Scholarship Comparison · 2026
Which Japan Scholarship
Is Right for You?
Three major programs. One right answer for your profile. Select below to find yours — no jargon, no guesswork.
I am a…
Select your profile — it scrolls you to the right recommendation below.
Side by Side
Comparing MEXT · LOTUS · JSPS
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GOVERNMENT MEXT Japanese Government | INDIA-EXCLUSIVE LOTUS JST / JASSO | POSTDOCTORAL JSPS Japan Society for Promotion of Science | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who is it for | UG, Masters, PhD students | Masters & PhD research students | PhD holders (postdoc) |
| Age limit | UG: under 25 Masters-PhD: under 35 | Under 35 | Under 35 (PhD within 6 years) |
| Monthly stipend | ¥143,000–145,000 (~₹80,000–81,000) | ¥240,000 (~₹1.4 lakhs) | ¥362,000 (~₹2 lakhs) |
| Duration | 2–5 years | 1–2 years | 12–24 months |
| All fields? | Mostly science / engineering | Science & technology focus | ALL fields ✓ |
| Japanese PI needed | Recommended | Required ✓ | Required ✓ |
| Applied through | Japanese Embassy India | JASSO | Japanese host / CSIR |
| Competitiveness | ~12 seats India/year | Limited India quota | No country quota — merit only |
| IJK can help? | ✓ PI guidance | ✓ PI matching (core service) | ✓ PI matching (core service) |
Which one suits me?
Our Recommendation For You
FOR STUDENTS & GRADUATES
You are a student (UG / Masters / PhD enrolled)
Start with MEXT or LOTUS — both are excellent depending on your level and goals.
Choose MEXT if…
You want a longer program (2–5 years), you're applying through the Embassy route, and you want the prestige of the Japanese Government flagship scholarship.
Choose LOTUS if…
You're doing Masters or PhD research, want a higher stipend (¥240,000/month), and are open to working directly with a Japanese research lab — this is India-exclusive.
FOR MASTERS / PhD RESEARCHERS
You have a Masters and want to do a PhD in Japan
LOTUS Fellowship is built for you. India-exclusive, pays ¥240,000/month (~₹1.4 lakhs), and specifically targets Masters and PhD research students wanting to work with a Japanese lab.
The key requirement is connecting with a Japanese Professor who agrees to host you. That's the hard part — and exactly what IJK helps with.
Read Full LOTUS Guide →FOR PHD HOLDERS
You already have a PhD
JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship — best stipend, no field restriction. At ¥362,000/month (~₹2 lakhs), it's the most generous Japan fellowship open to Indian researchers, and open to ALL fields — not just STEM.
Monthly Stipend
¥362,000
~₹2 lakhs
Duration
12–24 months
Fields
ALL fields
No restriction
Age limit
Under 35
PhD within 6 yrs
The Hard Part
All three programs require you to connect with a Japanese researcher or institution. That's where most Indian applicants get stuck.
MEXT, LOTUS, and JSPS all require or strongly recommend a Japanese host Professor before you apply. Finding the right researcher, writing the right email, and getting a response is the single biggest barrier. IJK helps you bridge that gap — for free.
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