Questions about the MEXT scholarship? Ask them in the comments here or on the individual FAQ pages listed below!
FAQs Released so Far
Here are the links to the existing pages:
- MEXT Scholarship Application Basic Information (Where to apply, etc.)
- Contacting Professors (Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship Application)
- Field of Study and Research Program Plan
- University Recommended MEXT Scholarship Application
Explanation
Given the recent volume of questions, I am afraid that I no longer have the time to answer each emailed question one-by-one and get you the response you want in a timely manner.
Instead, I will group similar questions and answer them in the subject-by-subject FAQ articles linked above.
Live Q&A?
Once TranSenz reaches $50 in monthly support on Patreon, I will start a monthly live video Q&A. If you are interested in supporting this effort, or simply getting faster responses to your questions and access to articles ahead of everyone else, you can become a patron of TranSenz for as little as $2 per month!
Get All the Answers, Fast
When you sign up for my MEXT Scholarship Mailing List, I will send you my sample MEXT application forms as well as a email course introducing you to the essentials of the MEXT scholarship application, step-by-step.
Tips to Get Your Questions Answered Faster
There are some ways you can get your question featured faster:
- Be clear. Let me know what type of application process (Embassy/University/Domestic Selection) you’re asking about, what level (Undergraduate/Graduate), what year, and any other relevant details. If I have to guess what you mean – or write back to you to ask you to clarify your question, it’s going to take more time.
- Be detailed. If your question is “Please help me with the MEXT Scholarship application” or “I don’t know where to start,” then read through the articles that exist on this site first. Specific questions that are easier to understand and research will get answered first. If your question seems like it’s asking for a half-hour sit-down chat, then it’s probably not possible for me to answer in the FAQ.
- Be original. If there is an FAQ for your question already, please watch/read what I have posted in there already. If you ask a question that’s just been answered, it will take me longer to circle back to it.
- Don’t be selfish. Questions that can help more people will get answered first. If your question is specific to only your case, it’s going to take me longer to get to it.
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If you are interested in becoming a TranSenz supporter (whether or not you want faster answers), you can get all of the details here.
Subject Specific FAQs
As I release and publish new Q&As and Q&A videos, I will post each of them on a separate page for that subject. Before posting a new question, please check to see if it’s already been answered, to save yourself some time!
If you can’t find an answer, you can post your question in the comments on the subject-specific page or on this page.
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Hello Travis
I want ask you question regarding MEXT university recommendation.
I wonder is it allowed to apply another scholarship in different country as back up plan ? If I tell my university in Japan I will withdraw the back up scholarship it if I selected as MEXT student, will they still keep my status as MEXT candidate ?
Hi Han,
Yes, it is permissable to apply for another scholarship in another country as a back-up, but you do have to declare that on the application form, if I’m not mistaken. You will also have to make it clear that you will withdraw from that scholarship if you get MEXT, like you said.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, Travis!
(I commented this bfore but lost connection so I’m not sure if it was posted or not, sorry if you’re seeing this forthe second time…)
I want to apply for the embassy-recommended undergraduate program. I have looked for universities that are linked to MEXT but haven’t really found an official list, so I’m not sure which ones I can and can’t apply for. I wanted to get into Waseda University, but whenever I see notices of this university they are for exchange or graduate students and not for undergraduate. So basically is it posible for me to apply for this university with MEXT? And also, I wanted this one because they offer a great English taught degree course, but I’m not sure if I’m allowed to get into that one instead of a full Japanese undegraduate… These are my questions, any info would be appreciated.
Thank you!
Hi Tatiana,
Your other question did post and I have answered it separately on that page.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Is the scholarship applicable to working class only or Secondary School students too? What is the required GPA?. How can we apply?. Is the 2021 applications still open?
Hi Caleb,
There are several different types of MEXT Scholarship for applicants at different levels. The one I am most familiar with is the scholarship for graduate students, so that would be applicable to current university students or university graduates who want to pursue their graduate degree in Japan. There is another scholarship for undergraduate students, thought it is not available in all countries. That one would be available to current secondary school students who want to study their undergraduate degree in Japan.
As far as I know, the major scholarship applications have all closed for 2021 applicants. It sounds like you are interested in the undergraduate scholarship. That application process typically goes through the Japanese embassy in your home country and usually starts in April/May of the year before you want to arrive in Japan. So, the application period would be April-May of 2021 for applicants who want to start their studies in Japan in April 2022 (the start of the Japanese school year).
I hope that helps! If you have further questions, it would be helpful if you could let me know what type of MEXT scholarship you plan to apply for.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
HI
I am currently accepted for the MEXT scholarship in the social studies A section. During the application form, there was a chart of my desired subjects to major in like politics, law, etc. And I personally aspiring to become a diplomat myself chose “international relations” as my first choice, but now that I look further into Japanese universities. I realized that “International relations” is not so famous subject in Japan that there are hardly any universities that can give me a bachelor’s degree. So I started thinking of getting my bachelor’s degree in “Politics” major which was the second choice I wrote on my application form. Can I do that? Please help me.
Hi Musashi,
My area of expertise is in the graduate scholarship, so I am not familiar with when in the selection/scholarship process the majors are decided.
However, my understanding is that after you submit your application form, the decision is out of your hands. MEXT will make the decision on which of your proposed majors to select you in and what university to place you at.
From what I understand, “International Relations” is not one of the options in the chart, so I am assuming you chose “Others” and filled in “International Relations” on your own. If that is the case, and MEXT is unable to place you in an international relations program, then they would likely go to your second choice, politics, anyway. (By the way, in many cases, international relations is a major within the field of political science, anyway.)
I do not think you have the option to change your priority order now, but ultimately, it is MEXT that will choose your university for you, so there should not be a problem.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, I was wondering if I am not accepted for the scholarship for this school year, can I still apply again next year? Or is there a rule against applying more than once?
Also, what is the difference between the process of university recommendation and direct placement for undergraduate studies?
I hope you can answer my questions.
Thank you!
Hi Adrienne,
There is no rule against applying multiple times. As long as you are still eligible, you can keep applying each year. (Though I would recommend trying to improve your application each time!)
I have heard of applicants who were successful on their third attempt.
I am not an expert in the scholarship for undergraduate students, but the big difference you are looking at here is that the Direct Placement process is part of the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship and it depends on your finding a program in advance where you meet all of the language requirements. You can choose from any such program.
The University Recommended MEXT Scholarship for undergraduate students is limited to pre-selected Priority Graduate Programs, which means that there are only a few specific programs across the whole country that you are able to apply for. If your interest does not match one of those programs, then you wouldn’t be able to apply via the university.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Sir
thank you very much for all the information it is very helpful. however I do have a question I really would like to ask: Must you do the MEXT exam in your home country’s embassy or could you do it in another embassy in another country?
I am asking this because I am in my final year of high school overseas but due to COVID-19 I could not leave the country and return to my home country for the MEXT exams as the borders are closed (and I wont be able to return to finish my high school if I depart, not to mention the quarantine process). However I am really interested in the 2022-2023 MEXT and hope to at least have an opportunity, thus I wonder if sitting the exam in another embassy (where I study) is possible or if there are any COVID-19 considerations on the embassy’s part. Thanks in advance and sorry for my long question. Thank you very much.
Hi Hope,
Unfortunately, as far as I know, for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, you do need to be in your home country for the exams and interview. Even if the exams could be administered in another country, the interview should be conducted by the same group to ensure fairness. However, once the application period starts, you could ask the Japanese embassy in your home country directly.
Another option is to apply for the University Recommended MEXT Scholarship, but for undergraduate applicants, that is typically limited to only a few PGP programs, and might not meet your field.
I hope that your embassy can give you better advice when the application program starts (and also that the COVID-19 situation and border restrictions are better by then!)
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis, I really enjoy your blog posts, they’ve helped me quite a bit in understanding the MEXT scholarship and process. I haven’t been able to find a definitive answer( but I was going to email my state’s embassy anyway) but I’m currently a 3rd year at my university here in the states but my projected graduation isn’t until 2024. So, I’ve been debating which program I should apply for (either the undergraduate or the specialized training). I know that I would withdraw from my current university should I be accepted, but I wanted to ask you if I should still apply anyway, or perhaps wait until I finish a bachelor’s here. But if it all seems fine, I wondered how would I be able to go about asking my university for official documents(like transcripts) even though I have a long time until graduation. Any insight is appreciated, so thank you once again for providing such wonderful resources~
Hi Mimi,
Thank you very much for your kind feedback.
My recommendation would be to wait until you have finished your bachelor’s degree in your home country and then apply for the MEXT Scholarship for graduate studies (if you are interested in graduate studies, of course!).
The MEXT Scholarship for graduate studies is a significantly larger program – there are at least 10x the number of scholarship awards – and I think that you would get more benefit from a complete graduate program in Japan than you would from an undergraduate degree here. Additionally, it sounds like you have several years of university complete already, and you would not be able to transfer those credits to Japan, so if you applied for the undergraduate program or specialized training, you would be starting your studies from scratch.
I don’t know what your motivation is for pursuing the MEXT Scholarship, and I certainly can’t say what is the best path for you, individually, but please consider if earning a bachelor’s degree from a Japanese university would be worth the time you would lose having to restart your studies from the beginning.
As for getting the documentation from your university, that’s really going to depend on your university system. In a Japanese university, any student can get a copy of their transcript at any time. (My university has a machine that prints them, so students don’t even need to talk to the staff to get one.) If you do have to talk to a staff member to get one, and they demand to know a reason, then I would recommend telling them that you are considering applying for a scholarship. But really, in most systems that I am familiar with, students have the right to have access to their transcripts/grades when they want to, so I hope you won’t have a problem.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I have applied for the MEXT PhD scholarship program and recently received a mail which says ” You’ve got recommended as a potential student for the Japanese government scholarship program 2021″ and the MEXT will make the final decision on the offering of the scholarship through a separate screening process .
Could you please tell me what this separate screening of MEXT would comprise of , it’ll be of great help .
Hi Shubham Kumar,
Congratulations on being recommended for the scholarship!
I’m assuming that you applied for the University Recommended MEXT Scholarship and that the email you received was from the university. If I got that wrong, please let me know, and I will adjust my answer.
During the Secondary Screening, there is nothing you have to do. MEXT will be screening the nomination documents submitted by the university that nominated you. MEXT’s screening is less about the academic content of your application and more about making sure that your application falls within all of the rules. For example, they are going to make sure that you haven’t been nominated by two universities within the same year, or that you do not have a history of having earned the scholarship in the past, as well as the other eligibility criteria that the university cannot necessarily check.
In general, universities know exactly what criteria their applicants have to meet for the application process and know how many applicants they are allowed to nominate, so it is almost unheard of for an applicant nominated by the university to be rejected during MEXT’s screening. The only time I heard of that happening was in 2019 in the year of budget cuts, when MEXT cut the number of spaces for both university and embassy recommendations at the last minute. But I do not think that is something that you have to worry about this year.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Shubkam Kumar,
Please, what is the name of the university you applied into.
Hi Travis,
I applied for the international multidisciplinary engineering (IME) program in October 2020, which is automatically considered for a MEXT scholarship recommendation or other scholarships by the University of Tokyo (Results will be out by late February 2021). I’m not sure what the internal process is, but not very much detail was given other than that it’s an internal and automatic recommendation.
I am now applying to the English-based Graduate Program in Science and Engineering (EBSE) at Waseda University, which just opened up for online applications. To be considered for MEXT in this application, I need to submit all documents by January 11th, 2021. The results for this will be released in March 2021.
My question is the following: Since both schools’ recommendations for MEXT is internal, is it acceptable to apply to both in this case? Will the schools check if I have been nominated in a different school, and let me know of my final decision before nominating me? There isn’t anything written in either of the applications on the restrictions for Top Global Type A MEXT, so I am very confused on whether it would be safe to apply without jeopardizing my chances of getting MEXT for UTokyo.
Thank you in advance!
Hi Alex N,
I saw that you left the same question on another article and I answered it there, first.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello. I was wondering this question about MEXT.
If you apply to MEXT, could you still apply to universities within your country just in case you do not get in?
Hi Hannah,
Yes, you can apply to universities in your country as a back-up plan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Dear TranSenz,
I have some questions about MEXT university recommendation, not from embassy.
1. Are the documents should be filled for university recommendation the same as embassy recommendation? Or should I get them from the selected university’s website ?
2. What should I do after a professor nominate me to the university? I don’t know the process after that.
I read your article about university recommendation but still I’m confused.
I appreciate your help,
Hi Same,
For the university recommended MEXT scholarship, you should get all of the documents and instructions from the university’s website.
Each university is going to have their own procedures and instructions regarding how you should apply, so the most important thing you can do at this time is to make sure you know the instructions for the university you are applying to and follow those precisely.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis
Thank you for everything you’ve done on this site. It truly is very helpful.
I have a question regarding work after MEXT in Japan,
aside from having a great command of the language, what else might increase my chances in finding a job? Would you recommend me to go for a PhD or do you think that a master’s degree would be enough to land a job in Japan?
My field of study is environmental science.
Thank you again Sir.
Hi John,
Thank you for your kind words.
It all depends on what kind of job you are aiming for. If you are looking to be an environmental science professor or researcher, then you would need a PhD, certainly. However, if you were looking for a job managing a national park, then a Master’s degree might be enough.
I would recommend that you search now for job openings for any specific careers that you are interested in and look at the requirements they have for applicants. I can’t think of any better resource than that. Another way to look for information would be to talk to your professor and the career office at your university after you arrive in Japan to get their input on the field.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis
So what u are saying is for me to contact the embassy directly about the screening result
Hi Miracle,
I would recommend that you check their website, first, for any information about what the application timeline is. But if there is no information there, then yes, the only way to find out the dates for your embassy would be to check with them directly.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey Travis
How and when do i know if application to write the MEXT scholarship exam was accepted?
Hi Miracle,
I’m assuming you applied for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship. The process is different at each embassy, including the timeline, so I would recommend that you check with them directly about when they will release the results of the document screening.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis
Thanks for everything.
My question is:
Do everyone that apply for the undergraduate scholarship get to take the primary screening or does the embassy make selections?
Hi Tochi,
No, not everyone who submits an application will be invited to the next stage of the Primary Screening (the tests). In most cases, some applicants will be eliminated at each stage as they narrow down the potential selectees.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis
I have a question regarding MEXT Scholarship extension.
Currently, I am a graduated student (Master degree) sponsored by MEXT and
I expect that next year on March, I will graduate. However, as my international
student section said that they will inform me and my supervisor about the extension
from master to doctor degree around November or December. In this case, I have
a plan not to continue it due to a personal reason but actually in the future i want to continue my doctoral study. So, my question is if I reject the extension, can I apply MEXT in the future again or
once I reject then there is no chance to apply it again ?
Thank you very much
Hi Gewinner,
If you decide not to extend your scholarship now, you can always apply again in the future, once you have at least three years of working or education experience accumulated before the start of the next scholarship period, since that’s an eligibility criteria.
Of course, your chances of winning the scholarship from scratch again in the future are lower than the chances of success in the extension application, simply due to the number of applicants and the level of competition, but if you’re OK with that, go for it!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz