Will the 2022/2023 University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship be your ticket to a future in Japan?
This it your University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship application guide for 2023. Yes, I know what it says in the title and the graphic (I wrote them). But here’s the thing:
Each year, MEXT releases the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship application guidelines around December, which is usually after most universities have finished their selection. So universities rely on the previous year’s guidelines, too.
Updates from Previous Years
If you’ve applied in the past, or read my guides in the past, here are the changes from previous years. If you’re reading for the first time, you can skip this part.
- PGP Programs: Added a link to the new PGP programs selected in 2022, which are eligible for this year’s application.
- Number of slots available: While the calculation method is the same, the number of slots available is now based on the number of international graduate students enrolled as of May 1, 2021, over a year after the pandemic started/border closures went into effect, when international student numbers were at their lowest.
- Students Applying from Inside Japan (PGP): In the 2022 application cycle (as in 2021), applicants who are living in Japan with a “Student” residence status are eligible to apply for PGP programs only. MEXT has also specified that this is a test program. It applies only to PGP programs that were approved in 2021 and 2022 (see the links below) and may not apply in future years. No more than 25% of a university’s PGP program nominees can be from within Japan. Students nominated for PGP programs that were selected by MEXT in 2021 and 2022 are no longer required to leave Japan between programs to apply for a new student visa!
- Russia and Belarus are not considered “Priority Countries” for scholarship selection anymore.
Aricle Overview
Here’s what this article will cover:
- Priority Countries and Eligible Nationalities
- The scholarship types available (General Category and PGP) and number of slots.
- What the scholarship offers
- Scholarship eligibility
- Forms and documents you will need to submit
Priority Countries and Eligible Nationalities
Why am I starting with this? Because if you are not from a Priority Country, your options are going to be limited, and you should know that before you start.
Japan has identified a list of Priority Countries and requires that at least 75% of a university’s nominees in each category be from one of the priority countries.
This means that applicants from non-Priority Countries can only apply for PGP programs that have over 4 places available and, even in that situation, there would only be one place available for all non-Priority Country students.
If you do not have the nationality of a Priority Country, you cannot apply for General Category slots. As of the 2022/2023 application cycle, the maximum number of applicants a university could recommend for the General Category Scholarship is 3, and it is impossible to take 75% of 3 and have a slot left over.
So, if your country of nationality is not a Priority Country, your only options are to apply for a PGP program or stick to the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship.
List of Priority Countries
| Africa | ||
|---|---|---|
| Algeria | Angola | Benin |
| Botswana | Burkina Faso | Burundi |
| Cabo Verde | Cameroon | Central African Republic |
| Chad | Comoros | Cote D’Ivoire |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Djibouti | Egypt |
| Equatorial Guinea | Eritria | Ethiopia |
| Gabon | Gambia | Ghana |
| Guinea | Guinea-Bissau | Kenya |
| Lesotho | Liberia | Libya |
| Madagascar | Malawi | Mali |
| Mauritania | Mauritas | Morocco |
| Mozambique | Namibia | Niger |
| Nigeria | Republic of the Congo | Rwanda |
| Sao Tome and Principe | Senegal | Seychelles |
| Sierra Leone | Somalia | South Africa |
| South Sudan | Sudan | Swaziland/eSwatini |
| Tanzania | Togo | Tunisia |
| Uganda | Zambia | Zimbabwe |
| Americas | ||
| Argentina | Bolivia | Brazil |
| Chile | Colombia | Ecuador |
| Guyana | Paraguay | Peru |
| Suriname | Uruguay | USA |
| Venezuela | ||
| Asia | ||
| Bangladesh | Bhutan | Brunei |
| Cambodia | India | Indonesia |
| Laos | Malaysia | Maldives |
| Mongolia | Myanmar | Nepal |
| Pakistan | Philippines | Singapore |
| Sri Lanka | Thailand | Vietnam |
| CIS and Russia | ||
| Armenia | Azerbaijan | Belarus* |
| Kazakhstan | Kyrgyzstan | Moldova |
| Russia* | Tajikistan | Turkmenistan |
| Uzbekistan | ||
| Europe | ||
| Albania | Austria | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Bulgaria | Croatia | Cyprus |
| Czech Republic | Greece | Hungary |
| Kosovo | Liechtenstein | Macedonia |
| Montenegro | Poland | Romania |
| Serbia | Slovakia | Slovenia |
| Switzerland | Ukraine | |
| Middle East | ||
| Afghanistan | Bahrain | Iran |
| Iraq | Israel | Jordan |
| Kuwait | Lebanon | Oman |
| Palestine | Qatar | Saudi Arabia |
| Syria | Turkey | UAE |
| Yemen | ||
*Russia and Belarus were removed from the list in February 2022 based on the Russian military invasion of Ukraine and are currently considered non-Priority Countries.
There are several notable countries not on that list, including (but not limited to): China, South Korea, all of North and Central America (except the US), all of Oceania, all of Scandinavia, the UK, and most of Western Europe.
MEXT Scholarship for Research Students: General Category and PGP
First, let me make one thing clear: This article only covers scholarships for graduate students (master’s degree, PhD, and professional graduate degrees, like MBA, JD, MD, etc.), also called “Research Students.” I do not cover instruction for undergraduate students.
These are the two categories for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship: General and PGP.
The amount of the award and the application process is the same for both and the application process is the same. But there are a few important differences.
- Eligibility to Apply: As mentioned above, only applicants from Priority Countries (see chart above) are eligible to apply for General Category slots.
- Eligibility to Apply: PGP programs are limited in scope. They may be limited to a certain field of study, degree level, and may even have nationality restrictions, so you have to meet all of those requirements to qualify. Of course, since fewer people qualify, the competition is much lower!
- Eligibility to Apply: Applicants who are living in Japan at the time of application are only allowed to apply for PGP programs, not General Category slots.
- Requirement to Keep Up Your Grades: For the PGP scholarship only, universities are required to report your GPA to MEXT at the end of each academic year. If your annual GPA falls below 2.30 on the MEXT Scale, you will lose your scholarship.
- Eligibility to Extend Your Scholarship: Different rules apply to extending PGP scholarships. See my article about How to Extend Your MEXT Scholarship for more details.
What are the MEXT Scholarship PGP Programs?
PGP programs refer to specific degree programs that have been approved by MEXT to have a guaranteed number of slots available each year for a period of three years. These programs can be very narrowly defined, for example, there might be a PGP program for Master’s Degree students from Malaysia or Thailand in Health Sciences who are studying in English. Since these programs have limiting eligibility requirements (low number of applicants) and a pre-approved number of slots (high supply), that means that competition is much lower and it is easier to be selected for the scholarship.
What does this mean for you? Simple: PGP programs are your best chance to get a University Recommended MEXT Scholarship if you are eligible.
It’s not even close. I have seen programs in the past that had 10 scholarship places available for one PGP program each year. However, outside of that program, the university only had 5 scholarship places for all of its other graduate schools and programs. In that case, there were 11 applicants for the PGP program, with a nearly 90% success rate. Meanwhile, there were over 200 applicants for the general scholarship, with a 2.5% success rate. (Back then, there were a lot more general category places available.)
How to Find PGP Programs
PGP programs are pre-approved by MEXT to have a certain number of scholarship places available each year for a period of three years. So, for the 2022/2023 application cycle, programs approved in 2020, 2021, and 2022 are available.
You can find the PGP program information at the links below (all PDFs on MEXT’s website):
- 2020: https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20201207_mxt-gakushi02_000011491_01.pdf
- 2021: https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20221221-mxt_kotokoku01-000019383-01.pdf
- 2022: https://www.mext.go.jp/content/20221212-mxt_kotokoku01-000026457-01.pdf
MEXT Scholarship PGP Program Eligibility
The biggest problem with the PGP program is that it might not be possible to find out in advance if you are eligible.
When universities apply to MEXT for approval for a PGP program, it typically needs to be very precise and focused, like the example I gave above. Unfortunately, universities will not necessarily make those eligibility criteria available. So, even if you find a PGP program from the lists above, there is a possibility that you will not be eligible. That is just a risk you have to take. If the program matches your interest, it is still better to take a chance there than at a university with no PGP program.
General Category Scholarship Slots
Unlike the limited PGP programs, in general any university in Japan can nominate students for the General Category MEXT Scholarship and there are no restrictions on major or degree level. The only restriction is that applicants must be from Priority Countries.
Since these programs are open to all applicants, that means that the competition is going to be intense! You will need to have top grades as well as a focused, well-crafted Field of Study and Research Program Plan in order to have any hope of success.
MEXT Scholarship General Category Slots Available
During the 2022/2023 application cycle, the number of slots available to any university is based on number of international students enrolled in the university’s graduate schools as of May 2021, which was probably the low point of international student enrollments in Japan due to the pandemic.
New students could not arrive in Japan in 2020 or 2021, so only international students who had been enrolled since 2019 and were already in Japan could continue with their studies in 2021. Basically, that means that the only international graduate students in Japan would have been 3rd year PhD students or 2nd year Masters’ students who started their studies in Fall 2019. So, expect the number of General Category slots to be a little low this year.
| Number of Self-Financed International Graduate Students Enrolled | Number of MEXT Scholarship Slots |
|---|---|
| 201+ | 3 |
| 11-200 | 2 |
| 0-10 | 1 |
The scholarship benefits are unchanged from last year:
- Exemption from paying tuition
- Monthly stipend:
- Research Students*: JPY 143,000/month
- Master’s Degree/ Professional Degree Students: JPY 144,000/month
- PhD Students: JPY 145,000/month
- (Undergraduate Students: JPY 117,000/month)
- Cost of Living Adjustment: JPY 2,000 – 3,000 in selected areas
- Round-trip flight ticket to Japan. Note: only the international portion of the ticket is covered. You are responsible for all domestic travel costs in your home country and in Japan, plus the airport usage fees, taxes, and fuel surcharges.
*Note: You cannot apply for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship as solely as a Research Student (Non-degree Student) with no intent to earn a degree in Japan. However, General Category University-Recommended MEXT Scholars start their studies in Japan in the fall semester. If the degree program you are applying to only accepts new matriculants in the spring semester, you would spend your first semester as a research (non-degree) student while waiting to start the program.
Scholarship Period
The period of the scholarship varies based on your enrollment status at the university in Japan, as described below:
- Research Students: You cannot enroll only as a Research Student, but you may spend a maximum of three semesters as a Research Student if you arrive in the fall and your degree program does not accept new students until the spring. Typically, you would only spend one semester in this status, but if failed to pass the entrance exam to matriculate to the degree program, or you do not meet the language requirements to extend to the degree program, you might be in this status longer.
- Master’s Degree Students/Doctoral Degree Students: The standard number of years required to complete your program. Most commonly two years for a Master’s Degree and three years for a doctoral degree. (Some doctoral degrees in medical fields have a standard length of four years, and that would be covered in those cases)
- For a Integrated Doctoral Degree/5-year Doctoral Degree (essentially a Master’s + Doctorate but without a Master’s degree awarded in the middle): Two years if starting the degree from the Master’s level or three years if starting the degree from the third year of study
It is possible to apply to extend your MEXT Scholarship if you are moving up to the next degree level, for example from Master’s degree to Doctoral Degree, but you cannot extend while remaining at the same level. In an Integrated Doctoral Degree, described above, you can extend your scholarship when proceeding from the second year to the third year of the program, since that is essentially the same as moving from a Master’s to a Doctorate.
PGP Scholars can only extend their scholarship if their PGP program is approved for both Master’s and Doctoral degree slots and the if program is still valid in the year that they apply for the extension.
Differences between the Embassy-Recommended and University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship
If you have applied for the Embassy Recommendation in the past there are a few key differences in the scholarship that you should be aware of. (If you haven’t you can skip down to the next section).
- You can only apply to one university. This is true even if one of your universities is a General Category university and one is PGP.
- You can only arrive in the fall semester – except for PGP programs that start in the spring.
- There is no Japanese language training semester.
- In most cases, the university will decide if you are allowed to start as a degree-seeking or research student. If they accept degree-seeking students in the fall, then you will almost certainly start as a degree-seeking student. If they do not, then you would have to start as a research student.
How to Apply for the 2022/2023 University Recommended MEXT Scholarship
Every university in Japan sets its own application process for the MEXT Scholarship, so the only way to be sure is to check the university website, directly.
Some universities will select their MEXT scholarship candidates out of the pool of general applicants and others will have a specific application process. Once you have selected your university, as I describe below, you will need to check their website for more information. I recommend searching google (not the university’s website) for the name of the university and “University MEXT Scholarship” to find the guidelines quickly.
Choosing Your University – The Most Important Decision
How do you choose the best university? How to Find Your Best Degree Program and Advisor for the MEXT Scholarship is my step-by-step process to search for and evaluated universities and potential advisors in Japan to find the one that will be best for your studies.
I have written another article about how to search for universities in Japan with English language programs in your field of study. Finding a university that teaches your field of study in English is the first step.
Focus on Partner Universities
Keep in mind that you should select a university that has a partnership with your current university if at all possible. Some Japanese universities will only accept University-Recommended MEXT scholarship applications from graduates of partner universities.
Even if a university accepts applications from anyone, a partnership connection gives you a little advantage, since they will recognize your university’s name and also makes it easier for the university to accept you. MEXT encourages universities to nominate students from partner universities and requires universities to report their partnership status with applicants’ previous universities.
Another advantage of applying to a partner university is that it may be easier to learn their exact application process. As I mentioned above, not every university makes this clear or public. If there is a direct connection between your current university and the university in Japan, such as a connection between professors or between international offices, then you can use that to ask about the application.
Applying to Non-Partner Universities
You cannot control what partnerships your university has in Japan, so you may find yourself in a situation where applying to a partner university is not an option. That doesn’t mean that you should give up! It just means that you have to work a little harder.
If you do not have the partnership connection, it may be harder to determine which universities will accept non-partner applications. So, even though you can only apply to one university, when you are researching potential universities, I suggest you come up with a list of several that you would like to apply to and follow-up to find the application process for each one. (I will cover that below).
If you are interested in a more detailed description about how to research and approach universities, my book How to Find Your Best Degree Program and Advisor for the MEXT Scholarship goes into much more detail on my recommended process for evaluating how suitable a university is for your research topic and determining if a professor is a good fit to be your advisor, plus recommendations and templates for your initial contact email!
Follow the Application Guidelines Exactly!
The competition for this scholarship is extreme. There could be hundreds of applicants for a mere three scholarship places (or fewer). So do not expect the university to have any patience with incomplete applications, documents that do not meet their requirements, or requests for exceptions to the rules. The universities will be actively looking for ways to shrink the pool of applicants that they have to seriously consider, so do not give them any excuse to discard your application.
I do offer coaching services to review your application to determine if it is complete and make recommendations for corrections/fixes, but this service has a fee. If you are interested, you can find more information at the Coaching Services link at the top-right corner of this page. Be aware though, that this service is first-come, first-served, and my queue fills up quickly.
University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship 2022 Eligibility Criteria
The requirements below are for the University Recommendation 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 Embassy Recommendation MEXT Scholarship as of the 2022/2023 Application Cycle that you can find at the link above.
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 as of the 2022/2023 application. However, 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! Eligibility requirements are subject to change in future years.
Minimum GPA
You must have a minimum 2.3 / 3.0 GPA on MEXT’s scale during your most recent degree. I have another article about how to calculate your GPA on MEXT’s scale, so please read that page for more details.
Exception: Programs with no objective grading
If your degree program has no objective grading or marking system (for example, a graduate program entirely by research with no coursework), then you may be eligible if you can provide objective evidence that you are in the top 30% of students in your program. In this case, your letter of recommendation from your university would have to state your order of merit within your graduate program or university as a whole, such as “#1 of 150 students”.
Please note that this exception does not apply if you do have objective grades. If your grades on MEXT’s scale are 2.3 or lower, but you are still in the top 30%, you are unfortunately not eligible.
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 before you arrive in Japan or before the university formally registers you as a student (including as a research student).
That is the only requirement to apply, but remember that you must be from one of the Priority Countries to qualify for the general category scholarship, as described in the table above.
Age
As of the application for the 2021/2022 scholarship application cycle, applicants would need to have been born on or after April 2, 1988.
Exceptions
There are only two exceptions to the date of birth above
- Inability 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, as determined by MEXT. (Exceptions will never be granted for personal reasons such as family reasons, financial difficulties, health, etc.)
- Applicants who are graduates of the Young Leaders Program and applying for a Doctoral-level program that will start within 5 years of the end of the YLP.
Academic Background
For the University Recommendation MEXT Scholarship, MEXT requires only that you meet the admissions requirements established by the university recommending you.
Field of Study
You must be applying within the same field that you majored in previously at university or a related field. Your field of study must be available at the university you are applying to.
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 available.
If your fields are not so obviously related, (for example, if you majored in computer science in undergrad and want to do an MBA in Japan) then you have to explain 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.
The most common changes I see that work are related to business and computer science, my examples above. I have seen many applicants switch to an MBA and emphasize how they want to study the business applications of the field they studied previously, or switch in/out of computer science by explaining how they will use the computer science knowledge (programming, data science, etc.) to conduct their research in their other field.
Language Ability
You have to meet the language ability requirement at the time of formal enrollment into the degree program, not at the time of application as in the past. (Unless you are applying as a non-degree student, in which case, you would have to meet the requirements as of the start of your non-degree studies.) However, if you fail to meet the language ability requirement when you progress to the degree program, you would forfeit the scholarship. So, my guess is that regardless of MEXT’s relaxed timing, universities are still going to want to see that you have the requisite language ability at the time of application, in general. They do not want to lose one of their scholarship recommendees later!
Here are the standards you have to meet for MEXT. You only need to meet the language requirement for the language that your program will be taught in! So, if you are applying for a program taught in English, the Japanese language requirements are irrelevant to you.
Japanese Language Ability Requirement
You must meet one of the following (in addition to meeting the admission requirements for your degree program, of course).
- JLPT N2 or higher at the time of starting the degree program
- Completed your qualifying degree* in Japanese
- Have equivalent or higher ability in Japanese language to a person meeting criteria 1 or 2 above, as determined by the nominating university.
*Your “qualifying degree” is the degree that you earned as a prerequisite to the degree you are applying for. If you are applying for a master’s degree, your qualifying degree would be your bachelor’s degree. If you are applying for a doctoral degree, then your qualifying degree would be your master’s degree.
Note: If you are nominated under criteria 3 for either Japanese or English language ability, then you would have to meet requirement 1 or 2 in order to apply for an extension of your scholarship (from non-regular student to degree-seeking student or from Master’s to Doctoral level).
English Language Ability Requirements
You must meet one of the following (in addition to meeting the admission requirements for your degree program, of course).
- Have a formal language proficiency test score in English equivalent or higher to B2 on the CEFR scale (*Slide 13 PDF in Japanese from MEXT’s website. See the English translation below) at the time of starting the degree program.
- Completed your qualifying degree* in English
- Have equivalent or higher ability in English language to a person meeting criteria 1 or 2 above, as determined by the nominating university.
*Your “qualifying degree” is the degree that you earned as a prerequisite to the degree you are applying for. If you are applying for a master’s degree, your qualifying degree would be your bachelor’s degree. If you are applying for a doctoral degree, then your qualifying degree would be your master’s degree.
CEFR B2 Equivalency Table
Here are the scores that MEXT has determined to be equivalent to the CEFR B2, based on the PDF linked above:
- Cambridge English (Preliminary, First, Advanced, Proficiency): 160 or higher
- Eiken (Jun-1 kyu, 1 kyu): 2304 or higher
- 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
The requirements above are only MEXT’s minimum requirements. Universities may establish higher standards and in that case, you would have to meet the university’s higher requirements.
Health
Must be fit to study in Japan as determined by the nominating university. In general, this means that each university will have a medical form that they require you to have completed. Often, universities will use the same Certificate of Health used in the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship. Of course, you should be sure to fill in the document required by the university you are applying to, but the certificate linked above should be a good indication of what to expect.
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. 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 period specified by the nominating university, no more than 2 weeks before or after the official start of the semester. Failure to arrive by the end of the designated period will be considered voluntary withdrawal from the scholarship. In the event that nominees arrive outside of the designated period, their travel fees will not be paid.
Essentially, you need to follow the arrival dates designated by your university. The “2 weeks” mentioned above is an instruction for the university’s reference as to when they are allowed to set your arrival date. Arriving late will mean that you lose the scholarship. Arriving early is possible, but you would forfeit the travel benefits.
For the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, you will arrive for the fall semester in Japan, in September or October, depending on your university. The only exception is for some PGP programs that start in the spring semester (April), but this is quite rare.
The only exception to the travel time described above is if MEXT determines that there is a reason beyond your control that is preventing you from traveling. Border restrictions due to COVID-19 fall into that category, as long as it is the border situation that is keeping you from traveling.
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.
For PGP Programs selected by MEXT in 2021 or 2022, applicants living in Japan are eligible to apply. In the case of these programs, you would not need to leave Japan to apply for a new student visa. Instead, you will apply for an extension of your student status (or a Change of Status of Residence to student) before starting your degree.
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 full 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 does not disqualify applicants.
- Applicants who are simultaneously applying for any other Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarship to begin in fiscal year 2023. (e.g. the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship or applying to another Japanese university for the University Recommended MEXT Scholarship at the same time).
- General Category: Applicants who are living in Japan.
PGP: Applicants who are living in Japan. Including applicants who are already enrolled in a Japanese university or other education institution with a “Student” residence status and applicants who will enroll in a Japanese university or other educational institution prior to the start of the scholarship period.
Exception for students applying to PGP programs selected in 2020: 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. (In general, students must leave Japan no less than 2 months before the start of their scholarship.)
Exception for students applying to PGP programs selected in 2021 or 2022: Students that fall within the “Domestic Selection” (no more than 25% of nominees for a program) are eligible. For domestic selection students, if they are already enrolled in another program, they must be able to complete their studies prior to the start of the MEXT Scholarship. It is possible for Domestic Selection students to change their status of residence in Japan to “Student” without leaving the country.
- Applicants who are projected to receive (have been accepted/approved to receive) a scholarship from any other source, including their home country governments, after the commencement of the MEXT scholarship payment period.
- 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 or the MEXT Scholarship payment cycle (one month). 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.
- General Category: Applicants who do not plan to study in Japan only as Non-Degree Students
- Applicants who do not intend to earn a degree in Japan.
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 not measurable, but stating your willingness/excitement to participate in such activities during the application process where possible would help you application.
How to Apply
As mentioned above, the application guidelines will be different for each university, so you’ll need to check with the university where you will apply. They may have a different process, more forms you need to complete or even ask you to submit forms at different times during the application process.
Ultimately, though, here are the documents that you will need to submit by the end of the application. This is the list of documents that MEXT requires universities to obtain. All documents must be written in English or Japanese or be accompanied by a Japanese translation. For the certificates mentioned below or any documents from your university, etc., if they are not available in English or Japanese, then you would have to submit the original as well as a certified translation into Japanese. (Note: If the original is written in a language other than English or Japanese, only a Japanese translation is acceptable.)
Application Form
I have a separate article that walks you step-by-step through the 2021/2022 University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship application form. I will update that article soon with the 2022 application form. You can find my article about how to complete that form at the link above and if you join my mailing list (see the link at the bottom of this article), I will send you a sample version of the filled form for your reference.
You should get the official form from the university that you are applying to.
Photo
You will need to attach a physical photo to the application form or digitally insert one into the form.
If you are attaching a physical photo, it must be printed on photo paper, never regular printer paper. You should attach it with a glue stick – never use a stapler, since a photo with staple holes in it will be rejected and you may have to resend a new one. I also recommend including a second photo inside a protective bag or folded inside a piece of paper to protect it, just in case something happens to damage the original during transit.
The photo must:
- Have been taken within six months of your application
- Must be 4.5 cm high by 3.5 cm wide – don’t worry if it is larger than the physical space for it on the form, just make sure it matches the dimensions
- Must be high resolution (no visible pixelation or color distortion)
- Must show you facing directly forward from the chest up, with no hats or unnecessary glasses. (Note: Hair coverings worn for religious reasons are acceptable)
If attaching a physical photo, write your name and nationality on the back, in case it falls off and they need to check which application to reattach it to.
Field of Study and Research Program Plan
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!
Copy of Passport or Government-Issued Identification Record
The purpose of this documentation is to confirm both your citizenship and your personal identifying information, such as your legal name and birthdate.
Submit a copy of your passport, if you have one. The copy of your passport should include the outside cover as well as the page with your photo and identifying information. You do not need to include copies of all pages or copies of pages with visas, entry/departure stamps, etc.
Make sure your photocopy shows the whole page. Ideally, the edges of the passport should be visible in the copy. That will help prove that there is no other information or invalidation outside of the copied area.
If your passport has any incorrect information (e.g. Your name is spelled incorrectly), you should get that corrected officially before submitting the copy, or wait until after your MEXT scholarship to get it corrected.
If you do not have a passport yet, then alternative documents can include a Family Register or Birth Certificate.
Certificate of Grades from last university completed and current university
Your certificate of grades is an official document issued by your university that shows the grades or marks that you have earned in each course during your degree, as well as the credit value of those courses (if applicable) and when you completed them. If you do not have one document that shows all of these items, then you may have to submit multiple official documents (for example, one showing your grades and another showing when you took each course) to meet this requirement.
As I will discuss under “Proof of Outstanding Academic Achievement” below, your transcript must also include or be accompanied by an explanation of the grading system so that the university in Japan can understand the relative quality of your grades and calculate the conversion to MEXT’s 3.0 GPA system, which is a requirement for recommendation.
If you have already graduated from university and are not currently a student, then you would submit your certificate of grades from the university degree program that you graduated from most recently.
If you are currently enrolled in a university, then you must submit the certificate of grades from your current degree program as well as the most recent university degree you have completed, if applicable. For example, if you are currently enrolled in a Master’s degree, you would submit your grades from that program and your Bachelor’s degree. But if you are enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree and it is your first university degree, you need only submit the certificate of grades from that program.
If you transferred universities during the course of your degree and have transcripts from multiple universities showing the courses and grades that count toward your current or most recent degree, you would need to submit a certificate of grades from each of the universities that you attended.
The certificate of grades must be an original document, or a copy certified as being accurate by the issuing university (if you cannot get it certified by your university, certification by a notary would also be acceptable), and it must be in English or Japanese. If your document is in another language, you would need to include the original document and a certified translation.
Certificate of Graduation from last institution attended
A “Certificate of Graduation” is not the same thing as a diploma. (Never send your only original diploma as part of the application! You will not get it back.)
A Certificate of Graduation is a document issued by your university that certifies that you have graduated. This could be a certified copy of your diploma, but it does not have to be. A letter from your registrar that certifies that you have graduated and shows the date of graduation (or of completing all of the requirements) would be equally valid.
In some cases, your Certificate of Grades may show the degree you were awarded and the date of graduation. In that case, your Certificate of Grades could also be considered a “Certificate of Graduation.” If you submit your Certificate of Grades to cover both requirements (Certificate of Grades and Certificate of Graduation), then I recommend you also include a separate sheet with a brief explanation saying that your date of graduation and degree are certified as part of the Certificate of Grades to let the reviewers know to look there.
Note: In some countries, Certificates of Graduation are issued by a national authority instead of by the university. In that case, a Certificate of Graduation issued by the national authority is acceptable.
Special Case: Certificate of Expected Graduation
What if you haven’t graduated yet? This is very common, since many applicants want to start their degrees in Japan immediately after graduating in their home countries, so they have to start their applications while they are still studying.
In that case, MEXT asks that you provide a “Certificate of Expected Graduation” that shows the date you are expected to graduate and the degree you are expected to earn.
This requirement frequently results in confusion: Universities will often refuse to “certify” that a student will graduate by a specific date. After all, you haven’t completed all of your requirements and they do not want to be liable if you fail to do so. But here’s the solution:
The Certificate of Expected Graduation can be conditional! It is not a problem for your university to write that your graduation is conditional on completing your remaining classes, passing your thesis, etc. Essentially, the Certificate of Expected Graduation is asking the university to certify that “it is not impossible for you to graduate” by the expected date.
If your university protests that they cannot certify your graduation, the explanation above has worked in every case that I am aware of!
Proof of outstanding academic achievement from the last institution attended
In almost all cases, this requirement is met by submitting your certificate of grades along with an explanation of your grading system. For more on what an explanation of grading system is, please refer to the article linked in the previous sentence.
If you do not have any grades because your program does not issue them, such as a research-only degree, then your Letter of Recommendation, described below, can meet this requirement if it explicitly states that you are in the top 30% of students in your college/graduate school/university, with objective facts to back up that assertion, such as your order of merit.
While the two options above will meet the requirement for well over 99% of applicants, if you have further proof of your outstanding academic performance, you can submit those, as well. Examples would be statements of order of merit, awards for top graduate in your department, etc., awards earned at conferences or competitions, or publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Letter of Recommendation from the Dean or higher at last institution attended
*Please note, the requirements described below apply to the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, only. The Letter of Recommendation requirements for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship are significantly different, so if you are applying for that scholarship, please refer to my separate articles about that process!
There are several important requirements for your Letter of Recommendation, which I will cover below.
What University Should it Come From?
First of all, your Letter of Recommendation needs to come from your most recent university attended, which is the university where you are currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student or the most recent university you graduated from, if you are not a student. There are no exceptions permitted. It doesn’t matter if your most recent university was in another country, if you are closer to a professor from a past university, if you have been working as a researcher at a university, or if you were a study abroad student in Japan, etc. It has to be the most recent university where you earned a degree.
Who Should Write It?
The letter must be signed by a Dean of your faculty or someone in a higher position.
If your university does not use the title “Dean”, then to find the equivalent person, you would need the administrative head of a “faculty”, “school”, or “college”. That person should report directly to the Provost, or head of all academic affairs for the university (unless the Dean is doing double duty as the provost).
How Do You Get the Dean to Sign It?
Let’s get this straight, first: Your letter of recommendation needs to be signed by the Dean. It does not have to (and in most cases should not) be written by the Dean. This is something that trips up applicants all of the time. They think that they need to walk into the Dean’s office – where the Dean does not know them personally – and convince the Dean to write them a letter.
That’s not the right way to go about it. Here’s why:
- You should never in your life ask someone to write you a letter of recommendation from scratch! Always give them a draft or, at the very least, a bullet list of your significant achievements that you want included.
- You probably should not be going directly to the Dean, either, unless you already know them. Start with your adviser. Show your adviser or a trusted professor the draft, ask their help in editing it, then ask if the adviser will approach the Dean on your behalf. If there are multiple levels between your advisor and the Dean (e.g. department head, etc.), be prepared to talk to each person in turn.
If you were one of the top students in your field, you should have a good relationship with your adviser, and your adviser should have no trouble talking the Dean into signing the letter.
You can also have your adviser/trusted professor sign the letter and have the dean counter-sign it. That means that you would have signature blocks for both your advisor and the Dean.
What Does it Have to Include?
The letter needs to be addressed to the President of the university you are applying to – make sure to use the title! – be signed by the Dean (with his or her title, as well), and somewhere in the body include the words “I recommend [your name] for the Monbukagakusho Scholarship at [university you are applying to].”
Everything else is just window dressing. It helps to list your most significant academic achievements or activities that indicate that you would do well in an international environment, but in most cases, your letter of recommendation will not have much of an impact on your application evaluation since almost every applicant is going to have a superlative Letter of Recommendation and there is little room for objective differentiation between them.
Abstract of Thesis
If you have written or will be writing a graduation thesis or any other published work (as listed in your application form), you need to include a half-page to full-page abstract (summary) of it with your application. Do not send the entire thesis – nobody has time to read that.
Since you are only sending an abstract, you can write one even if you haven’t finished the thesis itself or gotten it approved. If your original thesis was written in an language other than English or Japanese, you can still write an abstract on your own in English. You would not need to translate it into Japanese!
If you have a graduation thesis, you have to submit an abstract of that paper, even if it is off topic from what you plan to apply to study in Japan. This still applies if you graduated years ago and have since written and published academic papers that you consider to be better. Of course, if you have other published works, you should include abstracts of those, too.
No Graduation Thesis?
If you do not have a graduation thesis, then you should contact the university for further instructions (or look at their application guidelines from the previous year), but here are a few common alternatives:
- Abstract/summary of equivalent graduation project
- Abstract of a published paper or paper presented at a conference
- Abstract of a term paper (in the class that was closest to what you plan to study in Japan)
Proof of Linguistic Ability
You only need to submit proof of your ability in the language of instruction for your degree in Japan. That proof should meet the requirements I listed in the eligibility section, above.
This is one of those requirements that can hurt you if you aren’t prepared well before the guidelines are released. It’s nearly impossible to get an official language proficiency test score on short notice, and it is impossible if that language is Japanese, since the JLPT is only offered twice per year. If you are planning ahead to apply for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, make sure that you have your language proficiency test done and score report available before the application period begins. Score reports are good for two years in most cases, so you do not need to worry about preparing too early.
One of the ways to meet the language proficiency requirements is if you completed your previous degree entirely in English or Japanese. In that case, you would need a letter from your university saying so. Otherwise, you would need official language proficiency test scores.
Other Requirements
There will probably be some form of certificate of health required. As I mentioned above, many universities use the Certificate of Health format from the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship, but not all do. I recommend that you wait until the official application guidelines are available from your university before getting this documentation, since it can be costly in some countries. However, be prepared to make a doctor’s appointment and get the certificate in time to submit it by the university’s deadline!
Universities may also have additional requirements, such as their own forms for you to complete or additional tests and certifications, like GRE, GMAT, etc. The only way to find out for sure is to check that university’s website, so make sure that you are doing your research in advance.
When will the application results be out?
Application results for the University Recommended MEXT Scholarship come in two stages: University Selection Results and Official MEXT Results.
University Selection Results
Universities must select the applicants that they are going to accept and nominate to MEXT by the dates below. That means that universities must finish their internal selection procedures, inform applicants of the results and confirm that all applicants are still willing to participate in the scholarship by those dates, in general. The results may be even earlier if the university has not yet asked you to submit all of the documents above and need to ask you to send them after the results are out.
Deadlines for universities to submit nominations to MEXT *Based on the 2022/2023 application cycle.
- PGP Scholarships (April Start): January 17, 2023
- General Category Scholarships (September/October Start): March 23, 2023
- PGP Scholarships (September/October Start): March 23, 2023
Different universities may release their initial results at different times. Do not get discouraged if you hear that results are out at different universities, but not at yours. However, if you do not receive a notification from the university by mid-March that you have been selected and nominated to MEXT for the scholarship and their final decision, then I’m afraid that means you were not successful this year and you should start preparing for the next Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship application process, which will likely begin in April.
Caution: Results Notification
In some cases, I have seen situations where individual faculties at the university each select one candidate and then that candidate is sent forward to a university-wide screening board for final decision about the university’s nominees. If you are informed that you were selected as the faculty’s candidate and that they will then screen your application at the university level, that does not mean that you will ultimately be selected for the scholarship.
Final Selection Results
After universities select their nominees, they are sent to MEXT for final screening. MEXT claims that results will be out by the end of February for PGP applicants arriving in April or the end of June for all applicants arriving in the fall, but it is not uncommon for the results to be late, especially for fall arrivals. So, expect that the results will be a little later than those dates. Those are also the dates when results are released by MEXT to the universities. It may take universities another few days to communicate those results to their applicants. Again, this may take some universities longer than others, so if other applicants have heard their final results and you have not, that might be the cause.
Since universities know in advance how many nominees they can have accepted each year, usually all nominees receive the scholarship in the end, but this is not a guarantee. In 2019, due to budget problems, MEXT ended up cutting down the number of slots at the last minute, so some applicants received the shocking news that they were not accepted. Since then, however, the maximum number of slots was reduced dramatically (maximum of 3 instead of 9 like it was originally in 2019!), so I do not think this should be a risk in the future, but nothing is sure with MEXT.
Want to Maximize Your Chance to Win the MEXT Scholarship?
I have written three books under the Mastering the MEXT Scholarship series that go into more detail then I can possibly cover in a simple blog article – even one this long! Each of these books cover different aspects of the application in detail and should give you an advantage over most other applicants out there. They are available in ebook or print format. You can also ask your local public or university library to purchase them in print or ebook format instead, so that you can read them for free! Please see the links below for more details about what each book covers, purchase links, and the details that libraries would need to make the order.
- How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship: Information about the scholarship goals, eligibility, and how to create an application strategy to increase your chances.
- How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan: Everything you need to know about the most important document in the MEXT Scholarship application, from developing and testing a research question through to formatting your plan for submission.
- How to Find Your Best Degree Program and Advisor for the MEXT Scholarship: How to choose the university and supervisor in Japan that is best for you, along with contact strategies and templates.
Special Thanks
Special thanks to the TranSenz supporters on Patreon, who help keep this site running through their generous contributions, especially to my newest Samurai patron, HiC, Daimyo-level supporters Dũng Phạm Quang and Alessia M, and to everyone who has been supporting the sight for months or years. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your continued support! If this site has helped you in your application process and you want to “pay it forward” to keep the site running to help future applicants, every contribution helps!
Questions?
Let me know in the comments below!
Hi Travis,
Thanks for keeping us updated regarding MEXT-related matters. I would like to respectfully inquire when does the Japanese Government usually release a list of approved PGP? For the year 2023, do we already have an approved list?
Thank you!
Francis
Hi Francis,
Right now, MEXT is screening universities that applied for the next round of PGP programs. The results, including the list of approved programs, is due out by the end of November.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis, I’m currently starting to prepare my research plan and I’m quite perplexed on should I take a problem related to industry or related to a new /improved theory in said field. As my major is computer science, I wanted to go with the first option, since in that area I can elaborate more on its contribution to Japan and my own country. I’m also an undergraduate so I think my abilities aren’t enough yet to propose an improved theory. My concerns are that it might not contribute much to science and may be too simple to research. I also read in an article that if it’s something that I can do by diving into the industry directly, then there’s no need for me to apply to graduate school. What are your thoughts about this? Thank you so much in advance.
Hi Andrea,
It’s not an “either-or” situation. You need an academic research question for your application that will be the focus of your research, but you also need to explain how solving that question will be beneficial outside of your academic field and have practical uses that benefit Japan/your home country. Or, you can explain how the knowledge and experience you gain while solving that question will enable you to serve your society in a specific capacity.
I can’t help you with specific examples of what would make an appropriate research question for a computer science master’s student, since it’s outside my area of expertise, but you should be able to get help from someone in the field, such as a trusted professor/advisor on developing an appropriate problem.
Good Luck!
-Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much for your answer! It gave me more insight into what I should write into my proposal. I have one more question, can I mention my ability in Japanese in my field of study, even though I didn’t learn it through formal studies? Thanks again!
Hi Andrea,
Thank you for your feedback.
You should only reference your Japanese language ability in your FSRPP if it is relevant/necessary to your research, and it would only really be meaningful if you can show objective proof/examples of your ability, such as test scores or using it effectively in a practical setting.
Otherwise, there is a section in the application form for you to enter a self-evaluation on your language ability and completing that should be specific.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I hope you’re well.
I have two questions. I’ll get right to it so I don’t waste your time.
1. If one person gets an embassy-recommended MEXT scholarship and there is only one slot per year for my country, do I have a chance if I apply for a UNIVERSITY-recommended MEXT scholarship the same year? I come from one of the PRIORITY countries.
I understand we don’t know the exact numbers, but what is your opinion if we operate on the assumption above? I come from a VERY small country where there’s very little interest in Japan.
2. As a continuation of the previous question, do I have bigger chances if I’m the ONLY person from my country applying for a UNIVERSITY-recommended MEXT scholarship that year?
I’m considering paying for a consultation with you and/or a review of my research plan.
Thank you for all your hard work.
All the best,
Dee
Hi Dee,
I’m not sure I completely understand your questions, so please feel free to ask follow-ups as necessary. The size of your particular country does not make any difference in the University Recommended MEXT Scholarship. If it’s a priority country, it is lumped in with all of the other priority countries in the world. There is no distinction. The only time that there is a division of slots between individual countries is for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship.
1. You can only apply for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship if you did not apply for the Embassy or had already been rejected by the embassy application before the University started. You are not allowed to apply for two versions of the scholarship at once.
Your chances depend on your previous academic performance (GPA) and the quality of your research proposal, as well as the qualifications of your competition. For the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, it also depends on whether or not you are applying for a PGP program.
I would recommend that you apply for the Embassy first, then, if you do not pass the Primary Screening, apply to a university that has a PGP program that matches your field. That would give you the best chances, but the rest is up to you.
2. No. That makes no difference whatsoever. It doesn’t matter which priority country you’re from, only if you’re from a priority country or not.
If you would like to make use of my review services later, I would be happy to work with you! In that case, I would be able to give you more specific advice about how to improve your application to give yourself the best chance.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I apologise for being confusing! You have actually answered my questions.
Are there lists for the PGP programs for the next 3 years since the ones listed here are up to 2022?
Also, when will you have slots available again for 1-on-1 consultations?
Thank you for the quick reply,
Dee
Hi Dee,
I’m glad to hear I answered them!
For the PGP programs, the 2021 and 2022 lists linked in the article will still be valid, but not the 2020 programs. MEXT is currently accepting application from universities to have their programs approved for the 2023 list.
Usually, the most recent list of PGP programs ends up coming in mid-late November, after the application deadline, but sometimes universities will hold another round of application specifically for the program after they get the results, if the don’t already have enough qualified applicants.
With regards to the consultation, unfortunately, I do not have any estimate as to when I might be able to offer live consultation again. It’s a matter of scheduling, and my current situation doesn’t allow that with any reliability. If I do have an opportunity to offer it again, I will make an announcement via my mailing list.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
May I know if you have any idea when MEXT is going to send out their final confirmation?
Or do you know if they have started sending it out?
Hi Chim,
As far as I know, MEXT has not released the results yet.
Although MEXT says the results will be released in June, they almost never meet their own deadline. In general over the last two years, General Category results have come out in the first week of July and PGP results in the middle of July.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for letting me know.
As soon as those of us waiting receives the notification, I’ll be sure to let you know.
I think I’ve probably read every single article you’ve posted about MEXT SCHOLARSHIP UR.
I just wanted to let you know that I got in! Thank you for the good job. You are a wonderful soul!
And I’m praying your dad’s health will continue to improve. Amen.
Hi Chim,
Congratulations! I am thrilled to hear that you earned the scholarship!
Thank you as well for your kind feedback and thoughts about my father. I haven’t posted an update in a while, but he has moved out of the hospital and into a rehabilitation facility. He’s been making significant progress since the last update in mid-June.
Thank you again and good luck with your studies in Japan!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi my favorite mext scholarship blogger and advisor, i want to kindly ask if it is possible for you to help draft a concise example of how a recommendation letter from the Dean should look like..pls help I don’t want any mistakes from my school NB:I know the Dean personally,so I’m meeting him directly..Thanks Travis
Hi Bunmi,
I do not have an example of a Letter of Recommendation on hand, although that is a great idea to create for a future article, so I will work on that.
The basic format is that the first paragraph should state that the Dean highly recommends you for the MEXT scholarship at that university, the second should include a few specific examples of your academic performance, highlights that show why you are an outstanding candidate, and the third should reiterate that you will be an asset to the university and a great representative of your home university/country.
I also recommend that you write a draft first and share it with the Dean, or at least prepare a list of your specific academic achievements that he can use in writing the letter.
Finally, make sure that it is addressed to the president of the university that you are applying to, including the president’s title! (Including the president’s name is not necessary).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi travis,
I would like to thank you for the amazing ressources you are providing to us. I am engage in the procedure for the mext scholarship university track, and your books have been of a great help.
But now, I have one concern. I have a pretty basic japanese language level and therefore, I am really interested in taking japanese training. Is it possible to get it, even though I am from the university track ?
Thanks in advance
Hi Armel,
Thank you for your kind feedback!
The one-semester language program that I mention in various places on the site and in the books is only possible under the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship. However, your university may offer opportunities to study Japanese language alongside your degree. You wouldn’t be able to focus exclusively on Japanese, but at least it could help you develop your ability.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you very much Travis !
Hi travis,
Sorry for the double post, but I just check the pdfs for the PGP PROGRAMS (one of the 3 links doesn’t work, it seems), it seems like none of those PGP programs match my research study field, does this mean University-recommend MEXT is completely off the table as an option for me? Im in Europe and not from a priority country sadly.
I was gonna ask my selected Universities for confirmation or info about their Uni-recommended MEXT selection but after reading your article and checking those pdfs it might just in vain.
Thanks again!!
Best regards
Hi Martin,
Thank you for the heads-up. I fixed that link. (It looks like MEXT updated the 2021 PDF after I grabbed the link, so the URL changed.)
If there are no PGP programs that your research could fall under, and you are from a non-priority country, then my understanding is that you would not be able to apply for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, unless MEXT changes the rules about at least 75% of nominees coming from priority countries or increases the number of students each university can nominate.
I would encourage you to look in detail at any of the programs that look like they might come close to fitting your research topic, or at least be within the same graduate school. Universities tend to choose program names to be catchy in the MEXT approval process rather than informative about the actual program contents. The programs might be broader than they appear, so it’s worth checking the university websites for more info.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I see, I will double-check those pdfs and the websites, and ask the Universities just in case I might fall under some broader category, then.
Thanks a lot!
Hi travis,
I’ve been looking at University recommended MEXT as a “back-up” plan in case I failed the embassy one, however it seems like for the Universities I was interested in (my research topic is quite specific so I couldn’t find many Universities with an advisor whose field of study matched mine) in order to apply for University-recommended MEXT I need to either be in a student-exchange program (guessing it means to be enrolled) or be part of a research institute. I’m a post grad student (finished my masters last year) so I’m neither of them.
For example, in the Osaka University mext page it says ” Osaka University accepts some international students recommended by foreign universities under a student-exchange agreement between such universities or departments as well as from research institutes with which the university has exchange programs through joint research. The university recommends such candidates and the MEXT selection committee determines the recipients around June. Entrance for successful candidates begins from October only.”
Does this mean I can’t even apply for the University-recommended mext at Osaka University? I’ve also seen the same “requirements” in another University page.
Not to mention that I’m not from a priority country so I’d need to find a specific program for me to being with. It seems like embassy-recommened is much easier to get!
Many thanks in advace!
Hi Martin,
In most cases that I am aware of, you do not need to be a current exchange or research student (in fact, it would seem to be impossible to recommend a current exchange student, since the scholarship is only for degree programs and the student would have to graduate before becoming eligible). I think what that explanation is supposed to mean is that Osaka University will recommend current students or graduates of universities with which it has a student exchange agreement or a research collaboration agreement. The agreement can be at a university-wide level, department level, or with a specific research institute.
MEXT wants universities to nominate students from overseas partner universities in general, although they are allowed to nominate students from other universities, if the President of the Japanese university deems that it would be beneficial to do so. At the very least, students from non-partner universities have an uphill battle to compete with partner university students, and it sounds like Osaka has simply limited the process to partners.
So, if you have not graduated from a university that has a partnership with Osaka, based on this application, I do not think you would be eligible to apply. But you could always ask them next time the application process opens to be sure.
Yes, the embassy-route has many more places available and, particularly in the case of students from non-priority countries, there are much more opportunities available!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis, thank you so much for your articles regarding pursuing education in Japan. I would like to ask a few questions regarding U to U MEXT if you don’t mind,
1. If I applied to U to U MEXT and somehow doesn’t get accepted, can I apply for the embassy route for the same period? And does it work vice versa?
2. If I applied to U to U MEXT, got accepted by the university but didn’t get the scholarship, can I still enroll as a privately financed student?
Thank you so much
Hi Andrea,
I don’t think I’ve ever heard it called the U to U MEXT, so if you ask universities about that name, they might not know what you mean. I’m assuming though that you’re talking about the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship.
1. The application period for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship comes first. (It should start any day now for enrollment in April or September 2024). The University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, on the other hand, will not start accepting application for Fall 2024 enrollment until sometime in the Fall 2023. So, you would start with the Embassy, first. If you apply for the Embassy and you do not pass the primary screening, you would know that result by the end of this July or early August, which would be before the University application starts. So, in that case, you would be able to apply for the University MEXT. However, if you pass the primary screening and are still an active applicant, you would not be able to apply for the University MEXT, since you can never have two application going on at the same time.
2. In general, if you pass the University’s screening for the MEXT Scholarship and they recommend you to MEXT for the scholarship, you are essentially guaranteed to receive it, so this should never be an issue. But if, for some reason, MEXT did not award you the scholarship, the university should give you the chance to enroll as a privately-financed student. It would ultimately be up to each individual university to decide.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis, hope you are doing fine.
First I wanted to say thank you for all the help you did. I really owe you. Now I study PhD in Japan and my progress is going on pretty well.
I also have a question about the JSPS postdoc program, one of my friends wants to apply for this program however he doesn’t;t know how. I wonder if you could provide some information about this as well. It would be a great help.
Thanks, Aida
Hi Aida,
It’s good to hear from you again! I am glad to hear that your progress is going well.
Unfortunately, I am not particularly familiar with the JSPS postdoc program. According to their website, though, it looks like the host researcher in Japan is the one who applies to be able to host them. So I think your friend’s first step should be to find a potential host who would be willing to do that. From there, the researcher or the research support office at the university should be able to help with the process.
I will try to look into it in more detail in the future, but for now I just wanted to point you in what I hope is a helpful direction.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, Travis. I am Aditia from Indonesia.
I am writing to ask for the language proficiency. Since I am planning to apply for the Doctoral course for Pharmacy (there’s only a doctoral program for this course, since Japan education system is 6 years long for pharmacy bachelor), and there’s no English taught program. Is JLPT N2 sufficient ? I am planning to take the JLPT this December 2023 and apply for MEXT in April/May 2024 (planning to skip the N3 and cut through N2. Previously I have passed the N4). Anyways, do you have tips on studying Japanese? Thank you in advance.
Hi Aditia,
An N2 might be enough, but the best way to tell would be to check the websites of the universities that you want to apply to and see what their usual requirements are for fee-paying students. If they say there that they require N1 for non-native speakers, then you’d have to aim for that.
As for studying the language, it’s not enough just to be proficient in Japanese, you also need to study specifically for the test. There should be official test study guidebooks that will help you prepare for the language and grammar that you will find there, so I recommend looking for those. Of course, in your case, you will also need specialized Japanese language skills in your field, so studying pharmaceutical terminology in addition to the JLPT prep will be important!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis,
Hi Travis, good day to you. Thank you for the kind response. After researching it through, I come to realize that the gap between the N3 and N2 level are quite some distance. So here comes the dilemma. If I can only provide N3 certificate and TOEFL during the MEXT selection at 2024, I am afraid it would hurt me. But then, let’s assume I made it through the primary selection…there are still that I can use to pass the N2 before arrival in Japan (2 chance of JLPT exam to be exact). Would they reconsider it ? Or should I delay the application 1 year and apply after I have passed the N2 level ? What do you think ? Thanks in advance (by the way, sorry for the long paragraph).
Hi Aditia,
You have over 7 months to the JLPT chance in December of this year and the scores from that test would be in time for the April/May 2024 application that you mentioned, so I would recommend focusing on that. With that amount of time, if you really concentrate on your studies, you should be able to pass.
I do not think it likely that the universities would be willing to provisionally accept you based on the assumption that you would pass the JLPT later. (After all, if they agree to accept you, they would have to do so whether or not you passed the test, so that would be a significant risk for them.)
If you had a personal connection there and they were willing to interview you directly to see that you have sufficient Japanese language ability and just need to wait for the test to prove it, that would be one thing, but that seems unlikely.
For now, my best recommendation is to put all of your effort into passing the test this December to make sure that it doesn’t become an issue!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Wishing you a great weekend ! It’s been a while, what’s up ? I am now working for my research plan. I am interested in pharmacogenomics/pharmacogenetics field. This field has quite some applications ranging from cardiovascular, immunosupresive, all the way to cancer drugs. The laboratory (of the university in Japan) I am aming for is now researching on pharmacogenetics/pharmacogenomics on immunosupresive drugs and cancer drugs. Should I create a research plan based on these specific subtopics ? As per now I believe as long as it is pharmacgenetics it would be fine. But I’m not quite sure. What do you think ? Sorry for the long pharagraph. By the way Sir, thank you for the all the support from my previous questions, Have a good one.
Best regards,
Aditia B
Hi Aditia,
It is good to hear from you again!
I do not have the necessary expertise in your field to understand how close different research topics are to one another. I think your research proposal should fall within the scope of what the lab says its mission is. You do not have to match everything they’re doing directly, though. As long as your research bears a relationship and could be seen to support the lab’s other ongoing research, then it should be acceptable!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, first of all thank you for the guide!
I applied for the MEXT U to U program this year, and my supervisor sent me a forwarded message (probably from the admission staff), asking me to reconfirm my commitment to enter the university if I am accepted as a MEXT recipient. The message also include wordings like “you are a candidate of MEXT scholarship”.
Does this technically mean I have passed the university screening? If yes, will there be further interviews with MEXT for the MEXT screening?
Thank you & have a good day!
Hi Albert,
I would have to see the whole message to be sure, but it seems like a promising development!
Universities need to submit their list of nominated candidates to MEXT between March 13 – 23, so this would be about the time that they would be finishing their internal selection. Before they make their nomination to MEXT, they would certainly want to double-check candidates’ commitment, since they can’t make changes later. I can’t think of any other reason why they would ask you to reconfirm your commitment now if they were not going to nominate you.
After you are nominated to MEXT, there are no further interviews, and you won’t see any news or updates until the final results come out in the summer (usually late June/early July). But in general, all nominated candidates are approved by MEXT, so the delay is nothing to worry about, it’s just slow, bureaucratic processing.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, thanks for your quick response! The message reads:
“Now, you are a candidate for Monbukagakusho(MEXT) scholarship.
Before the final decision by the University, we need to reconfirm your intention.”
Then I have to answer some Yes/No question for my commitment on the scholarship.
Hi Albert,
Thank you for the quick follow-up.
That certainly sounds like you have been selected by the university. From this point forward, there are no more competitive evaluations, etc. Every applicant nominated by the university to MEXT should receive the scholarship in the end, unless there is a serious problem (like MEXT discovers that you have been deported from Japan and are banned from entering the country, or that you have applied to two universities, etc.)
It will be a while for the processing, but you should hear good news this summer!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, thank you so much for your articles regarding MEXT! They have helped me a lot in deciding what to prepare in order to apply for my higher studies. I am planning to apply as a research student to Tohoku University for next year, since I’m still a undergrad student right now and my embassy somehow doesn’t accept still enrolled students, hence ineligible for the Embassy Recommendation. I have a few questions:
1) The general university website states that the admission period usually ends in December and only accepts October intakes, but in the graduate school website, it is stated that Oct-Dec period is for the April intake. Also, it seems that the information displayed are somehow for privately financed students. Do I still apply in December but state that I am going for the MEXT scholarship or is it better to contact the school for more information?
2) Does achievements like competitions medals, etc. affect my application? I have a decent GPA but doesn’t have any outstanding achievements like winning competitions or publishing papers. I was just wondering if I still stand a chance.
Hi Bella,
You might want to double-check about the Embassy not allowing currently-enrolled students to apply just to make sure that there isn’t a miscommunication or strange wording, if you can. In general, the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship offers better chances, so I think it’s worth the effort to check.
1) The application guidlines you were looking at were only for privately-financed students. There is a different set of guidelines for MEXT Scholarship applicants:
https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/admissions/financial_aid.html
The University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship only allows new students to arrive in the fall.
2) Achievements like you mentioned don’t make a significant difference in your application, unless they are directly related to your research proposal in Japan and show your potential for excellence there. For example, if you won an award for a paper on the same research topic you are going to pursue in Japan, that would be significant, but most achievements aren’t going to have a big impact. The most important factors are your GPA and the quality of your Field of Study and Research Program Plan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
It’s me again and it’s my third question here. Thank you for your answers to my previous questions.
I had prepared my application materials looking at your posts. Two days ago I got an email from my program that they are recommending me for the mext scholarship after an interview. So, is it sure to assume that I will ge getting the scholarship?
Also, there was an entrance exam (interview) for the graduate school and it’s result is still pending. At this time, I am being impatient. Is it possible to be recommended by the mext selection committee but not passing the graduate school entrance? Considering my performance, I think I did well but the university I applied has a low acceptance rate. Hence I’m still uncertain.
Finally, thank you very much for preparing such wonderful guides for the students like me. You have been great help for my preparation. Have a good day.
Andreas.
Hi Andreas Hoffman,
It’s good to hear from you again, especially with such good news! Thank you for your kind words, as well.
Yes, if the university is recommending you to MEXT, then it’s almost certain that you will receive the scholarship. All that remains is bureaucratic processing and double checks.
I suspect that the selection committee for the entrance exam and the MEXT scholarship would have some communication between the two of them, and it seems very unlikely to me that they would nominate you to the scholarship but not accept you to the graduate program. I think the scholarship selection committee would probably make sure that you were going to be accepted, first. Besides, no matter how competitive the university is, I am positive that the MEXT scholarship (especially being nominated by that university for the MEXT Scholarship) is far more competitive!
I hope that you will hear good news about your acceptance soon. Unfortunately, for the MEXT Scholarship, there will be no word until around late June, based on usual years, but there should be nothing to worry about.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you so much for the post, it helps me a lot with my application. I got my provisional acceptance and the offer for MEXT scholarship from the university but they said I still need an email interview. Will this interview affect the final decision on awarding the scholarship (They said the result will be officially annouced in June)? Do you have any advice for the email interview?
Thank you!
Hi Clara,
Congratulations on getting this far!
If the university has already given you a provisional acceptance offer and MEXT scholarship offer, then I can only conclude that the interview is a formality, since the university is technically required to conduct it as part of the selection result.
If you completely fail the interview (for example, if you can’t answer basic questions about your research, etc.), there’s a chance your offer could be pulled, but I doubt it. As long as you make a strong effort to answer the questions, you should be fine.
I have articles about the Embassy interview and University interview that might help you prepare. I would expect mostly questions about your research, but there may be some about how you will adjust to life in Japan, etc., as well.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis! Thank you for enlighting us with this post!
I am a former mext recipient (MA). However, I was between jobs for two years upon my graduation because of COVID. I established a small business (being an enterpreneur) and did part-time on research during this time. I am currently having 1 year of working experience in academia. However, waiting for another two years will disqualify me to re-apply for MEXT due to the age restriction requirement. I wonder if there is any exception (of the duration of work experiences or line of works) on application for potential students whose professional career has been affected by COVID?
Hi Cheryl,
Thank you for your feedback!
Unfortunately, there is no exception to the 3-year rule due to COVID present in the guidelines. But the guidelines are not specific about line of work. So, your time operating a small business may count toward the three years, if it was an active, full-time business. That may be a judgement call, but if you had employees and/or earned a full-time living from it, they should count that as part of your three years.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz