Office of International Relations
Scholarships
Contents
Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship：Embassy Recommendation
- What is the Embassy Recommendation for Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship (Research Students)?
This is a program in which Japanese embassies or consulates abroad conduct recruitment and the primary screening of applicants, then recommend selected candidates to MEXT. Only those who pass the Primary Screening conducted by the Japanese embassy or consulate in their home country are eligible to apply for the entrance examination of their desired university.
Applicants must first undergo the Primary Screening at the Japanese embassy or consulate in their country of nationality. Upon passing the screening, they may apply for the university’s admission screening. If accepted, the enrollment period will be either April or October of the following year.
At the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, the University of Tokyo (hereinafter referred to as "IST, UTokyo"), as a general rule, applicants are accepted as Postgraduate International Research Students (non-degree students). Those who wish to proceed to a Master’s or Doctoral program must take and pass the general entrance examination after arriving in Japan.
Please note that application periods and examination schedules differ depending on the Japanese embassy or consulate. For details, please contact the Japanese diplomatic mission in your country of nationality:
https://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/over/index.html
Recruitment of AY2026 MEXT Scholarship Students (Research Students) Recommended by the Embassy:
Those who wish to enroll in IST, UTokyo must complete an online application according to the procedure below after passing the Primary Screening conducted by the Japanese embassy or consulate.
After receiving your online application, the Office of International Relations of IST, UTokyo will contact your desired prospective supervising professor to confirm whether they are able to accept you. If the professor gives their preliminary consent, and it is approved by the Graduate School Screening Committee, a “Letter of Provisional Acceptance” signed by the Dean will be issued.
1, Deadline for Online Application Registration & Document Submission (Upload)
●Embassy Recommendation Applicants: September 1, 2025 (23:59 JST)
●中国赴 Applicants: TBD
※Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.
2, Important Notes Before Application
• At IST, UTokyo, as a general rule, applicants are accepted as Postgraduate International Research Students (non-degree students).
• Those wishing to enroll in a regular degree program (Master’s or Doctoral course) must take and pass the entrance examination. Please check whether you are able to solve past entrance exam questions in advance:
https://www.i.u-tokyo.ac.jp/edu/entra/examarchive.shtml
• Confirm in advance whether there is a faculty member who is conducting research in your desired field:
(Search by keyword) https://www.i.u-tokyo.ac.jp/edu/keyword.shtml
(Search by department) https://www.i.u-tokyo.ac.jp/edu/intro/index.shtml
• A “Certificate of Passing the Primary Screening” issued by the Japanese embassy/consulate is required at the time of online application.
• A “Letter of Provisional Acceptance” signed by the Dean will be issued around mid-September only if the professor gives their preliminary consent, and it is approved by the Graduate School Screening Committee. This letter states that the applicant will be accepted on the condition that the MEXT scholarship is granted. It will be sent as a PDF file; applicants must submit it themselves to the Japanese embassy or consulate.
• Please also read the Application Guidelines issued by MEXT.
3, Online Application Procedure (*Available from July 15, 2025)
(1) Prepare all required documents. (See list of required documents)
(2) Access the appropriate online application system below and enter/confirm your application details:
・【For Embassy Recommendation Applicants】 Access here.
・【For 中国赴 Applicants】 Access here.
(3) Upload all required documents.
Convert all documents into PDF format and upload them via “My Page” on the online application system. (No need to send documents by post)
(4) Document submission (upload) deadline:
・【For Embassy Recommendation Applicants】 September 1, 2025 (23:59 JST)
・【For 中国赴 Applicants】 TBD
(5)Important Notes
・After uploading all required documents on “My Page,” you must click the “Confirm” button.
・Once submission is complete, “Application Confirmed” will be displayed on your status, and you will receive a confirmation email. Make sure to check on “My Page” whether your application has been successfully submitted.
・You can still make changes to your application content, submitted documents, or even cancel your application until the deadline even after confirming submission.
・If you do not receive a confirmation email after completing your application, please contact the office listed below via email by August 29, 2025.
Office of International Relations (OIR)
Graduate School of Information Science and Technology
The University of Tokyo
Room 131, 1F, Engineer Building No.6
7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, JAPAN
Email: istoir(at)gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship：University Recommendation (General Selection)
- What is Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Students (University Recommendation [General Selection])?
Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship (University Recommendation [General Selection]) allows each Japanese university to conduct the recruitment and preliminary selection and recommend candidates to Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, MEXT. The scholarship is designed for students to start their studies only in October each year. If accepted as a MEXT scholarship student, applicants will enroll as a “Graduate International Research Student (non-degree)” in the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology. To advance to a master's or doctoral program while receiving the MEXT scholarship, applicants must take and pass the regular admission of the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology after arriving in Japan.
- Things You Need to Check Before Applying
Applicants are advised to send an inquiry via email to Office of International Relations (istoir.t[at]gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp) to confirm their eligibility based on their nationality. If deemed eligible, applicants should first contact the professors at the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology to obtain an unofficial agreement for acceptance. Once this agreement is received, applicants should prepare and submit all application materials in accordance with the guidelines provided.
- Online application submission period
Monday, October 6 until Friday, October 17, 2025 at 17:00 (JST)
- Online Application Procedures
Further details will be uploaded after August 2025.
- Contact：
Office of International Relations (OIR)
Graduate School of Information Science and Technology
The University of Tokyo
Email: istoir(at)gs.mail.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Japanese Student Services Organization (JASSO) "Scholarship for Private-Financed International Students"
- Qualifications
If you meet the following conditions, you are eligible to apply:
-
- "Student" visa holder
- Degree program students and research students
- Applicants must have acquired higher academic records than the criterion.
- The average monthly remittance must be less than 90,000 yen.
- You must not be receiving any other scholarships that have restrictions on the concurrent payment.
- Supporter in Japan earns less than 500 million yen a year.
※For details, please check the application guidelines for each year.
- Amount: 48,000 yen a month (as of 2025)
- Term of Scholarship: 1 year or 6 months
- Application Period: Once a year (as a general rule) around April. If there are vacancies, second recruitment will be done in October.
The University of Tokyo Fellowship Program (UTokyo Fellowship)
The Graduate School of Information Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo offers research grants to exceptionally qualified self-funded international students who are admitted to its doctoral program. This initiative aims to support their academic pursuits and research activities at the University as they work toward the completion of their doctoral degrees. Detailed information regarding the application and selection process will be communicated directly by the Graduate School to eligible individuals only.
UTokyo Foundation for Supporting International Students
The University of Tokyo collects contributions for supporting international students. UTokyo grants scholarships to international students who are doing well in study and have difficulties financially.
- Amount of Subsidy: 50,000 yen a month
- Term of Scholarship: 1 year or 6 months
- Application Period: Twice a year
Scholarship Offered by Private Organizations
The Graduate School of Information Science and Technology and the School of Engineering have a private scholarship registration system (twice a year, in February and August) to recommend privately financed international students for private scholarships that require a university recommendation. International students who wish to apply for scholarships that require a university recommendation must register within the period. Students who have registered in the past also need to register again with all the documents ready. Please note that we will not accept anything outside the registration period under any circumstances.
**Students cannot choose which scholarships to apply for.
