount	48,000 JPY (academic year 2025)	48,000 JPY (2026)	The monthly amount is unchanged

Reports in August 2025 said Japan and India planned to promote the acceptance of Indian students and researchers as part of a target of more than 500,000 people-to-people exchanges over five years. The 2025 figure for Indian students was not available when this guide was written.

Opportunity Research Notes

Our review of official and third-party sources found five points that most guides miss.

1. Stipend figures conflict. One third-party listing shows a research stipend of 148,000 JPY. The Embassy’s own page shows 143,000–145,000 JPY. This guide uses the Embassy figures.
2. Deadlines conflict. One aggregator displays a 1 April 2027 deadline. The Embassy’s published 2027-round deadlines fall in May 2026. Always confirm dates on the Embassy page.
3. Selection quotas are unconfirmed. One secondary source says up to 12 Indian candidates reach the final MEXT screening. The Embassy has not confirmed that number, so treat it as unverified.
4. University routes run on separate calendars. Saitama University’s ESITI doctoral engineering programme, for example, lists 31 October 2026 for April 2027 entry and 15 April 2027 for October 2027 entry under the University Recommendation route.
5. The closed window is a preparation window. The expected calendar below follows the 2027 round, and the Embassy has not announced 2028 dates.

Expected period	Action
November 2026 – January 2027	Shortlist universities and supervisors, and check University Recommendation deadlines
February – March 2027	Draft the research plan, request recommendation letters and certified transcripts, and review the medical certificate format
April 2027	Watch for the Embassy’s opening notice and download the forms
By mid-May 2027	Email the preliminary application
Early June 2027	Expect the preliminary result
June – July 2027	Submit full documents and attend the exam and interview
Mid-2027	Watch for ADB-JSP calls from designated institutions

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Indian students get a fully funded scholarship in Japan?

Yes. The Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship funds tuition, return airfare and a monthly stipend for Indian students through the Embassy of Japan in India. The Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program also funds master’s study in development fields at designated institutions. Both programmes are competitive, and each has its own eligibility rules and deadlines.

When does the MEXT scholarship open for Indian applicants?

The Embassy of Japan opened the 2027 Research Student round on 20 April 2026 and closed it on 15 May 2026. The undergraduate deadline was 25 May 2026. Based on that pattern, the next round will likely open around April 2027. No 2028 dates were published when this article was written, so check the Embassy website each April.

Is Japanese required to apply for MEXT?

No. Most MEXT research and undergraduate tracks do not require Japanese proficiency at the time of application. The undergraduate track includes a one-year preparatory programme in Japanese and other subjects for students who choose that pathway. English-taught graduate programmes let many research students work in English. Check your field’s requirements.

What is the MEXT monthly stipend?

Research students receive 143,000 JPY (about 915 USD) in the preparatory stage, 144,000 JPY (about 925 USD) for master’s and 145,000 JPY (about 930 USD) for doctoral study. Undergraduates receive 117,000 JPY (about 750 USD). Designated regions add 2,000–3,000 JPY. Convert to rupees at the day’s rate.

What is the age limit for the MEXT Research route?

Research applicants must, in principle, be born on or after 2 April 1992, which means 35 or younger in April 2027. Undergraduate applicants must be born on or after 2 April 2002 in the 2027 round. Each year’s guidelines shift these dates by one year, so confirm the exact cut-off in the current Embassy guidelines.

Can I apply for MEXT directly through a university?

Yes, in some cases. MEXT also runs a University Recommendation route, where a Japanese university nominates its own applicants. That route depends on contact with the university, and deadlines differ by institution. The Embassy route is separate, and it is the primary route for Indian students.

What is the difference between Embassy and University Recommendation?

Under Embassy Recommendation, you apply to the Embassy of Japan in India, which screens you and nominates you to MEXT. Under University Recommendation, a Japanese university selects its own candidates and recommends them to MEXT. Embassy applicants receive a university placement later, while university applicants already have one.

Is IELTS required for Japan scholarships?

The MEXT research checklist lists a language certificate only if you hold one, so IELTS is not a standard mandatory document. Individual universities and English-taught programmes may set their own English requirements for admission, so check each programme page. ADB-JSP programmes run in English, so expect to show English proficiency there.

How does JASSO differ from MEXT?

MEXT is a fully funded government scholarship covering tuition, airfare and a stipend of up to 145,000 JPY monthly. JASSO’s Honors Scholarship for privately financed students pays 48,000 JPY (about 310 USD) monthly and covers no tuition. JASSO supports students who already enrol at a Japanese institution and need help with living costs.

Can I apply to the ADB-Japan Scholarship Program directly?

No. You apply for admission to a designated master’s programme at a participating institution and state that you want the scholarship. The institution nominates candidates, and the ADB makes the final selection. The programme offers about 130 scholarships a year across 27 institutions, including 17 in Japan.

What should I do if I missed this year’s deadline?

Use the closed window to prepare for the next round. Shortlist universities and supervisors, draft the research plan, collect transcripts and recommendation letters, and review the medical certificate format. Watch for the next ADB-JSP call, and ask target universities whether they run University Recommendation rounds for MEXT.

How many Indian students receive MEXT each year?

The Embassy of Japan’s published pages do not state a yearly count of Indian grantees or an acceptance rate. One secondary source reports that up to 12 Indian candidates go to the final MEXT screening, but the Embassy has not confirmed it. Treat any quoted success rate as unverified, and focus on application quality.

Conclusion

Scholarships in Japan for Indian students centre on the MEXT Scholarship, supported by the ADB-Japan Scholarship Program, the JASSO Honors Scholarship and university awards. The 2027 MEXT round has closed, and the next round will likely open around April 2027. Applicants who start now can enter that round with a finished research plan, sealed documents and a clear route.