The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan offers scholarships to international students under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program (University Recommendation) as follows. The purpose of this scholarship program is to develop human resources through research in Japan, which will serve as a bridge between Japan and their home countries and contribute to the development of both countries and the world.
Eligibility and Requirements
- Must arrive in Japan as an international student to enroll in a graduate school in Japan and have an excellent academic record. Must have average grade points* 2.30 or higher for the most recently attended degree program (for those who have already graduated) or the university (or higher) program the applicant is currently attending (for those who are currently a student), and you are expected to maintain the same level during the duration of the scholarship.
*This “average grade point” is different from GPA. If you don’t know how to calculate, contact PIC immediately. - Those who are nationals of countries that have diplomatic relations with Japan. An applicant who has Japanese nationality at the time of application is not eligible. However, persons with dual nationality who hold Japanese nationality and whose place of residence at the time of application is outside Japan are eligible to apply as long as they choose the nationality of the foreign country and give up their Japanese nationality by the date of their arrival in Japan.
- Must have been born on or after April 2, 1989.
- Must satisfy the conditions for admission to either a master’s or doctoral course at a Japanese graduate school. (Applicants who will certainly satisfy them at the time of enrollment are eligible.)
- Must be the field of study they majored in at university or its related field. Moreover, the fields of study must be subjects that applicants will be able to study and research in graduate courses at Japanese universities.
- Must meet one of the following in regards to language proficiency.
○ Japanese
a. Must pass with N2 or higher in the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) at the time of application.
b. Must complete curriculums that meet the conditions for admission to master’s or doctoral courses at
Japanese graduate schools using Japanese as the main language.○ English
a. Must pass or achieve scores in English language proficiency tests that correspond to B2 or higher level in
the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) at the time of application.
b. Must complete school curriculums that meet the conditions for admission in masters’ or doctoral courses at
a Japanese graduate school by using English as the main language. - Must be physically and mentally healthy enough to pursue study at university.
- In principle, applicants must be able to arrive in Japan during the period specified by the accepting university within two weeks before and after the starting date of the university’s relevant academic term (September or October) for that year.
- In principle, applicants must acquire a “Student” visa if accepted and enter Japan under the status of “student.” Even if the applicant already has other residence status, the applicant must change it to the “Student” status by the start of the scholarship period. Moreover, the applicant should be aware that after expiration of the status as a MEXT Scholarship student and even if the applicant again applies for their original resident status of “Permanent resident” or “Long-term resident”, such resident status might not be necessarily granted. In addition, as the Japanese government requires pre-arrival tuberculosis screening for some countries, applicants obtaining a visa shall follow guidance at the overseas establishment of Japan located in the applicant’s country of nationality.
- Applicants who fall into any or all of the following categories are ineligible to apply for the scholarship. If identified ineligible after being selected as a scholarship student, he/she must withdraw from the scholarship scholarship:
a. Those who are military personnel or military civilian employees;
b. Those who cannot arrive in Japan by the date specified by MEXT or the accepting university;
c. Those who are previous grantees of Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship programs (including those who withdraw from the scholarship program after acquisition of student status). However, this does not apply to those who meet any one of the following conditions. In addition, since the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students does not apply to the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship programs, the previous grantees can apply.
・those who have at least three years of educational or work experience following the end of the payment of the previous scholarship and the start of this scholarship;
・the past grantees of Japanese Studies Students program who have graduated or are going to graduate from universities in their home countries, Japan-Korea Joint Government Scholarship Program for the Students in Science and Engineering Departments and Young Leaders’ Program;
・those who have obtained or are expected to obtain a degree as undergraduate students of the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship programs (university recommendation/special selection).
f. Those who are planning to receive scholarship money from an organization other than MEXT (including a government organization of the applicant’s country) on top of the scholarship money provided by MEXT after the start of the scholarship payment (the acquisition of student status);
g. Those who are expected to graduate at the time of application and cannot satisfy the condition of academic background by the deadline given;
h. Holders of dual nationality at the time of application who cannot verify that they will give up Japanese nationality by the time of the arrival in Japan (the acquisition of student status);
i. Those who plan to, from the time of application for the MEXT scholarship program, engage in long-term research (such as fieldwork or internship) outside Japan or plan to take a long-term leave of absence from the university;
j. Those who have no intention to enter Master/ Doctoral program as a regular student;
k. Those who have no intention to obtain a degree; - Must contribute to the mutual understanding of his/her country and Japan by participating in activities held at the school and in the community. After returning to their home country, former scholarship recipients shall maintain close contact with the university where they studied, cooperate in conducting post-return survey questionnaires, participate in events conducted by Japanese diplomatic missions in their home country, and work toward improving relations between their home country and Japan.
Important link
APPLICATION DEADLINE
12 January 2024
Scholarship Benefits
(1) Monthly scholarship amount:
✓ JPY 146,000 (as of November 20 2 3 ) *The amount is subject to
(2) Exemption of entrance fee and tuition
(3) Travel expense to/from Japan (upon entering and graduating from TUFS)
Duration of the Scholarship
18 months as a non regular research student (October 2024-March 2026)