For Nigerian and Indian students planning to study in Japan, the Japanese Government’s MEXT Scholarship is worth preparing for well before applications open. It can cover tuition, a monthly allowance and travel to Japan, but applicants must choose the right scholarship category and route. The 2027 embassy application deadlines have passed; the next embassy-recommendation cycle has not yet been announced.
Status: Closed for 2027 entry. The embassy applications for students starting in 2027 closed in May and June 2026 (checked October 14, 2026). The next call, for 2028 entry, is not published yet. Recruitment normally runs from April to May of the year before you arrive, so expect it around April 2027.
Scholarship types
MEXT has seven types:
- Research Students: for a master’s, PhD or non-degree research.
- Undergraduate Students: for a bachelor’s degree.
- College of Technology Students.
- Specialized Training College Students.
- Teacher Training Students.
- Japanese Studies Students.
- Young Leaders Program (YLP).
Most types use embassy recommendation: you apply to the Embassy of Japan in your country. Some types can also come through a Japanese university that recommends you. YLP goes through official recommending organisations. In India, these are the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Law and Justice, CII and FICCI.
Who can apply
These are the rules for 2027 entry, the latest published cycle.
- Research Students: born on or after April 2, 1992. You need 16 years of schooling, or a bachelor’s degree of three years or more.
- Undergraduate Students: born on or after April 2, 2002. You need 12 years of schooling, finished by March 2027.
- College of Technology and Specialized Training College: in Nigeria, born on or after April 2, 2002.
- You must be a citizen of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. Nigeria and India both qualify.
Extra rules in India: Research applicants need at least 70% in their bachelor’s degree, or 65% in humanities and social sciences. Undergraduate applicants need at least 80% in Grade 12.
Important: These are 2027-cycle age and academic criteria, not guaranteed requirements for 2028. Always follow the next year’s official guidelines rather than estimating your eligibility from the previous cut-off.
What it covers
- Tuition: no entrance exam, admission or tuition fees.
- Flight: one economy ticket to Japan from the international airport nearest to you.
- Monthly stipend, Research Students (2027): ¥143,000 as a non-degree or preparatory student, ¥144,000 in a master’s, and ¥145,000 in a PhD.
- Monthly stipend, Undergraduate, College of Technology and Specialized Training (2027): ¥117,000.
- Teacher Training (2026): ¥143,000 a month.
- Japanese Studies (2026): ¥117,000 a month.
Students in some regions of Japan get an extra ¥2,000 or ¥3,000 a month. The guidelines say amounts may change each year.
Which MEXT category should you choose?
| Your goal | Possible category | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s, PhD or advanced research | Research Students | Draft your field-of-study and research plan; check degree and age rules |
| First bachelor’s degree | Undergraduate Students | Review the required subjects, age threshold and entrance examinations |
| Technical or vocational college | College of Technology or Specialized Training College | Confirm the institution type and country-specific application route |
| Teaching or Japanese-language development | Teacher Training or Japanese Studies | Check the separate eligibility conditions and timing |
These categories are not interchangeable. A Research Student applying through the embassy may need an academic plan and university placement documents, while a first-degree applicant follows different examination requirements. Read the official category overview before downloading forms.
Embassy recommendation versus university recommendation
Embassy recommendation: you apply through the Japanese diplomatic mission in your country, following that mission’s deadline and screening process. This is the route described by the Nigeria and India examples in this article.
University recommendation: selected Japanese universities can nominate applicants for particular MEXT scholarships. Availability and procedures vary by university and programme. Do not assume an embassy deadline also applies to a university nomination.
Frequently asked questions
Is MEXT open for Nigerian applicants today?
No, the Japanese Embassy in Nigeria labels the 2027 embassy-recommendation round closed. Its published deadline was June 8, 2026.
Does MEXT require IELTS?
There is no single IELTS requirement covering every scholarship type and selection route. Applicants may face language assessment or programme-specific language conditions. Check the current embassy guidelines and intended university.
Can I apply without knowing Japanese?
Some categories include preparatory Japanese-language study, but that does not remove all language or examination requirements. Read the conditions for your category.
When will MEXT 2028 applications open?
No confirmed 2028 embassy-recommendation dates were published as of October 14, 2026. Consult the Nigerian or Indian embassy’s scholarship page for the next announcement.
Last cycle’s dates
Use these to plan. The 2028 dates are not published yet.
- Nigeria, 2027 entry: the deadline for Research, Undergraduate, College of Technology and Specialized Training was June 8, 2026. The embassy contacts successful candidates only.
- India, Research, 2027 entry: applications from April 20 to May 15, 2026. Written exam on July 5, 2026. Online interviews from July 16 to 19, 2026.
- India, Undergraduate and related types, 2027 entry: applications from April 23 to May 25, 2026. Written exam on June 20, 2026. Online interview on June 22, 2026.
- Final results: between January and March of the year you start.
How to apply through the embassy
For the embassy-recommendation route, submit your application as instructed by the Japanese embassy or consulate responsible for your location, not directly to MEXT in Japan. University-recommendation programmes follow a different application process through the participating Japanese institution. Always check which route is available for your scholarship category.
Nigeria: submit a printed application, by hand or by post, to the Embassy of Japan in Nigeria (MEXT Selection Committee), No. 9 Bobo Street, Off Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja. The embassy does not accept email applications. It does not screen incomplete applications.
India, Research Students: first email a preliminary form in Word format, no larger than 1 MB. Shortlisted applicants then send the full set of documents.
India, Undergraduate Students: submit by post, courier or in person to the Embassy in New Delhi or to the consulate for your state (Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai or Bengaluru). The embassy does not accept email applications.
Documents for Research Students:
- Application form.
- Placement preference form.
- Field of study and research plan.
- Transcripts and degree certificate.
- Recommendation letter.
- Medical certificate.
Documents for Undergraduate Students:
- Application form.
- Transcripts and graduation certificate.
- Recommendation from your teacher or principal.
- Medical certificate.
Official pages: MEXT scholarship types, Embassy of Japan in Nigeria and Embassy of Japan in India.
Tips for the 2028 cycle
- Check official embassy announcements from early 2027. Previous cycles opened in spring, but the 2028 schedule has not been confirmed. Do not treat a predicted date as a deadline.
- Write your research plan early. It is a required document for Research applicants, so give it time.
- Prepare for the written exam. Shortlisted applicants sit a written exam. Check the subjects for your type in the new guidelines.
- Send a complete set. In Nigeria, an incomplete application is not screened at all.
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- Fully Funded Scholarships in Australia: What's Actually Real in 2027
Status checked October 14, 2026, from studyinjapan.go.jp and the Embassies of Japan in Nigeria and India. Check the official 2028 announcement before you apply.