Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship (Research Students) for 2026
Updated on April 14, 2025
We are pleased to announce that you can now apply for the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship for 2026 (Research Students).
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) offers scholarships to international students who wish to study graduate courses at Japanese universities as research students (either non-degree or degree students) under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for 2026.
Application Procedure for MEXT 2026 (Research Students)
Please read the application guidelines on the 'Study in Japan' website for more details and use the forms on the site.
• Application Procedure and necessary documents for Research Students
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap_stopj-applications_research.html
* If you cannot view the PDF files, it might be because your PC's Acrobat Reader does not support the Japanese font. We recommend you to install the Japanese font from the Adobe website.
Selection Schedule for Dutch Nationals
We will not accept any applications after the deadline.
Please double-check that you submit all the requested documents to us and make sure they are filled out completely. If any document is missing or if any document is incomplete, this could negatively affect your application. This also applies to the Certificate of Health. Please make sure every section is filled out when you receive the Certificate from your doctor. After the preliminary screening based on the submitted documents, successful candidates of the Preliminary Screening will be invited for the interview and the written examination. Please also keep in mind that an ‘original document’ refers to it being signed or stamped with ink by the issuing person or institution. In addition, we ask you not to staple the documents.
| May 20, 2025 (Before 17:00) |
Deadline for applications Applications are to be submitted directly or by post (hard-copy) to: Embassy of Japan in the Netherlands (Attn: Cultural Section / MEXT RS) Tobias Asserlaan 5, 2517 KC Den Haag |
| Late May 2025 | Preliminary Screening |
| June 2, 2025 | Written Examination and Interview (First Screening) (at the Embassy of Japan in the Netherlands). The location and date will be the same for all candidates. No exceptions will be made. |
| Early July 2025 | The Embassy will announce the result of the First Screening |
| Early August, 2025 | Deadline for requesting a provisional acceptance to universities in Japan |
| Later September, 2025 | Deadline for submitting the final Placement Preference Application Form to the Embassy |
| From November 2025 | Second Screening and university placement |
| From January 2026 | Final decision by MEXT Notification of the result and university placement |
| The beginning of April 2026 or September - October 2026 |
Departure to Japan |
*In some circumstances, due to for example travel restrictions, there is the possibility that the selection process will be cancelled or that applicants will not be able to come to Japan even after being granted the scholarship.
Contact
Tel: 070-3469544
Email: info@hg.mofa.go.jp (Please mention "MEXT Scholarships for Research Students (your name)" in the subject line.)