MEXT Japanese Government Scholarship for International Research Students

The Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for 2015 is open to international students who want to study in graduate courses at Japanese universities. You can apply as a non-degree student or as a regular student working toward a degree. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) funds the award. If you are an undergraduate applicant, see also Japanese Government Scholarships for Undergraduate Students.

Universities in Japan

You should apply in the field you majored in at university or a related field. The subject must be one you can study and research in a graduate course at a Japanese university. The Japanese Embassy or Consulate General (the Japanese diplomatic mission) may restrict fields to particular areas. Check the official website for other restrictions on eligible fields of study.

Not specified

Nationals of countries that have diplomatic relations with the Japanese government.

The scholarship provides an allowance of 143,000-145,000 yen per month. An additional monthly stipend of 2,000 or 3,000 yen may be given to those studying or researching in specially designated regions. It also covers travel costs to and from Japan and school fees. See the official website for complete scholarship benefits.

(1) Nationality: You must be a national of a country that has diplomatic relations with the Japanese government. Stateless persons can also apply. If you have Japanese nationality at the time of application, you are not eligible. If you hold dual nationality and live outside Japan, you are eligible only if you will expatriate from Japan by the time you arrive. Screening takes place at the Japanese diplomatic mission in the country of your nationality.

(2) Age: You must have been born on or after April 2, 1980.

(3) Academic Background: You must have graduated from a Japanese university or have academic ability equal or superior to that of a Japanese university graduate. You are considered to have equal or superior ability if you:

• have completed or will complete a 16-year school curriculum in a foreign country (or an 18-year school curriculum if you want to enroll in a doctoral course in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, or pharmacy founded on a 6-year department or faculty); or

• are or will be aged 22 or older, have taken an individual entrance qualification examination, and have been judged by a Japanese graduate school as equal or superior in academic ability to a university graduate (or 24 or older if you want to enroll in a doctoral course in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, or pharmacy founded on a 6-year department or faculty).

Note: Eligible applicants include those who satisfy or will satisfy admission requirements for a Japanese graduate school. As a general rule, a person who has completed a doctoral course may not apply unless seeking to obtain a degree.

(4) Japanese Language: You must be willing to learn the Japanese language, be interested in Japan, be enthusiastic about deepening your understanding of Japan after arrival, and be capable of studying and researching while adapting to life in Japan.

(5) Health: You must be physically and mentally healthy enough to take graduate studies at universities in Japan.

(6) Arrival in Japan: In principle, you must be able to arrive in Japan between the 1st and 7th of April 2015, or within two weeks of the date set by the receiving university for the beginning of the semester (in principle, in September or October).

(7) Visa Requirement: In principle, selected applicants must acquire a 'College Student' (ryugaku, 留学) visa before entering Japan. The visa should be issued at the Japanese legation located in the country of your nationality. If you change your resident status to anything other than 'College Student' after arriving in Japan, you will immediately lose your status as a Japanese government scholarship student.

Please refer to the official website for complete eligibility criteria and conditions of the scholarship.

Applications are currently closed.

The application process differs by country, so ask at the Japanese embassy or consulate general in your country for details. Scholarship recipients are recruited and initially screened by a Japanese embassy (or consulate general, depending on the country). The deadline varies per country.

Visit the official website (links below) for detailed information on how to apply.