Institute of Science Tokyo MEXT Scholarship 2027: Eligibility, Supervisor Consent and How to Apply

The Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo) can recommend applicants to its English-taught International Graduate Program (A), or IGP(A), for the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship. MEXT pays a monthly stipend of JPY 147,000 to 148,000, and Science Tokyo waives tuition. You first need a supervisor’s consent letter by 15 November 2026. The closing date is 22 November 2026.

This guide was checked on 15 October 2026 against the official IGP(A) admissions page, the IGP(A) 2027 fall application guide and the Science Tokyo MEXT University Recommendation page.

Science Tokyo MEXT scholarship at a glance

What is IGP(A)?

IGP(A) is Science Tokyo’s English-taught graduate programme in science and engineering. It offers master’s degrees and the Integrated Doctoral Education Program, which combines master’s and doctoral study. The application guide says the MEXT scholarship is for Integrated Doctoral Education Program applicants with outstanding academic records.

What MEXT pays

• Monthly stipend: JPY 147,000 for master’s students and JPY 148,000 for doctoral students.
• Tuition: Science Tokyo waives the enrolment fee and tuition.
• Flights: MEXT provides air tickets to and from Japan under certain conditions.
• Application fee: refunded if you receive MEXT and enrol.

The scholarship first runs for two years. It can be extended to the doctorate if your master’s GPA is 2.50 or higher and you meet MEXT’s other conditions.

Who can apply

• Citizen of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. Japanese citizens cannot apply for MEXT.
• 34 or younger on 1 April of the first scholarship year.
• GPA of at least 2.30 out of 3.00 in your last degree.
• English at CEFR B2 or equivalent, or an all-English degree that meets Science Tokyo’s requirements.
• 16 years of education outside Japan, or a degree from a Japanese university, completed by the day before enrolment. Other routes, such as 15 years of education with an outstanding record, need an individual eligibility assessment.
• Able to study in Japan in good physical and mental health.
• Previous MEXT scholars are generally not eligible.

From 2026 only the Priority scheme is used. At least 75% of nominees come from countries chosen by MEXT, so applicants from other countries face more competition.

Step one: get a supervisor’s consent

Science Tokyo does not consider an application without a faculty member’s consent. Email the professor you want to work with, introduce yourself and send a letter of intent about your study plans. If they agree, they give you a consent letter. Send a copy to the Admissions Division by 15 November 2026. The Division then sends you the link and password for the online application system. Ask your supervisor which graduate major to choose.

Documents you need

Required for all applicants

• Consent letter from your Science Tokyo supervisor
• Online application form
• Official undergraduate transcripts
• Certificate of graduation (or expected graduation)
• Certificate of degree (or expected degree)
• Evaluation sheet with recommendation from your recommender, in the designated format
• Proof of payment of the application fee

Required for the MEXT scholarship

• MEXT scholarship application form
• Recommendation letter from the dean of your university, addressed to the President of Science Tokyo. A letter from your supervisor confirmed and signed by the dean is accepted, but a letter signed only by a department chair is not.
• Proof of English: IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or TOEIC L&R taken within two years before 1 January of the enrolment year, or a certificate that your last degree was taught in English

Conditional

• Certified English or Japanese translations of documents in other languages (translations by independent translators are not accepted)
• Graduate transcripts, if you studied at graduate level before
• Individual eligibility assessment form, if you need one
• Separate proof of writing and speaking, if you use TOEIC L&R

Application fee

The fee is JPY 30,000 plus a system usage fee, paid online by credit card between 9 September and 22 November 2026. It is not refunded, except in a few cases listed in the guide, including when you receive MEXT and enrol.

How to apply, step by step

1. Choose your IGP(A) programme and department.
2. Find a Science Tokyo professor in your field and email them about supervision.
3. Send a copy of the consent letter to the Admissions Division by 15 November 2026.
4. Ask your dean for the MEXT recommendation letter early, as it can take time.
5. Pay the application fee online.
6. Submit the online application and your documents by 22 November 2026.
7. Submit the MEXT documents through the separate scholarship form by 22 November 2026.

Our guides to the study plan and research proposal can help you prepare your letter of intent.

Key dates

Choosing the right IGP(A) programme

IGP(A) is split into five theme-focused programmes, each run by one school. Your choice decides which faculty can supervise you and which department your degree comes from, so start here before you contact anyone.

• Quantum Technology suits students in mathematics, physics, chemistry and earth and planetary science who want to work on quantum-related research.
• Super-Smart Society suits mechanical, systems and control, electrical and electronic, information and communications, and industrial engineering students.
• Innovative Functional Materials suits materials science and chemical engineering students.
• Sustainable Bio-Economy suits life science and biotechnology students.
• Environmental Designers for Resilient Cities suits civil and environmental engineering and architecture students, and is the only programme that also offers a master’s-only option.

Remember that the MEXT scholarship through this route is for applicants to the Integrated Doctoral Education Program, which combines master’s and doctoral study. If you only want a master’s, check the guide carefully before you apply for MEXT.

How to approach a Science Tokyo professor

The consent letter is the first gate, so your email to a professor needs care. A clear, short email gets more replies than a long one.

1. Find the right person. Use the faculty list for your programme and read two or three recent papers from each professor you shortlist.
2. Write a clear subject line, such as “Prospective IGP(A) applicant, fall 2027, MEXT University Recommendation”.
3. Introduce yourself in two sentences: your name, your current university and degree, and your field.
4. Show the fit: name one of their papers and explain in two or three sentences how your research interest connects to it.
5. State your request: ask whether they would consider supervising you and issuing a consent letter for IGP(A) with the MEXT scholarship.
6. Attach your CV, transcript and a one-page letter of intent.

Write to one professor at a time and wait about a week before following up. If you are refused, thank them and move to the next name. Start early: the consent letter copy must reach the Admissions Division by 15 November 2026.

Writing your letter of intent

The guide asks you to send your intended supervisor a self-introduction and a letter of intent for your study. Treat the letter of intent as a short research plan:

• Research question: what you want to study and why it matters.
• Background: the courses, projects or thesis that prepared you.
• Approach: the methods you expect to use and why the professor’s lab suits them.
• Plan: a rough outline of the master’s and doctoral stages.
• After the degree: how you plan to use what you learn.

Keep it to one or two pages. Our study plan template shows a layout that works for MEXT applications.

Getting the dean’s recommendation letter

The MEXT recommendation letter has strict rules, and many applicants lose time here:

• It must come from the dean, or a person of equal rank, at the university where you studied full-time.
• It must be addressed to the President of the Institute of Science Tokyo.
• A letter written by your academic supervisor is accepted only if the dean confirms and signs it.
• A letter signed only by a department chair is not accepted.

Ask your supervisor to draft the letter early, then take it to the dean’s office for signature. Leave several weeks, since deans are often busy at the end of the year. Our guide to recommendation letters explains how to brief a referee.

Planning your English test

For the MEXT documents, your IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or TOEIC L&R score must come from a test taken within two years before 1 January of the enrolment year. For fall 2027 enrolment, that means a test taken on or after 1 January 2025. If you use TOEIC L&R, you also need separate proof of writing and speaking ability. If your last degree was taught entirely in English, a certificate from your university can replace a test score.

The general requirement is CEFR B2 or equivalent. If your score is close to that level, consider retaking the test before November so your application is not weakened by language.

What the Priority scheme means for you

From 2026, Science Tokyo uses only the Priority scheme for this route, and at least 75% of nominees must come from countries that MEXT designates. MEXT announces its candidate qualifications and Priority slot allocations in November. If your country is not on MEXT’s list, you can still apply, but you compete for the smaller share of places. Ask the Admissions Division whether your country is designated for the 2027 round.

From admission to arrival

1. Around mid-January 2027: results of any individual eligibility assessment.
2. March 2027: IGP(A) admission results. MEXT nominees are told with the admission decision.
3. By early August 2027: MEXT announces successful candidates.
4. Before travel: apply for a new Student visa at the Japanese mission in your country.
5. Late September 2027: arrive in Japan within two weeks of the start of the third quarter.

Science Tokyo does not support visa applications for family members, so plan accordingly if you want your family to join you.

Moving from the master’s stage to the doctorate

The MEXT scholarship through this route starts with a two-year period at master’s level. To continue receiving it into the doctoral stage, you need a master’s GPA of 2.50 or higher and must meet MEXT’s other conditions. The stipend also changes from JPY 147,000 to JPY 148,000 a month when you move to doctoral study.

In practice, this means your first two years matter twice: once for your degree and once for your funding. Agree a clear research plan with your supervisor in the first semester, keep your grades well above the minimum, and ask the international office early how and when the extension is reviewed.

University Recommendation or Embassy Recommendation?

There are two main ways to win a MEXT research scholarship. With the University Recommendation route described in this guide, a Japanese university selects you and recommends you to MEXT, so you deal mainly with Science Tokyo. With the Embassy Recommendation route, you apply through the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country, which runs its own screening and interviews before you look for a university.

The University Recommendation route suits applicants who already know their field and can find a supervisor at Science Tokyo. The Embassy route suits applicants who want to compare several Japanese universities first. You can read how the embassy route works in our MEXT scholarship guide, and check our MEXT scholarship page for its dates.

Other fully funded options in Japan

If your field is not covered by IGP(A), or you miss this round, look at other Japanese programmes. The OIST PhD programme in Okinawa, the APU MEXT University Recommendation scholarship and the Honjo International Scholarship each have their own rules and deadlines. Our guide to scholarships in Japan compares them.

Checklist before you submit

• A Science Tokyo professor has issued your consent letter, and a copy reached the Admissions Division by 15 November 2026.
• You meet the age, GPA and nationality rules.
• Your transcripts and certificates are official, with certified English or Japanese translations if needed.
• Your recommender’s evaluation sheet is in the designated format.
• Your dean has signed the MEXT recommendation letter.
• Your English score is from 1 January 2025 or later, or you have a medium-of-instruction certificate.
• You have paid the application fee and saved the payment verification PDF.
• You have submitted the MEXT documents through the separate scholarship form.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Contacting professors too late to get the consent letter by 15 November.
• Using a recommendation letter signed only by a department chair.
• Submitting translations made by independent translators, which the guide does not accept.
• Forgetting the separate MEXT scholarship form.
• Applying for MEXT through this route for a master’s-only plan.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Science Tokyo MEXT scholarship fully funded?

Yes. Tuition and the enrolment fee are waived, and MEXT pays JPY 147,000 to 148,000 a month. MEXT also provides return air tickets under certain conditions.

Do I need a professor before applying?

Yes. You need a consent letter from a Science Tokyo faculty member, and a copy must reach the Admissions Division by 15 November 2026.

What is the age limit?

You must be 34 or younger on 1 April of the first scholarship year.

Can I apply from any country?

You must be a citizen of a country with diplomatic relations with Japan. At least 75% of nominees come from MEXT-designated countries.

What is the closing date?

22 November 2026, for both the application and the MEXT documents.

Is the General scheme open in 2027?

No. Science Tokyo says the General scheme is suspended from 2026, so only the Priority scheme is used.

What if I already had a MEXT scholarship?

Previous MEXT scholars are generally not eligible, with some exceptions. Check the MEXT page for the conditions.

Is the application fee refunded?

Usually not. The guide lists a few exceptions, including when you receive MEXT and enrol at Science Tokyo.

Where to apply

Read the official IGP(A) admissions page and the official Science Tokyo MEXT page. Our Science Tokyo MEXT page keeps the key facts in one place. For the embassy route, see our MEXT scholarship guide, and for more options, our guide to scholarships in Japan.