How I Came to Japan Twice Through the MEXT Scholarship Research Student Route
2026.03.06
Students in Ritsumeikan University Kyoto Kinugasa Campus
Hello, my Kyoto friends!
I am a second year Doctoral Student in Graduate School of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University.
Many people think you must pass an entrance exam and enroll directly as a Master’s or Ph.D. student to study in Japan. But actually, there is another path that many students don’t know about: becoming a MEXT Scholarship Research Student.
I first came to Kyoto in 2012 as a MEXT Scholarship Research Student. After spending six months in the program, I continued on to a master’s program and graduated in 2015 before returning to my home country to work. In 2022, I came back to Kyoto again, also as a MEXT Scholarship Research Student! After one and a half years in the program, I advanced to the doctoral program, which I am currently pursuing.
So yes! I came to Japan twice through the MEXT Scholarship Research Student route. But what exactly is a research student? How is it different from a “normal” (regular-degree) student? What do research students actually do, and how can you apply?
I’ll share everything here, based on my own experience, so stick around!
What Is a MEXT Scholarship Research Student?
A research student is essentially in a “transition period” before officially starting a master’s or doctoral degree in Japan. From my experience, this period is specifically available to those who pass the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship (Research Students) selection conducted by the Japanese Embassy in each country. The scholarship is intended for people who plan to pursue a graduate degree in Japanese universities.
In 2021, I applied for the MEXT Research Student Scholarship at the Embassy of Japan in Jakarta, Indonesia. After passing the selection stages, the Embassy asked me to choose:
1. Do you want to start the graduate program immediately?
2. Do you want to take a research student period first before officially enrolling in the graduate program?
I chose the second option and came to Japan with the research student route.
Can Every MEXT Scholarship Grantee Become a Research Student?
If you want to pursue a graduate degree in Japan, there are two types of MEXT scholarship routes you can apply for: the Embassy Recommendation (G-to-G) and the University Recommendation (U-to-U). From what I’ve been observing until today, U-to-U students usually start their degree directly and rarely go through a research student period. G-to-G students, on the other hand, often receive this period depending on the graduate school’s rules and the arrangement with the supervisor. There are two common reasons:
1. Entrance exam requirement
Some graduate schools in Japanese universities require students to pass an entrance examination before starting their degree. The research student period gives you time to prepare for the exam.
2. Supervisor’s recommendation
Even if your graduate school doesn’t require an exam, your supervisor may suggest taking this period so you can adjust to the lab environment, join research activities, and prepare academically.
In my case, my graduate school didn’t require any exam, but I personally felt I needed extra buffering time, for example, to conduct preliminary research before starting my Ph.D. and to settle my family in Japan. After discussing it with my supervisor, he kindly allowed me to take the research student period. So, discussion with your supervisor is the key!
How Long Is the Research Student Period?
MEXT allows a research student period from 6 to 24 months. You can be a research student for up to 24 months if you start your studies in Japan in April, while you are only allowed up to 18 months if your studies starts in October.
When it ends, you can either: proceed to your master’s/doctoral program, or return to your home country (you won’t earn a degree). As I mentioned earlier, in 2012, I took 6 months (one semester) before continuing to the master’s program, and in 2022, I took 18 months (three semesters) period of research student before starting my doctoral degree.
Do Research Students Receive a Scholarship?
Yes! During my 2022–2023 period, MEXT provided JPY 146,000 monthly allowance and a round-trip airfare from my home country to Japan. This might change depending on the fiscal year so you need to update the rules carefully!
What Do Research Students Usually Do?
This varies a lot depending on academic needs! In my case, I used the 18 months to settle into life in Japan and begin building the foundation for my Ph.D. Like many people say, Ph.D. life can be intense. I wanted extra preparation, especially for my dissertation topic. It turned out to be the right choice! During this period, I discovered that my initial research idea was too difficult and not very aligned with my supervisor’s preference. Thanks to the research student period, I was able to reshape my research topic and develop the frameworks I needed. During this period, I also attended weekly research seminars and gave progress presentations at least once per semester.
Back in 2012, before starting my master’s, I also spent six months as a research student, mainly to attend a Japanese language course at Kyoto University. So yes, if you want to study Japanese before beginning your degree, this period can be really helpful because MEXT will assign you to a place where you can learn Japanese intensively!
