Japanese Government (MEXT) Undergraduate Scholarships

 

The application window for the 2026 MEXT Undergraduate Scholarship Programme for UK nationals is now closed. At the moment, it is unlikely that applications for the 2027 Undergraduate Scholarship will open for UK nationals. This will be confirmed on this web page in April 2026.

 

Table of Contents

• Application Documents
• General Outline
• Application Timetable
• MEXT Alumni Personal Experiences
• Alumni Association in the UK
• Information on Safety and Disaster Management
• Promotional Material

 

Past Application Documents (for reference)

Please be sure to thoroughly read through the Application Guidelines before submitting the necessary documents for your application.Fields of art, including music, are not majors eligible for application.

• Application documents for download
• Self-Assessment Medical Report (Word)
  *Temporary alternative form to Certificate of Health which shortlisted candidates may submit by mid-August

The 2026 list of undergraduate courses permitting direct placement is expected to be available from July.

 

General Outline

This award is offered on an annual basis to those with 12 years of school education, who are under the age of 24 and wish to study at a national university in Japan.

Scholarships are tenable from April each year. Grantees will hold their award for five to seven years, including the one-year preparatory education in the Japanese language. The Japanese Government provides return airfare, school fees and a monthly grant of ¥117,000 (subject to change).

All enquiries should be emailed to:

MEXT Undergraduate Scholarship
Japan Information and Cultural Centre
Embassy of Japan
scholarship@ld.mofa.go.jp
 
 

Application Timetable

Application deadline	2 June 2025
UK exams and interviews	3 July 2025
Results of primary screening in the UK*	July 2025
Secondary screening in Tokyo	October to November 2025
FINAL RESULTS with placement by Tokyo	December to February 2026
Pre-departure orientation	March 2026
Departure for Japan	April or September/October 2026

 

*Please note that, although candidates may be successful up until this point, the final result depends on confirmation of their university placement.

 

MEXT Alumni Personal Experiences

• Gerard Glowacki - Osaka University
• Russ Ryuichi Houghton - Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
• Megan Gouw - University of Toyama

 

Alumni Association in the UK

• British Association of MEXT Scholars

 

Information on Safety and Disaster Management

Earthquake information is available in English on NHK World website.  

 

Promotional Material

• Promotional flyer (PDF)