The information on this page is intended for prospective international students who are currently overseas and who wish to attend Kyoto University on a Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho:MEXT) Scholarship.

(For privately-financed international students who are currently studying at Kyoto University, please refer to the page on "Scholarships for Privately-Financed International Students" for information on how to apply for a Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho:MEXT) Scholarship via the Domestic Selection process, and for information on other scholarships.

Outline of Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) Scholarship  There are seven categories of Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) Scholarships funded by The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology: 1) research students (graduate degree students & research (non-degree) students), 2) teacher training students, 3) undergraduate students, 4) Japanese studies students, 5) college of technology students, 6) professional training college students, 7) young leaders program (YLP) students.

Kyoto University accepts international students in the following categories:

Research students Undergraduate students Japanese studies students Graduate degree students, Research (non-degree) students Undergraduate degree students Japanese studies (non-degree) students at the International Center Application Procedures for Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) Scholarship (Overseas Selection) Applicants may apply through the Overseas Selection Process in either one of two ways:
1) through the appropriate Japanese diplomatic mission overseas (Embassy Recommendation), or
2) through a Japanese university (University Recommendation)

Domestic Selection is available only to privately-financed international students currently studying at a university in Japan.  Applications may only be submitted after entering Kyoto University.

1) Embassy Recommendation Recruitment and preliminary selection for Embassy Recommendation are conducted by the Japanese diplomatic missions in the applicant's home country. For further information, please direct your inquiries to the nearest Japanese diplomatic mission in your country.

Important Notice regarding Applications for Embassy Recommendations

Applicants were previously required to submit a “Letter of Acceptance” at the time of their application (or during the preliminary selection) for an Embassy Recommendation. Please be notified that, beginning in 2006, only those applicants who have passed the preliminary selection by the Japanese embassy will be qualified to contact prospective advisors for a “Letter of Acceptance.”

2) University Recommendation For University Recommendations, Kyoto University screens the applications of students whose institutions have a student exchange agreement with Kyoto University and selects candidates to recommend to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) as research students. Please ask the international office of your home institution for detailed information.

For Application Period, Eligibility and Benefits, please see this link:
http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/education/international/admissions/program/scholarship_2.htm