Hokkaido University is offering five fully funded Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarships for international students entering the International Graduate Course for Data-driven and Hypothesis-driven Science (IGC-DHS) in October 2027.
The IGC-DHS is an international graduate programme established by the Graduate School of Science to develop researchers who can approach scientific problems from both data-driven and hypothesis-driven perspectives. The programme combines quantitative analysis, scientific reasoning and interdisciplinary approaches to address complex questions in the natural sciences.
For the October 2027 intake, five MEXT scholarship places are available: four for doctoral students for three years and one for a master's student for two years.
Applicants are expected to demonstrate strong academic ability and a clear motivation to conduct graduate-level research within one of the participating scientific fields. Because the scholarship is tied to specific research areas and laboratories, applicants should identify a prospective supervisor whose research closely matches their proposed study before submitting an application.
The selection process begins at Hokkaido University. Applicants first contact a prospective supervisor and discuss their suitability for the programme. Candidates whose applications are accepted for consideration then proceed through departmental and programme-level screening before successful nominees are recommended to MEXT for the final scholarship decision.
Available Research Fields
Applicants must propose research within one of the programme's designated areas:
Mathematics
Condensed Matter Physics
Cosmosciences
Earth & Planetary Dynamics
Earth & Planetary System Sciences
Seismology & Volcanology
Biodiversity
Science Communication
The available research topics are linked to the expertise of participating faculty members, so applicants should review the relevant laboratories and identify a supervisor whose research interests align with their proposed project.
The MEXT scholarship provides comprehensive financial support for selected students, including:
Monthly stipend.
Tuition and other academic fees covered according to MEXT scholarship regulations.
Support for travel to Japan under the applicable MEXT regulations.
Scholarship support for the full designated period of the programme.
Access to Hokkaido University's graduate research environment and facilities.
For Hokkaido University's current MEXT scholarship information, the standard monthly amounts listed for university-recommended graduate students are ¥144,000 for master's students and ¥145,000 for doctoral students. A winter allowance is added for the cold-region period.
The exact scholarship period and conditions are ultimately determined under MEXT regulations.
Available Scholarship Places
For the October 2027 IGC-DHS intake, Hokkaido University has announced:
4 doctoral scholarships: 3 years each.
1 master's scholarship: 2 years.
Total: 5 fully funded MEXT scholarships.
Because the number of places is very limited, applicants should treat the supervisor-selection and research-fit stages as important parts of the application rather than relying only on academic grades.
Eligibility
Applicants should be international students who intend to newly enrol in a master's or doctoral programme at Hokkaido University in October 2027 through the IGC-DHS.
Applicants are expected to:
Have an excellent academic record.
Have the academic background required for their intended master's or doctoral programme.
Have a strong motivation to conduct research in one of the programme's designated fields.
Identify a suitable prospective supervisor at Hokkaido University.
Demonstrate the required level of English proficiency.
Meet the applicable MEXT eligibility requirements.
Be able to satisfy the admission requirements of Hokkaido University's Graduate School of Science.
Applicants should also check the detailed MEXT and IGC-DHS guidelines because eligibility requirements can differ according to the intended degree level and academic background.
Supervisor Requirement
One of the most important aspects of this scholarship is the requirement to identify a prospective supervisor.
Applicants are advised to examine the research interests of faculty members in the relevant field and contact a suitable professor before submitting the first-stage application.
When contacting a potential supervisor, applicants are encouraged to provide information that allows the professor to assess their suitability, such as:
Curriculum vitae.
Academic transcripts.
English-language proficiency evidence.
Motivation for applying.
Proposed research interests or research plan.
Applicants should not select a supervisor simply because the professor works in the same broad discipline. The proposed research should have a meaningful connection with the professor's laboratory and current research activities.
Application Documents – First Stage
After a prospective supervisor agrees to consider the applicant, the applicant submits the initial application documents to the Office for International Academic Support.
The first-stage documents include:
MEXT Application Form
Completed using the designated MEXT form.
Field of Study and Study Program
Describes the applicant's intended field, research interests and proposed study programme.
Academic Transcript
A recent official academic transcript.
A grade-conversion chart is also required where applicable.
English Proficiency Evidence
Objective evidence such as IELTS, TOEFL iBT, TOEIC or another accepted form of evidence.
The programme states that English test results should have been obtained in or after December 2024.
Checklist
Completed according to the programme instructions.
Passport Copy
A copy of the applicant's valid passport.
All first-stage documents must be submitted in PDF format.
Research Plan
The Field of Study and Study Program is particularly important because it allows the selection team to understand what the applicant intends to investigate and how the proposed research fits the programme.
Applicants should make the connection between their previous academic training, proposed research question, methodology and intended laboratory clear.
A strong research plan should avoid being a generic description of a broad scientific interest. It should demonstrate that the applicant has considered the specific research environment at Hokkaido University and has a realistic direction for graduate-level research.
English Language Requirement
Applicants must provide objective evidence of English proficiency.
Accepted evidence can include recognised English-language test results such as:
IELTS
TOEFL iBT
TOEIC
The programme also allows certain other forms of objective evidence, including an appropriate Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate, subject to its requirements.
For the 2027 call, English-language test results listed by the programme must have been obtained in or after December 2024.
Applicants should check the current programme instructions before relying on an MOI certificate or another alternative form of evidence.
Selection Process
The scholarship selection takes place in several stages.
Stage 1 – Prospective Supervisor
Applicants identify and contact a prospective supervisor whose research matches their interests.
Stage 2 – Initial Application
Applicants whose supervisor has agreed to consider the application submit the required documents between October 1 and November 15, 2026.
Stage 3 – Departmental Screening
The relevant department reviews the applications and conducts its initial selection.
Stage 4 – IGC-DHS Final Screening
Candidates who progress through the departmental screening undergo final assessment by the IGC-DHS committee. This is tentatively scheduled for January 2027.
Stage 5 – University Recommendation to MEXT
Successful candidates are nominated by the President of Hokkaido University to MEXT, with the university's recommendation scheduled for March 2027.
Stage 6 – MEXT Decision
MEXT conducts the final scholarship assessment and determines the successful scholarship recipients and applicable scholarship period.
Additional Documents for Final Selection
Applicants who pass the initial screening may be asked to provide additional documents, including:
Recommendation letter from the dean or an appropriate senior official of the applicant's home institution.
Official academic transcript(s).
Graduation certificate or expected graduation certificate.
Evidence demonstrating academic excellence.
Summary of a master's thesis or undergraduate research, as applicable.
English proficiency documentation.
Passport copy.
Required declarations or pledges.
The programme notes that the list of documents may be changed, so shortlisted applicants should follow the instructions issued to them at the final stage.
Application Timeline
Application opens: October 1, 2026
Initial application deadline: November 15, 2026
Departmental screening: After initial application
Final IGC-DHS screening: Tentatively January 2027
Additional-document stage: January 2027
Hokkaido University recommendation to MEXT: March 2027
MEXT processing: Following university nomination
Expected results: June 2027
Programme begins: October 2027
Important Application Conditions
Applicants should begin preparing before the application period because contacting a prospective supervisor is an early step in the process.
The programme specifically advises applicants to discuss their suitability for the scholarship with a prospective supervisor before submitting the application.
Applicants should also ensure that all documents are complete, accurate and legible. The programme states that incomplete, incorrect or insufficient applications may be excluded from consideration, and late applications will not be accepted.
Because only five scholarships are available, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee nomination.
How to Apply
Review the eight eligible research fields and identify the field that best matches your academic background and proposed research.
Search the participating Hokkaido University laboratories and faculty members in that field.
Contact a prospective supervisor and discuss your proposed research and suitability for the programme.
Prepare the MEXT application form, research/study plan, academic transcript, English proficiency evidence, passport copy and other required documents.
Submit the first-stage application documents to the Hokkaido University Office for International Academic Support between October 1 and November 15, 2026.
If shortlisted, complete the additional-document and interview/screening requirements.
Successful candidates are recommended by Hokkaido University to MEXT for the final scholarship decision.
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