Updated as of the 2025-2026 application cycle.
Application Guidelines for the 2026 Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship
MEXT released the application guidelines and forms for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship on April 11, 2025.
What this Article Will Cover
If you are applying for the MEXT scholarship for Research Students for the first time, or if you are a veteran applicant, this article will explain everything you need to know for the application process. I will also include links to other relevant articles that will help you along your way. I will cover the following topics, so if you’re looking for specific information, please skip ahead.
- Available degree levels and programs
- Scholarship benefits
- Eligibility (*Separate article, linked below)
- Where, when, and how to apply
- What you need to submit
This article covers the MEXT scholarship for Graduate Students (a.k.a. “Research Students”, in MEXT’s terms). There is also an application process for Undergraduate Students, but I will not be discussing that in this article. Undergraduate applicants can find this year’s guidelines on the official Study in Japan website.
What Degree Programs are Available?
MEXT uses the word “research student” to refer to all graduate level students. You can apply for any of the following programs:
- Non-Regular Student (also called “Research Student” at some universities)
- Master’s Degree Student
- Doctoral Degree Student
- Graduate-level Professional Degree Student (MBA, JD, etc.)
You can only apply as a “Non-Regular” student (Research Student) if you intend to extend your scholarship later to earn a degree. It is common to start as a Non-Regular student for a semester, particularly if your university requires you to pass an in-person entrance exam to join the degree program.
A Non-Regular student is kind of “Pre-Graduate” student. During the semester or semesters in this status, you will likely take classes, start on your research for your degree, and take the entrance exam. In addition to the entrance exam, you will also have to apply to extend your MEXT scholarship to cover the full degree.
You cannot apply as a “Non-Regular” student (Research Student) if you have no intention to extend your scholarship to earn a degree in Japan. It should always be just a stepping stone to the degree.
Available Fields of Study
You must apply for a program in the field of study that you majored in at university or its related field. This is one of the eligibility requirements! If you plan to change fields, you need to show a clear and compelling relationship between your past studies and what you will study in Japan to prove they are “related”. It is up to you to explain the connection and convince your reviewers!
Your field of study also has to be available at the graduate level at a university in Japan in a language that you speak. You must find at least one graduate program taught in English in Japan in your field of study and enter that program and a prospective advisor in your Placement Preference Form.
The scholarship does not cover practical training or apprenticeship, such as Japanese traditional performing arts training or technical internship programs that require technical training at a factory or company. You can study Japanese performing arts from an academic perspective at a university, but you cannot use the scholarship to train to become a professional performer.
Finally, for medical or dental fields, you cannot participate in any clinical training until you receive the relevant licenses from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. License exams are only in Japanese and involve significant technical language. This essentially means that you would need native-level fluency in Japanese if you intend to pursue a degree in any of these fields that requires clinical training.
MEXT Scholarship Benefits
- Exemption from paying tuition, entrance examination, and matriculation fees.
Note: You may be required to pay entrance examination fees in advance if your MEXT scholarship award is not yet confirmed, but if you pass, you will receive a refund of the fees after you are selected for the scholarship.
- Monthly stipend:
- Non-Regular Students: JPY 143,000/month
- Master’s Degree/ Professional Degree Students: JPY 144,000/month
- PhD Students: JPY 145,000/month
- (Undergraduate Students: JPY 117,000/month)
- MEXT reviews the stipend amounts annually and may change them. However, they have never changed in the 14 years I have been working with the MEXT Scholarship.
Note: You will not receive your stipend payment for any months that you are not physically present at your university.
- Cost of Living Adjustment: JPY 2,000-3,000 in selected areas, because of high cost of living or seasonal adjustments for winter utilities, etc.
- International flight ticket from your country of residence to Japan.
- MEXT only covers the international portion of the ticket. You must pay all domestic travel costs in your home country and in Japan, plus the airport usage fees and fuel surcharges, baggage fees, etc.
- MEXT will only arrange travel from your country of residence, not from a third country. So, if you are living abroad prior to the start of the scholarship, you would have to pay for your own ticket. (If there are no direct flights from your country to Japan and you need to transfer in another country, MEXT will pay for the entire international flight, including the transfer.)
- If there is no Japanese embassy in your country (or if it is closed temporarily) and you have to travel to another country to apply for your visa to come to Japan, MEXT will pay for an international flight to that third country and then an onward international flight to Japan. But all domestic travel expenses within that country (e.g. airport to embassy) and lodging costs on your way would be your responsibility to cover.
- MEXT will not pay for your flight if you arrive in Japan earlier than the designated arrival period for personal reasons.
- International flight ticket from Japan back to your country of residence upon successful completion of the scholarship.
- In order to qualify for the MEXT-funded ticket home, you must complete your research in Japan.
- The same conditions for what part of the flight costs are covered apply as for the flight to Japan.
- You must travel by the date specified by MEXT.
- You will not receive a flight ticket home if you lose the scholarship because of your own actions or if you decide to withdraw and return home before finishing the scholarship. Also, if you extend your stay in Japan, for example, to work in Japan after graduation or continue your studies, MEXT will not pay for your plane ticket home, even if you are going home for a short visit before starting work or your next degree. (If you extend your MEXT Scholarship to cover a subsequent degree, you will get a flight ticket home at the end of the scholarship, just not between degrees.)
Cost of Living in Japan: Can you afford to live on the stipend alone?
According to a 2021 JASSO survey, the average cost of living in Japan for international students was 93,000 yen per month (though it was 108,000 yen per month in Tokyo). You can find an overview of that survey on the Study in Japan website, including a breakdown of the costs.
Although that is the most recent survey, Japan has experienced significant inflation since then and, as I write this, the yen is extremely weak, so anything imported from outside Japan is much more expensive. Expect your food and utility costs to be at least 1.5 times what the survey says. Still, you should be able to afford to live in Japan on just the scholarship stipend alone, though it may not be a luxurious lifestyle.
(By way of comparison, I found figures stating that the average monthly salary for a full-time waiter in Japan in 2023 was 163,000 JPY/month and the average salary for an English teacher was 200,000 JPY per month, so you’re really not far off those figures.)
If you want to bring your family to live with you, then your finances are going to be somewhat stretched. Your MEXT stipend along should be enough for you to apply for a Dependent CoE for a spouse to join you. I knew of one scholarship recipient who was able to get CoEs for his wife and three kids using just his MEXT scholarship as proof of financial resources, but that was many years ago in a rural area. Practically speaking, you should probably have another source of income, such as your own savings in your home country, and expect your spouse to apply for a work permit and work part time to the maximum 28 hours per week after arrival in order to supplement your finances.
Scholarship Period
The maximum scholarship period is:
- Non-Regular (research) students: Up to 24 months, from arrival in Japan until March 2028. The maximum duration of 24 months is only available if applicants arrive in April 2026, since the end date is fixed.
- Master’s Degree or Professional Degree Students: 24 months
- Doctoral Degree or Doctoral-level Professional Degree Students: 36 months
*For doctoral students in 4-year programs in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, or pharmacy, the duration would be 48 months.
You may also take part in a 6-month preparatory Japanese language program prior to the start of your degree. This program helps you learn basic, survival Japanese, so it is primarily for students with little to no language ability. It does not teach academic Japanese sufficient to study a degree program. If you join this program, the scholarship will cover the six months (as a non-regular student) prior to your degree. For students applying as non-regular students, these six months are part of your maximum 24 months!
When Do You Get Paid?
If you arrive in April, your first scholarship payment will be for that month. If you arrive in the fall semester, then your first scholarship month depends on the date the semester starts at your university. If it starts on September 1, then your first payment will be for the month of September. If the semester starts on September 2, or later in the month, then your first payment will be for the month of October.
In any case, you will not receive your first payment until at least 1.5 months after you arrive in Japan, because of the time it takes to establish your bank account and and for MEXT and JASSO to complete the payment processing paperwork. MEXT recommends that you bring at least $2,000 USD of your own funds when you come to Japan in order to cover your expenses until that first payment arrives.
In order to receive your scholarship stipend each month, you must be present at your university in person and show your Residence Card with your “Student” residence status once per month on the designated day. If you do not appear during a month, you would not receive the payment.
Extending Your Scholarship
It is possible to apply to extend the scholarship if you advance to the next level degree (from Non-Regular Student to Master’s or Doctoral Degree or from Master’s to Doctoral Degree). However, you cannot extend your time as a Non-Regular (Research) student and you cannot extend the scholarship period if you cannot complete the degree within the time limit above.
Who is Eligible?
I have published a separate article that covers the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship eligibility requirements.
Besides these requirements, you should also pay attention to any additional eligibility requirements established by the Japanese embassy in your country. You must meet all sets of requirements in order to apply! For example, in some countries, applicants have to complete a pre-screening by a government office in your country. Or some countries limit the eligible fields of study, add academic eligibility requirements based on the local grading scale, etc. Check the website of the Japanese Embassy or Consulate nearest you for details! (See below).
Where and When do you Apply?
You apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate that serves the area where you live. You can find a list of Japanese embassies and consulates at:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/mofaserv.html
I recommend using a Control-F search on that page to find your country. It may not be listed under the region you are used to.
While I will give the general application deadlines below, each embassy or consulate sets its own deadlines, so be sure to check the embassy or consulate webpage for specific application instructions. Your embassy or consulate will explain exactly what you have to submit and how. For example, during the pandemic years some embassies accepted submission by email, since applicants could travel and the postal service was disrupted. Please be sure to check the details for your specific embassy or consulate!
Your embassy or consulate may also have additional eligibility restrictions (such as additional GPA requirements in your home country’s system) or required paperwork (for example, pre-screening procedures) that you can only find on their website.
Application Timeline
| Step | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Submit application to embassies | April-June, 2025 | See the website of the Japanese embassy in your country for specific deadlines, requirements, and submission methods! |
| Primary Screening | May-July, 2025 | Includes review of submitted documents, language proficiency tests, and interview. |
| Apply to 2 Universities for Letters of Provisional Acceptance Note: Article is from the 2023/2024 application cycle. I will update it as soon as possible. | July-September 1, 2025 | September 1 (Japan time) is the deadline to apply to universities, not the deadline for them to get back to you. |
| Submit Letters of Provisional Acceptance and Placement Preference Form to Embassy | Mid-September-Early October 2025 | See the website of the Japanese embassy in your country for specific deadlines! |
| Secondary Screening and University Placement | November 2025-March 2026 | |
| Notification of Results | January-March 2026 | |
| Arrive in Japan | April 2026 or September/ October 2026 |
What to Submit
Each of the documents below is required by MEXT. However, embassies may ask for additional documents and may ask for each document at a different time (for example, you may not be required to submit all the documents with your initial application), so again, be sure to check the specific instructions for your embassy!
For each document below, you will need to submit one original as well as two photocopies (except where noted below) and you must number them in the top right corner. I will include direct download links to MEXT’s documents where available. Keep in mind that these are the documents for the 2025/2026 Embassy Recommendation MEXT Scholarship Application for Graduate Students. Do not use these links if you are applying for other scholarship types.
Each of the documents must be numbered when you submit them. Handwrite the numbers below in the top right corner of each document and circle them.
1. MEXT Scholarship Application Form with attached photograph*
(Fillable PDF format from the Study in Japan website)
As a special gift for mailing list subscribers, I will send you a sample of the completed application form that you can use as a guide!
Here is my guide on how to complete the MEXT Scholarship application form.
*The photograph must be clear, without shadows, no more than 6 months old, show your upper body, facing forward with no hats (except religious head coverings), and be 3.5 cm wide by 4.5 cm tall. The photograph must be printed on photo paper with your name and nationality written on the back, and pasted to the form. Never use staples to attach a photo! Alternatively, you can insert photo data directly into the pdf before printing it out. If you attach the photo digitally, then of course you do not need to write your name on the back of it.
2. Placement Preference Application Form
(Fillable PDF format from Study in Japan website).
Click here for my article about how to complete this form.
*For this form, you only need to submit one original. You do not need to submit two additional copies.
3. Field of Study and Research Program Plan
(PDF format from Study in Japan website)
In previous years, MEXT offered this form in MS Word format, so you could input text directly. In 2024, the website only has a PDF version that you cannot edit, but the previous Word edition is still available, just not linked. You can download the Field of Study and Research Program Plan (Word format) here.
This is the most important document in your application! Click here for my article about how to complete this form.
4. Academic transcript for each academic year of university education attended, issued by your university or national government.
The transcript(s) must show the grading scale, all grades earned in each course, and the year in which you took each class. If you cannot get all of this information in a single document, then you might have to submit multiple official documents showing each part of the required information.
The document must be an original. If your university can issue multiple original copies, then submit one of those. But if you only have one original copy and cannot get more, then a certified copy (certified by a university official or notary) will also be accepted as an original.
Depending on your enrollment status, you must submit transcripts as below:
| Undergraduate Enrollment Status | Graduate Enrollment Status | What to submit |
|---|---|---|
| Graduated | Never enrolled | 1) Academic transcript for all undergraduate programs |
| Graduated | Graduated (not currently enrolled in a subsequent degree) | 1) Academic transcript for all undergraduate programs 2) Academic transcripts for all graduate degrees |
| Currently enrolled | Never enrolled | 1) Academic transcript for undergraduate program showing all semesters or years for which grades have been determined as of the application deadline. *You will also need to submit the final transcript after you graduate and before the final results are released. |
| Graduated | Currently enrolled | 1) Academic transcript for all undergraduate programs 2) Academic transcripts for any completed graduate degrees (if applicable) 3) Academic transcript for your current graduate program showing all semesters or years for which grades have been determined as of the application deadline. *You will also need to submit the final transcript for the in-progress degree after you graduate and before the final results are released. |
If you transferred credits from another university toward your degree, including from a study abroad, you will also be required to submit the transcript from the university that originally awarded the credits.
5. Certificate of graduation or degree from each university program attended
MEXT will accept a copy attested by an official at the university as an original. Do not submit your original diploma as submitted documents will not be returned to you!
Depending on your enrollment status, you must submit Certificates of Graduation as below:
| Undergraduate Enrollment Status | Graduate Enrollment Status | What to submit |
|---|---|---|
| Graduated | Never enrolled | 1) Certificate of Graduation from undergraduate degree |
| Graduated | Graduated (not currently enrolled in a subsequent degree) | 1) Certificate of Graduation from undergraduate degree 2) Certificate of Graduation from all graduate degrees |
| Currently enrolled | Never enrolled | 1) Certificate of Prospective Graduation* from undergraduate degree |
| Graduated | Currently enrolled | 1) Certificate of Graduation from undergraduate degree 2) Certificate of Graduation from any completed graduate degrees (if applicable) 3) Certificate of Prospective Graduation* from current graduate degree |
*Certificate of Prospective Graduation: A Certificate of Prospective Graduation is an official letter or document issued by your university that shows the date that you are expected to graduate.
This document often causes challenges for applicants. Their universities will refuse to issue a certificate saying that they guarantee students will graduate by a certain date before students have completed all the requirements. But this is usually the result of misunderstanding MEXT’s poor explanation! A “Certificate of Prospective Graduation” can be conditional! So, your university can say that you are expected to graduate by XX date, provided that you complete all graduation requirements by that date. Essentially, all they are doing is certifying that it is possible for you to complete your degree requirements and graduate by then. It is up to you to meet the requirements. (MEXT will cancel your scholarship if you do not graduate before coming to Japan.)
6. Recommendation letter from the president/dean, or your academic advisor at the most recent university where you are/were enrolled in a degree program.
The letter can be written by your academic advisor or by the president/dean/rector/etc. (whoever is the top official) at your university.
I get a lot of question about this one, so I have a whole separate article about what the letter should contain, who should write and sign it, and how to go about requesting it. See the link above for more details!
The template letter includes out-of-date instructions that the letter has to be submitted in a sealed envelope. That is no longer a requirement, though your recommender can choose to submit it sealed, if they prefer. Remember, though, that you need to submit one original and two copies, so if your recommender prefers to seal their letter in an envelope, be sure to ask them in advance to also make two photocopies of the letter and include them in the same envelope.
*If you have already received a letter of recommendation in a sealed envelope by the time you are reading this and there is only a single original in there, please ask your local Japanese Embassy for guidance about what to do. They may instruct you to submit just the one original or may ask you to open the letter and make copies. This varies from country to country.
7. Medical Certificate (a.k.a. Certificate of Health) completed by a medical doctor
(PDF format from Study in Japan website)
*Please check the website of the Japanese Embassy where you will apply to see if they have specific instructions about this form. In some countries, they do not request this form at the start of the Primary Screening and only ask applicants to submit it later. Be sure to check the requirements for your country!
If there are changes to your health condition after you submit the Medical Certificate, you are required to inform the embassy immediately.
8. Abstracts of graduation theses or published articles (only if applicable)
The meaning of the Japanese term encompasses graduation theses (even if unpublished), published articles, and articles presented at conferences. So, if you have any articles or theses that meet that description, you must list them in the application form and attach the abstracts. If you do not have any relevant articles because your previous degree didn’t require a thesis, that will not hurt you, but you should contact the embassy to see if they want you to submit something else, instead.
If you are currently enrolled in a degree program and have not written your thesis yet but will write one later, you can still submit an abstract before the thesis is complete, if your topic has been determined.
9. Certificate of language proficiency (English and/or Japanese) (only if applicable)
This refers to language proficiency test scores that meet the requirements described in the application form. Scores must be from official tests and must be no more than 2 years old as of the date of application (the date you submit the application to the embassy). Note that the requirement is to submit “scores”. So if you are submitting documentation from the JLPT, for example, you should submit copies of the score report, not just the passing certificate. The score report must also show your full name.
This is an optional item, so if you do not have any scores or certificates you can still apply, unless otherwise stated by the Japanese Embassy where you will apply. In most cases, you will take language proficiency tests during the Primary Screening process that will be used for your official evaluation, but English language tests may be waived for native speakers from an English-speaking country.
*No original is required for this item, only 3 copies are needed.
*Even if the embassy does not require you to submit proficiency test scores, Japanese universities may ask you to do so when you apply for Letters of Provisional Acceptance. Check in advance if the universities that you want to attend will require scores or not, if you can.
10. Recommendation letter from present employer (only if employed at the time of application)
The same sample format can be used as for the letter of recommendation from your university, but as mentioned above, I do not recommend that you use the template!
11. Photograph(s) or digital audio recordings of applicant’s works (only if applying for a degree in fine arts or music)
Others
The documents above are required by MEXT, but be sure to check with the Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country! They may have additional requirements or may require the documents above at different times during the process.
The embassy or consulate is also your only source of information about the application deadline and the means of submitting the application!
Good luck with the MEXT scholarship application in 2025! If you have questions I didn’t cover, let me know in the comments below!
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Questions?
Please ask in the comments below and I will reply as soon as possible!
Dear Mr. Senzaki
Greetings again! Thank you so much for your time and attention so far with all the amazing information you’ve provided
I’ve narrowed down my selection of university/professor pairs to three choices with the main target being the Kyushu University. I began sending emails to the admin offices for information gathering regarding alternative language test options, partnership student exclusivity and etc… . but the Kyushu University replied that they don’t have any university recommendation slots from 2026 onwards including the following application cycle. should i still contact my target professors from this university since they most align with my goal or should i move on? what is your opinion and advice for my next step?
About asking the eligibility for non-partnership student application, admin offices answers are kind of unclear. this is the answer of Chiba University for example:
“For university recommendations, Based primarily on inter-university
exchange agreements, we select and recommend students who have been
officially recommended by partner universities.
As stated on the website, “Applications usually begin in November to December.
The application guidelines will be sent to you through Chiba University faculty. ”
Please find your preferred supervisor and contact them directly to see if
they can accept you into their laboratory. If they can accept you, they
will contact you in November or December each year to inform you of the
procedures for university recommendation.”
so does this mean i am eligible for scholarship or just contact advisors since this is their general application process?
Thank you in advance for your precious time and consideration Mr. Senzaki. Sorry for taking too much of your time, but I promise when i finally move to Japan I’ll return the favor and also bring you souvenirs!
Hello again Amir,
For Kyushu, I assume that you contacted the graduate school that you want to apply to and they told you that their school doesn’t have slots, right? The university as a whole should still have slots, but they may rotate the slots between different graduate schools in different years, or they may be referring to a PGP program that came to an end with the last application cycle.
In any case, it doesn’t sound like they are able to accept University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship applicants in that program, based on what you said. So, it sounds like you’re going to have to choose a different university.
By the way, I highly recommend that you do NOT ask for alternative language tests or any exception. Consider that the university is likely going to have dozens of applicants, at least, that will have all of the required tests, so there is no real motivation for them to make an exception for you. (Especially since they are required to report language ability scores to MEXT and any exceptions require a lot of extra work on their part.) Instead, you would be better off trying to figure out any way possible to get a TOEFL iBT or IELTS score by the deadline!
For Chiba, the reply didn’t sounds particularly promising, unless your university has a partnership agreement with Chiba, but it also wasn’t an absolute rejection. Based on the reply you shared, they haven’t made a judgement either way about your eligibility, they just gave you their standardized reply that the process starts by getting an advisor’s approval. So, you can contact the potential advisor and if they are willing to accept your application, they will contact you later at the appropriate time with the application forms.
Note that contacting the advisor does not count as officially starting your application, so you could continue to explore other options in the meantime. You can only have one application in process, so as soon as you submit an application document to a university or advisor, you would have to stop all other applications, but for now, it should be fine.
Good Luck!
– Travis
PS, Thank you for your kind consideration, but no souvenirs necessary, I choose to do this!
Dear Mr. Senzaki
Thank you for your time and response. Yes, exactly. I contacted the graduate school of design and that was their student affairs response. One other strange thing about Chiba and the whole language test thing, was that, when i was checking their page about the necessary documents needed for university-recommended application, they didn’t mention language proficiency certificate at all. And also when i checked their admission schedule table, in their row named “MEXT scholarship special selection”, the column for TOEFL/TOEIC was labeled “unnecessary” (switched the site to Japanese).
I even asked about this and that same email which they responded to, but their respond to whether they even have language requirements for MEXT Scholars or not, the respond was to check the application guidelines for the documents to be submitted, and I even read every pdf that was available about the admission guideline for MEXT scholars but still no signs of language requirement whatsoever.
although they do require the TOEFL scores for general selection and privately funded student but for MEXT, it wasn’t any. And I’m not quite sure what that means unless i actually contact my target advisor and ask about the required documents. Chiba Student Division also asked me two questions about 1) double checking that i wish to enroll as a regular student, and 2) do i hope to enroll in April or October 2026. i don’t know why they asked those, but it surely made me experience how it feels being asked those questions for a moment like as if i were a successful applicant!
PS, the souvenirs are in fact necessary in Persian culture and What’s a better reason than returning the favor of your Incredibly kind endeavor to bring them!
Hi Amir,
I have not been able to find any application guidelines on Chiba University’s website for new University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship applicants, so I can’t comment on the requirements. (The one set of guidelines I did find was for existing embassy-recommended MEXT research students to apply for admission to the graduate program in Science and Engineering. That process did not require language proficiency documentation, but of course, it would have already been checked before the candidate was selected as a research student to begin with.)
If you found guidelines for new URMS admissions (from a previous year, etc.) and want to share that link with me, I will check it out and provide more feedback.
So, until they release the actual guidelines, I don’t know what the requirements will be. Like you said, maybe the professor will check. But if they require TOEFL, etc., and you don’t have it, that would be problematic.
I do know that when universities nominate candidates to MEXT, they have to indicate if they have objective proof that the candidate has at least B2-level English language ability. Objective proof is required for degree students. For research students, the university’s internal evaluation can be accepted, but in that case, the candidate needs to have objective documentation (TOEFL, etc.) before extending their scholarship to a degree program.
Good Luck!
– Travis
Dear Mr. Senzaki
Thank you so much for actually searching the Chiba ‘s website and providing your generous feedback, that means a lot me so i really appreciate it.
in terms of links, yes I can share a couple links that might help:
1) this is the link to the schedule page, that i was referring to:
https://www.se.chiba-u.jp/admission/schedule/index.html
2)this is the link which leads to the page for the admission guideline for Special Selection for Master’s Program (MEXT) International Students pdf files:
https://www.se.chiba-u.jp/admission/first/mext.html
3)this is the link of the International Desk guide for Chiba’s MEXT Scholarship program which has a list of necessary documents under the University-Recommended section:
https://www.chiba-u.ac.jp/international/isd/en/living/scholarship/scholarship.html
the thing that’s most confusing for me is the “Special Selection” term that they used in regards to MEXT applicants. is it referring to the whole MEXT application process as a special selection? Or does it mean that there’s a yet another additional selection on top of the already ongoing MEXT selection Process?
And i can’t thank you more for to the last tip you mentioned about the language test. so i should obtain the TOEFL by any means and somehow resolve the financial and social problems as much as possible. But, as you just said, if I can enroll as a non regular student at first and become a successful applicant, in theory it’s possible to leverage MEXT stipend as a financial aid and overcome my problems to obtain the degree in the meantime before my extension right? do you think that’s viable ?
Speaking of enrolling as a non regular student, i was wondering if you can please share your opinion and experience about if it is a better choice than enrolling as a regular student for someone like me, who might need a little bit of time to adapt to the environment and whether or not it might has a less competition advantage over the regular.
Can I have your advice in that regard also?
Thank you so much for everything, and thank you for your time and kind consideration
Best Regards
Amir
Hi Amir,
Thank you for sharing those links. Those were the same pages that I was looking at.
In general, admission in Japanese universities are divided into two types: General Selection (open to all applicants) and Special Selection (has some limitation, specific additional requirements, etc.). So, in this case, “Special Selection” just indicates that there is a specific eligibility requirement.
Unfortunately, the for the process you are looking at, that is an admissions application for applicants who are already in Japan and selected as MEXT scholars (either at Chiba or somewhere else). For example, if a MEXT Scholar Research Student wants to apply for formal admission to the Master’s degree program, this is the process they would use, while also applying to MEXT for the scholarship extension.
It is not the application process available to someone like you applying for the MEXT Scholarship for the first time. The guidelines for that are the ones that your third link mentions “will be informed through the professors after the application period begins.”
So, the reason the process in link 2 doesn’t mention the Language Proficiency requirement is probable because it is assumed that was already evaluated during the original MEXT Scholarship application.
I’m not sure that I understood your plan regarding enrolling as a research student first, so I can’t really comment on that. My advice was to get the TOEFL score before you apply for the MEXT Scholarship.
If you have the opportunity to choose whether to enroll as a non-regular student or a degree student under the MEXT Scholarship (more common for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship), then I usually recommend starting as a non-regular student to have time to adjust to life and studies in Japan. But for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, I haven’t seen many situation where applicants were given a choice. There is no competitive advantage either way, since you’d be competing for the same limited number of scholarship slots. There are not separate slots for non-regular and regular students.
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hi Travis!
Tiyas here.
I have passed the Embassy reccomended MEXT screening (both written test+ interview). I am a Phd applicant and I’m currently in the process of mailing Universities for the Letter of Acceptance. However there is a problem. I had made a mistake in the duration of my school years in the application form, although the embassy called me and they asked me to correct it and send it to them by email. I had sent the embassy updated document as well. However the stamped document that I had to submit to the universities contains the wrong duration. Will that cause a problem? And will my scholarship be canceled?
Hi Tiyas,
Congratulations on passing the Primary Screening!
I don’t think the duration will be an issue and it should not result in cancellation of your candidacy. The information submitted to MEXT will come from the Embassy, so they will have the correct details. There should be nothing to worry about.
If you want, you can add note to the application form saying “Duration corrected to X and resubmitted to Embassy after receipt of stamped copy.” with your signature or initials. Alternatively, you could mention it in the body of the email when you send your documents to the university, if applicable.
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hi Mr. Senzaki
I’m Already Completing my research about my target universities and i came across a question i wanted to ask. I’m currently graduated from my Bachelor’s degree And i will probably have to enroll in a Master’s degree of my current university just to extend my educational exemption of military service and I’ve plan to quit from that program whenever i eventually can win the scholarship.
But as i have read university guidelines so far, they insist on submitting the latest transcripts if currently enrolled. my question is that by doing so, wouldn’t this hurt my current GPA in which i calculated using the formula and it scored 2.9 on the mext Scale? is it possible to be enrolled in the university but only submit my bachelor’s transcripts ?
Hi Amir,
There is no way to avoid submitting your most recent transcripts from your Master’s program. Once you enroll, you are committed to submitting them (unless you apply before any of your courses have issued grades).
Once you have grades from your Master’s program, it should be those grades, not your bachelor’s grades, that are used to calculate your GPA for the scholarship, as far as I know.
So, the best advice I can offer is to make sure you earn even better grades in your Master’s program. If you look at it another way, this could be your chance to take your converted GPA from 2.9 to 3.0.
Good Luck!
– Travis
thank yo so much Travis!
by the way, to give you an update about the scholarship situation here in Iran. i got the chance to talk with some of the guys who were invited to language test and even interview and i asked them about their backgrounds. while many of them couldn’t share their research proposals with me, they were mostly from national and high-end universities and one thing they had in common was nearly all of them had their overall GPAs around 19.5 out of 20 and they were mostly majored in STEM fields like biotech, chemical engineering, computer engineering and genetics. it was shocking to me that even the two guys who were invited to interview who had stellar CVs, published articles, IELTS certificates also didn’t make it to final acceptance and winning the scholarship but one applicant that i’m aware of, who did won the scholarship and passed the first scholarship said that his research field in both bachelor’s and master’s degree was Japan studies and he was majored in international relations and also wrote a book in which he had to be in touch with the embassy prior to applying so i don’t exactly know what other majors or applicants got accepted this year. another thing that grabbed my attention was an applicant who kindly sent me his research proposal but it was as bland and non-professional as one’s can think of and he even admitted that he used chatgpt to write an entire page in Japanese without knowing any Japanese! but he was invited to the language test but didn’t make it obviously
Another applicant was majored in Architecture, studied bachelor at the most prestigious university of the country, she was even born in Japan and had a 8 score for the IELTS and overall GPA of 19.6 but she too wasn’t even invited to the language test!
Hi Amir,
That is some very impressive and resourceful research! Thank you for sharing what you have learned.
I think one thing to take away from the results you shared is that past results will only get you so far. A high GPA and coming from a good school helps, but the quality of the research proposal–not only in terms of the research itself, but also how it will allow the applicant to contribute to society in alignment with the goals of MEXT and the home country government–is going to be a deciding factor in many cases. One of the more common mistakes I see is applicants relying too much on their past achievements and not giving a clear and compelling vision of how they will contribute in the future. Sometimes academically strong candidates fall into the trap of writing a purely academic proposal and ignoring the social impact which is a significant portion of the MEXT scholarship goals, which can hurt them.
Of course, there are always other factors in play, such as preferences for certain fields established in coordination with the home country government. Local politics and individual applicants’ political or social activities may also be a factor, if that is policed by the home country government. There isn’t much you can do in those situations, so the most important thing is that research proposal!
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hi Dear Mr. Senzaki
I hope my message finds you well. First of all, thank you so much for your incredible efforts for helping students winning this precious scholarship.
I’m Amir from Iran, and i followed your guides and books carefully and quite religiously and emailed my documents for the first screening of MEXT for Masters degree but unfortunately, i didn’t get contacted by the embassy for language test, meaning i wasn’t selected.
it’s kind of strange to me because i did absolutely everything you mentioned and even double-checked to be sure everything is ok.
One thing that i’m kind of suspicious about is that my major which i just got graduated from is Industrial Design which is a blend of Art and Problem solving in the form of product innovation and solutions, and when submitting my online form, i think there were two questions asking what best describes your major and i chose art for one, and engineering in another one and i also explained exactly in the field given on that form about my major and when checking on Japanese Universities websites, they also have been categorized this under different domains like it was considered Arts in one university and Engineering in another.
do you think that maybe this should have been disqualified me? or my major is on a later priority in comparison to other majors in the competition? i even included my portfolio and my GPA and eligibility was also all ok except for my degree, since it wasn’t ready i provided a temporary kind of certificate indicating my date of graduation, my GPA and my major and it was signed and stamped by university.
By the way excuse me for messaging late, since if you’ve been following news lately my country entered a war and so i just could make my mind up again and remember what i was doing before all this. by the way the bachelor’s degree scholarship was entirely cancelled due to the war situation and notification for continuing the masters and P.H.D also was said to be sent only to the ones invited to language test if it’s decided to still be around so i don’t know if the selected guys will be proceed to the interview session or the scholarship is ditched altogether for this year.
I was thinking about shooting my shot for the university’s route but i don’t know if there’s still time now or is this a correct move since the time for master registration in my own country has already passed
Hi Amir,
I am sorry to hear that your results were not what you hoped for. But remember, this scholarship is not a matter of being “good enough” or simply meeting a standard, it is about being better than everyone else competing for a slot. There are only a limited number of places available to each country each year.
Each country can also set their own field priorities. It wouldn’t be MEXT setting a priority that applies to everyone, but the embassy will usually consult with the local government to learn if there are particular fields that they want to prioritize. That could have been an issue in your case. In general, they will also be looking for research proposals (Field of Study and Research Program Plan) that propose research with a clear benefit to society. You didn’t mention your research proposal at all in your comment, but usually the quality of the research proposal and the GPA are the two biggest factors in selection, in my experience.
I do not recall any place in the MEXT documents where you have to explain your major, just your specific research. In most cases, I would look at the research proposal as the first factor to consider why you might not have been selected.
The University-Recommended MEXT Application should still be available (or rather, should not have started yet). It usually starts in the fall, but the process varies from university to university.
Good Luck!
– Travis
Thank you for Your respond Mr. Senzaki.
For my research plan, i tried my best to follow your generous guides step by step for writing the best research plan i could, with the theme of alleviating poverty and by providing a novel product design methodology through a proof of concept which can benefit low income people of both Iran and Japan and I even mentioned that i was an assistant in a research with one of my former professors who is now a product manager at Daimler trucks asia which is located in Japan with the idea that maybe it might make me a stronger applicant maybe and i mentioned him by his name (don’t know if this is a cause of disqualification) i leveraged chatgpt just to correct my grammar or writing issues and typos and i don’t know if that would have been a cause of disqualification or not.
thanks to your guides, i read nearly three whole books regarding my research topic, something that i might have never done by myself, and i feel confident about my academic research for the first time in my entire academic journey, let alone this scholarship! but anyway i didn’t make it to the test.
I’m determined to try the university route, and i found a university or two which support industrial design during my struggles for the embassy recommendation but as you also mentioned, i don’t know if they are now open for receiving applications or not. where do you think should i start and what’s the first step for me ?
I read your articles for university recommendation route but i still quite don’t know what should i do as it was clear in the embassy route. i also searched and checked some university’s dedicated sections for scholarships but they don’t include any useful information about the current application cycle but some of them did mention the required documents.
one of the documents they require is either a TOFEL or ILETS or a certification equivalent to B2 level English. but i can’t take any of those test right now due to circumstances of war and i haven’t taken them before. do you think is it possible for them to conduct an online meeting or some kind of test of their own to compensate? should i ask them?
Hi Amir,
It is not a matter of being “disqualified”, unless the embassy specifically used that words. (But in that case, they would have to return all of your application materials to you.) It is simply that your application was not among the top ones they received. So, it is impossible to know for sure what might have contributed to others being selected over you.
However, if I may be blunt for a moment, your writing style in these comments suggests to me that you might struggle with being clear, precise and to the point, which could have hurt the evaluation of your Field of Study and Research Program Plan. I am also concerned that you mentioned something as irrelevant in there as your former advisor’s current job. That suggests to me that there was a lack of focus on your research. I have seen many cases of applicants who had interesting and valuable research proposals but who did a terrible job explaining them, including the specific steps and relevant facts. I don’t know if that’s the case for you, but that could be a concern.
If you are interested in the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, your first step should be to choose a university and research their application procedures for the MEXT Scholarship based on last year. (Make sure they accept applications for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship from general applicants, too!) Try to find their guidelines and the dates when the open applications, or at least the page where they have the information so that you can check it daily.
The process varies, so you have to choose one university and stick to their procedures and requirements. Do not expect them to make any exceptions for you in the application process, including language proficiency test scores. It is up to you to get a score that meets their requirements. I do not think they will be willing to interview you to evaluate your ability themselves. You could ask if they will accept other tests that you could take online though (it would be your responsibility to find out what those are.)
Good Luck!
– Travis
thank you so much Travis for you response and precious time and energy for guiding me through this process.
So to double-check my first step for University-Recommended MEXT scholarship, i will find a specific university relevant to my major and i will research their site to make sure they accept University-Recommendation Scholarship as well as finding out their application procedure. I will also research about the specific Advisor for my research field in the meantime as you’ve always emphasized in the guides.
And By the way, the reason i mentioned my former’s advisor and their job was because i also mentioned that the research in which i was his assistant was in the same field as my research proposal which was circular economy to show the review committee that i have prior experience in my research field and specially in the Japan’s manufacturing sector so i didn’t know that it might be irrelevant so i’ll revise it for the university recommendation, thank you for giving me this valuable information.
I also agree with you that maybe my wording is a bit complicated because that’s a feedback i generally receive from my friends in my personal life generally. thanks to your comment, i also sent my research plan to AI for a review and the AI thinks that my proposal seems a bit ambitious and unrealistic for a master’s degree although i implemented the SMART goal principles for my proposal so maybe my words made it look like that.
is it possible that i send my FSRPP for you to have your generous general opinion about it since i can’t afford to have your detailed paragraph by paragraph review since i’m facing hard times?
And one last question, Should i revise the details of my FSRPP to tailor it to specific advisor and university? or just making it clear does the trick?
Hi Amir,
Your understanding of how to approach the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship is accurate.
I assume that you had already researched appropriate universities and chosen target advisors when you completed the Placement Preference Form for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, so you could start with those. (If you need to search further, I have another article with recommendations on how to find your ideal university and professor.)
I’m afraid I cannot offer free consultations or reviews of FSRPPs. I simply would not be able to keep up with all of the requests if I did.
You will need to rewrite your Field of Study and Research Program Plan for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship. The target audience is different, since you will be appealing directly to professors without the embassy staff filter, so the focus should be on the academic outcomes. It also makes sense to include references and explanations designed to resonate with your target professor. (And finally, the format is slightly different, anyway!)
Good Luck!
– Travis
Also about the GPA, since my country’s scoring scale is as the same as the French scale (0-20 scale), and i calculated my GPA and it was 2.90 out of the 3. and the field in which i explained my major, was actually included in the online form not the embassy application form so i explained my major there and i Ticked “Art” for one, and the “Engineering” for another question regarding which describes my major the best these were the things i forgot to address in my reply. excuse for me being verbose and write such a long comment
Hi Travis!
I have passed the document screening and the written exam phase with the help of your website and book, and now I’m preparing for my interview next week. I have contacted professors regarding my future studies and I got replies. One of my top candidates is asking for “copies of the documents you submitted for the embassy recommendation”. I have questions about this.
1) Is it common for a supervisor to ask for these documents before I pass the first screening? Am I allowed to send them?
2) Can I slightly modify my research plan? There is a slight factual error regarding the research of this professor that I haven’t noticed before submitting it. I don’t expect the embassy to notice a minor techical detail like this but this professor certainly will and I’m afraid it could cost me.
3) Can I send my Letter of Recommendation? I believe it is the strongest part of my application but since we had to submit it in a sealed envelope, I’m not even sure if I were supposed to see it. I have the scanned version.
4) What else should I send? I suppose my grades are important but what about my application form and Japanese language certificate? Of course I wouldn’t send my preliminary placement preference form or my medical certificate.
Thank you for your help!
Hi Karin,
Congratulations on making it this far in the application! Good luck with the interview.
1) Actually, it isn’t common for applicants to be in touch with potential supervisors at this point, so your potential supervisor might be confused and think you have already passed the Primary Screening. Usually, applicants are either in contact with professors before applying or after passing the Primary Screening. There is no rule saying that you cannot share the documents that you submitted for the Primary Screening, but you should be clear that you are still waiting on the results, so you cannot yet share the Passing Certificate of the Primary Screening.
2) No. You cannot modify the documents that you submitted to the embassy. But you can explain the error in the email when you send it.
3) Yes, you can send the Letter of Recommendation, although if that’s the strongest part of your application, that seems like a problem! Letters of Recommendation aren’t a particularly strong factor, in my experience. It’s all about the FSRPP. But even though your embassy asked you to submit it sealed, they would have to return it to you opened (or a scan of it), since you have to submit it when you apply for Letters of Provisional Acceptance.
4) Please see my article about How to Apply for a Letter of Provisional Acceptance. I keep that up to date with everything that you need to send. Even though you’re not at that stage yet, if the professor asks for a copy of the documents you submitted to the embassy, then that means the same document list you need to send for the official LoPA application.
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hi Travis.
I’m Queen from Nigeria. Concerning the notarization of documents, before submitting I asked an embassy official if I had to go to court for that and he said it wasn’t necessary and just make copies instead which I did and submitted but subsequent information has me worried if my documents will be screened at all.
Thank you
Hi Queen,
For the application, you have to submit one original and two copies of your documents. The copies do not need to be notarized or certified in any way. The embassy can compare them to the originals to verify that they are accurate.
The only time you might need to have copies certified is if you are submitting a certified copy in place of an original. For example, you should never submit your only original diploma as the Certificate of Graduation, so if you do not have any other certificate of graduation, you could submit a certified copy of the diploma as the “Original”. In that case, though, it would be enough if it was certified by a school official. You would not need a notary.
I hope that helps!
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hi, this is Jane from Nigeria.
My question is regarding the Degree Certificate and Transcript. So, my school sent the hard and soft copies of my transcript to me, and every page is signed and stamped. I’d like to know if I still have to notarize the document, as proof that it’s original.
For my degree certificate, would printing it out in colored form like the original, not serve as well?
Lastly, I’d like to know if I can still look into the University Recommendation option now, or it has closed.
Hi Jane,
There is no requirement that your transcript be notarized unless it is a copy. Even then, you should be able to get a copy certified as identical to the original by the university instead of a notary. If you submit the original document issued in hardcopy by the university, you would not need any other certification.
A color copy/printout of your degree certificate is not an original and would not be accepted. For it to be considered original, it would need to be certified as accurate by a university official or the copy would need to be certified by a notary if the university will not do it.
The University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship opens in the fall, so the application is not open now.
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hi,
In the motivation part, can I write about the three university options and professors that I have chosen or is it okay to only write about the first choice I selected as in university and professor?
Thank you.
Hi Maria,
I do not recommend mentioning specific professors or universities in the application form, unless you are already in touch with them and they have agreed to accept you if you pass the Embassy’s screening. You could mention then as examples of researchers in the field, if that would be relevant, but specifically saying that you want to work with them is a risk.
After you pass the Embassy’s Primary Screening, you will send your complete package of application documents to each of the universities that you want to apply to for a Letter of Provisional Acceptance. You cannot change the documents or customize them for the separate universities. So, if you mention specific professors and universities where you want to study, others will see that they are not as high on your list (or not on your list at all, if you change your mind later) and that could hurt your chances for acceptance.
Good Luck!
– Travis
For each document below, you will need to submit one original as well as two photocopies
What exactly does that mean
Hi Rodgers,
Assuming that you submit the documents by post or in-person at the embassy, it means that your submission must include three of everything, but only one of them has to be an original (Note: Certified copies count as originals). “Original” or not is particularly important for official documents like your academic transcript or documents with a signature like the Letter of Recommendation.
For documents like your Field of Study and Research Program Plan, there is really no difference between an “original” and a “copy”
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hello.
In the Placement Preference Form, for the Field of study, I stated “Environmental Science,” then for Detailed Field of Study, I stated “A study on Japan’s renewable energy policies and their application in reducing carbon emissions in developing countries, with a focus on sustainable development strategies.” Please, am I on the right track this way.
Hi Jane,
I have advice on how to fill out those fields in my article about How to Complete the Placement Preference Form, so I recommend that you check there for information on the list of fields that your entries should come from.
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hello Travis,
I had a question when submitting original documents and copies.
For example, how can I give an original copy of my research plan? I understand the copies, but how can I make the difference between the original document and the copy when I have to make a photocopy of the research plan?
Also, it is clear if I were to hand out the original copy of an N5 Certificate since it’s the original copy, but how can I make that clear for the embassy when submitting these copies?
I hope my question is clear.
Thanks in advance, Travis.
Hi Ricardo,
Your question is clear, it’s MEXT’s instructions that are weird!
For documents like the Field of Study and Research Program Plan or Placement Preference Application Form, there is no difference between an original and a copy. I don’t know why MEXT continues to request one original and two copies for those. You can either print three copies directly or print one and make two photocopies.
The only documents that you need to worry about an original for (or a certified copy, since you should never submit your only original copy of any document), are documents issued by another organization (e.g. your university or recommender), documents that originally contain a signature, or your application form if it has an original photo attached.
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hello.
Good day, Travis.
Can I scan my certificate, which has already been signed and stamped by my university, print it out, then notarize and submit it as my original copy?
Hi Jane,
Yes, that sounds like the same process as making a photocopy and getting it notarized as a certified copy.
It should also be acceptable to have an official from your university certify it as an exact copy of the original, instead of a notary. (The university official might be able to certify it for free.)
Good Luck!
– Travis
Thanks for your response. I have other questions regarding the Field of Study and Research Proposal.
Firstly, I have tried editing the form using Acrobat, but it isn’t easy since I have to upgrade it to use it. I am thinking of using Microsoft Word, but the issue now is that the instructions/words on the form might not remain in the same position as they came, and I don’t know if that would be a problem.
Secondly, can I use font size 12 as I feel font size 10 is small and might make the reviewer lose interest in reading through it?
Hi Jane,
In my article about How to Write the Field of Study and Research Program Plan, I have a link to download a word version of the FSRPP document. It is from 2020, when MEXT provided it in word format, but the contents have not changed, so you should be able to use that.
If is OK if the location of the questions moves (for example, if you need more room for the research theme question, then the research plan question might start lower or on the second page).
It is also fine to increase the font size, as long as you can still fit the entire thing within 2 pages, including the instruction, but 10pt Times New Roman seems to be the usual for the applications I see. I prefer 10.5-12, personally, but many applicants struggle to fit the content in with larger sizes.
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hey Travis
What does it mean by doctural students in first phase and second phase?
Also I wish to apply for PhD but I couldn’t find any professors conducting research on exactly the same topic as my masters thesis work. Is it necessary to exactly continue the same work that I have done for my masters project?
Hi Ash,
Some Japanese universities/programs use “Doctoral Degree first phase” as another way of saying Master’s degree. (Or, in the case of a 5-year doctoral degree with no Master’s awarded in between, it refers to the first two years). In that case, “Doctoral Degree second phase” refers to what we would usually think of as a PhD. (In the case of a 5-year degree, it would be the last 3 years.)
Your PhD research does not have to be on the exact same topic as your Master’s, but for the MEXT Scholarship, it should be on a related topic.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for the reply.
Also, if I’m applying for the masters degree, do I need to contact the professor and submit the research proposal like the phd students?
Hi Ash,
Every graduate-level student (research student, master’s student, PhD) needs to submit the Field of Study and Research Program Plan, even if you apply for a professional program like an MBA.
It is not mandatory to contact your professor in advance, unless the specific university that you plan to apply to requires it. But networking with your potential advisor in advance can help!
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hi Travis
I have completed my masters in marine science recently in may. I want to apply for a second masters degree for further specialisation before I join PhD. In that case, will I be eligible to apply for a second masters through MEXT Scholarship?
Hi Arya,
It is possible to apply for a second masters via MEXT (assuming that you did not earn your previous master’s as a MEXT scholar), but you would have to justify during the application why a second master’s would be more valuable to you to accomplish your future goals.
Good Luck!
– Travis
If I do not submit a translation certificate for the MEXT scholarship, will I be rejected ?
I mean, I can submitted but I just noticed that they need to be in english and the dead line is 2 days
Hi Deema,
For official documents written in a language other than English or Japanese, you are required to submit the original in the original language and a certified translation into English or Japanese.
I can’t say for certain if your local embassy would reject you for not including them, but failing to submit all of the required materials would certainly not create a good impression.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi! If I attach the photo digitally in the the application form, do I still need a physical one with my name and nationality on its back? Also, I assume the 2 copies of the application form should have the photo too, right? Digital photo or a physical one? Thanks!
Hi Amalia,
If you attach the photo digitally, you do not need to also submit a physical one.
If you attach the photo digitally to your original application, then it would already be included in the two copies that you make of that application, so you would not have to submit another one.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Excuse me, Travis.
Regarding the presentation of thesis abstracts, I did present a research at a conference, but it was not published in writing, can I still mention it?
Thank you
Hi Tomas,
Yes, if you presented at a conference, you can mention that and include an abstract.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, Travis.
I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in my country, and I plan to apply for another master’s degree for the mext scholarship. Since the degree is equivalent, is it necessary to attach a document of prospective graduation from the master’s degree?
Thank you!
Hi Tomas,
You are required to list all academic history and include the documentation from all degrees, even if you are applying for the same level.
So, you need to submit the grades from your current Master’s in any case, but you only need to submit the Certificate of Prospective Graduation if you plan to graduate from that program before starting your degree in Japan. (If you will withdraw, then you wouldn’t need that certificate.)
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello! So sorry to bother you, but even though I read everything thoroughly, I still have a few doubts:
1. I don’t have a TOEFL or IELTS score as those aren’t common in my country, I have a C2 Cambridge score. Should I list it in “others”? I took the C2 test more than 2 years ago, it says to only add certificates from within 2 years, does it mean that now I have nothing to prove my good English level? I don’t really get it…
2. I’m confused as to when in the process should I submit the Placement Preference Form. In your timeline it appears as a 4th step, but then it’s one of the numbered documents to send to the Embassy.
3. When completing the Japanese test, is it necessary to fill out every part of it, or just one of the proficiency levels?
4. Is the MEXT-covered time 24 months for research students + 24 months for when you finally start your Masters, or do the 24 months of research count for the total amount and therefore you should 100% extend the scholarship so as to do the research and Japanese course?
Sorry that this is so long and thanks for reading 🙂
Hi Sonsoles,
1. Normally, you could list a Cambridge score in the others section, but since it is more than 2 years old, it doesn’t qualify. So, yes, you do not have a currently valid proof of English language ability. The good news is that it’s not required. You will take an English test during the primary screening and that will be used to evaluate your ability.
2. You submit the Placement Preference Form twice. Once with the original application and again after acquiring your Letters of Provisional Acceptance (at which point, the list of universities may have changed).
3. You should try to answer all of the questions.
4. In most cases, applicants only spend 1-2 semesters as a research student, usually if they are completing the Japanese language semester and then up to 1 semester as a research student at their university. It is very rare to use the full 2 years of research student status. If you start as a research student, your initial selection will only be for the research student period. You would then have to apply for an extension of the scholarship to cover your degree at the same time as you apply for admission to the degree program. When the extension is approved and you are admitted to the degree program, your scholarship time resets to 24 months to complete the Master’s.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi i want to request about the documents arrangement please i’m sending them by email because the embassy is far so is it okey if i stamp the documents, and for bachelor, master’s certificate and transcripts original translation and copies should i put them together or separately ?
Hi Ikhlas,
Since the submission requirements and method can vary from embassy to embassy, I recommend that you consult with them directly for their instructions.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello and thank you for your work!
I have a stupid question. When we receive JLPT certificate, there is a score report on a separate sheet. Should I include the report to the documents as well?
Hi Dias,
Actually, that’s a great question. The certificate that you submit must show your level and score, according to the guidelines, so you should submit the score report sheet.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello and thank you for the information
I have a question about wheter or not I can apply for a master’s degree after graduating from a doctorate in my own country. because I’m planning on studying abroad in the field of my thesis but I prefer to start with a masters degree rather than the phd. Is it possible?
Hi Roshan,
I do not think it is possible to apply for a Master’s under the MEXT scholarship when you already have a PhD. I have seen cases of applicants applying when they already have earned a degree at that level, but never when the applicant had a higher level degree.
As far as I know, there is no eligibility requirement that would disqualify you, but I think your chances of selection would be lower in that case. Since you already have a PhD, they would assume that you can function at the PhD level even in a new field.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis,
Thank you for sharing valuable information. I have a question about the English proficiency certificate.
What if I’m from a non-native English-speaking country and don’t have a certificate, but my undergraduate major was TEFL, and the program’s instruction was primarily in English? Would mentioning this in the application form be sufficient? If so, where can I write it?
By the way, I am subscribed to your mailing list, but I couldn’t receive the latest application form sample (2025).
Thanks again
Hi Pouya,
There is no requirement for specific English proficiency at this stage of the application process. You will take a language test during the Primary Screening, after the document screening, and that will be the basis for your evaluation.
That said, if the language of instruction for your previous degree was English, that is usually considered to be sufficient proof of English ability for MEXT’s standards, so it would be worth stating “Bachelor’s degree taught in English” in the “Others” section for English proficiency.
You should have received the 2024 form when you signed up for my mailing list. The 2025 form just came out and I have been working on the new sample. You should have it tomorrow. I will also have the updated article on how to fill out the application form then.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi trans, i have a doubt regarding the certificate of graduation. I graduated this year from my UG degree. In my country , I’d receive my graduation certificate after 2 years but I would be receiving the provisional certificate along with the academic transcript after the Mext Application Deadline date. What do you suggest can be done in this situation?
Hi Roselin,
You don’t need your final diploma. A Certificate of Graduation can be a letter from your registrar that certifies that you have completed all of the requirements for graduation.
You would need to be able to submit a Certificate of Graduation or a Certificate of Expected Graduation by the deadline. If you submit a Certificate of Expected Graduation, then you would need to submit a Certificate of Graduation no later than a month before you come to Japan to start your scholarship, so you would need to work with your university to figure out how to get those documents.
For the transcript, you should submit the most recent version available at the time of application, even if it doesn’t cover your full degree. They will use that for the screening. Like the Certificate of Graduation, you will submit the final version later, before you come to Japan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
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