University of Tsukuba Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most University of Tsukuba scholarships are designed for enrolled, on-campus students (including degree and research students) because eligibility is tied to being officially enrolled and typically holding a “Student” residence status in Japan.

Both. University of Tsukuba offers many English-taught options (including undergraduate English programs where required classes are taught in English through graduation, and medicine-related degrees taught in English), as well as a wide range of Japanese-taught degrees. Scholarship recipients reflect this mix: Muhammad Umar Nadeem shared that “All coursework and research are conducted in English,” while some scholarships and programs (especially Japanese-track options) may ask for Japanese ability. If you apply to Japanese-taught programs, expect Japanese-based classes and often Japanese ability to be important for both academics and clinical/practical components.

There is no single “one-size-fits-all” age limit across all Tsukuba scholarships. Each scholarship sets its own rules. A common example is MEXT (Japanese Government Scholarship), which includes age/birthdate requirements in its official guidelines for certain categories, while many private scholarships focus more on enrollment status, academic record, and financial need. Tsukuba also runs scholarship calls for current students, so being enrolled on time often matters more than age.

Scholarships at University of Tsukuba generally span most subjects because they are tied to student status (undergraduate/graduate/research) rather than a single major, but some schemes highlight certain fields or designated programs. STEM and engineering are strongly represented (for example, interdisciplinary engineering and computer science admissions routes), and Tsukuba also supports humanities and social sciences as well as business degrees. For business, Tsukuba offers graduate business degrees (including an MBA track), and students in these areas can pursue scholarships depending on the scheme. In recipient stories, fields ranged from climate/water research (Muhammad) to materials innovation/engineering (Gardin), showing that funding is not limited to one discipline.

Many Tsukuba pathways are broadly open to international students of various nationalities, but the exact nationality rules depend on the scholarship. For instance, MEXT has routes like embassy recommendation and university recommendation, and some categories may limit eligibility to nationalities designated by MEXT. Other private scholarships may be open widely or may target specific regions/countries. Recipient stories show real diversity: Muhammad is from Pakistan, Gardin is from Indonesia, and Annet Nakkazi is from Uganda and studied at Tsukuba previously, so nationality is usually less about “who Tsukuba accepts” and more about the specific scholarship’s rules.

It depends on your program and scholarship. For English-medium programs, you may need TOEFL/IELTS (or an approved equivalent), though some routes waive it (for example, if your first language is English or your prior education was in English). In the recipient stories, Gardin said, “I submitted the TOEFL iBT for my admission process,” while Muhammad explained that “additional language tests were unnecessary” because English was his medium of instruction. For Japanese-taught programs or certain private scholarships, Japanese ability can matter. Some scholarships explicitly request a JLPT level (often around N2).

There isn’t one universal “minimum GPA” that covers every Tsukuba program and scholarship, but some funding routes set clear academic thresholds. A common benchmark seen in MEXT-related contexts is a minimum GPA equivalent around 2.3/3.0 on the JASSO scale for scholarship eligibility in certain medical/graduate tracks. In recipient stories, competitive GPAs were clearly helpful: Muhammad reported “CGPA 3.73/4.0” (M.Sc.), and Gardin said, “My GPA was around 3.6 on a 4.0 scale.” Still, grades are not everything. Annet put it simply: “Getting scholarships is more than just grades.”

A strong, relevant academic background usually means (1) solid grades, (2) alignment between your prior study and your intended program, and (3) evidence you can contribute, whether it’s research, projects, publications, leadership, or competitions. Gardin emphasized fit: his bachelor’s was “linearly related” to his master’s, helping convince evaluators. Muhammad highlighted research strength, noting he had “authored sixteen peer-reviewed articles” and built his profile with publications and “strong recommendation letters.” And Annet stressed the human side: interviews, passion, and character can be decisive alongside academics.

Documents vary by program and scholarship, but common requirements include an application form, academic transcripts, graduation/degree certificates, a study or research plan, recommendation letters, and language certificates (if required). A typical Tsukuba-style graduate application set can include: application form, degree/graduation certificate, academic transcript, research plan, proof of exam-fee payment, and an ID photo. Scholarship applications can add extra items: Gardin shared that for his scholarship, he needed “an application form, study plan, recommendation letter, transcript, graduation certificate, thesis abstract, and English proficiency test certificate.”

Yes, many Tsukuba admissions routes include an examination/application screening fee. For example, one Tsukuba graduate admissions guideline shows an “Examination Fee” of 30,000 JPY.