1. Application and admission procedures for Japanese Government Scholarship Students
Osaka University accepts international students who have received a scholarship from the Japanese Government (the scholarship is handled by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology — “MEXT“) at graduate and undergraduate levels.
There are two application procedures: Embassy Recommendation, University Recommendation.
Undergraduate level
Embassy recommendation
After finishing high school in a foreign country, a person hoping to enroll in an undergraduate course as a Japanese Government Scholarship Student should apply for Japanese Government Scholarships for (Under)graduate Students recruited by Japanese Embassies and Consulate Generals abroad. If accepted, the applicant must take Japanese language lessons at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies or at the Center for Japanese Language and Culture at Osaka University for a year. After that, if the applicant passes the screening of the university for which s/he is applying, the applicant can enroll in the undergraduate course of the university.
February ~ March: Recruited by Japanese Embassies or Consulate Generals abroad
May ~ July: Preliminary screening (documentary examination, written examination, and interview)
October ~ : Second screening (consultation with the MEXT and the university)
February of the coming year: Notification of acceptance
April: Arrival in Japan
Graduate level
An applicant usually enrolls under the status of research student and works in research activities for six months to a year. Then, after passing the entrance examination, the applicant enrolls in a master’s or doctor’s program.
Embassy recommendation
Through the Japanese Embassies and Consulate Generals overseas, applications are accepted and the screening is conducted. From February to March, the recruitment of students wishing to come to Japan in April or October of the following year is conducted. The preliminary screening (documentary examination, written examination, and interview) is done at the Japanese Embassies and Consulate Generals overseas. After the preliminary screening, in consultation with the MEXT’s selection committee and the university, the recipients are determined.
Research students recommended by the embassy, but whose Japanese ability is insufficient, take a 6-month Japanese training course at the International Student Center. After that, the student joins the graduate school as a research student, takes the entrance examination of the school, and then enrolls it.
February ~ March: Recruited by Japanese Embassies or Consulate Generals abroad
May ~ July: Preliminary screening (documentary examination, written examination, and interview)
~ August: Procedures for Letter of Acceptance *Please see below.
October ~ : Second screening (consultation with the MEXT and the university)
February of the coming year: Notification of acceptance
April or October: Arrival in Japan
* Letter of Acceptance
Only applicants who have been selected as preliminary candidates by the Japanese Embassies or Consulate Generals overseas are required to obtain a Letter of Acceptance from the university of their choice.
In order to obtain a Letter of Acceptance, applicants should consider which professor they would like to receive research guidance from and contact that professor by email to inquire about the possibility of acceptance. Please contact the International Student Affairs Division, Department of International Affairs with the documents listed below attached. (Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the professor [via the International Student Affairs Division] and consult him/her about the research contents and study plans in advance.) If acceptance is granted by the graduate school or department after the applicant has been interviewed by the professor, a Letter of Acceptance can be obtained.
Concerning the Letter of Acceptance
Please send an email to study＠ml.office.osaka-u.ac.jp with the following documents attached. Please include the department of the professor, his/her name, and the name of graduate school of interest under the subject of “Request for Letter of Acceptance”.
Documents needed:
A certificate of the preliminary selection issued by a Japanese Embassy or Consulate General
Copy of all documents submitted to the Japanese Embassy or Consulate General (application form, research plan, an official transcript from one’s university)
Official “Letter of Acceptance” for submission to your university of choice (i.e., OU) — download one of these formats: PDF or Excel
An applicant hoping to contact a professor about the contents of his/her study plan or research should directly contact the professor or the administrative office of each (under)graduate school that the professor belongs to. Applicants can search for the various schools a professor belongs to by means of the Researcher Directory.
Note–please be careful: It is not unusual for an applicant to contact the university without mentioning the name of a guidance professor or the field s/he hopes to study. Please note that such inquiries cannot be answered.
University Recommendation
Osaka University accepts some international students recommended by foreign universities under a student-exchange agreement between such universities or departments as well as from research institutes with which the university has exchange programs through joint research. The university recommends such candidates and the MEXT selection committee determines the recipients around June. Entrance for successful candidates begins from October only.
Recruitment will be announced through each faculty in December and January of the year preceding admission.
Required documents include an application form, research plan, certification of language proficiency such as TOEFL or TOEIC scores, graduation certificate (or certificate of expected graduation), academic records of the university attended, and a letter of recommendation from the university the applicant is attending addressed to the President of Osaka University.
For more information, contact the administrative office of each faculty.
December ~ January: Recruited by university (documentary screening and interview)
June: After deliberations at the MEXT, recipients are determined
October: Arrival in Japan
For more information, contact:
Undergraduate level
Please direct questions to the Japanese embassy or consulate general in your country/region.
Graduate level
International Affairs Division, Department of International Affairs
1-1 Yamadaoka, Suita 565-0871
Tel: 06-6879-7103 Fax: 06-6879-8964
Email: study[at]ml.office.osaka-u.ac.jp
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