If you’ve been dreaming of earning your master’s degree in Japan—fully funded—this is your chance to make it happen! Applications for the prestigious MEXT Scholarship under the IGP Special Quota for the October 2026 intake are officially open, and international students worldwide are invited to apply.
Let’s dive into the benefits, eligible programs, application timeline, and how you can secure your place at one of Japan’s most advanced bioscience graduate schools.
What Is the MEXT Scholarship: IGP Special Quota?
The MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology) Scholarship is Japan’s premier government-funded program that provides full financial support for talented international students. This IGP (International Graduate Program) Special Quota targets master’s students in the Biosystems Science Course under the Graduate School of Life Science.
It is a research-driven program where students choose a laboratory, get supervisor consent, and undergo a departmental screening before being recommended to the Japanese government.
Scholarship Benefits – What You’ll Get
- Full Tuition Fees: 100% coverage of your tuition throughout the program
- Monthly Stipend: Approximately ¥144,000 (subject to change based on fiscal updates)
- Travel Costs: Round-trip airfare to and from Japan
- Visa Assistance: Provided after final MEXT approval
- World-Class Research: Work directly in a Japanese biosystems science laboratory with cutting-edge facilities
Subject & Degree Offering
Master’s Degree Program in Biosystems Science
- Course: Graduate School of Life Science
- Focus: Advanced biosciences, biotechnology, and biosystems research in an interdisciplinary setting
- Research-based learning with dedicated laboratory guidance
Who Is Eligible?
To apply for the IGP Special Quota of the MEXT Scholarship, applicants must:
- Be a non-Japanese citizen from a country with diplomatic relations with Japan
- Hold or expect to hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) before the program starts
- Be under 35 years of age as of April 1, 2026
- Demonstrate academic excellence through transcripts and recommendations
- Be proficient in English (proof required)
- Be medically fit and able to live and study in Japan
- Apply specifically to a laboratory in the Biosystems Science Course.
Apply: https://life.sci.hokudai.ac.jp/en/tl/topic/20635
Application Timeline
Here’s the step-by-step application schedule for the October 2026 intake:
| Stage | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Contact supervisors and receive initial approval | By November 10, 2025 |
| Submit required documents to supervisor | As instructed individually |
| Supervisor submits documents to IGP Office | By December 10, 2025 |
| Screening by department & IGP committee | December 2025 – February 2026 |
| Final recommendation to MEXT | March 2026 |
| Final admission & scholarship confirmation | Mid-2026 |
| Arrival in Japan & program begins | October 2026 |