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Have you ever wondered:
- How can I apply for the MEXT Scholarship to study in Japan?
- Am I eligible for the MEXT Scholarship for research students (graduate students)?
- How can I make my application for the MEXT Scholarship stronger?
This guide answers all of those questions and more with clear explanations and bonus worksheets to help you follow along.
Get the Most Trusted Independent MEXT Scholarship Application Guide!
The MEXT scholarship is one of the world’s most generous scholarship schemes for graduate students. It is competitive, but if you know what the reviewers are looking for and how to approach the application, there is no reason why you cannot earn it for yourself!
How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship introduces the scholarship benefits and requirements as well as its goals, then walks you through the process of creating an unstoppable application strategy.
What’s waiting for you: Free tuition. Living stipend of over 1.5 million yen per year. Round-trip flight to Japan.
Why this guide?
Travis Senzaki is an expert in the MEXT scholarship application process and has worked with over 1000 scholarship applicants over 7 years. He worked as the MEXT scholarship application coordinator at a large, private university for three years and has run the TranSenz blog ever since, where he has published over two dozen articles about the scholarship and answered thousands of applicant questions.
How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship is based on those articles and questions, putting everything together in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step presentation. It is designed so that no matter how much experience you have with the MEXT Scholarship – whether you just heard about it today, or whether you have applied multiple times in the past – you will be able pick up at the right part of the application for you and follow through to created a strong, successful application.
Invest in Your Success
If you want anything worth having in life, you have to invest time or money (or both). How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship is for applicants who don’t mind investing a little bit of money to save themselves a lot of time.
At less than 1,000 yen, the book costs less than 0.7% of one month’s scholarship stipend. Consider that winning the scholarship could be worth nearly 10,000,000 yen in stipends – not counting the free tuition and airfare. That’s a potential 10,000X return on your investment!
Pick up your copy, now, from TranSenz, directly or from your favorite online book store!
Here’s what others have said:
“I owe 99% of my coming so far to you (and 1% to sheer luck). Thank you so much for providing all these valuable information and managing the blog!” – Amber
“Thank you for being the greatest Sensei, I bought one of the books, and I cant get my hands off it. My confidence has elevated, I managed to arrange my thought process, and of course I am more confident to compete for this scholarship. Thank you for mentoring me through your great writings. I am hoping for a great outcome.” – Shabangu
“Thanks to all of your help, I have passed the primary screening for the scholarship, I contacted a Lab at Osaka university and they agreed to write me a letter of acceptance.” – Taylor
“Your good work in guiding numerous students across the globe regarding higher education in Japan is deeply appreciated by us all. Keep going!” – Afraz
Get started on your application today!
You will learn:
- What the MEXT Scholarship offers plus where, when, and how to apply
- The mindset you need to set yourself apart from other applicants and win the scholarship
- The difference between the embassy and university application processes, and how to get started with each
- How competitive the application is and why you need to develop an application strategy
- How to perform an eligibility self-evaluation – including checking to see if you have the grades to apply
- How to establish your application strategy and position yourself to overcome the competition and become one of the few, elite scholarship winners
The book also comes with worksheets, exercises, and resources to walk you through determining your eligibility and creating your application strategy.
Get Started Today!
This is a long application process – over a year in most cases – and you want to give yourself months to prepare in advance. Download and start reading today!
Want to Read it for Free?
If you want to check out the book, but don’t have the resources to buy it now, why not try to get it at your university library?
How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship is available in print, through Ingramspark or Amazon, and in ebook through Overdrive, Bibliotheca, and Baker & Taylor which are ebook distribution networks for libraries, if your library stocks ebooks. Either way, your library should be able to order it through their normal purchasing channels. Here’s the information your library might need:
- Title: How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship
- Author: Travis Senzaki
- ISBN: 978-4-909776-00-6
- Imprint: Travis Senzaki
- Year: 2018
Not sure yet?
No problem. In the meantime, why don’t you take advantage of the free resources I have to offer? If you sign up for my mailing list below, I’ll send you a sample completed application form, plus an email course introducing the MEXT scholarship and the most important things to consider as you start your application. No strings attached!
Hi Mr. Travis, I’m currently studying at a Chinese university as an international student, i want to apply for mext scholarship but I’ll graduate in 2022, should i apply for it now or should i wait? Also can i apply for mext scholarship on hope certificate? I’m an engineer and looking to do an MBA? Can you help me?
Hi Shaikh,
For the 2022 MEXT Scholarship intake, the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship application deadline has already passed. You might still be able to apply for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship at some universities (you’ll have to check the website of the university that you’re interested in to see if they are still accepting applications), but honestly, I’m not sure you have enough time left to collect the required documents and write your Field of Study and Research Program Plan in time for the deadline.
Check out the first article I linked above for the list of required documents, including an explanation of the “Certificate of Expected Graduation” that you would have to submit if you have not yet graduated.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey Travis, I’m hoping that I can be a MEXT Scholar by the next intake. I’m glad that your platform would be instrumental in making this a reality as well. I hope you keep me updated with happenings when the application reopens.
Hi Romeo,
Thank you for your message. I will continue keeping the posts on here updated as I get new information and I hope it helps with your preparation process!
In the meantime, if you are planning to apply in 2022 for the 2023 intake, it is not too early to get started on developing your Field of Study and Research Program Plan, now!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis, I have passed the Embassy Reccomendation from Papua New Guinea and have applied to three universities as a Research student for Masters. My first choice University (Meiji University) have accepted my application and sent me the Provisional Acceptance letter however my second choice University did not accept me due to Covid19. I have just applied to my third choice University (26/08/21).
Is there a possibility I can get accepted as a MExT recipient from my first choice University
regardless of the outcome of my third choice?
Hi Emmanuel Pori,
Congratulations on passing the primary screening and getting a Letter of Provisional Acceptance!
As long as you have received at least one Letter of Provisional Acceptance, you should have no problem with the secondary screening, etc., moving forward, even if the third choice university does not offer you a letter. You still have a very strong chance to be selected in the end!
When you submit your final Placement Preference Form and Letters of Provisional Acceptance to the embassy, you cannot have universities on the PPF that have rejected your application, so you will have to remove the second choice university and replace it. (You won’t have ever contacted the replacement university to request a Letter of Provisional Acceptance, but that’s fine!)
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Good day Mr. Travis, I recently heard about the MEXT scholarship from a friend but when I visited the website I found out its already past the deadline. My question is,do you have any idea about when the MEXT scholarship 2022 application will commence?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Nuella,
The Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship application guidelines typically come out in mid-April and the application is due in May or June, depending on your country.
If you are signed up to my mailing list, then I send out a message when I see that the guidelines are out. I also try to post it on my various social media channels, too.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
i am intersted
Hi Eric m Siaway,
I am glad to hear that! I wish you luck in your application and hope that you find the resources and information you need on this site.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Good evening travis… I am planing to apply for mext scholarship to Study master’s and doctoral degrees so… Can you help how to prepare for applying to mext…., how to get a full Mark in entrance exam, how to get a full Mark in interview and can i pass in mext scholarship without japanese language or not?
AND can i finish master’s and doctoral in more than 5 years( this question for check if i can learn the japanese language because if i went to japan without learn japanese language i must be learn it in the japan….)
Hi Suhaib,
This book will help you with your preparation, in general, such as getting in the right mindset for the application and planning your application strategy. That should help you figure out what you need to do next as you prepare.
You can also check out my free articles about the different steps of the application process, collected at https://mext.transenzjapan.com/. Those articles should help you find the answers to many of your general questions about the process, but if you have more specific questions, please feel free to leave them on the relevant article and I will get back to them as soon as possible.
You do not need to be proficient in Japanese to earn the scholarship, but if you are starting your preparation now, then starting to learn a little Japanese will make you look like a more serious applicant in the future.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello, Travis.
I really appreciate you using this your blog to educate us, aspiring MEXT scholars, on what we need to know to be successful in our applications. Thank you very much.
I have two questions. Could you please help me with them? I’d be very grateful:
1) One of the MEXT’s application documents is an employer letter of reference (for those who are currently employed). I am currently employed. But I am employed in a big organization that has several branches in my country and beyond. I do not have any specific individual who I can say is my employer. Everybody working in my organization are actually employees like me. I plan to apply for MEXT next year. But I am wondering, seeing that I do not have a specific person who I my employer, who then would fill the employer letter of reference for me? Or is there an exception for people like us who work in big organizations?
2) My second question is this: one of the disqualification criteria for MEXT is “Applicants who are planning to receive scholarship money from an organization other than MEXT”. Does that mean that we are not allowed to apply for another scholarship in addition to MEXT?
Looking forward to your reply. Thank you very much.
Hi Ifechukwu Ejiofor,
I saw that you left the same question on another article and answered it there first.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Yes, Travis. I’ve seen your answer in the other article. Thank you. I appreciate.
Hello Mr Travis, I have actually asked a question before and I’m so thankful for your kind response.
Well, I have passed the first screening, but unfortunately I failed in the second screening. (The examinations)…. The exams that I have taken where for the natural science field, so if there is a chance in the future, probably next year l’m planning to choose majors under Social Sciences and Humanities field.
So my question is, does the rejection and changing the field of study will put me somehow in a bad position? What do they usually expect from the applicants who got rejected in the past years? I mean it’s true that I will be changing my field of study because I’m somehow desperate, but I’m taking this scholarship seriously. How can I show them my determination in healthy way? I’m also planning to learn Japanese, and hopefully It will help me with Japanese language examination. Since the Social Sciences and Humanities majors require to take three examinations subjects.
Looking for your kind reply.
Thank you.
Hi Lili Pole,
I am sorry to hear that you were not successful in the examinations.
If you change your field and apply again in the future, I don’t think there is any official process to check your past applications and compare your fields. Individual reviewers might remember you, but even that seems unlikely. A new application next year would simply be treated as a fresh application, the same as anyone else applying for the first time.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Good day, please how many of your books did you consider important for successful application and how much is the estimated cost. I think I stand a very big chance for MEXT scholarship (University recommended) because I have an advisor that is willing to go to extra miles because of me. I don’t want yo screw things up so kindly help me out here. Let me know the books that are most important and the estimated cost and necessary tips to having a good and a strong application
Hi Olowoniyi Johnson,
I am glad to hear that you already have a professor in Japan that is willing to support your application. In that case, you would not need my most recent book about how to find professors!
As for the other books, it really depends on what you need to help you with the application process. The first book, How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship, includes an overview of the scholarship, but the main value is in helping you create your application strategy. The second book, How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan, is all about how to develop your research idea, evaluate it, and turn it into a complete research plan that will make a strong impression on your reviewers.
I also have many free articles with tips about the different parts of the application process that should help, as well!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Mister Travis,
So, does scholarship expects from the applicants to get an excellent score in the examinations after passing the screening phase? What do they expect from the applicants? Also, do they allow bringing the Scientific calculator during the math, chemistry and physics examination? Another thing is do they the provide periodic table when taking the chemistry exam? I’m really worried because I’m not able to solve about half of the questions from the exams of the past years, and there isn’t any time left before the examination day.
Thank you for reading my message mister Travis.
Looking forward to your reply.
Hi Lili Pole,
The exam scores are competitive with other applicants and are factored in with the results of your document screening, interview, etc. for the final results. So, it is more important how you score relative to other applicants than your absolute performance.
For the exams, you are not allowed to bring calculators or other devices and I would not expect them to provide references, unless those references were also shown in the practice exams.
I’m afraid that is not very reassuring, but everyone else should be in the same position as you!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis! I’m currently in my junior year of high school and I’m seriously considering the MEXT Undergraduate Degree program for my post-secondary education. My question is, what are the main steps I should follow when making my application, when do I need to have my application submitted by, and what are the biggest concerns / things to watch out for regarding the MEXT
A little more information incase it helps you as well as lesser questions:
I’m an American student
I’ll graduate from high school in May 2022
I have taken several university-level courses through my local university and have passed all of them; will these help me be considered?
Hi Griffin,
If you will graduate in May 2022 and you are not planning to apply for Direct Placement, then you would apply in May 2022 for the scholarship that begins in April 2023.
I would not expect simply taking university level courses to have a significant impact on your application consideration. You need to put together a comprehensive application that shows why you are a better candidate than any of the other applicants based on what MEXT can expect you to accomplish in the future. I cover the idea of developing an application strategy in this book and also in a simplified form in my article about How to Maximize your Chances to Win the MEXT Scholarship. Both are written with the application for graduate students in mind, but the mindset advice and strategy should be relevant to you, too, even if the implementation steps are going to be a little different.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Griffin,
Have you read the application guidelines? That should tell you the steps. Then, you need to check with the Japanese Embassy or Consulate that serves your area to find the precise application submission instructions and deadlines.
Your high school grades will be important in determining your merit, and you also need to make sure that all of the essay questions in your application form, including your explanations of your choices of majors, are compelling and appeal to the reviewers.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Is this scholarship fully funded? I want to do the special course given in it. Teacher, I want to do a translater course. I am now a final year degree student in the country.
Hopefully
Hi Muhammed Abdulla,
In my most recent article about how to apply for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, I discuss what the scholarship covers, so I recommend that you read through that for more information!
Good Luck!
– Travis from Transenz
Hello Mr Travis, thank you so for all the help and time you are taking to write and answer our questions.
I have a question regarding the recommendation letters, how old should the recommendation letters be? if I have left the country where I obtained my bachelor’s, and I can’t obtain recommendation letters from my previous professors, what are the alternatives?
Hi Leen,
Even if you have left the country where you earned your bachelor’s degree, it should still be possible to contact your former professors and ask for a recommendation letter. Many applicants do that each year, so I think the reviewers will expect that you would put in that effort.
Your Letter of Recommendation should be a recommendation specifically for the MEXT Scholarship. Since you are required to submit the original as well as two copies for the application, it is not something that you can reuse. So, in general it should be relatively recent (within the past few months) to show that you got it specifically for this application process.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis.i just want to know whether a student who has passed grade 12 in nov 2020 in Pakistan is eligible for this scholarship or not?
Hi Laiba Farooq,
Most of my articles on this site are about the scholarship for graduate students and you would not be eligible to apply for that until you complete university, but you should be able to apply for the scholarship for undergraduate students as long as you meet all of the other eligibility requirements.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz