Nara Institute of Science and Technology Scholarships for International Students 2026

NAIST’s main scholarships are designed for on-campus graduate enrollment in Japan (not fully online degrees).

Both exist, but NAIST is very international-friendly and has clear English-taught pathways. NAIST states it “has conventionally offered curriculum that enables students to obtain degrees solely using English,” and in the Division of Information Science many core subjects are offered only in English. In Cynthia Gozali’s story, she emphasized that “both the internship and the international doctoral program are fully conducted in English,” while also noting that Japanese can still appear in everyday lab conversations, so learning some Japanese can help you integrate.

It depends on the scholarship. For Japan’s MEXT scholarship (one of the most common routes for NAIST), age rules apply by category (for “Research Students,” the common rule is being under 35). NAIST’s own funding routes focus more on eligibility route (e.g., doctoral enrollment via special recommendation) and academic excellence rather than publishing a simple age cap.

NAIST scholarships generally align with NAIST’s graduate strengths: information science, biological science, and materials science (plus interdisciplinary areas built around these). That means strong coverage for STEM fields like computer science/AI, data science, engineering, chemistry/materials, biotechnology, bioinformatics, and related research tracks. For medicine: NAIST is not a clinical medical school (so it’s not the place for an MD/clinical medicine degree), but it does support biomedical/life-science research, which is exactly the kind of path Cynthia Gozali pursued, coming from a biomedical background and aiming at drug design and molecular research.

NAIST actively welcomes international applicants “regardless of their nationality,” and the campus community includes students from many countries and regions. Scholarship nationality rules depend on the funding source: for example, MEXT eligibility is tied to nationality rules set by the Japanese government, while NAIST’s internal schemes are typically aimed at international students meeting the program’s admission route and merit expectations. As an example of real outcomes, Cynthia Gozali received MEXT funding as an Indonesian scholar headed to NAIST.

For admissions, NAIST does expect proof of English ability in many cases: NAIST’s admissions FAQ notes that even if you’re a native speaker, you still need to submit a document verifying English proficiency; otherwise, “your English score will be zero” (though NAIST also notes it can still be possible to pass based on your research proposal and interview). For scholarships, tests often strengthen your file: in Cynthia Gozali’s preparation, she said she spent “3–4 months to IELTS preparation” and shared that “an IELTS score of 5.5 or a CEFR B2 level is generally sufficient” for the Japan context she experienced. If your program track is Japanese-heavy (or your lab expects it), JLPT can help day-to-day, but many research tracks at NAIST are viable in English.

NAIST does not present admissions as a single “minimum GPA” cutoff; instead it emphasizes overall capability and fit (research readiness, interview performance, and academic preparation). A practical benchmark from real recipients: Cynthia Gozali reported a 3.60/4.00 undergraduate GPA and a 3.67/4.00 master’s GPA, alongside strong research alignment.

A strong research-oriented background is the best match for NAIST: relevant coursework plus evidence you can thrive in a lab (thesis work, publications if available, research assistant experience, or serious project work). Cynthia Gozali tied her success to research alignment and proactive outreach: she contacted a professor whose work matched her interests, joined a pre-screening internship rotation across labs, and built her application around that fit. Her advice captures what NAIST-style scholarships reward: “Find a lab and professor whose work genuinely excites you, and craft your application around that connection.”

Requirements vary by program and route, but expect a research-focused file plus academic records. NAIST’s admissions FAQ highlights core items like uploading required documents via the Online Application System and later submitting original “Graduation certificate(degree certificate)” and “Transcript” if you pass, and it notes that if you take the exam in English you must write your “Research Proposal” in English. From the scholarship side, Cynthia Gozali listed typical MEXT/NAIST-facing components such as “the Application Form, Statement of Purpose, Certificate of Graduation, Academic Transcripts,” plus items like recommendations, passport copy, and an English proficiency certificate, so plan for both admissions and scholarship paperwork.

Yes. NAIST lists an examination fee for master’s/doctoral applicants (and also lists enrollment and tuition fees). Check with the latest application guide for the updated informationn.