APPLY NOW! Osaka University Master’s / PhD Scholarship Program for International Students 2025
The Graduate School of Engineering Science at Osaka University features one of our MEXT-granted programs: “Special
Training Program for Robotics Engineers for human-intelligent robot symbiotic society” provided in Englishwhich starts
in October 2025.
The Graduate School of Engineering Science is one of the world-leading schools in the field of Robotics Engineering.
Under this program featuring Robotics Engineering as well as other related areas, we would like to welcome top-notch
internationalstudentsfrom all over the world.
Based on our educational philosophy, which is “Fundamentally developing scientific technology by integrating science
and technology will create a true culture of humanity,” we will nurture human resources that possess a broad spectrum
of multidisciplinary expertise, rich comprehensive understanding, synthetic imagination, and transcultural
communicability, associated with Robotics-Engineering-related professional capability and skills, that can also contribute
to establishingfuture Robotics industries in their home countries as well as promoting close cooperation with the Japanese
industry, academia, and government internationally.
The detailed application guide is as follows.
Note: MEXT stands for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of the Japanese Government.
1. Date of Course Enrollment
October 1st, 2025
2. Maximum Number for Admission
Master’s Course
Four (4)students in total for the three departments below
Doctoral Course
Four (4) students* in total for the three departments below
Department of Materials Engineering Science
Department of Mechanical Science and Bioengineering
Department of Systems Innovation
Research areas and topics can be found on the website: osku.jp/n0961
*With regard to the process of advancing to the doctoral course, you will need to refer to Section 10. Note (6) and
(7) below.
3. Application Requirements
(1) Nationality: The applicant’s nationality must be of a country that has diplomatic relations with the Japanese
government.
(2) Visa requirement: Non-Japanese nationals who are expected to obtain a resident visa (Student Visa) upon
enrollment at the Graduate School, under the Immigration-Control and Refugee-Recognition Act.
(3) Age: In principle, applicants are required to have been born on or after April 2, 1990.
(4) Applicants are required to have fulfilled at least one of the following items:
A master’s course applicant who
(a) has received a bachelor’s degree from a Japanese university/college or is expected to graduate prior to
the date of enrollment to the course;
(b) has completed 16 years of formal school education curriculum in countries other than Japan and either
has received a bachelor’s degree, or is expected to graduate from a university/college prior to the date of
enrollment to the course;
(c) has received the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree through the completion of coursework which requires
3 or more years of study at an overseas university/college; or
(d) is approved of being academically equivalent to a university graduate level by the Graduate School of
Engineering Science, Osaka University and is at least 22 years of age prior to the date of enrollment to
the course.
A doctoral course applicant who
(e) has received a master’s degree from a university or is expected to complete a master’s course curriculum
prior to the date of enrollment to our doctoral course;
(f) has either received a bachelor’s degree from a Japanese university, or completed 16 years of formal
school education curriculum in countries other than Japan followed by at least 2 years of research
experience at universities/research institutes, and is approved of having research ability equivalent to
master’s degree level by the Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University; or
(g) is approved of being academically equivalent to a master’s course graduate level by the Graduate School
of Engineering Science, Osaka University and is at least 24 years of age prior to the date of enrollment
to our doctoral course.
(5) Language ability: Required English proficiency above 79 for TOEFL-iBT, 213 for TOEFL-CBT, 550 for
TOEFL-PBT, 6.0 for IELTS or equivalent.
(6) While the applicant is studying in Japan, he/she shall contribute to mutual understanding between Japan and
his/her home country by participating in activities at schools and communities with the aim of contributing to
the internationalization of Japan. The applicant shall make efforts to promote relations between his/her home
country and Japan by maintaining close relations with the university attended after graduation, cooperating with
the conducting of surveys and questionnaires after returning home, and cooperating with all relevant projects
and events conducted by Japanese diplomatic missions in the applicant’s home country.
(7) Notes on ineligible applicants:
(a) Members of the armed forces.
(b) The applicant who is a previous recipient of the Japanese government (MEXT) scholarship; provided,
those that have educational research experience of three years or more from the first day of the month
following the final payment of the previous scholarship to the beginning of the payment of this
scholarship are excluded, as well as those receiving the MEXT Scholarship and currently enrolled in the
master’s course forerunner program (“Special Training Program for Robotics Engineers for the PostCorona Society”) who wish to apply for the doctoral course of this program. In addition, this does not
apply to the past recipients of Japanese studies scholarships or Japan-Korea Joint Government
Scholarship Program for the Students in Science and Engineering Departments or Young Leaders
Program who are eligible to apply;
(c) Those who are currently applying for other programs by the Japanese government (MEXT).
(d) Recipients of scholarships from institutions (including government institutions in their home countries)
other than Japanese government (MEXT) and Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)(including
the prospective beneficiaries). Those who have been selected by support programs for international
students that are organized by Japanese government (MEXT) or Japan Student Services Organization
(JASSO) and continue to be at the university on or after October 2025 are included.
(e) Applicants who are expected to graduate at the time of application and cannot satisfy the qualifications
and the conditions related to academic background by the deadline given.
(f) Holders of dual nationality at the time of application who cannot verify that they will give up Japanese
nationality by the time of his or her arrival in Japan.
(g) Applicants who wish, from the time of application, to conduct fieldwork or participate in an internship
outside of Japan.
4. Pre-application Screening
Among the Application Requirements mentioned above, those who fall under 3-(4)-(d) for the master’s course and
3-(4)-(f), (g) for the doctoral course are required to undergo a pre-application screening before application. Please
contact the Graduate Students Section at least one month before the application deadline by email (ki-
daigakuin@office.osaka-u.ac.jp) to inquire about the necessary procedures.
5. Application Procedure
(1) Application Period:
Friday, November 1, 2024, to Friday, November 15, 2024(no later than 23:59 JST)
Note: To the extent possible, every applicant is asked to find a supervisor suitable for the research field in which
the applicant is interested by contacting him/her by email to confirm whether the field will be appropriate for
his/her laboratory. The research topics of faculty members of the Graduate School of Engineering Science can
be found in the attached list and can also be found at the following website: osku.jp/n0961
(2) Application Process:
All application documents (3)-(a)-(h) (see below) should be scanned into PDF format, and the PDF documents
are to be submitted to the Graduate Students Section via email within the application period (Japan Standard
Time/JST).
Graduate Students Section, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University
Email: ki-daigakuin@office.osaka-u.ac.jp
The subject of the email should be as follows and the name of the applicant should be written the same way that
it appears in the passport: not abbreviated and all in block letters.
For those applying for the master’s course : MEXT_Robotics_MC_name
For those applying for the doctoral course：MEXT_Robotics_DC_name
When your application documents have been received, you will be contacted within one week to confirm their
receipt. If you do not receive confirmation within one week after sending the application documents, please
contact the email address written above.
No application will be accepted if the documents are incomplete. Once the application procedure is completed,
the submitted contents cannot be altered.
(3) Application documents:Application forms are to be downloaded from the website: http://osku.jp/r0592
It is essential that all the application documents (a)-(h) should be carefully completed in English, typed/printed
or written in block letters (i.e. they must be written legibly in printed letters, sans-serif fonts, and not in cursive,
so that it can be easily read.) on A4- or US letter-sized white paper. Official English translation is required for
every formal document given in other languages. Application documents are non-returnable.
(a) Form “Application for Admission for 2025 Engineering Science 21st Century Master’s and Doctoral
Course Program for International Students with a MEXT Scholarship” completed and signed.
(b) “Details of proposed study” completed in about 2,000 words on the prescribed form.
(c) Abstract of applicant’s bachelor thesis for master’s course application or that of master’s thesis for
doctoral course application, written in English within 2,000 words on the prescribed form.
(d) Official document certifying the date or expected date of applicant’s graduation issued and signed by the
officials of the most recent university or graduate school.
(e) Academic records, which also indicate the GPA or its equivalent, issued and signed by officials of the
most recent university or graduate school.
(f) A copy of the applicant’s passport on an A4- or US letter-sized paper. If this cannot be provided, a copy
of certificate of citizenship will be accepted.
(g) A score report (original document) of the TOEFL-iBT, TOEFL-CBT, TOEFL-PBT, IELTS test or
equivalent to serve as a certificate of English proficiency, or a certificate from the academic institution
verifying that the language of instruction and examinations is English.
If the applicant has completed an undergraduate or graduate degree program where the language of
instruction and examinations is English, an official statement from the academic institution will be
accepted as well.
Your TOEFL score may be sent to us directly from ETS. Our ETS institution code is 5413.
Provided, those who fall under the following categories need not submit the abovementioned certificates:
– Applicants whose first language is English.
– Applicants who have graduated from a university located in an English-speaking country.
(h) Recommendation letter from the Dean of the faculty or school from which the applicant has graduated
addressed to the president of Osaka University.
Please keep in mind that letters that do not follow the above format will not be accepted (letters must not
be written by your supervisors, letters must not be addressed “To whom it may concern” etc.).
(i) One (1) photo 4.5 by 3.5 cm in size.
• Color
• Printed on photo quality paper.
• Taken within the last 6 months prior to the application date to reflect the current appearance.
• Taken clearly in front of a plain background.
• Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera including upper body.
• With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open. Do not wear a hat or head covering.
• Write your name and nationality in block letters on the back of the photo.
6. Screening
Applicants are required to go through the screening process as seen below.
(1) Documentscreening:
The first screening of applicants will be held based on the application documents by the Graduate School of
Engineering Science, Osaka University by the middle of December 2024.
After the document screening, successful applicants are required to submit all the original application
documents 5-(3)-(a) ~ (i) (NOT SCANNED) by registered postalmail such as Express Mail Service (EMS) by
the designated date to the address below.
Graduate Students Section, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University
1-3 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-8531 JAPAN
Phone: +81-6-6850-6146
(2) Interview screening:
An interview screening will be conducted for those who have passed the initial application document screening by
the Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University by the middle of January
2025.
Note: Those who are accepted to the program will become preliminary candidates for the MEXT Scholarship and
will be requested to additionally submit the “Application Documents for MEXT Scholarship”.We will send the
“Application Documents for MEXT Scholarship” to all applicants who have passed the document screening
by mid-December. For those who have passed the interview screening, please prepare to send the “Application
Documents for MEXT Scholarship” to the Graduate Students Section, Osaka University Graduate School of
Engineering Science via postal mail/ courier by early February.
MEXT will decide who the recipients of the MEXT Scholarship will be among the recommended preliminary
candidates selected by the Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University.
7. Notification of Results
We will inform you of the results of the document screening by mid-December and the results of the interview
screening by the end of January via email.
The result of the MEXT scholarship screening will be announced via elail to the applicants at the beginning of June
2025.
-Admission decisions are non-negotiable.
-The Graduate Students Section will not respond to any inquiries regarding admission decisions.
8. Policy on Handling Personal Information
(1) Names, addresses, and other personal information will be used in the entrance examination process, in the
publication of the list of successful applicants, and in the admission procedures. For those admitted to Osaka
University, personal information will also be used for academic-related matters (keeping academic and
registration records), for student support matters (health care management, school fee exemptions and
applications for scholarships, career support, etc.), and for school fee management.
(2) The information obtained from the entrance examination such as grade statistics and analysis will be used for
research on admission methods.
9. Security Export Control
In accordance with Japan’s “Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act” (hereinafter referred to as the “Act”), Osaka
University has established the “Osaka University Security Export Control Regulations” and rigorously implements
security export control for the export of goods and the transfer of technology (including accepting foreigners).
Please be aware that applicants who fall under any of the conditions set out in the Act may not receive permission to
enroll at the university or may have their education or research restricted after their enrollment.
For more information, please refer to the following website.
https://www.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/research/secur_exp/outline
10. Note
(1) If any of the application documents include false information, the applicant’s admission will be cancelled even
after he/she has enrolled.
(2) If those applicants who have applied with an official document certifying the expected date of the applicant’s
graduation but cannot graduate by the day before the date of admission to Osaka University, the applicant’s
admission will be cancelled.
(3) Applicants are recommended to become well acquainted with the Japanese language, culture, customs, and so
on. Knowledge of the Japanese language will prove to be useful during your stay in Japan.
(4) After being awarded the MEXT Scholarship, the applicant is to follow the instructions of Osaka University as
well as MEXT and proceed with visa and arrival procedures.
(5) The MEXT Scholarship shall be provided in accordance with the rules set forth by the Japanese Government.
(6) If a grantee desires to advance to the doctoral course from the master’s course, he/she may have the term of
his/her scholarship extended upon a successful examination by MEXT and Osaka University, provided that
he/she has made outstanding academic achievement that meets certain criteria. This will be implemented
according to the proceeding of the program.
(7) Students currently enrolled in the master’s course for this program who apply for the doctoral course will be
given priority, but this does not mean that other applicants are not competitive candidates as well, provided that
there are openings.
PERIOD OF SCHOLARSHIP
Regardless of the date of arrival, the scholarship period shall be the necessary period for the completion of the
regular program of the respective courses. Students repeating a year will not be eligible to receive the scholarship.
SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS
(1) Allowance: The amount listed below shall be paid depending on the course that the grantee is enrolled in.
Due to the situation of the Japanese Government’s budget, the amount of payment may be subject to change
each fiscal year. The scholarship shall be cancelled if a grantee has not attended the university for an
extended period.
a) Regular students enrolled in master’s courses: 147,000 yen per month.
b) Regular students enrolled in doctoral courses: 148,000 yen per month.
(2) Education fees: Fees for the application/entrance examination, admission and tuition at Osaka University
will be exempted.
(3) Transportation Expenses
a) Transportation to Japan: MEXT provides an economy-class airline ticket for the flight from the
international airport closest to the grantee’s residence (in principle, the country of nationality) to the
first international airport that the grantee flies into when he/she arrives in Japan.
b) Transportation from Japan: MEXT, in principle, shall provide an economy-class airline ticket from
Kansai International Airport to the international airport (in principle, in the country of nationality)
nearest to the returning grantee’s residence in his/her home country by the end of the final month of the
period of scholarship designated by MEXT.
Note 1: The grantee shall bear at his/her own expense all costs related to domestic travel from the grantee’s
residence to the nearest international airport, airport taxes, airport usage fees, special taxes necessary
for travel, travel expenses within Japan (including airline transit costs), travel insurance expenses,
carry-on luggage or unaccompanied baggage expenses, etc. This is the same for when the grantee
returns to his/her home country.
Note 2: If a grantee returns to his/her home country before the end of the scholarship period due to personal
circumstances, or reasons stated in “3. SUSPENSION OF SCHOLARSHIP PAYMENT”, MEXT
will not pay for the returning travel expenses.
Note 3: If a grantee continues to stay in Japan after the scholarship period has ended in cases such as being
employed in Japan, he/she will not be paid travel expenses for a temporary return.
SUSPENSION OF SCHOLARSHIP PAYMENT
Payment of the scholarship will be stopped for the reasons given below. Should any of the following reasons
apply, the grantee may be ordered to return a part of, or all of, the scholarship paid up to that time. Payment of
the scholarship may also be stopped during the period up to the decision on the disposition of the matter.
(1) A grantee is determined to have made a false statement on his/her application.
(2) A grantee violates any article of his/her pledge to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
Technology.
(3) A grantee violates any Japanese laws and is sentenced and imprisoned for an indefinite period or for a
period exceeding 1 year.
(4) A grantee is suspended from his/her university or preparatory educational institution or receives other
punishment, or is removed from enrollment; in accordance with school regulations of the accepting
institution.
(5) It has been determined that it will be impossible for a grantee to complete the course within the standard
time period because of poor academic grades or suspension or has not attended the university.
(6) A grantee has come to Japan without newly acquiring the “Student” residence status, or has changed his/her
residence status to one other than “Student”.
(7) A grantee proceeds to a more advanced level of education without receiving approval for an extension of the
period of the scholarship.
(8) A grantee has withdrawn from Osaka University or has transferred to another graduate school.
(9) A grantee’s yearly academic coefficient at each point in time is less than 2.30.
EXTENSION OF SCHOLARSHIP PERIOD
If a grantee desires to proceed to a doctoral course from a master’s course, he/she may have the term of his/her
scholarship extended upon a successful examination by MEXT and Osaka University, provided that he/she has
made outstanding academic achievement that meets certain criteria. This will be implemented according to the
proceeding of the program.
NATIONALITY
Applicants must have the nationality of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. An applicant who
has Japanese nationality at the time of application is not eligible. However, persons with dual nationality who
hold Japanese nationality and whose place of residence at the time of application is outside of Japan are eligible
to apply as long as they choose the nationality of the other country and renounce their Japanese nationality by
the date of their arrival in Japan.
Note
If you are planning to receive other scholarships (except those designated as research funds), please note that
there may be cases where the MEXT scholarship may be suspended. Therefore, please inquire in advance.
Application period: Friday, November 1, 2024, to Friday, November 15, 2024
