Do you meet the eligibility criteria for the 2020 Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship?
Click here for more information about How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship.
As I write this, the application guidelines for the 2020 Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship have just been released. Here is a complete explanation of the most recent requirements.
Embassy Recommendation MEXT Scholarship Eligibility Requirements: Research Students
The requirements below are for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship. As I detail in my book, How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship, there are differences between the eligibility requirements for University and Embassy Recommendation. I have published another article about the eligibility requirements for the University Recommendation MEXT Scholarship when those guidelines last came out for 2019 and will continue to update each article each year.
These are also the eligibility requirements for the MEXT Scholarship for Research (Graduate) Students. I do not cover the requirements for undergraduates below.
Disclaimer
The eligibility requirements I describe below are the requirements set out by MEXT. However, when you apply to universities for Letters of Acceptance after passing the primary screening, the universities may have their own, higher eligibility requirements, as well. If you find that the university you are applying to specifies higher requirements than what I describe below, you have to meet both sets of requirements. Do not bother trying to argue with the university that MEXT’s standards are lower. That won’t work!
You may also find additional requirements unique to your country. For example, there may be a GPA requirement established in your country’s GPA system, a limitation on fields of study, or other rules. Be sure to check the application guidelines on the homepage of the Japanese Embassy for your country!
Minimum GPA
You must have a minimum 2.3 / 3.0 GPA on MEXT’s scale over the most recent two years of your degree-seeking studies. For more information on how to correctly calculate your GPA, refer to my previous article.
Nationality
You must have the nationality of a country that has formal relations with Japan (e.g. not Taiwan or North Korea) and must not have Japanese Nationality, including dual nationality. If you currently hold Japanese nationality as a dual national, you must give up your Japanese nationality prior to arriving in Japan.
If you have dual nationality (or more) but do not have Japanese nationality as one of them, then you can ignore the statements about dual nationality throughout the application guidelines.
You must apply for the scholarship via the Japanese embassy in the country where you have nationality, including being present at the embassy in person at certain stages of the application.
Age
As of the application for the 2020 scholarship, applicants would need to have been born on or after April 2, 1985.
Exceptions
The only exceptions to the date of birth above is if MEXT has determined that you were unable to apply during the ages when you would have been eligible due to the situation in your country, such as compulsory military service or the total suspension of higher education due to war, etc.
I have never heard of any country qualifying for this exception, but if you find out that yours has been, please let me know in the comments below!
Academic Background
For the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship, you must meet the requirements below, based on the level of degree you are applying for:
Master’s Degree or equivalent (including Master’s level research student)
- Completed 16 years of school education in a country outside of Japan.
- Completed an undergraduate program with a standard length of study of at least three years in a country outside of Japan and received a degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
- Not meet either of the requirements above but be considered eligible for a master’s degree at a Japanese graduate school.
In past years, completing an undergraduate degree at a Japanese university was one of the options for eligibility, but it has been removed this year. However, if you did earn a bachelor’s degree from a Japanese university, you would meet criteria 3, above.
The reference to “standard length of study” in criteria 2, above, refers to what the university says should be the length of study. If you graduated early because of high ability and credit loading, that would not make you ineligible. For example, graduating from a 3-year program in 2.5 years still means that you completed a 3-year program.
Doctoral Degree (Non-Medical Practitioner Degrees*)
This is the set of criteria that apply to almost all doctoral degrees.
*There are separate criteria for doctoral degrees in medicine, dentistry, veterinary sciences, and certain pharmaceutical faculties, as listed below.
- Earned a master’s degree or master’s level professional degree at a university outside Japan.
- Earned a bachelor’s degree, have at least two years of experience in research at a university or research center following that degree, and be considered to have academic competency equal to a person with a master’s degree, as recognized by a Japanese graduate school
- Not meet either of the requirements above but be considered eligible for a doctoral degree at a Japanese graduate school.
In past years, completing a master’s degree at a Japanese university was one of the options for eligibility, but it has been removed this year. However, if you did earn a master’s degree from a Japanese university, you would meet criteria 3, above.
Doctoral Degree (Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Sciences, and Certain Pharmaceutical Fields)
- Completed 18 years of school education in countries other than Japan.
- Completed an program with a standard length of study of at least five years in a country outside of Japan and received a degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
- Completed 16 years of school education in countries other than Japan, have at least two years of experience in research at a university or research center following that degree, and be considered to have academic competency equal to university graduates in the same field, as recognized by a Japanese graduate school
- Not meet any of the requirements above but be considered eligible for a doctoral degree at a Japanese graduate school.
Field of Study
Need help with your Field of Study and Research Program Plan? How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan will walk you through choosing a field, developing a research question, and completing the final report to give you the best chance of success!
I have discussed the meaning of a “related field of study” in detail in past articles as well as in my book, How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship, but here is a brief summary:
A “related field” is a field of research that falls within the same discipline as something you majored in previously. If your past and future fields could conceivably be majors in the same faculty, or if one is a subset of another, they are related. For example, international relations and political science are clearly related. The same could be said for media studies and communication, or mechanical engineering and robotics. If you come from a multidisciplinary field, such as area studies, then any of the related fields are fair game. Do not worry about the specific name of the major or graduate school, all that matters if if the contents of the degree program are related.
If your fields are not so obviously related, then you have to sell the connection in your Field of Study and Research Program plan by clearly showing how research in your past field provided you with a natural transition to the future one.
Field of Study Limitations by Country
MEXT allows the embassy in each country, in consultation with the local government, to limit the fields of study in which you can apply. Please check the website of the Japanese Embassy in your country to see if this applies to you.
Prohibition of Technical/Artistic Training Fields
Traditional Japanese performance arts, such as Kabuki and Japanese Dance that require studio training are not permitted under this scholarship. You would be able to study kabuki, etc., but not participate in a program that was designed to train performers.
Similarly, degrees that require technical training at factories, etc., are not covered by this scholarship.
Additional Requirements for Medical Degrees
Medical, Dental, and Social Welfare degrees typically require clinical training, but students will not be able to participate in such training until obtaining the required licenses from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. These licenses must, of course, be obtained via testing in Japanese.
Language Ability
MEXT requires that applicants have a strong interest in dedicating themselves to studying the Japanese language and deepening their understanding of Japan, but does not have any set minimum language requirements.
MEXT also requires that you have the requisite language ability to be able to complete your research and survive in daily life in Japan. In general, it would be safe to assume that you cannot apply for a program taught in Japanese if you do not have at least N2-level Japanese language ability. To apply for a program taught in English, assume that you should have at least B2 level English ability on the CEFR scale.
CEFR B2 Equivalency Table
Here are the scores that MEXT has determined to be equivalent to the CEFR B2:
- Cambridge English (Preliminary, First, Advanced, Proficiency): 160 or higher
- Eiken (Jun-1 kyu, 1 kyu): Any passing score
- GTEC (Advanced, CBT): 1190 or higher
- IELTS: 5.5 or higher
- TEAP: 309 or higher
- TEAP CBT: 600 or higher
- TOEFL iBT: 72 or higher
- TOEIC L&R/TOEIC S&W: 1560
The N2/B2 suggestions above are not officially established as minimum requirements. You may find that the requirements are higher or lower depending on the program that you want to apply to.
Health
You must have no physical or mental health obstacles to studying in Japan.
Even if you have a pre-existing medical condition, in general you would only be disqualified for medical reasons if your home country doctor was unwilling to sign off that you are fit to study abroad in Japan on te Certificate of Health. If your doctor agrees that you can continue your care or medication regimen in Japan, then there should be no problem.
Ability to Arrive in Japan on Designated Date
You must be able to arrive in Japan during the dates below, depending on whether you choose in the application form to arrive in the spring or fall semester.
- Spring Semester Arrivals: In principle, you must be able to arrive between April 1 – 7, 2020, leaving your home of record no earlier than April 1.
- Fall Semester Arrivals: In principle, you must be able to arrive within the period set by the university where you are placed, generally within a 2-week window surrounding the start of the fall semester there.
Visa Requirement
In principle, you must apply for and obtain a “Student” visa at the Japanese diplomatic mission in the country where you hold nationality then arrive in Japan using that visa. Applicants who already hold other residence statuses in Japan, such as “Permanent Resident”, “Long-term Resident”, etc., must give up that status, apply for a “Student” visa, and return to Japan with that visa. After completion of your degree, it is not guaranteed that you would be able to reobtain a “Permanent Resident” or “Long-term Resident” status again, even if previously held.
Applicants who arrive in Japan without a student visa will have their scholarships suspended.
Disqualification Criteria
Anyone meeting any of the criteria below is ineligible to apply for the scholarship:
- Active duty military or military-employed civilian at the time of arriving in Japan or at any point during the scholarship award period.
- Unable to arrive in Japan by the deadline determined by MEXT or the nominating university.
- Previous recipient of the Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship (including those who withdrew from the scholarship in the past after arriving in Japan). However, applicants who have over 3 years of education or employment history between the month after the end of the previous scholarship award and the commencement of the new award are eligible to apply. Past recipients of the Japanese Studies MEXT Scholarship who returned to their home universities and graduated after receipt of that scholarship (including those expected to graduate before the start of the new scholarship), past recipients of the Japan-Korea Joint Government Scholarship Program for the Students in Science and Engineering Departments, and past recipients of the Young Leaders’ Program scholarship are eligible to apply. Past receipt of the MEXT Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students does not disqualify applicants.
- Applicants who are simultaneously applying for any other Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarship to begin in fiscal year 2020, including students who applied for a scholarship to begin in 2019 and have not yet received the results of that application.
- Applicants who are already enrolled at a Japanese university with a residence status of “Student” at the time of application or who will enroll in a Japanese university prior to the start of the scholarship award period. However, applicants who are currently enrolled in a Japanese university (or who will enroll in a Japanese university) as fee-paying students and who have definite plans to complete their studies, return to their home countries, and obtain a new student visa before returning to Japan are eligible.
Essentially, this requirement means that you cannot be enrolled in a Japanese university with the intent to quit if you receive the MEXT Scholarship. The exception applies to students who enrolled in Japanese university (or language programs) and will complete their course of studies/graduate before the start of the scholarship.
- Applicants who have not yet graduated from their qualifying degree at the time of application and who fail to graduate before the start of the scholarship award period.
If you have not graduated, you are still eligible to apply and would have to submit a “Certificate of Expected Graduation” instead of a Certificate of Graduation. However, if you do not graduate as expected, you would lose the scholarship.
- Applicants who have dual nationality, including Japan as one of the nationalities, at the time of application and who fail to renounce their Japanese citizenship prior to the start of the scholarship.
- Applicants who intend to conduct fieldwork or internships outside of Japan or take a leave of absence during their studies for a long period of time.
“Long period of time” is undefined, but I would interpret this as meaning any period of time that interferes with coursework during the semester. Fieldwork outside the country could be possible during vacation periods, for less than a month, but if you fail to sign in at your university each month, you would forfeit the monthly scholarship payment for the months that you do not sign.
- Applicants who have already obtained a doctoral degree and are applying as a research student.
Item 4, above, means that applicants for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship for 2019 who are still waiting on the final confirmation from MEXT cannot apply for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship for 2020. However, if you applied for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship for 2019 and were told that you were not nominated for the scholarship, you are allowed to apply. It is only applicants who have been nominated to MEXT by universities in Japan who are disqualified. (Practically speaking, applicants who were recommended to MEXT for the scholarship by a Japanese university should receive the scholarship without fail, so there is no need to apply in that case.)
Willingness to Participate in Intercultural Interaction
During your studies in Japan, you must be willing to actively participate in interaction events with schools and communities to contribute to the strengthening of relationships between your home country and Japan. After graduation, you must remain in contact with your university, participate in follow-up surveys and studies, and join in activities conducted by the Japanese diplomatic mission in your home country to promote relations with Japan after returning home.
Of course, this is unmeasurable, but stating your willingness/excitement to participate in such activities during the application process where possible would help you application.
End of the Eligibility Criteria
You can find the original eligibility requirements for 2020 in Japanese on MEXT’s website, below
http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/koutou/ryugaku/boshu/1415352.htm
Want to know more?
My book, How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship describes the scholarship in detail, including the the eligibility criteria, purpose and coverage, how to develop a successful applicant mindset, and how to craft your application strategy for the greatest chance of success!
Special Thanks
Special thanks to the TranSenz supporters on Patreon, who help keep this site running through their generous contributions. Special thanks to Daimyo Supporter Marck Rodas and the newest Samurai Supporter, Nabil!
You can show your support for TranSenz on Patreon for as little as $1 (0.08% of a MEXT monthly stipend) per month. If TranSenz has helped you in your application process and you want to “pay it forward” to keep this site running to help future applicants, every contribution helps!
If you want to show your support but Patreon is out of reach, I’d appreciate it if you say hi on social media or in the comments below to let me know if you appreciate these posts. You can find me on facebook at @TranSenz or on Twitter at @tagsenzaki. I look forward to saying hi!
Questions?
Let me know in the comments below!
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Hi Travis!
I’m Lydia from Cameroon and i want to apply for the Mext scholarship but i don’t yet have a passeport is it a big problem?
As an undergraduate student should i have a gpa of 2.3\3.0 or it’s different?
I also wanted to know if the covid 19 pandemy will have an effect on the scholarship that is, will they annul the scholarship?
Thanks for answering!
Hi Lydia Aurelle,
Not having a passport yet should not be a problem, but you’ll likely need to submit a replacement government-issued documents that shows your full legal name so that the embassy can verify whant name will appear on your passport when you get it.
I do not know how exactly the GPA conversion works for undergraduate applicants, since high school grading is different from college, but I would assume that the same or a similar standard applies, since it is a decent measurement of your performance.
I think right now all of us are curious how the pandemic will affect the scholarship, but the effects are likely to be much greater for the students who were supposed to arrive in Japan in 2020 than they will be for students applying right now. At this time, Japan has imposed immigration restrictions against 111 countries and regions, and those would have to be lowered for students to be able to arrive. I expect that issue will be addressed by your year, though!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi!
I am a native English speaker and I understand that Japanese proficiency is not a requirement. Even so I’ve started learning Japanese 2 months ago out of self interest. Since I’ve only started recently I don’t think I’ll be able to perform very well on the Japanese test for the Research scholarship. How much does this score play into selection?
Hi Jon,
If you’re applying for a degree taught in English, then the Japanese language test is not a critical part of your evaluation. If might be referenced if all else is equal or close to equal between you and another applicant, but your academic credentials and your Field of Study and Research Program Plan are going to be much more important in general.
The important thing to remember is not to leave the Japanese language test blank! You must make an attempt at it.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello
I am Lilian
Please how do i apply for MEXT Scholarship
I am a graduate from Nigeria, and i seek to further my studies by pursing Masters degree.
Please help me out
Hi ONYINYECHI OKEY,
Have you read my article about how to get started with the MEXT Scholarship? It sounds like you jumped in to a more advanced article, but I’d recommend starting with the basics.
Once you’ve read that, please let me know if you have any questions about how to get started with your application.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi my name is Ibsa Muleta Gelana from ethiopia and i want to learn in japan country please i have degree in civil engineering please send me invitation letters to embassy of japan that is there in ethiopia,
Hi Ibsa Muleta Gelana,
I think you have misunderstood what I do here. I am a blogger who provides advice about how to apply for the scholarship.
Applying for the MEXT scholarship takes a lot of work on your part and you need to prove yourself to the universities in your application. If you approach them with an email like the post you left here, you will get nowhere.
I highly recommend that you learn a lot more about the scholarship and what you need to do for the application on your own, first, before you consider contacting universities.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I am 45 years old and i want to pursue my Phd under MEXT scholarship. I think there is some exceptions about age. In my country there is a law after a bachelor a student must seek a work before keeping on his studies then i worked around 8 years before keeping on my studies that’s the reason why i am overage for this Mext program i need a special exception for me.
Hi OKOUMA NGUIA FULBERT,
I am afraid that MEXT would not accept that as a valid reason to grant an exception to the age criteria in your situation. Even if you were required by law to work for 8 years, you still should have been able to apply by age 35.
The only reasons MEXT might consider for an exception are if it was impossible for anyone in your country to continue on to a Master’s degree before age 35 or if the education system there was disrupted and unavailable for a decade because of a civil war, etc.
By the way, I am only a blogger who gives advice about the scholarship, I do not have any official relationship to it. So, I cannot make exceptions and you do not need to convince me. I am just telling you what I think will be the case based on my experience over the last 8 years of working with scholarship applicants.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello dear sir
I am from Gabon and i am 45 years old i hold a master degree in agriculture from KNU-South Korea, then i want to go for Phd in order to further my studies in a Japan university because this country has upgrades laboratories. How can i do in order to reach my goals because i am overage. Please i beg you to help me in spite of my age.
Kind regards
Hi OKOUMA NGUIA FULBERT,
I am afraid that my only scholarship expertise is in the MEXT Scholarship, and for that, age (under 35) is an eligibility requirement. While I do not have any information that can help you, I wish you good luck finding another opportunity in the future.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi actually I’m studying abroad and can’t be present at the embassy for the screening.so if I choose university recommendation and get selected,will I be able to do the interview abroad?
Hi Yassire,
The interviews during the next round of the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship would be in June or July of 2020. Would you be in your home country (or able to travel there) then?
For the University Recommended MEXT Scholarship, interviews are generally conducted either by email or video chat, such as skype, so your location would not be a factor.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, My daughter’s application for an undergraduate program was accepted so she will be presenting the exams. I have noticed that there are type A and B. How do I know which type most likely she will have to do? Thanks
Hi Joe,
My expertise is in the scholarship for graduate students, so I’m not quite as certain when it comes to the undergraduate scholarship application, but it looks like only the Mathematics exam has a type A and B. In that case, Type A is match for social science majors and Type B is math for natural science/engineering majors.
I would recommend that you check out the official tests from previous years for more examples of the differences.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello I would like to know how to find universities in a specialization according to the MEXT training please.
Hi Jessica,
I have an article all about how to find universities and professors in Japan for your field (that teach in English).
I hope that helps!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi , is this scholarship available for people who are yet to enter the university.i.e(high school graduates).
Hi Burabari Mary,
There is a MEXT Scholarship for undergraduate students (high school graduates), but my focus on this site is on the scholarship for graduate students, so that is what my articles cover.
Some of the content here, such as some of the questions in the application form, and also the articles about application mentality, should still be useful to you, but for details like eligibility criteria, I have only written about the graduate scholarship.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Please I’m glad for this,how can I get the form and how can I submit it?
Hi Usman,
I recommend that you start with my article about How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship.
That one discusses everything you need to know about the basics of the application and how to get started.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thanks for the super helpful blog post! I’m currently working on my application as a research student. I noted in your blog you wrote that there’s a prohibition of technical/artistic training schools. I am apply to a music school to join their vocalist program and have been in contact with them and my embassy who provisionally said it was okay. Do you think my application will be rejected by the Tokyo office? Would it work if I gave it an ‘academic study’ take on it?
Hi Riri,
The prohibition in this case refers to programs that are not academic in nature but are closer to apprenticeships.
If you were to apply to a university for a degree in vocal music, that should be allowed under the scholarship.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Regarding the health form, would I be disqualified if I did not get a chest x-ray exam, yet my doctor filled out everything else and signed off with “excellent health”?
Hi Zack,
You shouldn’t be disqualified for that, but they may ask you do get it corrected.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello!
I am pleased with your explanations in the article.
Hi Hillary,
Thank you very much for your feedback!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
First of all, a TON of thanks for all the incredible information you are providing us with. It feels like someone finally turned on the lights for me. Phew!
OK, regarding my question.. I am not a native English speaker nor have I taken any English language proficiency tests like IELTS or TOEFL. However, I did pass my university’s English proficiency exam and was exempted as a result from taking the supplementary English classes. What should I write in the “English Language Qualifications” section on pg. 6 of the application form?
Your fast reply would be very appreciated as I have less than a week for the deadline.
Best regards,
Salma Taha
Hi Salma Tasha,
If you do not have a formal, internationally accepted English language classification, then there would be nothing to fill out in that section. A university exemption test is not something that has an objective value or could be compared to other scores.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for the post!
I have a question regarding the recommendation letter that we have to send. I am undergraduate, expected to graduate in July.
It is required for the letter to come from the Dean, or is my thesis supervisor okay? Which of the two would be better? My supervisor knows me better so she can write a more personal letter. However, I am not sure if it is accepted or regarded as inferior when compared with a letter from the Dean (which may in turn sound more generic, as he doesn’t know me at all).
Thank you in advance!
Mario.
Hi Mario,
I think the letter signed by the Dean would be stronger in all cases. That would indicate that you are a good enough student that you came to the Dean’s attention.
In reality, though, the Dean does not have to write it, and probably shouldn’t. The idea would be for your advisor to write the letter, with input from you on the specific details of your accomplishments, and the Dean would sign it. The letter does not need to include personal details, just a list of your significant achievements and overall performance is usually what they are looking for.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi TranSenz! As every other applicant who has reached this site, I am so grateful for all the information you share with us! Your blog is amazing ^^
I am currently finishing my Field of study and Application forms. I am wondering whether I would be eligible for a Master or a Doctoral degree, in order to state on my application that I will pursue that specific degree,
I have a bachelor degree in Medicine, so I understand I would be eligible for a Doctoral degree because of the following requirement you mentioned:
” 2) Completed a program with a standard length of study of at least five years in a country outside of Japan and received a degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.”
However, I’m not so sure if I have completed the required number of years of school education; if I don’t count kindergarten, there should be 10 years of junior and high school, then 7 years of University, Then, I don’t know if it counts, but I’m about to get a General Surgeon degree (residency, 4 years). As you see, if I consider the General Surgeon degree, I would have 18+ years of school education. If they don’t consider it, however, I wouldn’t be eligible according to this specific criteria:
” 1) Completed 18 years of school education in countries other than Japan.”
If you could clarify this topic for me, I would very much appreciate your time. Thanks in advance! You already have a fan here in Argentina ^^
Hi Augustina,
Thank you very much for your kind words!
It sounds to me like you would be eligible for a Doctoral degree.
It sounds like your undergraduate degree was more than 5 years long and in a medical field, so in that case, you would meet criteria 2, that you listed.
And even if that were not the case, it sounds like you have completed 17 years of education, plus the 4-year residency/general surgeon degree, so that would also meet criteria 3 (16 years of education plus at least 2 years of experience – I think that your residency degree should count toward that if nothing else!).
If you want an even more certain answer, then I would recommend that you contact one of the universities in Japan that you are interested in applying to and see if they would review your credentials for admission.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Please I need to know what programs or courses available from this scholarship
Hi Monica,
I would recommend that you check out some of my more basic articles about the scholarship, like the introduction that I published a few months ago!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis !!
I thank you for your very useful research. it enlightens us on many important things, as well as for your sense of sharing and your helpfulness!
I have a question please about language ability. Is it mandatory to add an English language certificate with the level B2 in the file that will be sent to the embassy? I can’t pass the english language test until June, and it’ll be too late for my application. in this case, would a school certificate, that proves my level in English, be sufficient?
Thanks again !
Good courage!
Hi Zahra,
No, it is not mandatory at this point, but if you write in the application form that you have earned a language proficiency certificate, then you should certainly include that.
You will undergo a language proficiency test during the primary screening, and that will be the most important factor for the Embassy’s evaluation, but universities will probably want to see a B2-level certificate when you apply for the Letter of Acceptance.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz