Research Student

RESEARCH STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP
Research Student Scholarships offer college graduates and graduate students the opportunity to study and research a specific field at a Japanese university.
To apply, applicants must :

  • Hold U.S. citizenship
  • Be born on or after April 2, 1991.
  • Satisfy the qualification requirements for admission to a master's degree course or a doctoral degree course at a Japanese graduate school (Includes applicants who are certainly expected to satisfy the requirements by the time of enrollment)
  • Be willing to learn Japanese. Applicants must be interested in Japan and be willing to deepen their understanding of Japan after arriving in Japan. Applicants must also have the ability to do research and adapt to living in Japan
  • When selecting an April state date, applicants must be able to arrive in Japan between April 1, 2026 and April 7, 2026. For October selection, applicants must be able to arrive in Japan during the period specified by the accepting university within two weeks before and after the starting date of the university's relevant academic term (September or October) for that year.

FIELDS OF STUDY

Applicants should apply for the field of study they majored in at university or its related field. Moreover, the fields of study must be subjects which applicants will be able to study and research in graduate courses at Japanese universities.
Traditional entertainment arts such as Kabuki and classical Japanese dances, or subjects that require practical training in specific technologies or techniques at factories or companies are not included in the fields of study under this scholarship program. A student who studies medicine, dentistry or welfare science will not be allowed to engage in clinical training such as medical care and operative surgery until he/she obtains a relevant license from the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare under applicable Japanese laws.

Deadline

- Status: OPEN
- Deadline: Friday, May 23, 2025

Interview & Test Dates

- Interview Date (Virtual) : Mid-June TBD
- Written Exam: Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Application Forms

To download application forms and guidelines for applying, please visit the "Study in Japan: A Comprehensive Guide" website. All applicants must read the Scholarship Guidelines thoroughly before applying.

Study in Japan: A Comprehensive Guide Website

* Frequently Asked Questions (Research)

For inquiries, call the Japan Information Center at (212) 418-4463, or email us at scholarship@ny.mofa.go.jp. Phone inquiries will be answered Mon-Fri 9:15 AM - 5:45 PM, except on holidays.

All applications must arrive by mail at the address listed below, or delivered in person to the Japan Information Center. For in-person submission, please email scholarship@ny.mofa.go.jp to schedule an appointment with the MEXT Scholarship Coordinator.

Attn: MEXT Scholarship Program
Consulate General of Japan in New York
299 Park Ave, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10171

* We suggest mailing documents with a tracking number.
** This is not a "post-marked" by deadline. Late applications will not be considered.