Studying in Japan offers an incredible combination of cutting-edge research, unique cultural experiences, and unparalleled academic rigor. If you are an ambitious student from Indonesia, Australia, or the United Arab Emirates (UAE) looking to pursue postgraduate  education without financial strain, the INPEX Scholarship Program 2027 in Japan stands out as one of the most generous fully funded grants available. Founded by the INPEX Scholarship Foundation—an initiative of Japan’s leading energy exploration firm, INPEX CORPORATION—this scholarship fosters international exchange and mutual understanding by bringing top talent to Japanese graduate schools.

For 2027, the Foundation will select up to 4 students from each country for master’s study at Japanese universities. This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about the 2027 intake: eligibility rules, scholarship coverage, step-by-step application advice, real monthly living costs in Japan, and strategic tips to secure your award.

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Basic Information About the INPEX Scholarship 2027

The INPEX Scholarship Foundation targets prospective master’s degree students who demonstrate strong academic performance, clear leadership capabilities, and a commitment to building bridges between Japan and their home countries.

• Host Country: Japan
• Funding Organization: INPEX Scholarship Foundation
• Target Countries: Indonesia, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
• Degree Level: Master’s Degree (includes up to 6 months as a Research Student prior to degree entry)
• Duration: Up to 2 years and 8 months
• Application Portal Launch: July 1, 2026
• INPEX Scholarship 2027 Application Deadline: October 31, 2026

University/Institution Details

The INPEX Scholarship Foundation was established in 1981 to promote  educational exchange and friendship between Japan and Indonesia. Since 2023, scholarship programs have also been available to students from Australia and the UAE. Unlike university-specific grants, the INPEX Scholarship allows you to study at any accredited public or private Japanese graduate university. Recipients often enroll in top-tier national institutions, including:

• University of Tokyo
• Kyoto University
• Osaka University
• Tohoku University
• Tokyo Institute of Technology (Science Tokyo)
• Waseda University
• Keio University

Because the foundation awards scholarships through a pre-arrival admission framework, applicants must research prospective universities independently and connect with Japanese professors to secure a Letter of Acceptance (LOA) or tentative approval prior to final application submission.

Study Areas & Available Programs

The eligible fields of study depend slightly on your country of citizenship:

• Indonesian Applicants: Restricted primarily to Natural Sciences (Engineering, Computer Science, Environmental Studies, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Physics, Life Sciences, Energy Engineering, etc.).
• Australian Applicants: Open to all major fields, including Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities (International Relations, Economics, Public Policy, Cultural Studies, etc.).
• UAE Applicants: Open across Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities.

Note: Professional clinical degrees (medical training requiring Japanese licenses) or non-degree hobbies are excluded.

INPEX Scholarship Program Benefits:

All Scholarships Benefits

• Full academic costs, including:
  • Application/entrance examination fees
  • Admission/enrollment fees
  • Tuition fees
  • Facility usage fees
  • Other approved academic costs
• Round-trip economy airfare from a major UAE city to Tokyo.
• Travel costs from Tokyo to the destination university/campus
• ¥160,000 per month living allowance.
• ¥60,000 settling-in allowance upon arrival in Japan.
• Up to ¥72,000 for Japanese language study before departure.
• Up to ¥200,000 per year for conference participation and/or field research.
• Transportation and accommodation costs for Foundation-hosted events.
• Other expenses approved by the Foundation, such as a student commuter pass.

Benefits Not Included

• Dependent/Family Allowances
• No accommodation in Japan will be provided by the Foundation.
• National Health Insurance (NHI) Premiums: While inexpensive in Japan (typically $15–$25 USD monthly for students), insurance payments come out of your monthly allowance.
• Document Authentication & Courier Costs: Costs involved in notarizing academic records or sending physical application packets to Tokyo.

Eligibility Criteria for the INPEX Scholarship Program

Applicants must meet all the following baseline conditions:

Indonesian Applicants

• Must be an Indonesian citizen.
• Must hold or expect to obtain a bachelor’s degree from a prestigious Indonesian university.
• Must have at least 16 years of formal education or an equivalent academic background.
• Bachelor’s degree must be in a STEM field, such as:
  • Science
  • Engineering
  • Agriculture
  • Medicine
  • Pharmacy
  • Architecture
  • Related STEM fields
• Must be under 30 years old on the application deadline.
• Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0.
• Must obtain permission from their institution, university, or employer to accept the scholarship.
• Must demonstrate a commitment to strengthening Indonesia–Japan relations.
• Must be willing to contribute to Indonesia–Japan relations after graduation.
• Must not have already received another scholarship for studying in Japan.

Australian Applicants

• Must be an Australian citizen.
• Must hold or expect to obtain a bachelor’s degree from a prestigious Australian university.
• Must have at least 16 years of formal  education or an equivalent academic background.
• Any field of study is eligible.
• Must be under 30 years old on the application deadline.
• Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of:
  • 3.0/4.0, or
  • 5.25/7.0
• Must obtain permission from their institution, university, or employer to accept the scholarship.
• Must demonstrate a commitment to strengthening Australia–Japan relations.
• Must be willing to contribute to Australia–Japan relations after graduation.
• Must not have already received another scholarship for studying in Japan.

UAE Applicants

• Must be a UAE citizen.
• Must hold or expect to obtain a bachelor’s degree from a prestigious UAE university.
• Must have at least 16 years of formal education or an equivalent academic background.
• Any field of study is eligible.
• Must be under 30 years old on the application deadline.
• Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0.
• Must obtain permission from their institution, university, or employer to accept the scholarship.
• Must demonstrate a commitment to strengthening UAE–Japan relations.
• Must be willing to contribute to UAE–Japan relations after graduation.
• Must not have already received another scholarship for studying in Japan.

Selection Process

The selection process is the same for all three countries.

Step 1: Document Screening

• The Foundation first checks applicants’ eligibility and application documents.
• Applicants who meet the requirements are considered for the next stage.

2nd Step: Interview

• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview.
• The interview may be conducted:
  • Online, or
  • In person
• Interview details will be separately communicated to shortlisted candidates.

Step 3: Final Selection

• Final scholarship recipients will be decided by the end of March 2027.

After Selection

• Successful applicants must submit the Letter of Pledge by the specified deadline.
• Failure to submit it on time will result in loss of scholarship eligibility.

Other Important Requirements

• Applicants must be under 30 years old by the application deadline.
• Applicants must have completed at least 16 years of formal education or have an equivalent academic background.
• Applicants must obtain permission from their university, institution, or employer to accept the scholarship.
• Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to strengthening friendly relations between their country and Japan.
• Applicants must be willing to contribute to their country–Japan relationship after completing their studies.
• Applicants must not already hold another scholarship for studying in Japan.
• Concurrent scholarship applications are allowed, but receiving another scholarship for study in Japan is not allowed.
• Application documents should generally be prepared in English.
• Documents in other languages must include a simple English translation/outline.
• Applications must be submitted by email; cloud-storage links such as Google Drive or OneDrive are not accepted.
• Email attachments must be 20 MB or less per email.
• Applicants should contact the Foundation if they do not receive an acknowledgment email after submission.
• Incomplete or late applications will be disqualified.
• Application documents will not be returned.
• Successful applicants must submit the Letter of Pledge by the specified deadline.
• Failure to submit the Letter of Pledge on time will result in loss of scholarship eligibility.
• Passport fees, visa fees, taxes, and similar travel-related expenses are not covered by the Foundation.
• The scholarship is for pursuing a master’s degree at a Japanese university.
• For Indonesian applicants, the master’s program must be in a STEM field; Australian and UAE applicants may study any field.

Required Documents for the Application

Proper documentation is critical when applying.

 Indonesian Applicants

• 2027 Scholarship Application Form
• Official university academic transcript
• Letter of recommendation from an undergraduate supervisor or current employer
• Official graduation certificate or expected graduation certificate
• Letter of Acceptance from a prospective supervisor at a Japanese university
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• TOEFL iBT or IELTS score
  • Test must have been taken after October 2024
  • Must be issued by an official testing organization
• Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) certificate — optional
• ID photo in JPEG or PNG format

 Australian Applicants

• 2027 Scholarship Application Form
• Official university academic transcript
• Letter of recommendation from an undergraduate supervisor or current employer
• Official graduation certificate or expected graduation certificate
• Letter of Acceptance from a prospective supervisor at a Japanese university
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) certificate — optional
• ID photo in JPEG or PNG format

Note: The Australian guideline you provided does not list TOEFL/IELTS as a required document.

 UAE Applicants

• 2027 Scholarship Application Form
• Official university academic transcript
• Letter of recommendation from an undergraduate supervisor or current employer
• Official graduation certificate or expected graduation certificate
• Letter of Acceptance from a prospective supervisor at a Japanese university
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• TOEFL iBT or IELTS score
  • Test must have been taken after October 2024
  • Must be issued by an official testing organization
• Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) certificate — optional
• ID photo in JPEG or PNG format

Document Language

• Application documents should generally be in English.
• Documents in other languages must include a simple English translation/outline.

INPEX Scholarship Program Application Process (Step-by-Step Guide)

Navigating the application requires coordinating both supervisor contacts in Japan and foundation deadlines.

1.Identify Japanese Universities and Supervisors:July – August 2026.

Research faculties and professors in Japan working in your field. Reach out to prospective academic supervisors via email with your CV and research proposal to request a Letter of Acceptance (LOA).

2.Download Application Forms:August – September 2026.

Access the official INPEX Scholarship Foundation website to download the 2027 application guidelines and forms for your target country.

3.Submit Your Complete Application Package:October 31, 2026.

Compile all required certificates, transcripts, recommendation letters, and your LOA. Submit the package by email or post to the foundation or designated regional office before the deadline.

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• Send all documents by email to isf-foundation@inpex.com.
• Email subject: “2027 Scholarship Application (Name)”
• Maximum attachment size: 20 MB per email.
• If documents exceed 20 MB, divide them into multiple emails.
• Cloud-storage links such as Google Drive or OneDrive are not permitted.
• Contact the Foundation if no acknowledgment email is received.

Tips for a Successful Application

• Start Supervisor Outreach Early: Finding a Japanese professor willing to host you takes time. Craft concise, personalized emails demonstrating that you have actually read their recent published papers.
• Align Your Research with Real-World Applications: The foundation values research that offers practical solutions—particularly in energy, technical innovation, environmental sustainability, or regional cooperation.
• Write a Clear, Structured Research Proposal: Clearly define your problem statement, methodology, timeline, and why Japan is necessary for this research (e.g., specialized laboratory equipment or regional data).
• Prepare for the Cultural Aspect of the Interview: During the interview stage, highlight your interest in Japanese culture, adaptability, and long-term interest in facilitating friendship between your country and Japan.

Monthly Living Expenses for International Students in Japan (USD)

While exact costs depend on whether you live in Tokyo or smaller university towns like Sendai or Kyoto, Japan is very affordable for international students. Here is how your $1,100+ USD monthly stipend stacks up against average expenses:

Why Choose the INPEX Scholarship? (5 Core Reasons)

1. Complete Financial Security: With tuition covered, airfare provided, and a monthly stipend of 160,000 Yen, you can focus fully on your research without taking on part-time work.
2. Academic Freedom Across Japan: Unlike grants limited to one institution, you can choose any accredited graduate school or specialized laboratory in Japan.
3. Long-Term Support Window: Offering up to 2 years and 8 months of funding allows ample time to complete pre-degree research language studies before finishing your master’s thesis.
4. Strong Career and Corporate Links: Being backed by the INPEX CORPORATION connects you to a global network of energy professionals, industrial partners, and international alumni.
5. Cultural Exchange and Language Training: The scholarship specifically invests in early Japanese language training, making integration smooth and enjoyable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is knowledge of the Japanese language mandatory to apply?

No. Many graduate programs in Japan are taught entirely in English. However, showing a willingness to learn Japanese improves your application and overall experience.

Can I apply if I am already residing in Japan?

No. The INPEX Scholarship is designed as a pre-arrival scholarship for international candidates residing in their home countries (Indonesia, Australia, or the UAE) at the time of application.

What happens if I fail to secure a Letter of Acceptance (LOA)?

Having an LOA or documented consent from a supervisor is a primary requirement for the INPEX Foundation screening. Without an LOA, your application will not pass the document verification stage.

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Can I work part-time while receiving the INPEX Scholarship?

While holding a Japanese student visa permits part-time work (up to 28 hours per week), the INPEX Foundation expects recipients to dedicate themselves primarily to their academic studies.

Application Deadline

 Indonesia

• Application period: 1 August – 31 October 2026
• Deadline: 31 October 2026, by 23:59 Tokyo time

 Australia

• Application period: 1 August – 31 October 2026
• Deadline: 31 October 2026, by 23:59 Tokyo time

 UAE

• Application period: 1 August – 31 October 2026
• Deadline: 31 October 2026, by 23:59 Tokyo time

Need Help With Your Application?

The Global Services Consult team powered by worldwidestudies.info provides professional admission and scholarship application support for international students. The team helps you identify suitable universities, prepare strong application documents, and guides you through the entire process—from admission and scholarships to visa processing, flight booking, and accommodation. We also help job seekers apply for international job opportunities with ease.

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