University of Osaka Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most Osaka University scholarships are designed for students who are officially enrolled in degree programs (so “online-only” scholarships are uncommon)

Both. Osaka University has “courses and programs conducted totally in English” (so you can “attend and graduate using only English”), especially under the Global 30 framework. At the same time, many regular programs and daily campus life run primarily in Japanese, and some programs mix the two.

That matches what scholarship recipients reported: Kartika said her master’s program “is fully conducted in English,” and Dr. Usama Perwez also described studying in an English-medium program (while still recommending learning Japanese for daily life).

It depends on the scholarship. For the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship, age limits are clearly defined. Other Osaka University scholarships are usually based on enrollment status and academic merit rather than age, but each scholarship can set its own conditions.

Generally, scholarships at Osaka University are available across a wide range of fields (STEM, humanities, social sciences, and interdisciplinary programs). MEXT, for example, expects you to apply in (or closely related to) the field you previously studied, and Osaka University also has school-specific awards (including humanities-focused tuition support).

It depends on the scholarship. For MEXT, applicants generally must hold the nationality of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan (and screening happens through the Japanese diplomatic mission). In the Osaka University scholarship-recipient stories alone, you can see wide nationality diversity: e.g., Pakistan (Mazhar), India (Neha), Nepal (Manish), Indonesia (Kartika), and Egypt (Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim).

Often yes, but it depends on your program’s language of instruction. In the recipient stories, English tests were common: Mazhar Iqbal mentioned an IELTS score of 6.5, Manish Jung Pulami shared an IELTS score of 8.0, Kartika said IELTS is “usually a minimum of 5.5,” and Neha Dhiman noted that TOEFL was required to enroll.

For Japanese-taught programs, Japanese ability can matter a lot, and MEXT pathways can include structured Japanese language study after arrival (especially for undergraduate scholarship students).

Minimum grade expectations vary by graduate school/program and by scholarship type, so there isn’t one universal GPA cut-off for “Osaka University scholarships.” That said, scholarship winners often show strong academics. For example, Kartika reported a GPA of 3.71/4.00 and emphasized that a strong research proposal matters. On the other hand, Mazhar Iqbal encouraged applicants that “even if your academic scores aren’t perfect,” other strengths (like fit and research planning) can help.

A “good” background usually looks like: solid grades, a clear academic direction, and proof you can succeed in your intended lab/program. The Osaka University MEXT recipients gave concrete examples: Kartika paired a high GPA with a focused research direction; Manish described preparing carefully (including language scores) and aligning with a doctoral research path; and Mazhar stressed the value of emailing potential supervisors with a strong CV and research plan.

It depends on your pathway (direct admission vs. MEXT). For MEXT at Osaka University, required documents commonly include an application form, a “Field of Study and Research Plan,” academic transcripts, graduation/degree certificates, recommendation letter(s), and a medical certificate (and language certificates if you have them). In the stories, documents also came up very practically: Mazhar described preparing items like a research plan, transcripts, and recommendation letters, and Manish similarly emphasized documentation plus test scores.

Osaka University also notes that application forms can be in English or Japanese, and that required essays/learning plans vary by school and program, so always double-check the exact list for your graduate school.

Often yes, for admissions. Fees vary by status and graduate school. Scholarship applications themselves (like MEXT screening through an embassy route) typically do not charge an additional “scholarship fee,” but you may still face university admissions-related fees depending on the route and category you apply under. Check the latest guidelines for the updated information.