Indonesian Students in Japan: LPDP and MEXT Scholarship Routes Compared
By Muntasir • Published May 26, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Study Abroad, Scholarships & Funding
LPDP is Indonesia's own scholarship, funded by the Ministry of Finance, usable at an approved list of overseas universities including several in Japan. MEXT is the Japanese government's own scholarship, open to applicants from any country. Indonesians heading to Japan pick one, not both, and the two differ in application route, funding structure and what happens after graduation.
🎓 LPDP: Indonesian government funding, apply through lpdp.kemenkeu.go.id, choose from an LPDP-approved list of Japanese universities.
🎓 MEXT: Japanese government funding, apply through the Embassy of Japan in Jakarta or its consulates, or through direct university recommendation.
💵 LPDP covers tuition and a monthly living allowance set by city, reviewed each cohort.
💵 MEXT covers tuition, a fixed monthly stipend and round-trip airfare, with no return-service bond.
📩 LPDP generally expects recipients back in Indonesia, though alumni without a formal service bond can now work abroad up to 2 years with permission.
Two different funders, two different deals
LPDP (Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan) is Indonesia's own education endowment fund, managed under the Ministry of Finance. It funds master's and doctoral study both in Indonesia and abroad, including Japan. MEXT (the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), known to most applicants as the Monbukagakusho scholarship, is Japan's own government scholarship for international students from any country, not only Indonesia. You hold one or the other for a given study period, not both, so the choice comes down to which application route and funding structure fits your situation.
How you apply
LPDP applications go through the official LPDP portal , in batches during the year, and you need an offer or an admission process underway at a university on LPDP's approved list before you lock in funding for a specific destination. For Japan, that list has included the University of Tokyo under LPDP's top world university category, alongside universities such as Kyoto University, Osaka University and Tohoku University for its general master's and doctoral tracks. Confirm the current list on the LPDP portal before committing to a target university, since it is reviewed between cohorts.
MEXT applications for Indonesians run through two channels, outlined on the official MEXT scholarships page . The embassy recommendation route starts at the Embassy of Japan in Jakarta or the consulate covering your home region, which screens applicants before forwarding them to MEXT for final selection. The university recommendation route skips the embassy stage, applying instead directly through a Japanese university and a professor willing to accept you, with the university forwarding your nomination to MEXT.
What each one pays for
LPDP funding covers tuition plus a monthly living allowance, along with settlement and insurance support, with the exact monthly living figure set by destination city and reviewed for each application cohort. Budget using the current published rate for Japan rather than an older figure from a blog or forum post, since LPDP adjusts these numbers between cohorts.
MEXT scholarships cover tuition and fees in full, pay a fixed monthly stipend set by MEXT for your study level, and provide round-trip airfare between Indonesia and Japan. MEXT carries no return-service bond, so recipients work anywhere after graduation without an obligation to Japan's government.
What you owe afterward
LPDP generally expects recipients to return to Indonesia after their studies. A clarification reported by Kompas in January 2025 confirmed that alumni without a formal service-bond (ikatan dinas) agreement are not strictly required to return immediately and are permitted to work abroad for up to 2 years after graduating with LPDP's permission, though LPDP retains the right to call them back to Indonesia after that window. If your specific LPDP track carries a service bond, that obligation still applies regardless of this general policy.
MEXT recipients face no return-service condition from either the Japanese or Indonesian side, beyond standard visa rules for staying in or leaving Japan once the program ends.
Which one to choose
Apply for MEXT if you want a single-funder scholarship with no service obligation and are comfortable with the embassy or university recommendation process running on Japan's timeline. Apply for LPDP if you already know Indonesia is where you want to build your career afterward, want funding managed in Indonesian through an Indonesian institution, or are targeting a specific Japanese university already on LPDP's approved list. Some applicants apply to both in the same cycle to raise their odds, since a MEXT offer and an LPDP-eligible admission are not mutually exclusive until you accept one.
Support once you are in Japan
Whichever funding route you take, the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo and the Indonesian Students Association in Japan (PPI Jepang) run orientation, community and advisory support for Indonesian students across Japan's prefectures. Register with your local PPI chapter early, since chapters are often the fastest route to practical advice on housing, part-time work rules and renewing your residence status.