The Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship is your best chance for a fully-funded graduate degree in Japan.
Application Guidelines for the 2023 MEXT Scholarship
MEXT released the application guidelines and forms for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship on April 26, 2022.
What this Article Will Cover
Want a step-by-step guide to the application process, including how to develop your application strategy? Click here to learn more about the first book in the Mastering the MEXT Scholarship series.
Whether you are applying for the MEXT scholarship for Research Students for the first time, or whether you are a veteran applicant, this article will explain everything you need to know for the application process. I will also include links to other relevant articles that will help you along your way. I will cover the following topics, so if you’re looking for specific information, please skip ahead.
- Available degree levels and programs
- Scholarship benefits
- Eligibility (*Separate article, linked below)
- Where, when, and how to apply
- What you need to submit
- Application timeline
This article covers the MEXT scholarship for Graduate Students (a.k.a. “Research Students”, in MEXT’s terms). There is also an application process for Undergraduate Students, but I will not be discussing that in this article. Undergraduate applicants can find this year’s guidelines on the official Study in Japan website.
What Degree Programs are Available?
MEXT uses the word “research student” to refer to all graduate level students. You can apply for any of the following programs:
- Non-Regular Student (also called “Research Student” at most universities)
- Master’s Degree Student
- Doctoral Degree Student
- Graduate-level Professional Degree Student (MBA, JD, etc.)
There are two reasons that applicants apply as a “Non-Regular” student (Research Student). The first, and most common, is many applicants start as non-regular students for their first semester or first few semesters, only. During that time, they prepare their research for their thesis, take some courses to catch up on their academic work, and also take the entrance exam that is required to officially start the program. Here, a “Non-Regular” student is like being a “Pre-Graduate” student. You are just in that position short-term before applying for the degree (and simultaneously applying to extend your MEXT scholarship to cover the full degree).
The second reason to apply for a “Non-Regular” student status is if you are already enrolled in a degree in another country and want to come to Japan for a short amount of time to conduct research for your thesis or dissertation at your home university. In that case, you would not plan to earn a degree from a Japanese university. However, students in this situation are exceptionally rare.
Fields of Study
You should apply for the field of study that you majored in at university or its related field. This is one of the eligibility requirements! If you plan to change fields, you need to show a clear and compelling relationship between your past studies and what you will study in Japan to prove they are “related”. It is up to you to explain the connection and convince your reviewers!
Your field of study also has to be available at the graduate level at a university in Japan in a language that you speak. If you can find at least one graduate program taught in English in Japan in your field of study, with a professor who can supervise your research, you will be fine.
The scholarship does not cover programs that require practical training/apprenticeship, such as performing arts or programs that require technical training at a factory or company. You can study Japanese performing arts from an academic perspective, so long as no practical performance training is required.
Finally, for medical or dental fields, you can not participate in any clinical training until you receive the relevant licenses from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. License exams are only in Japanese and involve significant technical language. This essentially means that you would need native-level fluency in Japanese if you intend to pursue a degree in any of these fields that requires clinical training.
MEXT Scholarship Benefits
- Exemption from paying tuition, entrance examination, and matriculation fees.
Note: You may be required to pay entrance examination fees in advance if your MEXT scholarship award is not yet confirmed, but you would receive a refund of the fees after you are selected for the scholarship
- Monthly stipend:
- Non-Regular 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, because of high cost of living or seasonal adjustments for winter utilities, etc.
- International flight ticket from your country of residence to Japan.
Note: MEXT only covers the international portion of the ticket. You must pay all domestic travel costs in your home country and in Japan, plus the airport usage fees and fuel surcharges, etc. MEXT will only arrange travel from your country of residence, not from a third country. So, if you are living abroad prior to the start of the scholarship, you would have to pay for your own ticket.
If there is no Japanese embassy in your country and you have to travel to another country to apply for your visa to come to Japan, MEXT will pay for an international flight to that third country and then an onward international flight to Japan. But all domestic travel expenses (e.g. airport to embassy) and lodging costs on your way would be your responsibility to cover.
- International flight ticket from Japan back to your country of residence upon successful completion of the scholarship. The same conditions apply as for the flight to Japan. You must travel by the date specified by MEXT. You will not receive a flight ticket home if you lose the scholarship because of your own actions or if you decide to withdraw and return home before finishing the scholarship. Also, if you extend your stay in Japan, for example, to work in Japan after graduation or continue your studies, MEXT will not pay for your plane ticket home, even if you are going home for a short visit before starting work or your next degree. (If you extend your MEXT Scholarship to cover a subsequent degree, you will get a flight ticket home at the end of the scholarship, just not between degrees.)
MEXT reviews the stipend amounts above annually and may change them. However, they have never changed in the 11 years I have been working with the MEXT Scholarship.
Scholarship Period
The maximum scholarship period is:
- Non-Regular (research) students: Up to 24 months, from arrival in Japan until March 2025. The maximum duration of 24 months is only available if applicants arrive in April 2023, since the end date is fixed. If you arrive in the fall semester and your university’s semester starts on September 1, 2023, you will get 18 months of stipend (including September), but if the university semester starts on September 2 or later, your scholarship stipend will start in October 2023 and you will be eligible for a maximum of 17 months.
- Master’s Degree or Professional Degree Students: 24 months
- Doctoral Degree or Doctoral-level Professional Degree Students: 36 months
*For doctoral students in 4-year programs in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, or pharmacy, the duration would be 48 months.
For students in degree programs, you may also take part in a 6-month preparatory Japanese language program prior to the start of your degree. This program helps you learn basic, survival Japanese, so it is primarily for students with little to no language ability. It does not teach academic Japanese sufficient to study a degree program. If you join this program, the scholarship will cover the six months (as a non-regular student) prior to your degree. For students applying as non-regular students, these six months are part of your maximum 24 months!
The scholarship stipend only applies to months that you are in Japan. During the period that MEXT Scholars could not come to Japan because of the pandemic and closed borders, they did not receive the scholarship stipend, even if they were studying remotely. As of March 2022, borders are open again and scholars can enter Japan, but if they close again in the future, please note that you would not receive the scholarship while outside the country.
In order to receive your scholarship stipend each month, you must be present at your university in person and show your Residence Card with your “Student” residence status once per month on the designated day. If you do not appear during a month, you would not receive the payment.
It is possible to apply to extend the scholarship if you advance to the next level degree (from Non-Regular Student to Master’s or Doctoral Degree or from Master’s to Doctoral Degree). However, you cannot extend your time as a Non-Regular (Research) student and you cannot extend the scholarship period if you cannot complete the degree within the time limit above.
Who is Eligible?
I have published a separate article that covers the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship eligibility requirements for 2021/2022.
Besides these requirements, you should also pay attention to any additional eligibility requirements established by the Japanese embassy in your country. You must meet all sets of requirements in order to apply! For example, in some countries, applicants have to complete a pre-screening by a government office in your country. Or some countries limit the eligible fields of study, add academic eligibility requirements based on the local grading scale, etc. Check the website of the Japanese Embassy or Consulate nearest you for details! (See below).
Where and When do you Apply?
You apply at the Japanese embassy or consulate that serves the area where you live. You can find a list of Japanese embassies and consulates at:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/mofaserv.html
I recommend using a Control-F search on that page to find your country. It may not be listed under the region you are used to.
While I will give the general application deadlines below, each embassy or consulate sets its own deadlines, so be sure to check the embassy or consulate webpage for specific application instructions. Your embassy or consulate will explain exactly what you have to submit and how. For example, in 2021, some embassies accepted submission by email, since applicants could travel and the postal service was disrupted. Please be sure to check the details for your specific embassy or consulate!
Your embassy or consulate may also have additional eligibility restrictions (such as additional GPA requirements in your home country’s system) or required paperwork (for example, pre-screening procedures) that you can only find on their website.
Application Timeline
| Step | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Submit application to embassies | April-June, 2022 | See the website of the Japanese embassy in your country for specific deadlines, requirements, and submission methods! |
| Primary Screening | May-July, 2021 | Includes review of submitted documents, language proficiency tests, and interview. |
| Apply to Universities for Letter of Acceptance Note: Article is from the 2021/2022 application cycle. I will update it as soon as possible. |
July-August 26, 2022 | August 26 (Japan time) is the deadline to apply to universities, not the deadline for them to get back to you. |
| Submit letters of acceptance and Placement Preference Form to Embassy | Late September 2022 | See the website of the Japanese embassy in your country for specific deadlines! |
| Secondary Screening and University Placement | October 2022-February 2023 | |
| Notification of Results | January-February 2023 | |
| Arrive in Japan | April 2023 or September / October 2023 |
What you Have to Submit
Each of the documents below is required by MEXT. However, embassies may ask for additional documents and may ask for each document at a different time (for example, you may not be required to submit all the documents with your initial application), so again, be sure to check the specific instructions for your embassy!
For each document below, you will need to submit one original as well as two photocopies (except where noted below) and you must number them in the top right corner. I will include direct download links to MEXT’s documents where available. Keep in mind that these are the documents for the 2022/2023 Embassy Recommendation MEXT Scholarship Application for Graduate Students. Do not use these links if you are applying for other scholarship types.
I will post a separate article soon about the Application Form for this year (in the meantime, here is my guide to the form from 2021/2022, which is nearly identical) and about the other required documents. Be sure to subscribe to my MEXT scholarship mailing list to be the first to know when I release that article! I will also send you a sample completed application form as a special bonus.
- Application Form with attached photograph* (Fillable PDF format from the Study in Japan website)
As a special thanks to mailing list subscribers, I will send you a sample of the completed application form that you can use as a guide!
Click here for my article from the 2021/2022 cycle about how to complete this form.
*The photograph must be clear, without shadows, no more than 6 months old, show your upper body, facing forward with no hats (except religious head coverings), and be 3.5 cm wide by 4.5 cm tall. The photograph must be printed on photo paper with your name and nationality written on the back, and pasted to the form. Never use staples to attach a photo! Alternatively, you can insert photo data directly into the pdf before printing it out.
- Placement Preference Application Form (Fillable PDF format from Study in Japan website).
Click here for my article about how to complete this form.
*For this form, you only need to submit one original. You don’t need to submit two additional copies.
- Field of Study and Research Program Plan (PDF format from Study in Japan website)
In previous years, MEXT offered this form in MS Word format, so you could input text directly. In 2022, the website only has a PDF version that you cannot edit, but the previous Word edition is still available, just not linked. You can download the Field of Study and Research Program Plan (Word format) here.
Click here for my article about how to complete this form.
- Academic transcript for each academic year of university education attended, issued by your university or national government. The transcript(s) must show the grading scale, all grades earned in each course, and the year in which you took each class. If you cannot get all of this information in a single document, then you might have to submit multiple official documents showing each part of the required information.
Depending on your enrollment status, you must submit transcripts as below:
Undergraduate Enrollment Status Graduate Enrollment Status What to submit Graduated Never enrolled 1) Academic transcript of the undergraduate program Graduated Graduated (not currently enrolled in a subsequent degree) 1) Academic transcript of the undergraduate program
2) Academic transcripts for all graduate degreesCurrently enrolled Never enrolled 1) Academic transcript for undergraduate program showing all semesters or years for which grades have been determined as of the application deadline. Graduated Currently enrolled 1) Academic transcript of the undergraduate program
2) Academic transcripts for any completed graduate degrees (if applicable)
3) Academic transcript for your current graduate program showing all semesters or years for which grades have been determined as of the application deadline.If you transferred universities or studied abroad, you will probably also be required to submit your pre-transfer transcript or the transcript from your study abroad university, as well.
*If you are currently enrolled in a degree program and will graduate before the end of the screening process, they you will also be required to submit your final transcript for that program when it becomes available, not later than the start of your degree in Japan.
- Certificate of graduation or degree. MEXT will accept a copy attested by an official at the university as an original. Do not submit your original diploma as submitted documents will not be returned to you!
Depending on your enrollment status, you must submit Certificates of Graduation as below:
Undergraduate Enrollment Status Graduate Enrollment Status What to submit Graduated Never enrolled 1) Certificate of Graduation from undergraduate degree Graduated Graduated (not currently enrolled in a subsequent degree) 1) Certificate of Graduation from undergraduate degree
2) Certificate of Graduation from all graduate degreesCurrently enrolled Never enrolled 1) Certificate of Prospective Graduation* from undergraduate degree Graduated Currently enrolled 1) Certificate of Graduation from undergraduate degree
2) Certificate of Graduation from any completed graduate degrees (if applicable)
3) Certificate of Prospective Graduation* from current graduate degree*Certificate of Prospective Graduation: This document often causes challenges for applicants. Their universities will refuse to issue a certificate saying that they guarantee students will graduate by a certain date before students have completed all the requirements. But this is usually the result of misunderstanding MEXT’s poor explanation! A “Certificate of Prospective Graduation” can be conditional! So, your university can say that you are expected to graduate by XX date, provided that you complete all graduation requirements by that date. Essentially, all they are doing is certifying that it is possible for you to complete your degree requirements and graduate by then. It is up to you to meet the requirements. (MEXT will cancel your scholarship if you do not graduate before coming to Japan.)
- Recommendation letter from the president, dean, or your academic advisor at the most recent university where you are/were enrolled in a degree program. There is a sample template available (PDF format) on the Study in Japan website, but I do not recommend you use it, since you can submit a free-form letter, instead. Just make sure that your free-form letter covers the questions shown in the template.
The template letter includes out-of-date instructions that the letter has to be submitted in a sealed envelope. That is no longer a requirement, though your recommender can choose to submit it sealed, if they prefer. Remember, though, that you need to submit one original and two copies, so if your recommender prefers to seal their letter in an envelope, be sure to ask them in advance to also make two photocopies of the letter and include them in the same envelope.
*In 2021, some embassies called for applications to be submitted by email, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and they may ask for recommenders to submit their letters of recommendation directly to the embassy by email. Be sure to check the instructions on the website of the Japanese Embassy where you will apply for specific instructions in your case!
*If you have already received a letter of recommendation in a sealed envelope by the time you are reading this and there is only a single original in there, please ask your local Japanese Embassy for guidance about what to do. They may instruct you to submit just the one original or may ask you to open the letter and make copies. This varies from country to country.
- Medical Certificate (a.k.a. Certificate of Health) completed by a medical doctor (PDF format from Study in Japan website)
*Please check the website of the Japanese Embassy where you will apply to see if they have specific instructions about this form. In some countries, they do not request this form at the start of the Primary Screening and only ask applicants to submit it later. Be sure to check the requirements for your country!
- Abstracts of graduation theses or published articles, if available
*If you have not written a graduation thesis or completed a similar graduation project (e.g. there is no thesis requirement for your degree), please contact the Japanese Embassy where you will apply to check what you should submit. Sometimes, they may say that you do not need to submit anything, but in others, they will ask you to submit an abstract of another major paper or presentation instead. If you have not written your thesis yet but will write one later, you can still submit an abstract before the thesis is complete, if your topic bas been determined.
*You should also submit abstracts of all the published works you listed in your application form.
- Certificate of language proficiency (English and/or Japanese), if you have any. Typically, this refers to language proficiency tests. If you do not have test scores but have other certificates of proficiency, such as a letter from your university attesting to your English language ability, you can submit those certificates instead. This is an optional item, so if you do not have any scores or certificates you can still apply, unless otherwise stated by the Japanese Embassy where you will apply. In most cases, you will take language proficiency tests during the Primary Screening process that will be used for your official evaluation. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, some countries have cancelled those tests and made submission of proficiency test scores mandatory, instead. Please refer to the embassy where you will apply for specific details in your case.
*If you have mentioned language proficiency test scores in your application form, you should be sure to submit copies of those scores.
*No original is required for this item, only 3 copies are needed.
*Even if the embassy does not require you to submit proficiency test scores, Japanese universities may ask you to do so when you apply for Letters of Provisional Acceptance. Check in advance if the universities that you want to attend will require scores or not, if you can.
- Recommendation letter from present employer, if employed. The same sample format can be used as for the letter of recommendation from your university, but as mentioned above, I do not recommend that you use the template!
- Photograph(s) or digital audio recordings of applicant’s works, if applying for fine arts or music programs.
Be sure to check with the Japanese embassy or consulate in your home country! They may have additional requirements or may require the documents above at different times during the process.
The embassy or consulate is also your only source of information about the application deadline and the means of submitting the application!
Good luck with the MEXT scholarship application in 2022! If you have questions I didn’t cover, let me know in the comments below!
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Want to know more?
My book, How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship, describes the scholarship in detail, including the purpose and coverage, the eligibility criteria, how to develop a successful applicant mindset, and how to craft your application strategy for the greatest chance of success!
Special Thanks
Special thanks to the TranSenz supporters on Patreon, who help keep this site running through their generous contributions. Special thanks to Daimyo Supporters Pablo and Alessia, who generously pledge over $10 per month and everyone who has been supporting TranSenz for months or years! You can support this site on Patreon for as little as $1 (or equivalent in your currency) per month. Patreon supporters get early access to articles, discounts on coaching services/books, and priority responses to questions as my way of saying thanks.
If you want to show your support but Patreon is out of reach, I’d appreciate it if you say hi in the comments below to let me know if you appreciate these posts and what you found helpful.
Hello Travis,
First of all: Thank you SO much for all the work you put into this website and your guides! There is no other source that has been as helpful for me during my application as yours 🙏🏻
Then, I wanted to let you know that my Embassy (LUX) has contacted me on February 1st to let me know that I have been accepted for the Embassy-recommended MEXT research scholarship! Maybe this information will be helpful to you or other applicants. I was checking my inbox like crazy during the last week of January so I understand how others, who haven’t heard back yet, must be feeling.
Thanks again for all your support! Is there any way, besides purchasing the guides (since I don’t really need them now…), to make a donation to you for your work?
Hi Rachel,
Congratulations!
Thank you very much for sharing this good news and for your kind comments. I am glad to hear that I was able to offer at least a little support.
I have had a few comments from other applicants who have been desperately checking their inboxes recently, so I hope your comment will provide some relief to them. Results should start coming out in other countries soon, too, if they aren’t released already.
I sincerely appreciate the offer of support. Of course, it makes sense that you don’t need the guides :). Most of the donation sites I’ve tried don’t serve Japan, for tax reasons, but one option would be to become a supporter on Patreon for one month, then cancel. But that can be troublesome if you’re not already a Patreon user, so please don’t worry if it’s too much of a challenge. In that case, I’d just ask that you spread the word if anyone else you know is considering applying for the MEXT Scholarship in the future!
Good Luck with your studies in Japan!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi again Travis,
you have definitely helped me in my application – and not just a little bit! It’s just so difficult to find specific and reliable information about the MEXT scholarship and its application process online. And generally, I find that not many people even know about it (but maybe that’s just in my region, I’m not sure).
Anyway, I will look into a month-long Patreon subscription to show some sort of support! And I’ve forwarded people to your website a few times before as well, since, as I said, it’s the only (truly) useful resource on the scholarship online 😅
Thanks again for everything and lots of luck and success in all your future endeavours!
Dear Rachel,
Thank you again!
I wish you the best of luck with your studies in Japan. If you noticed anything during the application process that you think I could improve upon in the guides, or additional topics you would like to see (including as you prepare to move to Japan), please let me know. I’m always trying to improve and keep up with the changes.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis,
Thanks again for all the good wishes! 😊 I really look forward to being back in Japan soon.
If I think of anything to improve your guides, I will definitely contact you again. Good luck to you, too!
Hi Travis, I couldn’t get a recommendation letter from present employer. Is it a must to submit it if I’m working a full time job? Also, If I can’t get it should I untick the 18th question.
Thanks.
Hi Bun,
Yes, you are required to submit the letter of recommendation from your employer if you are working full time.
I’m not sure why you wouldn’t be able to uncheck the box in 18 (it works fine for me opening the form in Acrobat Reader or with Chrome), but you have to be truthful in the form, so you shouldn’t check “No” if you have a full time job, even if you can’t get the Letter of Recommendation. Lying on the form can result in your being disqualified.
In general, if you can’t uncheck a box, then you can recreate that page in a separate pdf file and print it separately then add it to your application.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Yeah, lying about the form would be stressful. In my case, they told me having a letter of recommendation from employer is an added advantage. I didn’t get one but I still passed first screening. I guess this depends on the embassy. If anyone’s reading this I suggest you also contact your embassy to make sure.
Hi Bun,
Thank you for sharing your results and congratulations on passing the Primary Screening!
“When in doubt, call the Embassy” is always a good strategy.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, I’ve already submitted the forms but I’ve just realised that I made a mistake. I ticked “non-regular” instead of master’s program. What are my chances of being called for the first screening?
Hi Aubrey Sato,
Do you mean that you checked it as your choice for where to start, or for the final program you wish to pursue in Japan?
It’s very common for applicants to start as a research student then matriculate into the master’s program a semester later, so if you checked that you wanted to start as a research student, it wouldn’t hurt you at all. If you checked “Only a non-degree student” for question 17 (term you wish to study abroad in Japan), then they may be less inclined to select you than someone who intends to earn a degree, but if you have a strong academic record and Field of Study and Research Program Plan, there is still a good chance you will make it through to the interview. If your FSRPP is for a Master’s degree, that should help them realize that you must have checked the wrong box, too.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis
Thank you for your articles, they have been very helpful.
I applied for the Embassy recommended last year, I was selected for the written examination but I did not get to the interview stage. I want to re-apply with same documents and exact Research Plan again. I hope that works?
Also, I am applying as Masters student for September intake, would it be okay for me to select Non-regular student in the Application form and choose April as the month of arrival in Japan. Since I would enrol for 6months Japanese Language Prep class before my degree program starts in Sept.
Please advice.
Hi UJ,
You can apply again with the same documents, but since you didn’t make it past the document screening last time, I think you should probably try to improve your research plan, at least, to give yourself a better chance.
If you want to arrive in April for the Japanese language program then start the degree in September, I think you should select an April arrival and say that you want to start as a Master’s student. If you say that you want to start as a research student, that would be a research student at your university after completing the language program.
Of course, that can change later, so what you indicate in the application form is not the final decision. (What the university writes in your Letter of Provisional Acceptance is much more important).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis…It’s really good to have you as a well-wisher and a good guide regarding MEXT scholarships application submission. Thank You so much!
I have some questions in mind as well.
1. The Embassy in our country has mentioned the document requirements in which they didn’t ask for the health certificate neither for placement letter. So, should I submit it still if they are not asking for it?
2. Regarding research proposal, is there any preferable page limit for the proposal?
Regards
~Hira Bashir
Hi Hira Bashir,
Thank you very much for your kind comments.
1. Some countries don’t ask for these documents for the initial document screening and only have applicants submit them once they pass the Primary Screening. So, you should follow the instructions for your particular embassy. (You don’t need to submit them yet).
2. The length must be within 2 pages, including all of the explanations on the first page (as explained on the form, itself).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello!
I have a little question about the Health certificate.
In the 6th part where the doctor needs to write his/her impression of the applicant’s condition.
Is it mandatory for the Doctor to fill that part if I don’t need any treatment and had no past illnesses or disorders?
Or it’s just fine to let it empty if has no remarks to add.
Thank you!
Hi Gheorghe,
I would recommend asking the doctor to fill in “None” there if they have no comments. Or “Good health.”
That would indicate to the reviewers that he didn’t just miss the question and leave it blank, but there was in fact nothing to report.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, I wanted to ask you about the possibility of having a special coaching service for the MEXT scholarship, what do I mean by this? I gave a little context, last year I applied and made it to the interview, thinking that everything had been done I was met with the surprise in the weeks after the interview that I was not selected in the first screening of the scholarship along with the following explanation as why I was not selected
“Your interview was good, but perhaps because it is a broad and ambitious topic, we suggest you for the next opportunity to look for a research project topic with more probability of obtaining results”, being my proposed research topic the following “Governmental measures of state stability as triggers of social movements: A comparative approach of Abenomics in 2012 and the 2015 peace and security legislation in Japan.”
This year I have been researching and I am determined to try again with a similar topic but much more focused in one area and with a more tangible result to be obtained, however I fear that the reason why I has not been selected is because it touches on controversial issues or that are uncomfortable for the expectations of the embassy, however my academic specialization is in the area of social activism and social movements, so it is not so easy for me to simply look for another topic.
As explained, here is my query, there is a much cheaper option to have a topic only review? I just need if it is not controversial and if it is more tangible in the eyes of the embassy members, because I am really struggling with money at the moment and it costs me a lot to pay the 10,000 yen for the whole consultation. If possible you can reply directly to my email thank you very much and sorry for the boldness.
Hi Augusto,
I have never heard of a topic being rejected for being too controversial before, and I have seen some fairly sensitive research proposals in my past reviews. In any case, that is not something I would be able to review for, since the most likely way for a topic to end up being rejected because of sensitivity would be if an individual reviewer had an issue with the topic and then tried to take issue with your research from another perspective, so there is no way to know that without getting inside the heads of the reviewers.
On the other hand, I have seen a lot of proposals that were too broad and did not have a clear enough description of methodology and data to answer their research questions, so that seems to me to be a much more likely reason why your proposal would have rejected.
I am sorry that the review process is out of your reach at this time. But if not me, you could ask a former professor to look through your proposal and ask them to give you honest feedback about whether or not you have presented a clear research question and shown that your practical research steps will be able to answer that question.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you for your detailed guide on how to apply! Appreciate the time and effort you put in to help students in need.
I have one question related to the recommendation letter from the employer: can it be written in Japanese as well? I’m currently working at a Japanese company based in Romania and my boss is Japanese.
Hi Tina,
Yes, it should be fine for the letter to be written in Japanese. The guidelines say that documents in either English or Japanese are acceptable.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Can you apply to the MEXT if you are already in Japan? I am thinking about going to Japan for a 2 year Japanese language school, and then afterwards apply for the MEXT scholarship for a graduate school (I wanted to learn the language before applying to my graduate school of choice since the school I want to go to says I must have at least N5 level for their graduate program). But in order to stay in Japan, I might apply to MEXT a year into my language school since the visa might be only as long as the program is. Where would I be able to apply to MEXT within Japan since I believe there is no Japanese embassy within Japan itself.
HI Taylor,
It is possible to apply for the MEXT Scholarship while you are living in Japan, but in order to be eligible, in general, you need to have a pre-defined plan to finish your residence in Japan and return to your home country before the start of the scholarship. I cover this more in my article on eligibility for the MEXT Scholarship.
So, in your case, you would need to be able to show that your Japanese language school program would end before the start of the scholarship so that you could go back to your home country and apply for a new student visa as a MEXT Scholar.
You would also need to apply via the Japanese Embassy in your home country (country of nationality), which might mean that you would have to fly back temporarily during the application process for the tests and interviews.
Good luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi
I would like to know if the 80%inside the Mark sheet its compulsury for every contrat? Thanks
Hi Eze,
I’m afraid I’m not sure what you are referring to. This sounds like it might be a local requirement in your country, because MEXT does not have a requirement for an 80% percentage. I have an article about the eligibility requirements from MEXT at this link.
For MEXT’s requirement, your cumulative GPA after conversion must be above 2.3/3.0, so I would assume that local requirements would also apply to your cumulative grades.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you Travis. I had a few questions, but I see you have answered them here.
About the numbering of the documents, should I number it before I make copies or after I make copies (does that mean I also have to number the copies?)
Would it make sense to fill some documents with pen and some digitally?
I have tried to download the Preference form pdf to my system but I could not for some reason.
Also, I wanted to thank you for providing the doc format of the research plan pdf. It almost drove me nuts. Haha
Hi Gal,
I recommend numbering before you make the copies to save yourself some effort and keep things consistent, but there isn’t a requirement either way.
I would only recommending using pen where completing the forms digitally is not possible. For example, for signatures. And, of course, your doctor should complete the Certificate of Health by pen!
MEXT has since posted the Placement Preference Form on their own website, so you can try downloading from this link.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thanks for responding.
For my certificate of health, after my lab tests and when all the results came out, I was asked by the doctor to fill the form digitally then he printed it out, signed on it and also stamped on it with the hospital’s stamp.
Is that fine? Or do I have to go back so he could fill it with a pen instead?
Hi Gal,
As long as the document has the hospital’s seal and the doctor’s information, it should be acceptable.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, dear Travis!
I don’t know why I can’t receive emails from you ((( I’m Yulduz Ahmedova
Hi Yulduz Akhmedova,
It looks like you had unsubscribed from my mailing list at the end of March, but I see that you are subscribed again, so you should be receiving messages now!
Please let me know if you have any trouble in the future.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
First of all, thank you for providing such useful information and advice on how to make a correct application that stands out. It sure helped me out a lot. However, I have one concern regarding my application. Since this year’s research and field of study form is an uneditable pdf, I downloaded the last year’s as you suggested. However, according to the instrcutions of the Embasy of Japan in Türkiye, the forms must not be converted to other sorts of file. Plus, most online converters leave extra blank between lines containing Japanese letters and block letters, while the one website I found that doesn’t do so gives me a converted pdf with slightly deformed letters. I also tried to use an online pdf filler, but the form is only one-page and the website only offers paid service to add another page. It’s like a huge amount of money due to the chasm between USD and TRY, and I don’t even know if it’ll add the number ”-2-” at the bottom of the page. Considering all these problems and the fact that the forms must be arranged in one pdf file (merging of PDFs is not an issue), what do you think I should do?
And there is one more thing. Do I need to write/type the number of documents on the top right corner of each and every single page (like type number ”1” for all pages of application form), or only the first page of each document (like type ”1” on the top right corner of the first page of the application form and leave the rest of the pages in the same document)? Thanks in advance.
Hi Bahadir,
Microsoft Word should have a “Save as PDF” option. In every version of Word that I have used, when you open the “Save as” dialog box, you can select the file format, and PDF is one of them. I have never had any trouble with that working fine to create a pdf.
Other options are:
– Upload the document to Google Docs, then use the “Print” command there. It should prompt you to download the file as a PDF.
– I use the free graphic editing software GIMP to edit pdfs. It’s designed for editing graphics, but works just fine with PDFs. (That’s how I create my sample filled application forms with the red lettering!) There is a bit of a learning curve, but that could work.
My understanding is that you only need to number the first page of each document, not the rest.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
Thanks for your support and guidance you are giving to us , I hope your doing well .
I have a little problem regarding health certificate.
In the laboratory test, anemia test is written and the doctor is saying that they have the package, In that package they have multiple test regarding anemia but they don’t understand which they should test and fill it. Doctor is asking that “did the embassy gave the list of hospitals of filling the health certificate ” . Even embassy did not gave a clue about it in the guidelines. So what can I do about it sir.
Hi Franklin,
I’m not sure about that. I have never had a doctor question which test was needed, so I simply assumed there was a standardized way to measure it. Any test that gives the required results should be fine. But if you need clarification, I recommend asking the embassy directly.
Sometimes embassies in some countries do designate specific hospitals for testing, though it sounds like that wasn’t the case for you.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you so much for the information you provided. I am intending to apply for the MEXT as a doctoral student, and I found your content so helpful and re-assuring.
I don’t know if you are familiar with the UK system, but I have a few problems concerning the documents. For one, I am doing a one-year Master and the the university would not provide even an intermediate transcript until the end of November. This is because all grades received throughout the year are provisional until they are made official at the end of the year. Would it be a problem for applying to MEXT that I cannot provide a transcript because technically I do not have any grade yet? Second is that my university do not have a certificate of prospective graduation either.
The university does have what’s called a ‘certificate of course selection’ that includes both “Expected completion date” and the courses I am taking (including their unit values). Would that be acceptable?
Thank you very much.
Best.
Hi Jay,
Thank you for your kind words!
The MEXT application requirements say that you have to submit a transcript for all semesters for which grades are available at the time of application. In your case, that sounds like “0 semesters”. That should not hurt your application chances, but I recommend that you include a note in place of the grad school transcript explaining that your earliest transcript will not be available until Nov. If you don’t submit anything, they might consider your application incomplete, but if you submit the explanation of why you don’t have the document, that should be accepted. Of course, you will need your undergraduate transcripts, too.
The Certificate of Course Selection sounds like it would meet the requirements of the Certificate of Expected Graduation, so that should not be a problem. The title is not as important as the contents.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
UG applications released in Studyinjapan website but my home’s embassy haven’t updated yet, But the updated the Deadlines,
Do I have to wait until they update or Start work on sending documents to consulate?
Thank you.
Hi Victor,
It’s fine to start preparing the documents, but I recommend that you don’t submit them until the embassy releases their guidelines. You want to make sure that they don’t have additional requirements or specific instructions that you need to follow, first.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
mine is a question of coming up with alist of universities that one needs to studyor is it provided?
Hi Bengo,
Assuming that you are applying for the scholarship for graduate students/research students, you need to find universities that offer degree programs in your field in English and choose your list of universities as well as professors there who could supervise you. I have an article about finding universities with degree programs in English in Japan that should help.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I am currently studying a Bachelor’s of Commerce and Arts Double Degree, Majoring in Economics and Japanese.
I am thinking about applying for the MEXT scholarship for graduate students once I graduate from my University here in Australia.
I was just wondering if it would be possible for me to apply for the undergraduate program after graduation from my course that I am currently studying? Meaning that I would end up with two Bachelor’s degrees, one from the University that I am currently at in Australia and one from the MEXT scholarship.
Thanks, Lloyd
Hi Lloyd,
It is possible to apply for the MEXT Scholarship for undergraduates if you have already completed a bachelor’s degree, as long as you meet all of the other eligibility requirements (including age limit). But you should be prepared to justify how a second bachelor’s degree would do more to help you contribute to society in the future than a Master’s would.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Since the Research Scholarship is opened, is it okay to use its Certificate of health for UG aren’t they all the same?
Thank you
Hi Victor,
The forms are the same, as far as I know, but the application should be open for both Research and Undergraduate students now. I recommend that you wait to get the Certificate of Health completed until after the embassy posts their guidelines, because they might have specific instructions or might even not ask for it until later in the application process.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Last year I passed the selection process untill the interview. Will it be okay if I apply again with the same papers or should I change something up?
Thanks in advance for the response.
Best regards.
Hi Dejan,
You should at least obtain a new Letter of Recommendation from the current year. Other than that, you can use the same documents, but if you weren’t successful last time, then you might want to look for where there could be room for improvement, such as your Field of Study and Research Program Plan or the essay questions in the Application Form.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hello travis,
Thank you for the useful information. So I am currently preparing for the application and have done the physical tests but I couldn’t find the film N° on the X-ray and my doctor didn’t fill in that space. Where can I find it?
Hi Mahmoud,
I think the “X-ray No” is an antiquated reference system, especially now that most X-rays are done digitally.
The X-ray Number should be the way the doctor can find the X-ray in their system. So, without a numbering system, it is most likely your name and the date of the x-ray, but I recommend that you ask the doctor how they file it and, if possible, ask them to write in something appropriate. It could look suspicious if just that section was clearly filled in by someone with different handwriting or a different pen.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, Nice to meet you!
You mentioned about marking the documents , is it okay if i Mark it with a pencil or with pen ?
Is it compulsory ?
Thank you
Hi Victor,
I assume you are referring to numbering the documents in the top right corner? The guidelines do not specify, but in general, I recommend using a black pen.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz