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Osaka University MEXT Scholarship 2026 Full Funded Scholarship: Simple Step-by-Step Guide (Undergraduate & Graduate)

Teach Smart Africa August 21, 2025

Osaka University MEXT Scholarship 2026: Simple Step-by-Step Guide (Undergraduate & Graduate)

If you dream of studying in Japan with full funding, the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship is one of the best options. Osaka University (UOsaka) accepts MEXT students at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Applications usually follow two routes: Embassy Recommendation or University Recommendation.

This post explains the routes in simple English, highlights key dates, and lists all required documents so you can apply with confidence. (Rwandan applicants: we’ve added quick tips for scanning and submission from Rwanda.)

What is MEXT (quickly)?

MEXT stands for Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan). The scholarship typically covers tuition, monthly stipend, and round-trip airfare. UOsaka welcomes successful MEXT candidates to join Japanese language training, research student status, and then degree programs after passing entrance exams.

Two ways to apply

  1. Embassy Recommendation – You apply through the Japanese Embassy/Consulate in your country. After the first screening (documents, exams, interview), you request a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) from a Japanese university such as Osaka University.
  2. University Recommendation – You first pass a specific UOsaka program and are selected by the university to be recommended to MEXT.

Undergraduate Applicants

Route A: Embassy Recommendation (Undergraduate)

  • Feb–Mar: Apply to the Japanese Embassy/Consulate in your country.
  • May–Jul: First screening (document check, written exam, interview).
  • From Oct: Second screening (consultation between MEXT and the university).
  • Feb (next year): Scholarship award notification.
  • April: Arrival in Japan.

Important: Before beginning degree studies, scholarship recipients at UOsaka take Japanese language lessons for one year at the university’s Center for Japanese Language and Culture. After passing the entrance exam, you can enroll in an undergraduate course.

Route B: University Recommendation (Undergraduate)

You must pass one of UOsaka’s international undergraduate programs and then be chosen as a MEXT candidate (no recommendation is made before passing the entrance exam).

Programs to check:

Graduate Applicants

Most successful graduate applicants start as research students for 6–12 months. After passing the entrance examination, they proceed to a Master’s or Doctoral program.

Route A: Embassy Recommendation (Graduate)

  • April: Apply to the Japanese Embassy/Consulate in your country.
  • May–Jul: First screening (documents, written exam, interview).
  • By Sept 1, 2025 (Japan Time): Request a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) from Osaka University via the Admissions Assistance Desk (AAD).
  • From Nov: Second screening (MEXT–university consultation).
  • March (following year): Scholarship award notification.
  • April or October: Arrival in Japan.

If you need to improve Japanese, you may first take an Intensive Japanese Language Course at the International Student Center (about six months) before joining a graduate school as a research student.

Deadline highlight: LoA via AAD for AY2026 is Monday, September 1, 2025 (Japan Time). Applications received on Sept 2 or later are not accepted. Submit early to avoid time-zone issues.

Route B: University Recommendation (Graduate)

UOsaka may recommend students to MEXT mainly from:

  • Partner universities with university-to-university or school-to-school agreements
  • Research institutes that collaborate with UOsaka through joint research

Typical timeline:

LoA via AAD: What it is & how to apply (Graduate—Embassy route)

If you passed the first screening at the embassy, request your LoA from UOsaka via the Admissions Assistance Desk (AAD). The AAD confirms whether you can contact a prospective supervisor (it is not an admission decision yet). After AAD confirmation, you may have an interview/review with your preferred supervisor for pre-approval.

Key tips for AAD:

  • Follow the guidelines exactly to speed up the internal review.
  • Submit clear, complete PDFs.
  • Wait for the confirmation email—your application is only complete when you receive “Your application has been sent to AAD.”
    Osaka University MEXT Scholarship 2026: Simple Step-by-Step Guide (Undergraduate & Graduate)

Required Documents for AAD (Graduate—Embassy route)

Upload legible PDFs stamped by the Japanese Embassy/Consulate:

  1. Application Form

  2. Field of Study and Research Plan 

    On AAD, upload it where it says “Statement of Purpose and Research Plan.”
  3. Academic transcripts (all university years)
  4. Certificate of graduation/degree
  5. Recommendation letter (president/dean or academic advisor)
  6. Medical certificate
  7. Abstracts of theses (optional)
  8. Language proficiency certificate (if available)
  9. Employer recommendation (if submitted to the embassy)
  10. Portfolio/media (artworks or performance, if submitted to the embassy)
  11. Passing Certificate of the First Screening (from the embassy/consulate)

Important AAD notes:

  • In “Funding plan → Scholarship name,” select “Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship, first screening of the Japanese embassy in their home country”, set status to “Obtained,” and attach the Passing Certificate (Doc 11).
  • Number your documents 1–11 at top-right of the first page (unless already numbered by the Embassy/Consulate).
  • If a certificate is not in English/Japanese, attach a translation.
  • Digital academic certificates are acceptable if your university issues them.

Practical tips (especially helpful for Rwandan applicants)

  • Plan around time zones: Japan is ahead; submit your AAD LoA request at least 48 hours before Sept 1, 2025 (JST).
  • Scan smart: Use a scanning app (300 dpi) and export PDF. Name files clearly: 01_ApplicationForm_Surname.pdf, etc.
  • Email etiquette: When writing to a prospective supervisor, briefly introduce yourself, your research plan, and your embassy first-screening result; keep it polite and concise.
  • Language prep: Even if your degree is in English, basic Japanese helps daily life and lab communication.
  • Strengthen your research plan: Explain your problem, method, and expected contribution (e.g., linking Rwanda’s development context to Japanese expertise).
  • Stay organised: Build a simple timeline in a notebook: Embassy steps → AAD LoA → supervisor review → MEXT result → visa/travel.

Useful links & contacts

Related reads on Teach Smart Africa:

Final checklist (save this!)

  • Pick your route (Embassy vs University).
  • Undergraduate? If the Embassy route, expect 1 year of Japanese language lessons at UOsaka before the degree course (after passing the entrance exam).
  • Graduate (Embassy route)? Submit LoA via AAD by Sept 1, 2025 (JST) no late submissions.
  • Upload all 11 documents to AAD as clear PDFs (stamped).
  • Watch for your AAD confirmation email and any supervisor interview/review.
  • Keep checking official pages for any changes.

Call to Action

If this guide helped, share it with a friend or your school WhatsApp group. Have a question about documents or timelines? Drop a comment on the blog or reach out via email, we’re happy to help you get to Osaka University with MEXT 2026. Thank you!

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