Master's in Japan: How to Apply, Find a Supervisor and Budget for 2027–2028

A master's degree in Japan takes two years and is usually research-based: you join a specific professor's laboratory, not just a faculty. Preparation therefore starts with finding a supervisor and drafting a research plan, and only then with the application. A bachelor's or specialist degree from Russia, Kazakhstan or most other countries qualifies you. You can study in Japanese or in English — the big national universities run whole ranges of English-taught programmes. Tuition at a national university is about $3,393 (JPY 535,800) a year plus a $1,786 (JPY 282,000) admission fee, and the main government award, the MEXT Research scholarship, pays $912 (JPY 144,000) a month at master's level for the 2027 intake.

Below: how Japanese graduate study is organised, who is eligible, three ways in, how to approach professors and write the research plan, what it costs and which scholarships are realistic.

Master's in Japan at a glance

Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate of 23 September 2026 (USD 1 ≈ JPY 157.9), rounded.

How Japanese graduate study works

The classic master's (shushi katei) is research-based. There is coursework, but the core is work in a professor's lab or seminar and a master's thesis. That shapes admission: the committee assesses how well your topic fits a particular supervisor's field.

At some universities the doctorate is split into a two-year "first half" (effectively the master's) and a three-year "second half". Medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and six-year pharmacy have six-year first degrees and no separate master's; their doctorate takes four years.

Alongside research programmes there are professional graduate schools: law, teacher education, accounting, business and technology management (MBA and MOT), public policy and public health. They involve more coursework and practice and depend less on a single professor.

Who can apply

• Bachelor's or specialist graduates. Japan requires 16 years of education in total or a bachelor's degree of at least three years from a foreign university. A four-year Russian bachelor's (after 11 years of school) qualifies under the second rule, a specialist degree under both. The MEXT guidelines explicitly treat Russian universities as foreign universities for this purpose.
• Non-standard backgrounds. Japanese law lets a graduate school admit someone aged 22 or over after its own individual review.
• Doctoral study in medicine and related fields requires 18 years of education or a first degree of five years or more.

Check subject prerequisites too: specialised programmes expect a background in their field, and a change of discipline needs to be justified in your research plan.

Three ways in

The University of Tokyo illustrates the range of English-taught options: around ten in engineering alone, plus programmes in science, economics, agriculture, arts and sciences, and information studies, many admitting in April and October and some only in autumn. See also English-taught degrees in Japan.

A note on residence status: a non-enrolled auditing student qualifies for Student status only with at least 10 hours of classes a week, and a research student who attends no classes and conducts unpaid research receives Cultural Activities status instead, which comes with its own rules. Confirm the kenkyusei format and resulting status with the university in advance.

Finding a supervisor

Study in Japan states that in most cases you must find your own supervisor, and some universities require their consent before you apply.

1. Narrow your topic to a question you can investigate in two years, and check existing work: CiNii for Japanese publications, researchmap to find researchers.
2. List 3–5 professors at different universities whose recent papers are close to your topic. Check lab websites for whether they take international students and in which language the lab works.
3. Write a short email in English or Japanese: who you are and what you studied, why this lab (citing one or two of the professor's specific papers), the essence of your topic in one or two paragraphs, and whether admission is possible. Attach your CV, transcript and any publications.
4. Write to each professor individually, around their work: an email that would fit any lab convinces none.
5. Be patient: professors often reply slowly, especially around exams and conferences; one polite reminder is fine if you hear nothing for more than two weeks.

A professor's agreement does not guarantee admission — the graduate school decides after its exam — but many research programmes will not consider an application without it.

The research plan

Most graduate schools require one. Format and length vary, usually around 2,000 words. Study in Japan lists the core parts:

1. Purpose of the research.
2. Background: what is known and what remains open.
3. Significance.
4. Methods.
5. References.

Committees look for motivation to do research, the ability to define a problem, logical thinking and knowledge of the field.

Language

• English-taught programmes. Study in Japan's benchmark is TOEFL iBT 75–80 or IELTS 6; individual programmes may ask for more.
• Japanese-taught programmes. Each faculty sets the level; humanities and social sciences in particular expect strong Japanese, often JLPT N1 or N2, plus an exam in Japanese. See our JLPT guide.
• EJU is rarely used at graduate level: 83 graduate schools used it as of September 2026, according to JASSO.

What a master's in Japan costs

The University of Tokyo collects tuition in two instalments, in May for April–September and in November for October–March; some schools, such as law, have their own rates. See the cost of studying in Japan and, for payments from Russia, how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.

Scholarships for master's students

MEXT Research scholarship via embassy recommendation

The main award for graduate study. Terms for the 2027 intake at the Embassy of Japan in Moscow:

• age: born on or after 2 April 1992;
• education: 16 years, or a bachelor's of at least three years from a foreign (including Russian) university, by the time of enrolment;
• applications from 27 April to 8 June 2026, written Japanese and English tests and interviews on 27–28 June; residents of other consular districts apply through the consulates-general;
• allowance: $906 (JPY 143,000) a month in the preparatory period and as a research student, $912 (JPY 144,000) at master's level, $918 (JPY 145,000) at doctoral level, with a JPY 2,000–3,000 regional supplement in some areas;
• no tuition, flights paid by MEXT, and six months of preparatory Japanese if needed;
• scholars often arrive as research students and then sit the master's exam; once admitted as regular students they may apply to extend the award, while the research-student period itself cannot be extended;
• applications whose research relates to Japan's sanctions against Russia are rejected.

Applicants from other countries apply through the Japanese embassy in their country. See our guide to the MEXT scholarship.

MEXT via university recommendation

Some universities have their own quotas for the same scholarship and nominate candidates, usually after selecting them for their programmes, so ask the admissions office or your prospective supervisor early.

JASSO Honors Scholarship for privately financed students

The Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship pays $304 (JPY 48,000) a month to master's students and graduate-level research students, usually for a year or six months. Requirements include a previous-year GPA of at least 2.30 on JASSO's scale, JLPT N2, 200 on the EJU Japanese section or CEFR B2 English, and remittances from home (excluding tuition) under JPY 90,000 a month. You apply through your university after enrolment, and not every university has a quota.

Fee waivers and university scholarships

Many universities grant full or partial tuition exemptions to international students on a competitive basis, and private foundations pay monthly stipends. See scholarships abroad. Budget without them anyway: decisions usually arrive after you have paid for tests and applications.

Timeline: from first email to first day

Example for an April 2028 start.

For September or October entry, shift the whole plan about six months earlier. The CoE and visa steps are covered in applying to Japanese universities.

Part-time work during study and jobs after graduation

Student status allows up to 28 hours of work a week, or 8 hours a day during long holidays, but only with permission, which can be granted at the airport on first entry.

To stay and work after graduating, you change from Student status to a work status, most often Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. If you have no job by graduation, you can switch to Designated Activities for job hunting: six months, extendable once, up to a year. The Immigration Services Agency decides.

Common mistakes

• Applying without contacting a supervisor. On research programmes this often means rejection without review.
• Writing a research plan about everything. The topic must fit two years and match the lab's work.
• Ignoring export controls. MEXT rejects applications from Russia on sanctions-related topics, and many Japanese universities screen foreign researchers under export control rules. If your topic touches semiconductors, robotics, quantum computing or other sensitive technology, raise it with the professor in your first email.
• Treating kenkyusei as a guaranteed master's place. It is a separate non-degree status, and the internal exam is competitive.
• Budgeting on part-time income. JASSO's average student earnings are $513 (JPY 81,000) a month.

What StudyU does

We offer only the initial consultation free of charge (link at the end of the page). Matching programmes and labs, help with the research plan and professor emails, document checks, the timeline and application support are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The university decides on admission, the professor on supervision, MEXT on its scholarship, and the Japanese embassy or consulate on the visa. See Study in Japan and our Waseda profile.

FAQ

Sources

• Study in Japan: graduate schools — eligibility, research plan, supervisor, academic fees, living costs, part-time work, JASSO scholarships, changing status after graduation — checked 24 Sep 2026
• University of Tokyo: admission fee and tuition and English-taught graduate programmes — checked 24 Sep 2026
• Embassy of Japan in Russia: MEXT Research 2027 and 2027 Research guidelines (English) — checked 24 Sep 2026
• JASSO: institutions using the EJU — checked 24 Sep 2026
• ECB reference rates, 23 Sep 2026: EUR 1 = USD 1.1411 = JPY 180.2 (USD 1 ≈ JPY 157.9)

During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.