Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology Scholarships for International Students 2026

TUMSAT’s main scholarships are designed for students who are formally enrolled (undergraduate/graduate/research students) and participating in university life (e.g., interviews and selection rounds), so they are generally not “online-course scholarships.”

Both exist, but it depends heavily on the level and program. Many undergraduate pathways in Japan are primarily Japanese, and TUMSAT also provides Japanese-language education for international students (including dissertation-writing support in Japanese). At the graduate level, there are programs/courses where English is used extensively, and some programs are structured so you can study and be examined in English in major subjects (with certain parts still potentially Japanese depending on the major and exam section). In scholarship stories, MEXT recipient Chaw Su Thin focused strongly on English readiness. She said she “achieved an overall score of 6.5” on IELTS, showing how English can be central for international graduate study routes.

It depends on the scholarship type. Many university-recommended or private scholarships focus more on academic performance and enrollment status than age. However, major government scholarships can have strict age rules. For example, MEXT (a common path for international graduate students) publishes age eligibility requirements by scholarship category and year. In practice, you should check the specific scholarship you’re applying for (TUMSAT-recommended, private foundation, or MEXT), because the age rule, if any, comes from that scholarship’s official guidelines, not just the university.

Scholarships at TUMSAT generally apply to the subjects the university actually teaches, marine and ocean-related fields, rather than being limited to one narrow department. At TUMSAT you’ll find strong coverage in STEM and applied fields (marine biology and resources, food/production sciences connected to fisheries, marine environmental science, marine resources/energy, maritime systems and ocean engineering, marine electronics/mechanical engineering, logistics and information engineering) and also policy/humanities-oriented study (such as ocean policy and culture / marine policy and management).

• Engineering: TUMSAT has maritime/marine engineering and systems fields, and scholarships commonly apply to enrolled students in these majors.
• STEM: STEM is a core strength of TUMSAT (marine science, engineering, environment, resources, data/logistics-related areas).
• Humanities/social science: Ocean policy/culture and marine policy/management are examples where social science and policy intersect with marine issues.

Many opportunities at TUMSAT are open broadly to international students, but eligibility depends on the scholarship channel. In the TUMSAT recipient story, Chaw Su Thin studied in Japan as a Myanmar national through MEXT.

Often yes, or at least it’s strongly helpful, because programs and entrance exams may require language evaluation (English and/or Japanese), or allow you to use official scores for exemption or conversion. For some graduate admissions routes, accepted proof can include TOEIC/TOEFL/IELTS and/or Japanese competency measures, depending on what you’re applying for.

In the MEXT pathway, Chaw Su Thin highlighted how central this can be: she took IELTS and said she “achieved an overall score of 6.5,” and she advised future applicants to prepare carefully for English proficiency testing.

TUMSAT admissions and scholarship decisions are typically holistic within each program (transcripts, exams, interviews, research fit, etc.), so there isn’t always a single universal “minimum GPA” published for every route. From the scholarship recipient side, Chaw Su Thin emphasized academics: she said she “maintained a high GPA,” and later advised that having a strong GPA is “tremendously helpful” for scholarships like MEXT.

A strong background usually means (1) high academic performance in your prior degree(s), (2) a clear fit with TUMSAT’s marine-focused research/education areas, and (3) a credible plan for what you will do at TUMSAT (especially for graduate scholarships). Research experience, a focused topic, and proof you can work in English/Japanese as required all help.

In her MEXT story, Chaw Su Thin described a very typical “strong background” profile: graduate-level preparation plus research direction, and she stressed “preparing an outstanding research proposal” as a key factor for scholarship success.

The exact checklist depends on whether you’re applying for undergraduate, master’s, PhD, or non-degree/research-student status, and also whether you’re applying for a scholarship (like MEXT) at the same time. Commonly requested documents for graduate-level applications include: a statement of purpose and research proposal, official academic transcripts, official graduation (or expected graduation) certificates, academic/employment history forms, recommendation letters, and identification documents such as a copy of your passport. Depending on where you live, you may also need residence-status documentation, and language scores (TOEFL/IELTS/TOEIC and/or Japanese competency evidence) may be required or used for exemptions.

Chaw Su Thin also described the MEXT-style flow in a very practical way: she said one of her first steps was to “contact a professor” to secure supervision, and she explained that she had to prepare documents for the university and then “prepare documents again” for the MEXT submission, so expect two layers of paperwork if you pursue a government scholarship route.

Yes, TUMSAT generally charges an entrance examination fee as part of the application/admissions process (the amount varies by level/program). Always confirm the exact fee and payment method in the current year’s admissions and fee pages because amounts and procedures can be updated.