Research Students
Research Student
The MEXT Scholarship Research Students program offers applicants the opportunity to spend 18 or 24 months conducting independent research under a Japanese professor.
While any field of study is eligible for the scholarship, applicants must find a Japanese professor willing to supervise their research, which should be related to their undergraduate field of study. Please note that finding a professor does not guarantee placement with that specific individual. For further details, please refer to the Application Guidelines linked below.
Before applying, applicants should ensure that their chosen Japanese universities accept international students. For degree courses in English, please use the resources below:
- University Degree Courses In English - Japan Study Support
- Study in Japan, Degree Programs in English
The general timeline for the 2026 scholarship application/selection process is outlined below:
| EARLY APRIL - MID-MAY | MEXT scholarship application documents become available |
|---|---|
| MAY 23 | Application deadline |
| LATE MAY - EARLY JUNE | Notification of invitation to interview and exam* |
| JUNE 18 | Interviews take place (first screening) |
| JUNE 18 | *Japanese exam (first screening) for applicants who select "Japanese" or "Japanese or English" as the desired instruction language only |
| LATE JULY | Notification of first screening results |
| SEPTEMBER 1 (JST) | Applicant must contact Japanese universities requesting admission by this date |
| SEPTEMBER 23 (MDT) | Applicant must provide Letter(s) of Provisional Acceptance to the Denver Consulate by this date |
| JANUARY 2026 | Notification of secondary screening results (from MEXT) and university placement |
| MARCH 2026 | Travel arrangements to Japan are made for the scholarship recipient |
| APRIL or SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2026 | Departure for Japan and beginning of scholarship period |
Application Deadline
Friday, May 23, 2025
Complete applications must be received by this date. Submissions after 5 PM on May 23, 2025, will not be reviewed.
Please send all completed applications to:
MEXT Scholarship Office
CONSULATE-GENERAL of JAPAN in DENVER
1225 17th Street, Suite 3000
Denver, CO 80202
Interview and Test
The interviews are scheduled to be held on Thursday, June 18, 2025.
*Applicants who select "Japanese" or "Japanese or English" as their desired language of instruction must take a Japanese language exam. This exam will be held on Thursday, June 18, 2025, at the Consulate-General of Japan in Denver.
The MEXT Scholarship Coordinator will contact you directly via email to confirm your interview and exam invitation, along with any other relevant information.
Application Guidelines & Forms
The documents listed below comprise the entire application packet including informational guidelines as well as application materials to be submitted. All application documents must be submitted together in a single packet to the MEXT Scholarship Office at the Denver Consulate.
Application Guidelines
Application Forms
- Application Form for FY2026
- Placement Preference Application Form for FY2026
- Field of Study and Research Plan
- Certificate of Health
Note: Certificate of Health must be filled out by a medical doctor or healthcare professional. - Recommendation Letter Sample
Note: This is a sample. Any form/style of letter is acceptable.
Notes
- Please ensure that you thoroughly review all information provided in the Application Guidelines.
- Only complete application packets will be considered for review.
- All application materials must be submitted together in one packet to the MEXT Scholarship Office.
- Please submit all completed applications to:
MEXT Scholarship Office
Consulate-General of Japan in Denver
1225 17th Street, Suite 3000
Denver, CO 80202
If you have any questions concerning the scholarships or application procedures, please contact MEXT Scholarship Office at cgjd-pr[@]de.mofa.go.jp.