The following information is intended for prospective international students currently based overseas and wishing to attend Kyoto University on the Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) Scholarship.
For information for privately-financed international students currently enrolled at Kyoto University, see Scholarships for privately-financed international students.
Categories
The Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship, funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), is available to seven categories of students: 1) Research Students (Graduate-Degree Students and Research [non-degree] Students), 2) Teacher Training Students, 3) Undergraduate Students, 4) Japanese Studies Students, 5) College of Technology Students, 6) Professional Training College Students, and 7) Young Leaders Program (YLP) Students.
Kyoto University accepts the following categories of international students:
| Research Students | Undergraduate Students | Japanese Studies Students |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate degree and non-degree students | Undergraduate degree students | Credited auditors |
Application period, eligibility, and benefits (as of September 2026)
The information provided below is based on past application guidelines and subject to change. Prospective applicants are advised to read the guidelines applicable to their intended year of entry.
Reference:
MEXT: "About the MEXT Scholarships"
The above webpage is written mostly in Japanese, but is linked to pages providing links to application guidelines in English.
| Category | Research Students | Undergraduate Students | Japanese Studies Students2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application method | Embassy Recommendation | University Recommendation (Special Selection) | Embassy Recommendation1 | University Recommendation (Special Selection) | Embassy Recommendation | University Recommendation |
| Application period | Around April – May | Varies by program | Around April – May | Varies by program | Around December | Around February |
| Arrival in Japan | Early April or late September of the following year | Around April of the following year | Late September of the following year | Late September | ||
| Selection method | Evaluation of submitted documents, a written exam, an interview, and others | Evaluation of submitted documents, an interview, and others | Evaluation of submitted documents, a written exam, an interview, and others | Evaluation of submitted documents, an interview, and others | Evaluation of submitted documents, a written exam, an interview, and others | Evaluation of submitted documents, an interview, and others |
| Eligibility | Those who have graduated, or expect to graduate, from an undergraduate or higher degree program | Those who have graduated, or expect to graduate, from a secondary school or equivalent | Overseas undergraduate students majoring in fields related to the Japanese language and/or culture (having studied these subjects for a total period of one year or more as of 1 September of the year they expect to arrive in Japan), and expecting to return to their home universities after completing a program in Japan | |||
| Age (as of 1 April of the year of arrival) | 34 or younger | 24 or younger | 18–29 | |||
| Duration | Non-degree students: up to 2 years, including a six-month Japanese-language training period3,4 (not mandatory for those with sufficient language skills) | Within the standard period of study for program participants5 | Five years, including a one-year Japanese language training period1 | Within the standard period of study for program participants | One year | |
| Degree students (master's, professional, and doctoral): until completion of the degree program (not to exceed the standard number of years required)4 | ||||||
| Monthly stipend6 |
| 117,000 yen | 117,000 yen | |||
Additional monthly payment:
| ||||||
| School fees6 | Examination, admission, and tuition fees are exempted | |||||
| Traveling cost6 | One round-trip ticket is provided | |||||
1
The language training is provided at either ABK College or Osaka University during the first year of the scholarship period. The program includes Japanese language and other subjects needed to prepare for undergraduate studies, and must be completed before the student goes on to university. The university to be attended by the student for undergraduate studies is determined by MEXT in consultation with the preparatory educational institution and the university itself. For details, refer to the MEXT Scholarship application guidelines.
Please note that undergraduate MEXT Scholarship students are not eligible to enroll in the six-year programs at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences’ Division of Pharmacy and the Faculty of Medicine’s School of Medical Science at Kyoto University.
2
For details on Kyoto University's Japanese studies program, see:
Japanese Studies Students Program (in Japanese).
3
Intensive Japanese language training is available to MEXT Research and Teacher Training Students expecting to conduct graduate-level research in the Kyoto or Shiga region. For details, see Intensive Japanese Language Course for Monbukagakusho Scholarship Students.
4
Those wishing to go on to a master's, doctoral, or professional degree program may apply for an extension of the scholarship to cover their postgraduate studies. Applications are evaluated by the university and MEXT, and may be granted based on academic records and other criteria.
Please note that not all the applications are approved.
5
Whether the scholarship period can be extended for recipients advancing from a master's to a doctoral program depends on the program. Please contact the relevant office for details.
6
All scholarship benefits are subject to specified requirements.
Application procedures
Pre-arrival applications should be submitted through either:
1) a Japanese diplomatic mission (Embassy Recommendation) or
2) a Japanese university (University Recommendation).
Most of the MEXT Scholarship students at Kyoto University earned their scholarships through Embassy Recommendation.
Note: For information for privately-financed international students currently enrolled at Kyoto University, see Scholarships for privately-financed international students.
1. Embassy Recommendation
To obtain an "Embassy Recommendation", applicants must submit their applications to the Japanese embassy, consulate, or other diplomatic mission in their home countries for the initial screening. Those interested are advised to contact an appropriate Japanese diplomatic mission in their countries.
In China, however, applications should be submitted to the country's Ministry of Education for the first screening. The application requirements, schedule, and process differ from those for Embassy Recommendation. Successful applicants usually arrive in Japan in October. Contact your home university in China or China Scholarship Council (CSC) for more details.
Regular schedule (subject to change)
| Before arriving in Japan | April | Application | |
|---|---|---|---|
| May – August | Japanese diplomatic mission review ("first screening") | ||
| In the case of research students: Application for a Letter of Provisional Acceptance from a Japanese university8 | |||
| October | MEXT review ("second screening") | ||
| January - March | Notification of results | ||
| March (September)7 | Immigration procedures | ||
| During the stay in Japan | Early April (late September)7 | Arrival in Japan | |
A. Research (non-degree) students:
| B. Degree students: Undergraduate, master's, doctoral, or professional-degree studies4 Note: Students need to have passed the entrance exam before the program begin | ||
| Entrance examination | |||
| Undergraduate, master's, doctoral, or professional-degree studies4 | |||
| Returning to home country | |||
7
Months in parentheses are for those arriving in late September.
8
See the following section: "For those wishing to obtain a Letter of Provisional Acceptance from Kyoto University".
For those wishing to obtain a Letter of Provisional Acceptance from Kyoto University
Follow the procedures outlined below after receiving the Passing Certificate of the First Screening or a notification of selection from a Japanese diplomatic mission.
Period for requesting a Letter of Provisional Acceptance
From the date of receipt of the Passing Certificate through Tuesday 1 September 2026 (JST)9,10
9
Requests received on or after Wednesday 2 September will not be accepted.
10
Please note that some graduate schools/research institutes may close applications before 1 September 2025.
Procedures and contact method
- Choose a prospective academic advisor, such as by searching the webpages listed below.
The University is not available to make any recommendations; applicants are responsible for selecting their academic advisors based on their own research interests. - Obtain a Passing Certificate of the First Screening from a Japanese diplomatic mission, contact the prospective academic advisor, and request a Letter of Provisional Acceptance from that faculty.
Applicants may contact a prospective academic advisor in either of the following two ways:- As part of an online application process through the Admissions Assistance Office (AAO)
AAO Guideline for applicants who passed the 1st screening of the MEXT Scholarship Embassy Recommendation
Note: The University needs to receive the scholarship application documents in order to issue a letter of provisional acceptance. Please carefully read the AAO Guidelines linked above and submit your application accordingly. - Directly or through the administrative office of the graduate school/research institute
Contact information can be found via the following:- Activity Database on Education and Research (for locating prospective academic advisors)
- Administrative offices
Email requests for a Letter of Provisional Acceptance must have the following as the subject line:
<MEXT: Embassy Recommendation> Application for a Letter of Provisional Acceptance
- As part of an online application process through the Admissions Assistance Office (AAO)
Notes
- It may take a month or more for the graduate school or the faculty member concerned to evaluate the submitted materials and make a decision about the application.
The above-mentioned date, 1 September 2026, is not the day when the application results are announced (successful applicants will be issued a completed Letter of Provisional Acceptance). It is therefore advisable to apply for the AAO process in plenty of time. - Those issued a Letter of Provisional Acceptance must apply not only for the scholarship but also for the University.
In particular, those wishing to enroll in a master's, doctoral, or professional-degree program are required to pass the entrance exam carried out by the graduate school concerned. Learn about the application period and other details by reading the guidelines provided on the graduate school websites. - Those who decide to withdraw their application after being issued a Letter of Provisional Acceptance are asked to immediately contact their prospective academic advisor.
University offices are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and official holidays.
Please note that all administrative services, including replying to email inquiries, will be suspended on those days.
During August 2026, University offices will be closed on the following dates:- Tuesday 11 August (national holiday)
- Monday 10 & Wednesday 12 August (University summer closure period)
Additionally, some offices, including the International Student Division, will be closed Thursday 13 – Friday 14 August as well.
Resources for finding a prospective academic advisor
Information on the education and research activities of KyotoU teaching staff can be found at the following websites as well:
Language of instruction
All Kyoto University undergraduate, master's, and professional degree courses and examinations, with the exception of English-taught degree programs, are generally conducted in the Japanese language. Therefore, most of those intending to enroll in the University's undergraduate, master's, and professional degree programs must have sufficient proficiency in Japanese at the time of matriculation.
Please read this page to learn about English-taught degree programs offered by the University, and this page for Japanese-language learning opportunities available after enrollment.
2. University Recommendation (Special Selection)
The University Recommendation (Special Selection) scholarship is for outstanding international students who enroll in special programs approved by MEXT.
To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must first:
- Apply for and obtain admission to an eligible special program
- Be nominated by Kyoto University as a scholarship candidate
Scholarship recipients are selected and approved by MEXT from among these candidates.
Eligible programs
Please note the following regarding eligible special programs:
- Special programs are normally designated for three years.
- The list of eligible programs may change from year to year.
- Each program has its own eligibility requirements, application periods, and selection procedures. Applicants are therefore advised to carefully review the application guidelines for their chosen program.
- For questions about a specific program, please contact its administrative office.
List of eligible programs and related links
Regarding the handling of personal information
Personal information provided at the time of application and personal information related to the application will be used for the scholarship screening process. The information may also be used for the general management of financial support data within the university, and for the management and screening of other projects within the university to facilitate its provision of appropriate support.
Contact
International Student Support Section
International Student Division
Kyoto University
Email: intlstudent*mail2.adm.kyoto-u.ac.jp (replace * with @)