MEXT Scholarships for Undergraduate and Postgraduate International Students in Japan

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Application are invited from international students for the MEXT undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships in Japan in 2022. This undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships will afford international students who couldn’t afford international education to study at one of the fast technologically developing countries. IELTS is not mandatory to submit application for this scholarship

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About Studying In Japan

Japan is one of the creative and modern country for international education. A world-class academic infrastructure, incredible research opportunities, and proven groundbreaking programs Universities in Japan tick all the boxes. More to it, Universities in Japan are particularly welcoming to international students, who are seen as contributing to the multicultural environment and promoting free thought.

Over 140,000 foreign students attend universities in Japan, demonstrating once again that this country is a popular destination. With mild weather, travel, and culture enriched life, this might be the perfect place for every enthusiastic student. In this article, we will be looking at Japanese Government scholarships for internationals students.

About the MEXT undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarships In Japan

The MEXT undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarships in Japan are available for six different categories of students, depending on the program of choice. Those for science students, teacher training students, undergraduate students, Japanese studies students, technology college students, and advanced training college students. These government scholarships aim to help international students with financial issues that will allow them to comfortably start, live and finish their education in Japan. It also promotes international relationships and at the same time enriches the life are research opportunities in Japan.

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Benefits Scholarships

The MEXT undergraduate and Postgraduate scholarships in Japan covers the following:

Full tuition fee of the program of choice
Living allowance throughout the duration of program. Undergraduate students will receive $1,000 per month and postgraduate students will have around $1,300 per month to aid with additional living costs.

Eligibility for MEXT Undergraduate & Postgraduate Scholarships in Japan

To be eligible for the Japanese Government Scholarships, students must meet a variety of criteria, which vary based on the program. There are some general qualifications such as being a non-Japanese resident and obtaining a mandatory student visa.

For undergraduate track

Undergraduate candidates must be over the age of 17 and under the age of 25.
Must have completed (or are about to complete) a 12-year prior degree. There is often a requirement that the student is willing to learn the Japanese language and take classes in said language as well for MEXT scholarship to benefit from the Scholarships in Japan.

For postgraduate applicants:

Must be under the age of 35 to the enrollment date.
Applicants must either be graduates of Japanese universities or have the same or higher academic capacity than a Japanese graduate.

There are additional requirements for some programs in the scholarships in Japan program such as Teacher training students, who have to be under 35 years of age and with at least 5 years of experience as a teacher. Also, Japanese studies students have to be between 18 and 30 years old with a major in the Japanese language or culture in a school or university located outside Japan.

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How to apply for the MEXT Undergraduate and Postgraduate Scholarships in Japan

The Japanese Government Scholarships are open to undergraduate and graduate students who are nominated by either the embassy or the university. The duration of the scholarships varies depending on the program, but they will last up to 5 years for undergraduate students and up to 7 years for medicine and dentistry students. The scholarship is valid for one year and six months for graduate students and includes Japanese language lessons.

Embassy Recommendations

If the student is residing in another country, the Embassy or consulate seeks and screens applicants. Exams are also provided for the Embassy recommendations, depending on the school. Most schools need proficiency in Japanese and English, but depending on the course, additional math, and physics, chemistry, or biology exams may be required.

The recommendation period can last up to a year and typically starts in April. After obtaining all of the necessary documentation, the student is interviewed and checked at the embassy. By late August, the embassy has recommended the chosen candidates to the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Another thing to keep in mind with embassy recommendations is that the prospective student for MEXT Scholarship has to show a willingness to learn the Japanese language and be overall enthusiastic about the Japanese culture and life. This is one of the reasons why it would be a good idea to learn the basics of the Japanese language even before you arrive in Japan. Even if there are courses available in English, the Japanese language is considered mandatory.

The application process differs according to the country in which the Japanese embassy is located, please inquire at the Japanese embassy or consulate general in your country for details. Check here for the contact of Japanese Embassy

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University Recommendations

Another way to be recommended for a government scholarship in Japan is by a national, public, or private university. The university makes clear recommendations to the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology for the chosen candidates. Students accredited by universities arrive in Japan in September or October.

The student applying for Scholarships in Japan is responsible for the documents for MEXT scholarships, which may include a letter of recommendation, identification or a passport, verification of prior experience and records, a health certificate, and records of language or special academic abilities.

To therefore apply for through the university recommendation, kindly submit your application for your program to your chosen Japanese University. See the database of Universities in Japan

If you are interested to know more about the Scholarships in Japan (MEXT Scholarship) read it up here