1. Eligibility for application
(1) Applicants must fulfill one of the following conditions:
(a) Those who have completed 12 years of school education in a foreign country (including those who are certain to complete the course at the time of admission).
(b) Those who have completed a course of study at a school corresponding to a Japanese high school in a foreign country (including those who are certain to fulfill the requirements at the time of admission).
(c) Those who are qualified to enter a Japanese university based on qualifications other than the above (the conditions described in "Qualifications for Application for Privately Financed International Student Selection at Okayama University" shall apply accordingly).

(2) In principle, those born on or after April 2, 2000.

(3) Those who are nationals of countries having diplomatic relations with the Government of Japan. Those who have Japanese nationality are not, in principle, eligible for application. However, only dual nationals with Japanese citizenship who have their home outside of Japan at the time of application and plan to choose a foreign nationality and renounce their Japanese citizenship before entering Japan.

(4) Applicants who have applied as candidates for the Japanese Government Scholarship for the "International Program Creating New Agricultural Frontiers" (hereinafter referred to as "INAF"), which has been selected as a "Special Program for Priority Placement of Japanese Government Scholarship Students in FY2023" by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and intend to enter the Faculty of Agriculture at Okayama University after completing the research student period (for preparatory education). However, applicants must be able to make a firm commitment to enroll in the Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University if they pass the entrance examination.


2. Preparatory Education
For 6 months from October 2025.


3. Application procedures
(1) Application documents
(a) Application form (form prescribed in the URL below)
https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20241202-mxt_kotokoku01-000038802_004.pdf
(b) Statement of reasons for application (any format, A4 size, PDF file acceptable)
(c) A copy of the applicant’s passport (or a copy of a certificate of family register, certificate of citizenship, or other identification issued by the government of their home country)
(d) Transcript of the last school attended (high school or university) (issued by the school attended)
*Submit together with the transcripts issued by the school from which the applicant graduated, if any, showing the grade evaluation categories.
(e) Certificate(s) of (prospective) graduation or a Diploma of the last school attended (high school or university)
(f) Certificate of passing the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) (level N2 or above recommended)
(g) Others (recommended to submit) Proof of language ability, such as scores of EJU and English proficiency tests (e.g., TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, etc.)
*If you submit a certificate of JLPT level N3, be sure to submit a score on the English proficiency test equivalent to Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) B2 or higher.
(h) Certificate of enrollment (for applicants currently enrolled in a university, etc.)
(i) Transcript of Academic Record (for applicants currently enrolled in a university, etc., transcript of the university attended) (optional)
※Certificates from (a) to (i) in foreign languages other than English must be submitted with Japanese translations.

(2) Application period
February 7 (Fri.) - February 14 (Fri.), 2025
Reapplication: March 3 (Mon.) – March 7 (Fri.), 2025

(3) Where and how to apply
Where to apply:　Faculty of Agriculture Office, Educational and Student Affairs
[email protected]
How to apply: Submit the application documents, in electronic form　at (mainly PDF) to the application office by the end of the application period.


4. Method of Determination and Notification of Acceptance/Rejection
Applicants who pass the screening based on application documents will be invited to an online interview in Japanese on March 31 (Mon.), 2025, for final determination of acceptance or rejection. The method of the online interview will be notified to eligible applicants individually via e-mail by March 24 (Mon.), 2025. Applicants will be notified by e-mail of their acceptance or rejection as candidates and the results of their recommendation as candidates for the Japanese Government Scholarship.

If you are accepted as a candidate (pass the online interview), send the original application materials to the following address by the submission deadline.

Deadline for submission: April 21 (Mon.), 2025
Address for submission: 〒700-8530 Okayama, Okayama City, Kita-ku, Tsushima-naka 1-1-1

The original application form should be sent by airmail or express mail (DHL, EMS, FedEx, etc.). Those who pass the online interview must apply for the Research Student Program (Japanese Government Scholarship: INAF Preliminary Education) at the Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University (Application fee: 9,800 yen, which will be returned later if the applicant is selected as a Japanese Government Scholarship student).

The final decision on acceptance or rejection as a Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship candidate will be made by MEXT in July 2025, and those candidates will be notified as soon as it is known.


5. Inquiries: (Inquiries must be sent in English or Japanese)
Faculty of Agriculture Office, Educational and Student Affairs
[email protected]


6. Others
INAF is accepting applications for 6 privately financed international students and 6 Japanese Government-sponsored international students. Privately financed international students will be selected through the special selection for privately financed international students 2026 (conducted in December 2025).