MEXT Japanese Government Scholarship for International Undergraduate Students

The Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship for 2020 is open to international students who want to earn an undergraduate degree at universities in Japan. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) funds the award. It pays tuition and other fees, a monthly allowance, and travel costs to and from Japan. The scholarship period runs for five years and includes a one-year preparatory course in the Japanese language and other subjects when you arrive.

Universities in Japan

Undergraduate applicants must pick a major from one of two broad areas: (1) Social Sciences and Humanities, or (2) Natural Sciences.

Check the official website for the full list of eligible fields of study.

Not specified.

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

The scholarship covers tuition and other fees, a monthly allowance of 117,000 yen, and travel costs to and from Japan. An extra monthly stipend of 2,000 or 3,000 yen may be given to students doing study or research in specially designated regions. See the official website for the complete list of benefits.

The scholarship lasts five years, from April 2020 to March 2025. This includes one year of preparatory education in the Japanese language and other subjects provided when you arrive in Japan.

(1) Nationality: You must be a national of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. If you hold Japanese nationality at the time of application, you are not eligible. However, if you have dual nationality with Japan and live outside Japan when you apply, you may apply as long as you choose the foreign nationality and give up your Japanese nationality by the date you arrive in Japan. Screening takes place at the Japanese diplomatic mission in your country.

(2) Age: In principle, you must have been born between April 2, 1995 and April 1, 2003.

(3) Academic Background: You must meet one of the following conditions. If you want direct placement, you must meet either condition 1 or condition 3.

1. You have completed 12 years of schooling in a country other than Japan. (You may apply if you will meet this by March 2020. If you want to enroll from the autumn term through direct placement, you must expect to complete 12 years of schooling by August 2020.)
2. You have completed studies at a school equivalent to a Japanese upper secondary school in a country other than Japan. (You may apply if you will meet this by March 2020.)
3. Apart from conditions 1 and 2, you are eligible for enrollment in a Japanese university at the time of application.

(4) Japanese Language: You must be willing to learn Japanese, be interested in Japan, and be willing to deepen your understanding of Japan after you arrive. In principle, you must also be willing to carry out your academic studies in Japanese.

(5) Health: You must submit a health certificate in the prescribed format signed by a physician. It must state that you have no physical or mental conditions that would hinder your study in Japan.

(7) Arrival in Japan: In principle, you must be able to arrive in Japan between the 1st and 7th of April 2020. If you enroll from the fall semester through direct placement, you must be able to arrive during the period set by your accepting university, within two weeks before or after the start date of the relevant academic term that year.

(7) Visa Requirement: In principle, you must obtain a "Student" visa at the Japanese diplomatic mission in your country of nationality and enter Japan with the residence status of "Student."

See the official website for complete eligibility criteria and scholarship conditions.

Submit the required documents to the Japanese diplomatic mission in your country by the deadline. The application process differs by country, so check with the Japanese embassy or consulate general in your country for details. The application deadline varies per country.

Read the official website (links below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.