Preparing the correct documents is one of the most important parts of a MEXT Scholarship 2027 application.
The required documents are not exactly the same for Undergraduate applicants and Research Students applying for Master’s, PhD or research study. Applicants should therefore follow the checklist for their own scholarship category.
This guide explains the main documents required for the 2027 MEXT Embassy Recommendation, how many copies are needed, and which documents are required only in specific situations.
MEXT 2027 Documents at a Glance
For most applicants, the main documents include:
- MEXT Application Form
- Academic transcripts
- Graduation or expected graduation certificate
- Recommendation letter
- Medical certificate
- Language proficiency certificate, if available
Research Student applicants additionally need documents such as:
- Field of Study and Research Plan
- Placement Preference Application Form
- Thesis abstracts, where applicable
Always download and use the official 2027 forms instead of older MEXT forms.
Documents Required for MEXT Undergraduate Scholarship 2027
According to the official 2027 Undergraduate Scholarship guidelines, applicants generally submit one original set and one copy set of the required documents.
1. MEXT 2027 Application Form
Every applicant must complete the official:
Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Application Form for FY2027
Use the form provided for the 2027 application cycle.
The information entered should match your official academic and identification documents.
Check carefully:
- Name spelling
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Educational history
- Selected field of study
- Contact information
Do not use an application form from an older scholarship cycle.
2. Photograph
A recent photograph is required with the application form.
For the 2027 Undergraduate application, the photograph should generally be:
- Taken within the previous six months
- 4.5 × 3.5 cm
- Upper-body photograph
- Full face
- Without a hat
- Clear and professional
The photograph can also be digitally inserted into the application form and printed.
3. Academic Transcripts
Submit academic transcripts covering the required years of education.
The transcript should be officially issued by your school, university or relevant authority.
It should clearly show:
- Subjects studied
- Grades obtained
- Academic years
- Grading system where applicable
A simple certificate showing only your final result or ranking is not necessarily a substitute for a complete transcript.
4. Graduation Certificate
Applicants who have already graduated should submit an official:
Graduation Certificate
If you have not yet completed your studies, submit a:
Certificate of Prospective Graduation
This should indicate that you are expected to complete your qualification before the required enrollment period.
5. Recommendation Letter
Undergraduate applicants need a recommendation from either:
- A class teacher, or
- The principal of the last school attended
MEXT provides a sample recommendation format, but the official guidelines allow a free-format recommendation letter.
The letter should come from an appropriate academic referee who knows your academic background.
6. Medical Certificate
Applicants must complete the official MEXT 2027 Certificate of Health.
The form must be completed by a professional medical doctor.
Do not replace it with an ordinary hospital fitness certificate unless your Japanese Embassy specifically permits another arrangement.
Use the official MEXT health form provided for the application cycle.
7. Certificate of Enrollment
This is required only when applicable.
Applicants who are currently enrolled at a university may need to submit proof of their current enrollment.
8. University Entrance Qualification Certificate
This document is required only for applicants whose eligibility is based on a university entrance qualification examination.
Most applicants will not need this document.
9. Japanese or English Language Certificate
If you already have an official language certificate, you may submit it.
Examples may include recognized Japanese or English proficiency qualifications.
For the official 2027 Undergraduate application, a submitted language certificate should generally have been issued within two years of the application date.
Applicants submit copies rather than the original certificate.
Having a language certificate and being required to submit one are not necessarily the same thing. Follow the requirements of your scholarship category and Embassy.
Documents Required for MEXT Research Scholarship 2027
The Research Student Scholarship mainly covers students preparing for:
- Master’s programs
- PhD programs
- Professional graduate programs
- Non-degree research study
The document requirements are more detailed than the Undergraduate application.
For the official 2027 Research Student Embassy Recommendation, applicants generally prepare one original and two copies of the required application documents.
1. MEXT 2027 Application Form
Complete the official Research Student Application Form for 2027.
Make sure that your:
- Academic history
- Degree information
- Research field
- Employment history
- Language qualifications
- University preferences
are accurate.
Incorrect or inconsistent information can create problems during screening.
2. Placement Preference Application Form
Research Student applicants also prepare the:
Placement Preference Application Form
This form is used for university placement during the MEXT selection process.
Follow the 2027 instructions carefully when listing your preferred Japanese universities.
Applicants should not confuse this form with a normal Japanese university application form.
3. Field of Study and Research Plan
This is one of the most important documents for Master’s, PhD and Research Student applicants.
The Research Plan should explain:
- Your previous field of study
- Your intended research topic
- Research background
- Objectives
- Proposed research in Japan
- Research methods
- Expected academic contribution
MEXT specifically states that this document is an important reference when evaluating and placing applicants at Japanese universities.
Avoid submitting a generic research proposal that is unrelated to your previous academic background.
4. University Academic Transcripts
Research applicants must submit academic transcripts for their relevant university education.
The exact transcripts depend on your academic history.
For example:
Bachelor’s graduate applying for Master’s:
Submit the Bachelor’s transcript.
Master’s graduate applying for PhD:
Submit transcripts from both Bachelor’s and graduate-level study as required.
Currently studying:
Submit transcripts covering the completed academic periods available at the time of application.
Transcripts should show the subjects, grades and grading scale.
5. Graduation or Degree Certificate
Submit the appropriate graduation or degree certificate from your university.
If you are still completing your current degree, submit a:
Certificate of Prospective Graduation
For applicants with multiple completed university degrees, certificates from the relevant undergraduate and graduate programs may be required.
A certified/attested copy may be accepted under the official guidelines instead of giving away an original degree certificate that will not be returned.
6. Academic Recommendation Letter
Research applicants need a recommendation letter from an appropriate person at their current or most recent university, such as:
- University president
- Dean
- Academic advisor
The letter should support your academic ability and suitability for further study or research.
MEXT provides a sample, although a free format is permitted.
7. Medical Certificate
Research applicants must also submit the official MEXT 2027 Medical Certificate.
Use the official form and have it completed by a professional medical doctor.
If your health condition changes significantly after submitting the certificate, the official guidelines require applicants to inform the Japanese diplomatic mission.
8. Thesis or Research Paper Abstract
This is required if applicable.
If you have written:
- Bachelor’s thesis
- Master’s thesis
- Research papers
- Other major academic work
you may need to provide abstracts.
The applicant’s name should be clearly shown on the first page.
Do not submit an entire thesis unless specifically requested.
9. Language Proficiency Certificate
If you already possess official evidence of Japanese or English proficiency, submit copies according to the guidelines.
For the 2027 Research Scholarship, accepted certificates submitted for this purpose generally need to have been issued within two years of the application date.
The certificate should clearly show:
- Applicant’s name
- Test or qualification
- Score or level
10. Employer Recommendation Letter
This applies only to applicants who are currently employed.
If applicable, submit a recommendation letter from your present employer.
Applicants who are not currently employed do not need this document.
11. Art or Music Portfolio
Applicants planning to major in fine arts or music may need to submit evidence of their work.
This may include:
- Photographs of artwork
- Digital recordings of musical performances
This requirement does not apply to most other academic fields.
Documents Must Be in Japanese or English
This is important.
MEXT states that application documents should be written in:
Japanese or English
If an original document is issued in another language, attach a translation into Japanese or English.
For example, if your university certificate is issued only in another language, prepare the required translation together with the original/certified document according to Embassy instructions.
How Many Copies Are Required?
The official 2027 Embassy Recommendation requirements differ by category.
Undergraduate Applicants
Generally:
1 original + 1 copy
Research Students
Generally:
1 original + 2 copies
Certain optional documents, such as language certificates, have their own copy requirements.
Always follow the checklist issued by the Japanese Embassy in your country because local submission arrangements may also be specified.
Number Your Documents Correctly
The official guidelines instruct applicants to organize their documents according to the document numbers shown in the application checklist.
Research applicants, for example, should mark the corresponding document number on the upper-right corner of the first page.
Keeping documents in the official order makes the application easier to check.
Do You Need IELTS or TOEFL?
Not every applicant is automatically required to submit IELTS or TOEFL as part of the basic MEXT document checklist.
If you already possess a valid English-language certificate, you may submit it according to the applicable rules.
University requirements can later be different.
Therefore, distinguish between:
MEXT application requirements
and
individual university admission requirements.
The same principle applies to Japanese-language certificates such as JLPT.
- GKS Undergraduate Scholarship 2027: Fully Funded Korean Government Scholarship for International Students
- Scholarships in South Korea for International Students 2027: Fully Funded & University Scholarships
- Chevening Scholarship 2027–2028 Eligibility & Work Experience Requirements: 2,800 Hours Explained
Do You Need an Acceptance Letter Initially?
For Research Students applying through Embassy Recommendation, a provisional acceptance letter is generally not part of the initial application package submitted before the First Screening.
Applicants first complete the Embassy’s First Screening.
Those who pass then contact eligible Japanese universities to request provisional acceptance.
For the 2027 Research Student cycle, applicants who passed First Screening had to contact universities for provisional acceptance by September 1, 2026.
This distinction is important because students should not mix the initial MEXT application stage with the later university-placement stage.
Common Document Mistakes to Avoid
Before submitting your application, avoid:
- Using old MEXT forms
- Missing pages from transcripts
- Providing inconsistent name spellings
- Submitting unclear scans or photocopies
- Forgetting required translations
- Submitting an ordinary medical certificate instead of the official form
- Using an outdated language certificate
- Preparing a weak or generic Research Plan
- Forgetting recommendation letters
- Submitting only a degree certificate instead of required transcripts
- Waiting until the deadline to arrange official university documents
Prepare your documents early because transcripts, recommendation letters and medical certificates may take time.
Final MEXT 2027 Document Checklist
Undergraduate Applicants
- Application Form
- Recent photograph
- Academic transcripts
- Graduation or prospective graduation certificate
- Recommendation letter
- Medical certificate
- Certificate of enrollment, if applicable
- University entrance qualification certificate, if applicable
- Language proficiency certificate, if available/applicable
- Direct Placement Preference Form later, where applicable
Master’s / PhD / Research Applicants
- Application Form
- Placement Preference Application Form
- Field of Study and Research Plan
- University academic transcripts
- Graduation/degree certificates
- Academic recommendation letter
- Medical certificate
- Thesis/research abstracts, if applicable
- Language proficiency certificate, if available
- Employer recommendation, if applicable
- Art/music portfolio, if applicable
Final Advice
MEXT document requirements are detailed, but the process becomes manageable if you prepare everything in the official order.
Start with:
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- Recommendation letter
- MEXT forms
- Research Plan, if applying for graduate study
- Medical certificate
- Supporting language or academic documents
Most importantly, use the official 2027 MEXT forms and the instructions provided by the Japanese Embassy responsible for your country.
The official 2027 Undergraduate guidelines require one original and one copy of the core application set, while Research Student applicants generally submit one original and two copies.
Important Note
This guide covers the main document requirements for MEXT Scholarship 2027 Embassy Recommendation.
Requirements can vary by scholarship category and Japanese diplomatic mission. Always compare your final application with the latest official MEXT checklist before submitting it.