MEXT University Scholarship at APU | Fully Funded
The MEXT University Scholarship at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) removes the single biggest barrier standing between talented international students and graduate study in Japan — cost. Funded by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, it covers full tuition, admission fees, and a monthly living allowance generous enough to genuinely live on, not just survive on, in Beppu’s low-cost-of-living setting.
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What makes this route particularly worth understanding is how it works: you never apply to MEXT directly. You apply to APU itself, and the university does the work of identifying and recommending its strongest candidates on your behalf — a structure that rewards a genuinely strong academic application more than it rewards navigating a separate, complicated government process. The current deadline is 5 November 2026, for enrollment beginning September 2027.
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About the Scholarship and APU
Founded in 2000 and located in Beppu, APU is known as Japan’s “global village” for its exceptionally diverse international community. Under the University Recommendation route, you don’t apply to MEXT directly — you apply to APU, which reviews all incoming graduate applications on academic excellence, leadership potential, and background, then recommends its strongest candidates to MEXT for final award. There’s no separate scholarship application form — you indicate your interest in being considered for university-recommended scholarships within your regular APU graduate application itself.
The 144,000 JPY monthly allowance goes further than it might first appear: Beppu carries significantly lower living costs than Tokyo or Osaka, making the stipend genuinely comfortable for daily life there.
MEXT University Scholarship Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | MEXT University Recommendation (UR) Scholarship |
| Host Country ⇒ | Japan |
| Host Institution ⇒ | Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), Beppu |
| Study Level ⇒ | Postgraduate | Masters |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | MEXT-designated countries with diplomatic relations with Japan |
| Reward ⇒ | Full tuition, admission fees, 144,000 JPY/month allowance, round-trip airfare |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | 5 November 2026, for September 2027 enrollment |
Real Application Changes You Should Know
The previous English/Japanese Proficiency Evaluation Form is no longer accepted — you must submit scores from an approved test instead: IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Duolingo English Test, or Cambridge Linguaskill. Only test results from exams taken on or after 15 March 2025 are considered valid for the current cycle.
The previous Core Abilities Assessment and Watson-Glaser III Critical Thinking Appraisal have been removed from the process entirely. In their place, a recorded video interview is now required. Extracurricular or leadership activities are no longer submitted as separate proof documents — instead, relevant activities should be woven directly into your essays or discussed in your interview.
Eligibility Requirements
- Plan to study in Japan from overseas — you must not already be residing in Japan
- Hold citizenship of a country designated by MEXT, maintaining diplomatic relations with Japan
- Be born on or after 2 April 1991
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.30 on a 3.00 scale (or equivalent) at your most recent university
- Not be an active military member or civilian defence employee at the time of application
- Not have previously received a MEXT scholarship, unless you meet specific exception criteria — generally more than three years of education or work experience since your last award, or having held certain special programme awards
- Not hold another scholarship concurrently unless specifically approved by MEXT
- Hold a “Student” visa status while studying in Japan
What the MEXT University Scholarship Covers
- Full admission fee coverage
- Full tuition fee coverage
- A monthly living allowance of 144,000 JPY, including housing — this figure is subject to periodic revision by MEXT
- Medical insurance
- Books and study materials
- Round-trip economy airfare between your home country and APU, at the start and end of your programme
Required Documents
- A valid English proficiency test score, from an approved test taken on or after 15 March 2025
- Any additional documents specified in APU’s or MEXT’s current official guidelines, since exact requirements are subject to change
How to Apply
- Apply online to an eligible September-intake graduate programme at APU before the priority deadline
- When completing your regular APU application, indicate your interest in being considered for university-recommended scholarships — there’s no separate scholarship form
- Submit your approved English test score and every other required document by 5 November 2026
- APU reviews all applications on academic excellence, leadership potential, and background, selecting its strongest candidates to recommend to MEXT
- If recommended, you’re notified together with your regular APU application results
- Complete the required recorded video interview as part of the process
- MEXT makes the final scholarship decision, with results typically expected by the end of June 2027 — though this timeline can shift depending on MEXT’s own circumstances
Our guide on scholarships without IELTS or TOEFL is worth checking if the current test requirements here feel like a barrier, since some MEXT-adjacent routes have historically offered alternatives — though for this specific University Recommendation route, an approved test score is now a firm requirement. Our guide on how to write a personal statement for scholarship is also directly useful here, since your leadership and extracurricular experience now needs to be woven into your essays rather than submitted as separate documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the current deadline for the APU MEXT University Recommendation Scholarship?
5 November 2026, for enrollment beginning September 2027.
Do I need to submit a separate scholarship application form?
No. You indicate your interest in being considered for university-recommended scholarships within your regular APU graduate application — there’s no standalone MEXT scholarship form.
Is the English/Japanese Proficiency Evaluation Form still accepted?
No. This has been discontinued. You must now submit a valid score from an approved test — IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Duolingo English Test, or Cambridge Linguaskill — taken on or after 15 March 2025.
Is a video interview part of the current application process?
Yes. A recorded video interview is now required, replacing the previous Core Abilities Assessment and Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal, which have both been removed.
Can previous MEXT scholarship recipients apply again?
Generally no, unless you meet specific exception criteria — typically more than three years of education or work experience since your last award, or having held certain special programme awards.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, including the current application process changes, were verified directly against Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University’s official admissions page as of August 2026. Confirm current requirements directly at admissions.apu.ac.jp before applying, since MEXT scholarship conditions can shift between cycles.
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