MEXT scholarship is a great opportunity for those who wish to study in Japan on a scholarship. Since 1954, the Japanese Government’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT or Monbukagakusho) has granted scholarships to international students who want to study at Japanese institutions through the MEXT Scholarship Program. Its goal is to produce qualified personnel who will become ambassadors of friendship between the scholar’s home country and Japan, and who will contribute to the growth of both countries and the world at large. MEXT scholarship is available for undergraduate, research, vocational, and Japanese studies.

This article shares the eligibility criteria, requirements, and steps on how to apply for the MEXT scholarship. So, if you wish to know how to get a MEXT scholarship, read on.

Requirements for MEXT Scholarship 2022

Applicants of the MEXT scholarship must be citizens of a country with which Japan has diplomatic ties. Applicants with Japanese nationality at the time of application are ineligible. Persons with dual nationality who have Japanese nationality and live outside of Japan at the time of application are also eligible to apply if they choose the nationality of the other country and renounce their Japanese nationality by the date of their arrival in Japan.

Apart from the requirement stated above, there are various types of MEXT Scholarships available, each with its own requirements that must be met. In addition to satisfying the conditions listed below, you will need to pass one or more examinations in order to acquire an embassy recommendation. Below are the kinds of MEXT scholarships and their specified requirements:

Undergraduate Students MEXT Scholarship

This type of MEXT scholarship is for recent high (secondary) school graduates who wish to begin college in Japan.

Requirements

• You must be between the ages of 17 and 22.
• Have a high school diploma or have completed 12 years of study.
• If you haven’t graduated yet, wait until the year you’re anticipated to graduate before applying.
• If you apply for an undergraduate scholarship through MEXT, 

MEXT Scholarship for Research Students

This scholarship is intended for students who are enrolled or want to enroll in a master’s, doctorate, or professional graduate program and who wish to undertake research on a certain topic in Japan. These students are typically majoring in linguistics or cultural studies.

Requirements

• You must be under the age of 35.
• You must be a college graduate or have completed 16 years of education.
• If you have not yet graduated, apply for this MEXT Scholarship before your projected departure date as a scholarship holder.

NEXT Scholarship for Specialized Training

This scholarship type is for international students who want to study at a Japanese technical or vocational college for up to three years.

Requirements:

• You must be between the ages of 17 and 22.
• Have a high school diploma or have completed 12 years of study.
• If you haven’t graduated yet, wait until the year you’re anticipated to graduate before applying.

MEXT Scholarship for Japanese Studies 

This is basically the “exchange student” scholarship. You will study in Japan for a set period of time before returning to your home university.

Requirements:

• You must be between the ages of 18 and 30.
• Have a high school diploma or have completed 12 years of study.
• Before applying, you must be enrolled as an undergraduate student in a nation other than Japan and be able to return to that institution following your return from Japan.
• Concentrate on the Japanese language or Japanese culture.

Note: Whatever level of scholarship you apply for, there are two major conditions for acceptance:

1. Get a recommendation from a Japanese embassy or consulate-general.
2. Get a recommendation from a Japanese university of your choice that will accept you for study.

MEXT Scholarship Benefits

MEXT scholarship covers tuition, housing, a monthly living allowance, and round-trip flights from your home country to Japan

Accommodation

Universities will provide residence halls for all international students.

Tuition

MEXT scholarship will cover the costs of entrance exams, matriculation, and university tuition. The entrance examination fee, on the other hand, shall be covered by the applicants if they are unable to progress to the master’s or doctorate program or are not admitted by the university.

Monthly Living Allowance

• Preparatory education students and non-regular students will receive 143,000 yen per month
• Regular master’s or professional degree students will receive 144,000 yen per month.
• Regular doctoral students will receive 145,000 yen per month.

Flight Tickets

MEXT will provide an airline ticket to applicants who graduate from the approved university and return to their home country by the end of the final month of the MEXT scholarship period.

Required Documents for MEXT Scholarship

Applicants must submit the following documents to the Japanese embassy in their home country. Note that the submitted will not be returned, so make photocopies.

• Application form
• Placement Preference Application Form
• Field of Study and Research Plan  (for research/post-graduate students)
• Academic transcript for all academic years of university attended 
• University graduation certification or degree certificate (certificate of potential graduation from university for those who haven’t graduated yet)
• Letter of recommendation from the dean or academic advisor of the current or previous university attended
• Medical report
• Abstract of theses (for research students)
• Language proficiency certificate (if applicable to university)
• Recommendation letter from current employer (if applicable)
• Resume (for research students)
• Photograph(s) of the applicant’s original works of art or a digitally recorded medium of musical performance (for applicants into fine arts or music)

How to Apply for MEXT Scholarship in 2022

Below are steps to take to apply for the MEXT Scholarship in Japan:

• Visit the official website of your home country’s Japanese embassy. The MEXT scholarship can be found on the Education / Scholarship page. Click here to find the Japanese embassy in your home country.
• Fill out the MEXT scholarship application form after downloading it.
• Submit the necessary documents (listed above) to the Japanese Embassy in your home country.
• The Japanese Embassy will administer a written examination. The written exams vary according to your major (arts or science). Students majoring in Social Sciences and Humanities (arts) must study English, Japanese, and Mathematics, whereas Natural Sciences students must take English, Japanese, Mathematics, and two sciences. If you applied with a major in Natural Science A, you must take Physics and Chemistry; if you applied with a major in Natural Science B or C, you must take Biology and Chemistry. . Here is a sample written test with answers.
• If you pass the examinations, you will be called in for an interview. Be prepared and punctual. They just want to know why you chose Japan and your course of study.
• After the interviews, wait for additional information or announcement from the Japanese embassy in your home country.

How to fill the MEXT Scholarship Application form

Because you have to submit your application by hand at the Japanese embassy, you must print and fill before submitting it. Below are the best ways to fill out the MEXT Scholarship application form before submitting it.

• If at all possible, type the application. This isn’t only for clarity. You can make changes by email if you write every entry on a page. 
• If you must handwrite, use capital letters with a black ballpoint pen. Other colours are not recognized in Japan.
• Make use of Arabic numerals (e.g. 1, 2, 3). Avoid writing numbers with letters.
• Do not abbreviate proper nouns.
• If you need to make changes, it’s preferable to start over and create a new form. If that isn’t possible, make two horizontal lines through the text and write the adjustment above.
• Submit two copies of the form to prevent you from having to resend the application by express post if changes are required.

MEXT Scholarship Selection Process

Below is the selection process for the MEXT Scholarship

1. 1. Call for applications opens at each Japanese diplomatic mission/Application submission: The deadline for submitting an application varies by each Japanese diplomatic office. Confirm the deadline on the website of the Japanese diplomatic mission in your home country or you can check your country’s deadline here.
   2. First Screening: The dates for the initial screening and communication of screening results differ for each Japanese diplomatic post.
   3. Request a provisional acceptance to Japanese universities: Applicants who pass the first screening will have to contact Japanese universities directly and request provisional admission.
   4. Submission of a placement reference application form: Candidates who pass the first screening must submit a completed Placement Reference Application Form to the Japanese diplomatic mission. The submission deadline for this form varies depending on the Japanese diplomatic office.
   5. Second screening and university placement: Applicants who are successful will be invited for a second screening and university placement by the MEXT scholarship board.
   6. Announcement of results selection: Applicants who pass the second screening will be offered the MEXT scholarship and notified by the Japanese diplomatic mission in their home country.

Before travelling to Japan, it is advisable to learn the Japanese language and gather knowledge on Japanese weather, climate, traditions, university education, as well as the differences between the Japanese legal system and that of your home country. This will help you settle in quickly. Visit the MEXT Scholarship official website for more information.

Have you seen these articles on How to Study in English in Japan and How to Teach English in Japan?