The programme funds Indian school-leavers for 5.5 years in Japan — language training in Tokyo followed by a four-year bachelor's degree — with a monthly living allowance, tuition and airfare covered
Applications are open for the 2027 edition of the Mitsui & Co. Scholarship Program for India, a fully funded programme for outstanding Indian students who want to study for a bachelor's degree at a Japanese university. The call was published on the Study in Japan website on October 16, 2026. The online application window runs from October 9 to November 8, 2026, leaving a short window for eligible students to apply.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Application deadline: November 8, 2026 (window opened October 9). Applications are made online at mitsui.acumen.education
- Who it's for: Indian citizens aged 20 or under on April 1, 2027 who are unmarried and remain unmarried throughout the scholarship
- Academic requirement: At least 85% aggregate across Class 10 and Class 12. Students who complete Class 12 by March 2027 need at least 85% across Class 10 and Class 11, with mid-term Class 12 results assessed at interview
- Language: JLPT N3 or higher, or a strong EJU score, is an advantage but not required
- Programme length: 5.5 years in total, made up of a 2-month online Japanese course before departure, 18 months of Japanese language study in Tokyo (which may be shortened), and four years of university study
- Living allowance: JPY 145,000 per month, paid until graduation for up to four years
- Other benefits: Lodging subsidy of JPY 5,000 a month during language training and JPY 25,000 a month during university study; a JPY 50,000 arrival allowance; entrance exam and tuition fees; textbooks for approved curricula; travel and accident insurance; one-way economy airfare from New Delhi to Tokyo, plus a return ticket if the grantee returns within one month of graduation. Grantees pay their own national health insurance
- Fields of study: Science and engineering, and social sciences, business and commerce, at four-year undergraduate level. Medicine, pharmacy, veterinary science, arts, physical education, nursing, caregiving and similar specialised fields are excluded
- Universities: Any national or public university in Japan. Private universities require prior approval from the programme. Placement and major are decided by the programme, and the major cannot be changed after entrance
- Selection: Document screening, then an online test covering English, two sciences (Physics, Chemistry or Biology), Mathematics and an aptitude test, followed by a final interview by the programme's Managing Committee
What this means for applicants
This is a bachelor's-level programme with a firm age limit and a high marks threshold, so it is aimed at current Class 12 students and recent school-leavers rather than graduates or working professionals. For those who qualify, the scale of support is substantial: tuition, a monthly allowance and airfare, plus 18 months of language training that removes the usual language barrier to studying in Japan.
Applicants should note that the programme decides the university and major with the student, and that the major cannot be changed after entrance. The brochure also says the programme may change its terms without prior notice, and it does not state how many scholarships are offered or the exact enrolment date.
What you can do
- Check eligibility first: age on April 1, 2027, marks in Class 10 and Class 11 or 12, and marital status.
- Download the official 2027 brochure from the Study in Japan website and read the selection and conduct requirements before applying.
- Begin preparing for the online test, which covers English, two sciences, Mathematics and aptitude.
- Consider starting Japanese now. JLPT N3 or a strong EJU score is an advantage, and the programme's pre-departure course targets roughly JLPT N5.
- Apply before November 8, 2026, and keep your Class 10 to 12 marksheets ready.
IRS Study Abroad, Kottayam, helps students identify fully funded opportunities in Japan and prepare complete, well-timed applications, from eligibility checks to document readiness, for scholarships like this one.
Source: Study in Japan website (studyinjapan.go.jp), announcement of October 16, 2026, and the official 2027 programme brochure. Terms may change without notice; confirm details in the brochure and on the application portal.
