Special Selection for International Applicants, Graduate School of Science (listed by the University of Tokyo as the Graduate School of Science "Graduate Program for International Students")

2 years English open

Scholarships

Only the support routes relevant to this programme are listed. Amounts marked as references must be reconfirmed for the applicant's award year.

Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship — University Recommendation, through the Graduate School of Science

Separate application

  • "International students with outstanding academic records who wish to enter Japan in October, 2027 as a new student to study in the Master's or Doctoral Program at the Graduate School of Science. Additionally, applicants who have completed their admission application for entering the Master's/Doctoral Program following the 'Instructions for International Students applying to the Graduate School of Science (Special Selection for International Applicants)'." Grade point of 2.30 or higher on the MEXT formula. Nationality of a country with diplomatic relations with Japan; Japanese nationals are ineligible (with a narrow dual-nationality exception). "In principle, applicants must be born on or after April 2, 1992." Language proficiency: an English test score at CEFR B2 or above ("e.g. TOEFL iBT 72 or above, IELTS 5.5 or above"), or an English-medium degree, or JLPT N2 or above, or a Japanese-medium degree. Applicants residing in Japan at the time of application are ineligible, as are previous MEXT scholarship recipients (with listed exceptions) and applicants also applying for another AY2027 MEXT programme.
  • Monthly allowance, travel to and from Japan, and exemption from school fees. "The amounts of monthly stipend for AY2027 have yet to be determined. As an example, the monthly amounts for AY2026 will be presented below ... 144,000 yen/month (for a student of a Master's Program), or 145,000 yen/month (
  • A separate electronic application submitted through the Graduate School of Science's designated online form during October 15–30, 2026, in addition to the Special Selection admission application. Nine document types are required, including an application form, a Field of Study and Research Plan, a letter of recommendation addressed to the President of the University of Tokyo written and signed by "a dean or above" on institutional letterhead, transcripts, proof of language ability, an abstract of the graduation thesis and a passport copy.
  • Nomination is a multi-stage filter and is not an award: "After nomination by the Graduate School of Science, nominees for the MEXT selection will be decided in a selection process for the entire University of Tokyo. After the University of Tokyo nominates its candidates, the grantees will be decided upon screening at MEXT." The number of places is not fixed in advance: "The number of applicants to be nominated by the Graduate School of Science to the University of Tokyo, as well as the number to be subsequently nominated by the University of Tokyo to MEXT, shall be finalized after the application period has closed. In the last round (application for 2026 entrance) each Graduate School was allowed to nominate at most one applicant, and the University of Tokyo was allowed to nominate at most three applicants to MEXT." Available only for October 2027 entry, only to applicants who applied in Application Period 2, and separately from the admission decision.

Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship — Embassy Recommendation

Separate application

  • "Those applying as an Embassy Recommended Monbukagakusho Scholarship Candidate must be considered in the categories 1.-3. listed above and must also have passed the preliminary selection by a Japanese Embassy/Consulate General."
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  • Apply first at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate General in the home country. Candidates who pass the preliminary screening then apply to the Special Selection for International Applicants in Application Period 4, July 1 – August 10, 2026, and must "complete application for the Special Selection for International Students within this designated application period and be formally accepted".
  • "Obtaining 'consent for supervision' from potential supervising professor(s) at the Graduate School of Science before applying does not guarantee the issuance of a Letter of Provisional Acceptance." Passing the embassy's preliminary selection does not guarantee admission to the Graduate School of Science, and admission does not by itself confer the scholarship.

Admission Fee and Tuition Fee Exemption (University of Tokyo)

Separate application

  • "In general, both the Admission Fee and Tuition Fee must be paid. However, exemptions are available in extenuating circumstances and may be granted to a limited number of students who meet the eligibility criteria."
  • Full or partial exemption from the admission fee and/or tuition.
  • Applied for after admission, through the University's Student Scholarship and Welfare Group: "Students who wish to apply for both Admission Fee and Tuition deferrals should submit both applications together during the designated submission period to be instructed in the admission procedure provided at the time of admission."
  • "may be granted to a limited number of students who meet the eligibility criteria" — not an entitlement, and not linked to the admission decision.

GSGC course scholarship

Separate application

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  • Recorded here only to make the boundary explicit: it requires a separate application to the Global Science Graduate Course.
  • Not payable to students admitted through the Special Selection for International Applicants.
Scholarships, nominations and fee exemptions are competitive unless the programme states that every admitted student receives the award. Admission on its own does not guarantee funding.
Programme sources (15)