Japan With Adi
The MEXT 2027 scholarship is for students who start in Japan in 2027. In India its embassy round ran in 2026: applications in April and May, then written exams and interviews in June and July. That round is closed, so if you are starting now you are preparing for MEXT 2028, whose embassy round is expected to open around April 2027.
By Aditya Dewangan · Updated 1 November 2026
What does “MEXT 2027” mean?
The year in the name is the year scholars start in Japan, not the year they apply. Students starting in 2027 applied through the Embassy of Japan in India in spring 2026. Research students start in April, September or October; undergraduate scholars start in April with a one-year preparatory course that includes Japanese.
How did the 2027 round run in India?
- April to May 2026: research students emailed a preliminary application by 15 May. Undergraduate, college of technology (KOSEN) and specialized training college applicants applied from 23 April to 25 May.
- June to July 2026: shortlisted applicants sat the written exams and an interview. The research written exam was on 5 July, and interviews ran online from 16 to 19 July.
- After the embassy round: research applicants get a Letter of Provisional Acceptance from a Japanese university, and MEXT makes the final selection and placement.
- 2027: scholars fly to Japan, with airfare paid, and the monthly allowance begins.
When does MEXT 2028 open?
The embassy announces each round on its website, and the 2028 round had not been announced in November 2026. The 2026 round opened in late April and gave about four weeks to apply, so expect the 2028 call around April 2027. The window is short: have your documents, research plan and exam preparation ready before it opens.
Who can apply?
These are the 2027 rules. The 2028 guidelines will confirm the exact dates and conditions.
- Undergraduate, KOSEN and specialized training college: under 25 on 1 April of the year you start. For 2027 that meant born on or after 2 April 2002.
- Research students (master’s or PhD): under 35 on 1 April of the year you start, so born on or after 2 April 1992 for 2027. In India you also need a bachelor’s degree in your field with at least 70% marks, or 65% in humanities and social sciences.
What should you do before April 2027?
- Pick your category and read the 2027 guidelines on the embassy site, so nothing in the 2028 call surprises you.
- Start Japanese now. It is an exam subject in every category and it lifts your interview. See how JLPT N5 works.
- Practise the written exams with the past MEXT papers and answers on the official Study in Japan site.
- Research applicants: choose your field, shortlist professors and draft your Field of Study and Research Plan.
- Collect transcripts, certificates and recommendation letters early, because they take weeks to arrive.