What Scholarship Recipients Say:

"It covers a monthly stipend, tuition and fees, and travel expenses (round-trip airfare)."

MEXT Scholarship (University Recommendation) PhD in Biomedical Engineering (Pediatrics Unit)

— Hanna Silmi Zahra

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"I reviewed the PhD program requirements for international students at the university of my choice. After identifying the necessary documents, I created a checklist of materials I needed to prepare. Since most universities and scholarships abroad require an English language proficiency test, I took the IELTS."

MEXT Scholarship (University Recommendation) PhD in Biomedical Engineering (Pediatrics Unit)

— Hanna Silmi Zahra

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"As a textile engineer, I found Shinshu University, Japan’s only dedicated institute for fiber and textile studies, to be the most relevant and ideal choice for my PhD."

MEXT Embassy-Recommended Scholarship PhD in Textile Engineering

— Azeem Ullah

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"My experience at Shinshu University has been exceptionally rewarding, both as a student and as a researcher. Today, I am honored to be working at the same institution as an Assistant Professor. Over the last six years, I have gained invaluable academic and personal experiences and made many cherished memories."

MEXT Embassy-Recommended Scholarship PhD in Textile Engineering

— Azeem Ullah

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Shinshu University Scholarship Recipients

Hanna Silmi Zahra

PhD in Biomedical Engineering (Pediatrics Unit)

Indonesia

MEXT Scholarship

Hanna Silmi Zahra, a medical doctor from Indonesia, is a MEXT University Recommendation Scholarship awardee and future PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at Shinshu University, Japan. With a deep interest in CAR T-cell therapy, she aims to bridge the research gap between developed and developing countries. Her strong academic record, research-driven motivation, and thoughtful application helped her stand out.

Read her full story to learn how she combined her medical background and research ambitions to earn one of Japan’s most competitive scholarships.

Azeem Ullah

PhD in Textile Engineering

Pakistan

MEXT Embassy-Recommended Scholarship

Azeem Ullah, a textile engineer from Pakistan, secured the MEXT Embassy-Recommended Scholarship in 2019, funding his PhD at Shinshu University with a 145,000 JPY monthly stipend. His 3.74 Bachelor’s GPA and 3.96 Master’s GPA, paired with a clear focus on medical textiles, made his application shine. Following the embassy’s straightforward guidelines, he chose Shinshu for its unique textile program. Life in Ueda challenged him initially due to limited English, but university support and Japanese learning eased the way. Azeem’s tip: trust the official process and highlight your academic strengths.

Curious about his path to a funded PhD? Check out his story for practical tips!

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About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hi! I am Hyun, and I am the founder at Global Scholarships. I've received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College and a $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for my undergraduate degree and was offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. You can read more about my scholarship journey here. If you are interested, you can follow me on Linkedin where I regularly write about scholarships.