Osaka University MEXT Scholarship 2026/2027: Eligibility, Deadline & How to Apply

By Olami, AbroadPilot · Reviewed September 2026

The Osaka University MEXT Scholarship is a fully funded award for international students who want to study at one of Japan’s leading national universities. It is part of the Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho / MEXT) Scholarship programme, funded by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and is open to bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students across a wide range of disciplines.

Osaka — a vibrant economic and cultural hub — hosts a globally ranked research university with strong support for MEXT students. This guide explains what the scholarship includes, the two application routes, eligibility, and the timeline.

What the Osaka University MEXT Scholarship covers

• Full tuition fees at Osaka University
• A monthly living stipend (around ¥145,000–¥147,000 depending on level, subject to MEXT’s annual terms)
• Round-trip economy airfare between your home country and Japan
• Support with the student visa process
• Japanese language training where needed before your degree begins

You cannot hold another scholarship covering the same costs at the same time.

The two application routes

There are two ways to win a MEXT place at Osaka:

• Embassy Recommendation: you apply through the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your home country. They run the first screening (documents, written exams, interview), and successful candidates are then matched to a university. This is a government-to-government channel.
• University Recommendation: Osaka University recommends you directly to MEXT. This usually applies to students from partner universities or institutions with a research agreement, and graduate applicants typically request a Letter of Acceptance through Osaka’s Admissions Assistance Desk (AAD) system.

Who is eligible?

• Nationality: be a non-Japanese citizen of a country with diplomatic relations with Japan.
• Age & level: age guidelines vary by level (commonly under 25 for undergraduate, and roughly under 35 for master’s, though limits vary by year and country).
• Academic record: a strong academic background and research potential for your chosen program.
• Health & language: good health, and the language proficiency (Japanese or English) required by your program; graduate applicants usually need a supervisor’s acceptance.
• No double funding: you must not receive another scholarship covering the same expenses.

Deadlines and timeline

Dates differ by route. For graduate applicants using the University Recommendation route, Osaka’s deadline to request a Letter of Acceptance via the AAD system for AY2027 is September 1, 2026 (Japan time). For the Embassy route, applications usually open at your local Japanese Embassy around February–April, with first screening between May and July, and arrival in Japan in the following year.

A typical embassy-route journey: apply at the embassy → first screening (documents, written test, interview) → request a Letter of Acceptance from Osaka → MEXT final decision → arrival in Japan in April or October. Always confirm exact dates with your Japanese Embassy and Osaka University’s official pages.

How to apply: step by step

1. Choose your route. Decide between Embassy Recommendation (via your local Japanese Embassy) or University Recommendation (via Osaka University / a partner institution).
2. Confirm eligibility. Check nationality, age, academic and language requirements for your level and program.
3. Find a program and supervisor. For graduate study, identify your field and contact a prospective academic advisor at Osaka.
4. Prepare documents. Typically an application form, research proposal, language proficiency proof (e.g. TOEFL/TOEIC), transcripts, graduation certificate and a recommendation letter.
5. Pass the first screening. Embassy applicants complete document review, written exams and an interview.
6. Request a Letter of Acceptance (LoA). Graduate applicants apply through Osaka’s AAD system by the stated deadline.
7. Await MEXT’s final decision and complete visa and enrolment steps before arriving in Japan.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Osaka University MEXT Scholarship fully funded?

Yes — it covers full tuition, a monthly stipend and round-trip airfare, with visa support and language training where needed.

Do I apply to the university or the embassy?

Either, depending on the route. Embassy Recommendation goes through your local Japanese Embassy; University Recommendation goes through Osaka University, usually via a partner institution.

Do I need to speak Japanese?

Not always — many graduate programs are offered in English, and language training is provided where needed. Requirements depend on your specific program.

Verify details on the official site: osaka-u.ac.jp/en and your local Japanese Embassy. MEXT terms, stipend amounts and deadlines can change each year, so always confirm before applying.

Explore more options on our Scholarships hub, including the Chevening Scholarship (UK), DAAD Scholarship (Germany) and the Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA).

Olami

Olami is the founder and lead writer at AbroadPilot. He started the site after going through the visa process himself — a German student visa in 2019 and a Canadian work permit in 2023 — and learning first-hand how confusing official immigration language can be, how often rules change, and how easy it is to lose money to bad advice. He spent three years as an international education and travel consultant, helping people source and verify the information that landed their visas and planned their trips. Every guide on AbroadPilot is built from official sources — embassy pages, government immigration portals, and .gov fee schedules — and reviewed as requirements change. AbroadPilot does not sell visas or applications; it is a free resource to help readers apply with confidence.