Every date below is a verified past window or a published current window. Where a date is not published, the text says so. New to MEXT? Start with the MEXT Scholarship overview, then come back here for the calendar.
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Quick answer
The 2027 embassy round is closed. Every embassy we checked closed between 15 April and 8 June 2026. No embassy has announced the 2028 call yet.
The university track for 2027 is uncertain. MEXT has warned universities that recruitment may be suspended. Nagoya, Hokkaido and JAIST have published windows. Tokyo and Kyoto are still deciding. Tohoku discontinued its General Selection. Waseda suspended its General Program.
The one rule: the only two deadlines that matter are your embassy’s and your target university’s. Not sure which track fits? Start with the Eligibility guide, then read the MEXT Scholarship overview.
Is MEXT open right now?
Status as of 8 October 2026.
| Track | For arrival | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Embassy Recommendation | 2027 | 🔴 Closed. Windows ran 15 April–8 June 2026, varying by embassy. |
| University Recommendation | 2027 | 🟡 Partly open. Hokkaido, Nagoya and JAIST have windows. Tokyo and Kyoto are undecided. Tohoku and Waseda closed to new applicants. |
| Embassy Recommendation | 2028 | 🟡 No announcement yet. Embassies publish calls between April and May of the previous year. |
Embassy windows: the 2027 cycle (closed)
Closing dates from embassies that publish them. For the full route walkthrough, see the Embassy Recommendation guide.
| Country | 2027 close date | Written exam / interview |
|---|---|---|
| Malaysia (verify) | 15 April 2026 | Not checked |
| Indonesia | 22 April 2026 | June/July 2026 / July/August 2026 |
| Egypt | 14 May 2026 | 15 June / 14–15 July 2026 |
| India | 15 May 2026 | 5 July / 16–19 July 2026 |
| Pakistan | 26 May 2026 | Not published |
| Philippines | 29 May 2026 | TBA |
| Nigeria | 8 June 2026 | Not published |
| Bangladesh | Not on embassy page | Not published |
| Vietnam | No source found | No source found |
Closing dates span nearly two months. Indonesia closed first at 22 April; Nigeria closed last at 8 June. Bangladesh and Vietnam have not published their 2027 close dates on their embassy pages.
University windows: the 2027 cycle
Each university sets its own schedule. Seven of the eight schools we checked have published a status. One has not. For the full route walkthrough, see the University Recommendation guide.
| University | Window | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Hokkaido (e3) | 20–29 October 2026 | 🔴 Closed. Results expected 5 February 2027 (tentative). |
| Nagoya (Medicine) | 5–13 January 2027 | 🟢 Opens January. Eligibility review due 11 November 2026. |
| JAIST | Mid-January 2027 | 🟢 Opens January. Covers both Special and General slots. |
| Kyoto (GSGES) | Interview 9–11 December 2026 | 🟡 Ongoing. Enrollment 1 October 2027; results July 2027. Filing window not on the page. |
| Tokyo (GSFS) | Not confirmed for 2027 | 🟡 MEXT General Category unconfirmed. Research students ineligible. Expected deadline 22 January 2027 if it proceeds. |
| Tohoku | Discontinued from 2027 | 🔴 General Selection closed. Special Programs only. |
| Waseda | Suspended from 2027 | 🔴 General Program suspended. Special Program may continue. |
What this table shows: three universities have clear, actionable windows (Hokkaido, Nagoya, JAIST). Two are in limbo (Kyoto, Tokyo). Two have closed their doors to new 2027 applicants (Tohoku, Waseda). The pattern across the last two rows is the most important: MEXT policy uncertainty is causing universities to reduce or suspend the route.
India: three-year pattern
India is the only country where we could verify three consecutive cycles. It’s also the largest audience on this page.
| Cycle | Application window | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 April – 13 May 2025 | 1,960 |
| 2026 | 20 April – 15 May 2026 | 3,170 (185 shortlisted) |
| 2027 | 20 April – 15 May 2026 (for 2027 arrival) | Not published |
Two things stand out. India has opened in the third or fourth week of April for three consecutive cycles and closed in the second or third week of May. And applications nearly doubled between 2025 and 2026 — from 1,960 to 3,170. Of the 2026 figure, 185 were shortlisted for the written test. That is a 5.8% pass rate at the first screening.
Next exam date. India’s 2027 written exam was held on 5 July 2026 — about seven weeks after the application window closed. If the pattern holds, the exam for 2028 arrival will fall in mid-to-late 2027. Confirm the exact date when your embassy publishes the 2028 call.
What to do this week
Editorial recommendations based on where each cycle stands on 8 October 2026.
| Your situation | Do this first |
|---|---|
| You are new to MEXT and unsure which track fits | Read the MEXT Scholarship overview, then check your eligibility on the Eligibility guide. |
| You want 2027 arrival via the embassy track | That window closed in June 2026. Pivot to a university that still has an open window — Hokkaido, Nagoya or JAIST. |
| You have a supervisor at Tohoku or Waseda | Check whether your program is on the Special Selection list. General Selection is closed at both schools for 2027. |
| You are targeting Tokyo or Kyoto | Email the international office before preparing anything. Both schools are still deciding whether to run the 2027 route. |
| You want 2028 arrival via the embassy track | Bookmark your embassy’s page and check from March 2027. The call is expected between April and May. |
| You are an Indian applicant planning the next cycle | Plan around the third or fourth week of April. That has been the opening window for three consecutive cycles. |
After you win, the CoE, visa and arrival steps are covered in the MEXT Application Guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is MEXT open right now?
When does MEXT open each year?
When is the next MEXT exam?
Which universities still offer University Recommendation for 2027?
Why are universities suspending the route?
What if I miss the embassy deadline?
Can I apply through both tracks in the same cycle?
Sources
Method: I checked six embassy pages and eight university pages on 8 October 2026. Historical data covers India’s 2025 and 2026 cycles. Where a claim could not be verified, it was removed rather than softened.
Corrections so far: Earlier versions listed 2027 embassy dates as 2027. They ran April–June 2026. Earlier versions also stated that Tokyo and Kyoto had confirmed 2027 windows — they do not. And earlier versions cited the Tohoku INSC homepage as a discontinuation notice — the notice is on the Life Sciences page instead. All corrected in October 2026.
Embassy sources
University sources
MEXT sources
Christian Chinonso is the founder of LearnViaHub, with 6+ years of research experience in international education — including GPA systems, scholarships, student financing, and study-abroad guidance — for students worldwide.