The MEXT scholarship (or Monbukagakusho Scholarship) is a scholarship awarded by the Japanese government for international students.
There are different types of the scholarship to cover undergraduate studies, graduate studies, short-term exchange, teacher’s training, and technical training. Of these the scholarship for graduate studies has the most scholarship slots available and is open to applicants from the greatest number of countries.
My expertise is in the MEXT scholarship for graduate students, so that is what this article and almost all other articles on MyMEXTScholarship focus on.
What does the MEXT Scholarship Provide?
MEXT Scholars receive:
- 143,000-145,000 yen living expenses stipend per month (plus cost-of-living adjustments)
- Full coverage of tuition and entrance exam expenses
- International travel expenses covered for trip to Japan at start of studies and trip home at the end*
*Students selected under the “Domestic Selection” scholarship scheme at Top Global Universities do not receive coverage for travel expenses to Japan, since they are assumed to be living in Japan at the time of selection.
Monthly Stipend
As of 2024, the monthly stipend for graduate students is 143,000 yen for research (non-degree program) students, 144,000 yen for Master’s-level students, and 145,000 yen for Doctoral-level students. In some locations, students receive a 2,000 – 3,000 yen per month cost of living adjustment bonus. In specific colder regions, students receive a 3,000 yen per month bonus from November through March each year to cover additional heating costs.
The average monthly salary in Japan is about 351,000, according to the National Tax Agency, but that includes all industries and all levels. The monthly stipend MEXT scholars receive is close to the monthly pay that many university contract employees receive. Although the stipend has not changed in the 15 years that I have been working with this scholarship, despite inflation, you should still be able to live on that amount, if you’re frugal, particularly if you’re outside of major cities.
According to a JASSO 2015 survey of international students in Japan, the average cost of living was 155,000 yen per month, but that figure includes tuition expenses that MEXT scholars do not have to pay. Without tuition, the average cost of living was 94,000 yen per month. Of course, it is most expensive in Tokyo and less expensive in other regions.
Tuition Covered
MEXT scholars do not have to pay tuition or entrance exam expenses.
Depending on the application process you go through, you may have to pay admission exam expenses at first, but if you are selected for the MEXT scholarship, then you would receive that money refunded to you later.
Travel Expenses
MEXT will pay for a one-way international ticket for you from the international airport nearest your home of record to the international airport nearest the university where you will be studying. You will also get a return ticket from MEXT after you successfully complete your studies, unless you decline it (to stay in Japan, etc.).
You will still have to pay for domestic transportation between your home and the international airport and from the airport in Japan to the university, as well as any airport usage taxes or fees, but that is a relatively minor cost!
What Studies Does the Scholarship Cover?
The Scholarship covers graduate studies in all fields taught in Japan.
Eligible Fields
Any field of study taught in any university in Japan. Of course, you have to have the required language ability to enroll in the program, so if a field of study is only taught in Japanese, you would have to be fluent in Japanese.
Time Covered
The MEXT scholarship covers your studies as follows:
- Research (non-degree program) students: Up to 24 months if you arrive in April or up to 18 months if you arrive in the fall semester (September/October).
- Master’s Students: 24 months
- Doctoral Students: 36 months (48 months in the case of some 4-year medical degrees)
Extensions
You can apply to extend your scholarship if you are advancing academically. For example, if you advance from Research Student to Master’s Degree student, you can apply for an extension and, if selected, you would get 24 months of scholarship payment starting from when you start your Master’s Degree.
You cannot apply for an extension if you are not graduating on time, though.
Who Can Apply?
At the graduate level, anyone from a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan and who meets the eligibility criteria (Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship eligibility criteria, University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship eligibility criteria) listed in the application guidelines.
To find out if your country has diplomatic relations with Japan, check the list of Japanese diplomatic missions abroad at:
https://mymext.com/embassies
How Do You Apply for the MEXT Scholarship?
You can apply either to the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country or directly to a Japanese university. In either case, you will find specific instructions on the embassy or university website, with the exact forms and submission methods.
The Embassy application process usually starts in April or May and the University application process starts in the Fall. I recommend that you start your application with whichever comes next for you!
The exact dates for each embassy, consulate, and university are different, so be sure you check with them directly!
To learn more about the differences between the application processes, where and how to get the forms, and how to apply, check out this article about getting started with the MEXT scholarship application.
What is the Purpose of the MEXT Scholarship?
The goal of the MEXT scholarship is to attract outstanding scholars from around the world who have the potential to go on to become leaders in their countries and communities. MEXT wants to bring these students to Japan to establish and strengthen relationships so that they will become bridges between their home countries and Japan in the future.
It is a merit-based scholarship designed to attract the best students from around the world, not a need-based scholarship.
Want to know more?
My book, How to Win the MEXT Scholarship, will help you understand the scholarship and its purpose from the reviewers’ perspective, master the successful applicant mindset, and develop an application strategy that will give your application focus and give you the highest chances of success.
Also available on all online retailers or request it via your local library or book store!
Questions?
Please let me know in the comments below!
Hey Travis,
I have got a doubt.. what does it mean by research student and degree- seeking student. I wish to apply for PhD through MEXT Scholarship via the embassy recommendation route. So what category do I belong to?
Please help me with this..
Hi Elsa,
If you want to earn a PhD, you need to be a degree-seeking student. A research student is a student who is affiliated with the graduate school but has not passed the entrance exam and is not a candidate to earn a degree.
You might start as a research student for one semester, though, if you need to take the entrance exam after coming to Japan. It is possible to start in that status and then extend your scholarship to cover the degree. But I have also heard a rumor that the research student status may be going away. I am still trying to confirm.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for the reply…
So will the entrance exam be conducted during the secondary screening? One university that I contacted informed me that I have to pass an online entrance exam to be a degree seeking student. Also do I require any English language proficiency test other than the test conducted by the embassy? Currently I don’t have any certificates of language proficiency and the MEXT application will be open this April.
Could you please help me with this!!
Hi Elsa,
It depends on the university.
Some will conduct an entrance exam during the Letter of Provisional Acceptance application (or will consider the review of the documents that you submit to comprise the entrance exam) and they will then issue you an LoPA to come to Japan as a degree-seeking student. (Note: Applying for an LoPA comes before the secondary screening.)
Others will issue you the LoPA to come as a research student/non-degree student and you will have to take the entrance exam later, either before or after you come to Japan in order to upgrade to a degree-seeking student. I have more information about that in my article about how to apply for a Letter of Provisional acceptance and my article about the Secondary Screening.
The embassy does not require any certificates of language proficiency, but the universities you apply to might ask you to submit one, especially if you are applying for a program taught in Japanese. You would have to check the websites of those universities for their specific requirements.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much!!
tly, I am enrolled in Civil Aviation University of china under first class scholarship.The educational system here isn’t as good as I have imagined.
So I now want to apply for the MEXT scholarship from here. Just to mention, I am not really financially strong. So can I apply from here in china.
My country has diplomatic relation with japan,that much I know. But I can’t go back to my country to give exams at the embassy.
Thanks for your time and consideration. I hope that you will answer soon.
Hi Siyam,
For the Embassy-recommended MEXT Scholarship, it is mandatory to return to your country to take the exams and interview, so if you cannot travel, that would not be possible.
You can apply for the University-recommended MEXT Scholarship from outside your home country, since there is no requirement to take exams, etc., at the embassy.
I am updating my article about the University-recommended MEXT Scholarship now based on this year’s guidelines and will release it soon, possibly this weekend. If you are on my mailing list, you will find out right away. If not, check the website again next week to see if the University-recommended MEXT Scholarship article is updated for 2023/2024.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Transez, I am a high school student in my last year and will hopefully be starting my undergraduate degree by next year if I’m accepted by the university here in Kazakhstan. My question is about the undergraduate scholarship which I know you don’t cover much for being highly competitive, do I have to be fresh out of high school to apply for the scholarship/contact my embassy, or is it okay to apply to a university while waiting for the application process? From what I know is that it does take a while for the application process and screenings but since there aren’t much articles written about it I’m pretty much in the dark about it. I do plan on taking ILETS and SAT because my selected university requires it, and I heard that the MEXT scholarship does encourage you to send those documents as well but I’m not too sure about it. If there re any blogs or forums you could refer me to for the undergraduate guides I’d appreciate it!
Hi Zara,
The first thing I would recommend you to read is the application guidelines for the Undergraduate Scholarship. I think that could help you understand the application process, eligibility, and requirements.
You do not have to apply straight out of high school as long as you meet the date of birth requirement in the guidelines. (Note: The guidelines I linked above are from the 2023 application cycle. For the 2024 application cycle, the date of birth requirement will of course be one year later.)
In general, you apply for the Undergraduate Scholarship via the Japanese university in your country, so applying directly to a university in Japan is not required, and could actually make you ineligible. IELTS and SAT scores should not be required. It is helpful to have an English language proficiency test (it could make your application more competitive), but you will also take a language test during the screening process, so if you don’t have one, you can still pass.
For the undergraduate scholarship, in almost all cases, you will spend your first year in an intensive Japanese language program, then MEXT will decide what university to place you in. So, taking the SAT may not be necessary at any point. (When Japanese universities ask for SAT scores, it is in part to ensure that you are qualified to enter university, but if you are already a university student in Kazakhstan before you start the MEXT scholarship, that could be proof, as well.)
Unfortunately, I am not aware of any blogs or other resources for undergraduate applicants that I can recommend, but the official guidelines I linked above should explain most of what you need to know!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for replying! I have read through the guide fully from my country’s website of the Japanese embassy, and I have most of my questions answered except for one regarding visa. I didn’t see anything related to MEXT covering the student visa fees, so that means renewing it is completely dependent on me, correct? And are the visas hard to get, or require a long time? The website I read through only included business, cultural exchange and sports if I had recommendations from Japan. Not sure if they’re related to student visa.
Hi Zara,
For your initial visa application, there is a special application process for MEXT Scholars’ student visas, so you would receive instructions from MEXT when it is time for you to apply. For MEXT scholars, since you are sponsored by the Japanese government, it is not hard to get a visa! Whether or not there are fees depends on your home country and the visa treaty they have with Japan, so I can’t say for sure.
After you arrive in Japan, there’s a good chance that you will have to extend your “Residence Status” at some point after you arrive. You will be responsible for doing that yourself in most cases, but it is not difficult or expensive. You can apply for renewal once you are within 3 months of your initial Residence Status expiring.
It is not something you need to worry about!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I’m living in a French speaking country and I want to apply for the Mext scholarship so do I need to translate all my papers in English since I don’t speak Japanese and is it mandatory to have a TOEFL in order to apply,
Thanks in advance.
Hi Keita,
Yes, you are going to need translations for any documents in French. All documents you submit must be in either English or Japanese or be accompanied by an English or Japanese translation. (In the case of translations, make sure you submit the original and a certified translation!)
For language proficiency scores like TOEFL, it is not mandatory if you apply for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, but if you apply for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, usually you will have to submit language test scores. In that case, each university sets its requirements separately, so you would have to check with the university to see what they require.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis
First of all, I would like to thank you for guiding us throughout all these process.
What I would like to ask is..
I applied for mext scholarship via Embassy Last year and failed at the part of language examination. Now I will apply for it again but is it okay to use recommendation letters of last year? They are dated 20.05.2020
Thanks in advance
Hi Sena,
Thank you for your kind words.
I would recommend submitting new letters of recommendation. In general, you are required to submit the original each time, so it should not be possible to submit the same letter in multiple years. (I know some embassies are accepting submission by email, so maybe it is technically possible now.) If you can get new letters with a recent date, that will help avoid any potential problems later.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello! Love this website. Thank you so much for creating such useful information!
I was wondering if you have to have your undergraduate degree before you apply for the graduate MEXT Scholarship?
I graduate in a year and a half, I’m extremely interested in the MEXT program, however it is unclear if I essentially have to take a break year inbetween my undergraduate degree and my graduate degree (since the application/waiting period is a year). I’d love to plan it so that I can jump right in, and hopefully time it right so that if I get accepted I can go right after I graduate.
Thank you!
Hi Jupiter Jones,
You do not need to complete your undergraduate degree before applying, but you will need to complete it before you start your scholarship in Japan.
When you apply, in place of a Certificate of Graduation, you will need to submit a Certificate of Expected Graduation, which is a document from your university stating that, as long as you pass all of your courses, you are expected to graduate on a specific date.
That way, you can avoid having to have a gap year between your undergraduate and MEXT scholarship.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I am quite confused about the types of MEXT scholarship. I am interested in pursuing an MBA at a reputable business school in Japan. I completed my undergraduate course and have more than 5 years of working experience in finance and accounting. Which MEXT scholarship can help me fund my MBA? Is it the research student category?
Hi Francesca,
The MEXT Scholarship for research students is the scholarship that covers all graduate degrees, including MBA, so that is what you would apply for.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
First off, I want to say thanks for all the work you do with this. It’s all really helpful! For the questions…
I applied for the MEXT Research Scholarship 2 years ago, flew from Japan to the UK (I’m on JET at the moment, currently in year 3), had the interview, but wasn’t selected. Since then, I’ve slightly changed my research interests, though within the same general field (Japanese art history to Japanese art conservation/preservation). Will this have any sort of negative impact on my application this time around, since it changed a bit from the last application?
Also, the programmes are all in Japanese. I am about at the JLPT N3 level (taking the test in December), but I’m planning on enrolling in a 1 year Japanese language course at a uni here in Japan. Will this have any sort of impact, either on eligibility or acceptance? I know I’ll need N1 for grad school, but the language course says N3-N1 is doable in the one year course. But since I won’t have the proficiency at the time of application, I’m worried they may reject me.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Best,
Sara
Hi Sara,
Thank you for your kind words!
If you are applying for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, you do not need to submit JLPT scores when you apply to the embassy, but you will most likely need them before you contact universities to apply for a Letter of Acceptance. They are going to want to see that you have the required proficiency at the time of application, even if you are in a program that claims it can help you raise your level as you stated, in the end, that’s all down to individual effort, so a university is not going to accept it as sufficient proof that you will have the required ability.
I would recommend that you apply once you have at least obtained N2 (unless the program that you have in mind requires N1).
As for your change in field of study, it does not seem to be that significant. As long as your new field of study is still related to your previous degree, then it should not pose a problem!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hi! I want to study in japan but I havent done/finished college here in US, just finished highschool. Can I still study in japan. Do they have college-university system like here in US or is it different. Im so lost. I really want to study in japan but I dont know what to do. I want to study software engineering or something related to robots and I know they are one of the countries with the most advanced studies on that. Thanks in advance!
Hi Eddy,
My area of expertise is in the MEXT Scholarship for graduate students, so I am not as familiar with undergraduate admissions.
However, I have an article about how to find programs taught in English in Japan that you can use to find information about undergraduate programs, as well. I would recommend that you look up what universities have programs in information science taught in English (or mechanical engineering, depending on what area of robotics you are interested in) then check out those universities’ websites for information about their undergraduate application procedures.
Some might have a specific application process for international students so that you do not have to go through the standardized testing that Japanese students do.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello,
If I applied in the MEXT scholarship 2021. Will I be going to japan in 2021 or 2022.
Thank you.
Hi Abrar A–Ghamdi,
If you apply in 2020, you would be traveling to Japan in 2021.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
While filling mark sheet form, should we write our CGPA in our “Marks” column or total marks obtained throughout the course of our studies?
Hi Shehroz,
There is no “Marks Sheet” in MEXT’s list of required documents, so I am guessing that this is a local requirement in your country. Unfortunately, since I haven’t seen the sheet in question, I cannot offer any advice on how to fill it out. If you could indicate where I can find it, perhaps I can help.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello, my name is Aluwe Denis Jackson currently in Uganda but a South Sudanese national. I want to acquire the undergraduate scholarship. But what are the procedures here in the Japanese embassy in Uganda. Thank you.
Hi Aluwe Denis Jackson,
For the Embassy-recommended MEXT scholarship, you must apply at the Japanese embassy in your country of residence, so you would need to follow the application guidelines from the Japanese Embassy in South Sudan. It looks like they haven’t released the specific, local application instructions yet, but I recommend to keep checking their website. https://www.ss.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/programmes_academic.html
In the meantime, you can get started on the application by following the advice in my article about How to Apply for the 2020/2021 Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Transenz,
I’m waiting forward to apply for the MEXT scholarship for 2021..but there’s not any announcement from japanese embasy in srilanka yet..this is my very
First time to apply for this scholarship and i dont have much experience about applying for this..What should i do untill our embasy announce the MEXT scholarship ??2021 application guideline( for undergraduate student s ) has publiched???how can i find it??where can i find 2021 application form??
Hi Supuni,
While the guidelines are out in many countries, not every embassy has released them yet. (Someone else told me recently that they are not yet out in Afghanistan, either). I suspect that because of the changes to the application timeline this year as well as the necessary changes from COVID-19 prevention, that the embassies are taking a little more time to decide how they want to handle the local submission, including the interviews, exams, etc.
Are you applying for the undergraduate scholarship? If you were applying for the scholarship for research students, I would recommend starting with writing your Field of Study and Research Program Plan. But, if you are applying for the scholarship for undergraduates, yes, the general application guidelines have been released, so you can start collecting the application documents you need as well as filling out the forms. You can get the guidelines and forms from the Study in Japan Website (Undergraduate link / Graduate link).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Good Evening,
I am apply for the MEXT Scholarship for undergraduate. It was my first time doing the MEXT i was a bit confused about some things that maybe have result me to not get the scholarship. I had some questions about the application process. The first was explaining why i want to do the careers i pick? and what can i contribute in japan and in my home country? I didnt have any answer to any of these questions like i haven’t thought about this very much. I hope you have some advice for me on how to get thru this application process with less stress on my mind.
Thank you
Hi Lucia Rodriguez,
My area of expertise is the MEXT scholarship for graduate students and all of the articles on this site are focused on that process. Some parts may still be useful to you, but please keep in mind that the detailed instructions you will find are oriented toward research student applicants.
In general, though, you do need to have a strong reason to apply for the scholarship and it should be related to how you want to contribute to the world/society/your country/relations between your country and Japan in the future. That is an important factor in explaining to the interview committee why they should select you over another applicant.
In general, I would suggest that if you are applying for this scholarship without giving serious thought to what you want to do in the future, you are doing things in the reverse order. Whether you apply for the MEXT scholarship or to university in your home country, that decision should always be based on how it supports your future goals.
Coaching you on developing goals for your life is a little outside of my area of expertise, but I would recommend that you do find someone that you can talk to to help you sort through it. After you know what it is you want to accomplish in your life, then it will be time to think about how applying for the MEXT scholarship will contribute to that goal.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey Travis,
Thank you for your hardwork and hope things are going well for you. I noticed my particular questions haven’t been mentioned yet in previous FAQ by others so I’ll post them here. So I have two questions;
1. How many times can I apply for the embassy recommendtion route? If I apply in spring 2020 with a GPA that makes the cut off but I’m not chosen due to other better competitors. I know there’s still the university recommended route but could I apply again in spring 2021 for the embassy route?
2. If I apply this spring 2020, but at the time of applying I’ll almost be finished my schooling (only needing one more semester to graduate, which is 4 more months) however my pass two years of schooling will get me past the GPA cutoff. Can I still qualify to apply since I’ve already completed 16 years of schooling despite not graduating just yet OR do I need to get my bachelor then I can apply in spring 2021?
Hi Scott,
Thank you for your kind words!
I don’t think I have seen your particular questions before.
1. You can keep applying until you are no longer eligible (when you reach the age limit). I have heard of applicants getting the scholarship on their third attempt at the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship.
2. Yes, you could apply. You do not need to have your Bachelors completed and in hand by the time you apply. You need to have if finished by the time that you start your studies in Japan. It is very common for applicants to apply while they are still enrolled in their last year of their previous degree. (In that case, your GPA will be calculated based on the last four semesters shown on your official transcript at the time of your application, even though they wouldn’t be the last four semesters of your degree.)
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey Travis,
Alright, awesome. Thank you!
HI Transenz,
My question is regarding the University recommended MEXT.
Can I apply for a university recommendation for a PGP program in one university and a non PGP program in another university.
In many of your articles you do mention that I can only ask one university for a recommendation. Do PGP programs also apply, because, from the two professors that have accepted me one of them supervises a PGP program and he promised to recommend me for it, the other professor said that he will recommend me for the University recommended MEXT (Non-PGP).
Thank you for your time,
Shankar Chereddy
Hi Shankar Chereddy,
No, you cannot apply to both. Both PGP and Non-PGP are part of the same university recommended MEXT scholarship (both are recommended by the university), so you can only apply to one university per year.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis!
Thank you for this blog and all the help you’re giving us.
After reading through everything I still have a few questions I can’t really find my answers to.
One being: I wish to apply for the research scholarship, and I would like to aim to be a non-degree seeking student; if doing so is it possible/okay to apply to an undergraduate school? There is a whole major at an university that is exactly what I want to do my research about, they’re in perfect sync. The whole idea and image!
My other question would be whether Psychology could be related to Japanology (language and culture) and art studies? I have read that if they fall under the same faculty it is okay, but I found that they sometimes fall under the same faculty, sometimes they don’t. And of course psychology would be something that is “taken more seriously”; this is also why I thought about as going non-degree seeking research student, at an undergraduate school (the major I mentioned before isn’t psychology, just undergraduate, the two questions aren’t related in this way).
I hope I wasn’t too confusing with my questions and they aren’t too personalized so it can help others too.
Thank you,
Hajnalka
Hi Hajnalka,
Thank you for your kind words.
1. I’m afraid that you have to be affiliated with a graduate school for the research student scholarship. But most undergraduate faculties should have an affiliated graduate school, and there should be nothing stopping you from working with professors attached to the undergraduate program or even auditing some classes there, even if you are officially related to the graduate program. If you are deliberately heading in as a non-degree seeking student, though, I would highly recommend that you be prepared to explain how that program will help you better connect Japan and your home country, and better serve the world around you, than earning a degree would.
2. I don’t know enough about either of your fields to give you a straight answer. But I can tell you it’s less about the name of the major and more about what you specifically studied. I’m not sure from your question whether Psychology or Japanology was your undergrad degree, but let’s say that it was Japanology and you took classes/wrote papers related to the Psychology of Japanese people in comparison to your home country. That should be enough to allow you to transition into a graduate degree in Psych. Of course, from what I understand, there are probably a ton of prerequisites for Psychology that they would have expected you to take as an undergraduate, so you would need to overcome that challenge, as well.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis!
Thank you for your reply.
The undergraduate school I am interested in doesn’t have a graduate school (yet?) I believe, since the major itself exists since 2018 only. I am a little confused as to why I can’t go to an undergraduate school as a research student, because in the official MEXT application guide they state that one can go to undergraduate school too, and on the site of the major (and the school itself) they also state that as a research student one can go to either graduate or undergraduate school. I am sorry, I don’t mean to question your words, I am just wondering what could be the reason for this (whether it’s another “unwritten rule” or just my misunderstanding).
Thank you,
Hajnalka
Hi Hajnalka,
In almost all cases, applicants who start their MEXT scholarship as a research student do so with the intent of matriculating into a degree program after a semester or two. Since this is the MEXT Scholarship for Research Students (which means “Graduate-Level Students” in that context), you could not use it to pursue an undergraduate degree. There is a separate MEXT scholarship for undergraduate students, but that does not allow for non-degree students.
If you intend only to be a research student (e.g. you are enrolled in a graduate degree program overseas and are only coming to Japan briefly to conduct research related to a thesis you are already working on), then it would be possible to apply without the intent of earning a degree, but it could be harder to justify to the application committee. You would also almost certainly be limited to applying for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship.
I did some further digging and it is technically not prohibited to be a research student affiliated with an undergraduate college, but you may face more of a challenge in justifying it. So, if a similar field of study exists at another university at the graduate level, I would recommend that you give some serious consideration to focusing your effort there, in order to reduce the hurdles you will have to face.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis!
Thank you so much for your reply and the work you’re doing for us; and thank you for especially looking into this!
Now I know what to do and I look forward to this new journey!
Thank you,
Hajnalka
Hi Travis,
Thanks a lot for providing decent material for everyone.
I applied for embassy recommendation this year and I was one of the 20 candidates who could get to the interview part. Unfortunately, interview didn’t go so well and I failed. However, I’m willing to apply for university recommendation, as soon as it becomes available (fall I think). I already read your guides and they were of great help. I also read universities’ pages for info. Yet, I still have some questions in mind. I would be very glad if you’d help me out.
Personal info: I graduated in Japanese language and literature bachelor’s. I wish to study linguistics / Japanese studies in Japan. I don’t possess the economical feasibility to pursue an overseas graduate study without a scholarship.
I’ll write the questions one by one, as not all of them are related to each other.
These questions are about university recommendation.
1- How many universities can I apply at one time? If it is limited, can I apply for another when I get the rejection reply?
2- I understand that you have to start your study in Japan in fall term (late-september, early october). Is that true?
3- There’s a two-years (depends on the uni) of non-degree research available, when you applied via embassy. And you can extend it once you pass the master’s exam, in embassy recommendation. Is this exactly the same in university recommendation?
4- I alread have a prepared research proposal but I failed at the interview, not because of my research proposal, but because of my lack of performance during that interview. Or at least that’s what the indicators showed me. So, is it risky or wrong to apply for university recommendation with exactly same research field and plan?
5- I read about your guide about “MEXT slots” and percentages but I had a hard time understanding the competiveness levels. Do I have more chance if I apply a non-top-tier university, even though it will have less slots? Going to Japan and conducting this research is a primary for me. The city and university are secondary.
6- Both in your guides and univesities’ websites, I have seen that there’s a mentioning of a “currently enrolled university”. Did I understand everything wrong and only those who are currently enrolled in a graduate program in their home country, are eligible to apply for university recommendation? Or am I allowed to to apply even though I graduated from an undergraduate program and I’m not currently enrolled in any programs?
7- I see that recommendation letter from “dean” is a must. In my case, I believe it is the dean of the faculty of the university that I graduated. I had the recommendation of the head of department and I filled everything inside myself when I applied via embassy and it was okay. Ironically, that prof. was in the jury but I failed. So, how should I proceed with the dean, if it’s a must?
8- I see that there are some people who apply for a master’s program directly, with MEXT. So, how do they do that? I believe there will be an entrance exam before, during or after the application process but when? Also, what happens if they fail to pass the entrance exam?
9- If someone receives the scholarship and starts studying as a non-degree student, but fail to pass the entrance exam for master’s, is it possible to enter another university in Japan for master’s and extend the scholarship that way, in either embassy or university recommendation? Also, what is the likehood of passing the entrance exam for master’s?
I would be very glad if you answered these nine questions. I’m looking forward to your reply.
Thank you.
Hi Aaron,
I’m sorry to hear that you weren’t successful in the interview stage of the application (and surprised to hear that the selection process has already gone that far in your country, as well!), but I admire your grit and dedication to trying again. I’m sure your experience will be helpful.
That’s a lot of questions, but I’ll tackle them as best I can.
1. You can only apply to one university per year. There is no way that you would get the results from one university in time to apply for another, if you weren’t successful, so you should choose carefully and focus on building a case specifically for that university.
2. Yes, the university-recommended MEXT scholarship almost always starts in the fall. There are sometimes exceptions for specific PGP programs that were approved to start in the spring, but I think that’s only about 1-2 programs in all of Japan.
3. No. Depending on the university, they may not accept research students at all, or they may accept research students for a maximum of one semester (e.g. if the degree program only accepts new students in the spring, then you would have to start as a research student for the fall semester, only). This is going to vary university by university and program by program, so you’ll need to research the rules where you want to apply.
4. If you’re confident in your research plan, then it is fine to reuse it. I would recommend possibly editing it slightly and making it more focused on the university you plan to apply to, since you can focus on just one university, instead of having to appeal to three or more, like the Embassy.
5. I would recommend that you choose the university that is the best fit for your research. I can’t say for sure whether a top-tier university, with more slots and more applicants, or a less-well known university, with fewer of both, would be more or less competitive. However, you can make your application more competitive by being a better fit with the program you are applying to and appealing to the faculty there directly.
6. Your currently enrolled university is your current university, if you are enrolled in a degree program, or the most recent university that you graduated from. That notation is meant to indicate which university you need to collect documentation from. You are allowed to apply even if you have already graduated. But for the university recommended MEXT scholarship, some universities require that you be specifically recommended to them by one of their overseas partner universities, so earning that recommendation might be easier if you are still a student.
7. You must get a letter from the Dean or someone higher in position. A department head is not sufficient. I have advice about how to do that in my article about the required documents.
8. That will all be included in the application guidelines when you apply. If you fail the entrance exam, you would not be able to matriculate to the degree program or extend your scholarship.
9. I cover part of your question in my article about extending the MEXT scholarship. As for the likelihood of passing the entrance exam, that depends on you and on the style of exam at your university, so there’s no one answer. Some universities have an intense exam, some only require you to submit a form. It all depends.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi i’d like your help if you would, i am a PhD student in my country and i am planning to alpply for a mext scolarship ,i have 2 question
1 can i mention in my application papers that i am currently a PhD stutent?
2 if yes, can i apply with a recomendation lettre signed by my PhD thesis director?
Thank you
Hi Taki,
A lot depends on your current situation and intention regarding your PhD program.
Are you planning to quit your current PhD and come to Japan to start over? Finish your current PhD and come to Japan for a second one? Come to Japan as a research student (non-degree) to conduct research related to your current PhD?
The answer would be different for each of the options above. In general, if you are planning to quit your current program then your recommendation would come from your Master’s degree institution, and you would not include your PhD program in your academic history, since you are not planning to complete it. For the others, you should mention your current degree program and a letter of recommendation from your current adviser should be fine.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Sir,
I juts found a scholarship notification about MEXT scholarship 2019 and just got struck on how to go about. I am planning to apply for masters course related to Veterinary science but they want me to submit a research abstract and a research programme plan. Please advise me.
Regards
Hi Jigdrel Dorji,
I have just updated my article about how to write the Field of Study and Research Program Plan a few weeks ago. I recommend checking out that article for an idea of what it should look like. If you want more information on the process or writing it, then I have a book that goes into a lot more detail, as well!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, I am an undergraduate student and I am in Matric. I really want to study in Japan but don’t know if undergraduate students also get their living, travel and studying expenses paid. I read your article and saw it is mostly focused on graduate students.
I am from South Africa and so far I have 5 subjects above 80% out of the 7 subjects we have from the 1st term. Do you think I stand a chance to be granted this scholarship and where can I find the application forms for international undergraduate students?
Thank you for your help!
Hi Alyssa,
The scholarship for undergraduate students is only available in select countries (as opposed to graduate students, which is offered everywhere). If it is available to citizens of South Africa, you will find the information on the Japanese Embassy in South Africa’s website.
I do not write about the scholarship for undergraduate students because of the limited number of eligible countries and the much, much lower number of scholarship slots available, so I do not know as much about what goes into the application evaluation. However, I can tell you that it is geared for high school students applying to attend university in Japan, so your current undergraduate results (I assume that you would be quitting that program to start fresh in Japan) should not be a factor.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis
I did my BBA in 2012 and my percentage is 68.9 and GPA is 2.9 so ,am I aligible for MBA?
Secondly , what is the requirement for Afghanistan student
Thanks
Aimal Zaheer
Hi Aimal Zaheer,
I saw your question on another page and answered it there, first.
The requirements that I write about do not differ by country, though some countries may add additional requirements. The best way to find those is to research on the website of the Japanese embassy in your country.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis
I did my bachelor (BBA) in 2012 so I am considered under graduate or graduate student
I am going to apply for MBA
Thanks
Hi Aimal Zaheer,
An MBA is a graduate program, so you would be applying for the MEXT scholarship for graduate students.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Does the mext scholarship usually start this late in April? Because its almost the end of April and there still isn’t any information on 2020 application in Canada.
Hi June,
I’m surprised the guidelines aren’t out yet on the embassy website. They have been available on MEXT’s website for a few weeks already:
http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/koutou/ryugaku/boshu/1415352.htm
I am working on updating my articles about how to apply based on the changes to the process this year and hope to have them up soon. In the meantime, you can find the guidelines at the link above.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Transenz
I want to apply for MEXT in reaserch field of Chemical sciences. Please suggest me the universities that prefer the MEXT Scholarship alongwith the Professor names.
Hi Sam,
I have an article about how to find universities that teach your field in English (as well as how to identify specific professors based on their similarities to your research field). I recommend that you follow the advice in that article to search for programs.
How to Find Universities and Professors in Japan
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello, Travis. I have just stumbled upon this blog when I was looking for a guide to fill my Research Student MEXT forms. The forms really are confusing but this blog really helps me a lot. However, it seems that the Placement Reference application form has not been covered yet? I have some questions because I have a tough time filling it since there are barely any instructions.
How should I fill “Field of Study in Japan” and “Detailed Field of Study”? I’m a Computer Science graduate, so, should I just type ‘Informatics and Information Science Program’ for example? Or I have to be more detail about it? If you’d be so kind as to help me with this. Thank you so much.
Hi Adhisti,
You’re right, I have not written an article about that form yet!
Once I finish updating the articles about how to apply for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship, the eligibility criteria, and the application form for 2020, I will add that to the queue. If you are signed up for my mailing list (or patreon) you will be one of the first to know when the new article is released.
In general, though, the field of study should be the name of the department that you want to enroll in at the Japanese graduate school and your detailed field of study should be the topic of your thesis proposal (from your Field of Study and Research Program Plan).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Transenz
I recently purchased two of your books on a successful MEXT application. Could you give a time frame as to when your third book “How to Find Your Degree Program and Advisor for the MEXT Scholarship” will be released. I am planning to start my program in 2020, so i want to make sure to have everything ready this summer.
Thanks
Hi Shankar Chereddy,
Thank you very much!
I sincerely appreciate your support and hope that the books help you.
Unfortunately, I do not think that the third book will be available in time for your application this summer. I just released the second book in ebook form at the end of last month and am still working on getting the paperback version complete and ready for release, so I have not started writing book 3 yet (although the research is done). I want to take the time to ensure that I am producing a quality book that will genuinely provide value for your application, so I would not anticipate that book being finished by the end of the year.
I am sorry it will not be in time to help you, but I hope that the articles on this site, at least, are useful and wish you the best of luck in your application. Please feel free to ask any questions on here as they arise!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis
I am really helpful for all of the free articles, they help a lot regarding the application and the nitty gritty details. I was just wondering on how to contact a professor. Because, here in the united states I send an email talking about what I do and what I am interested in and talk about the professors research interests and how I could do a project in his lab related to his work. I was wondering if this was the same for contacting japanese professors, also should I be sending my CV, because some of the professors at my university advise against it while some strongly support it.
Thanks
Shankar Chereddy
Hi Shankar Chereddy,
I think the approach you described sounds perfect.
My recommendation would be to keep your first email relatively short, so that it makes it easier for the professor to read quickly and reply to. Getting that first communication flowing in both directions is essential.
My personal preference would be to not send your CV attached to the first email, but indicate at the end of your message that you are prepared to send more information about your research as well as your CV if the professor is interested.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I need to do masters in Japan it’s my dream sir
Right now i am studying bsc computer science 2 nd year
It completed on 2021 march
So i need to take mext scholership
When i want to take and
Main quotion is
After completing my graduation in March 2021
When japan colleges will start
Hi Prudhvi,
Japanese universities start in April or September/October each year. April is the start of the school year, but many English-language programs also or only accept students to start in the fall. So, you would be able to start your studies in Japan any time after April 2021.
In order to meet that start date, you should apply for the 2021 Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship Application Process, which should be starting this month (April 2020). For the exact schedule and requirements, please refer to the instructions on the website of the Japanese Embassy in your home country.
Please note that the application guidelines and forms have not yet been released by MEXT, so if you ask the embassy now, they will not be able to tell you anything. But you should start checking their website on a daily basis for updates.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz