INTRODUCTION

Japan is known for its rigorous educational system and emphasis on academic achievement, and university student life in Japan is no exception. However, students in Japan also have opportunities for socializing and building relationships that can be just as important for their future success. Studying is taken very seriously in Japan, and university students are expected to work hard and perform well. They often spend long hours in the library or in study groups, preparing for exams and writing papers. This can be particularly challenging for international students who are not used to the intensity of the Japanese educational system. University student life in Japan can be both challenging and rewarding. While the academic demands can be overwhelming at times, students also have opportunities to build important networks and friendships that can help them in their future careers.

ELIGIBILITY

The applicant must satisfy each of the conditions listed below in order to be eligible for the MEXT Scholarship:

1. Required Language: English
2. Eligible Countries: All world countries
3. Candidates must be citizens of a nation with which Japan has diplomatic ties.
4. A candidate who at the time of application was a citizen of Japan is ineligible.
5. For undergraduate students, you must be at least 17 years old, under 25, and have completed 12 years of schooling or courses equivalent to a high school (including prospective graduates).
6. You must be under 35 and a college graduate to apply for the Master’s or Ph.D. program (includes prospective graduates). Or your education must have lasted 16 or 18 years.
7. For students enrolled in teacher preparation programs, you must be under 35 years old and a graduate of a university or teacher preparation program. You must have at least five years of current teaching experience in your nation’s primary, secondary, or teacher preparation institutions.
8. Students interested in studying Japanese must be between the ages of 18 and 30. When applicants arrive in Japan, they must be enrolled as undergraduate students in faculties or schools that specialize in Japanese language or culture at a university outside of Japan, and they must be enrolled in the home institution when they depart for their home countries.

SCHOLARSHIP

1. Monthly stipend – Non-degree students 143,000 yen, Master’s and professional-degree students 144,000 yen, Doctoral students 145,000 yen
2. School fees (tuition fees) – Examination, admission, and tuition fees are exempted
3. Traveling cost – One round-trip ticket is provided

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for a MEXT Scholarship, please follow the application instructions below:

1. 1Use this page to locate the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your nation.
2. Go to the Japanese Embassy’s website in your nation. You can find the MEXT scholarship under the Education / Scholarship tab.
3. Download and complete the MEXT scholarship application.
4. Send the necessary paperwork to the Japanese Embassy in your nation, as listed in the list below.
5. The Japanese Embassy will administer a written test. See here for a sample written test with answers. 6-Interviews with the candidates will then be held.
6. Email or the embassy website will be used to notify the chosen candidates.

MEXT Scholarship Deadline: Varies from Embassy to Embassy (Click here to check deadlines)