Do you meet the eligibility criteria for the 2021 Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship?
Click here for more information about How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship.
Are you eligible to apply for the Japanese Government Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship?
As I write this, MEXT has just released the application guidelines for the 2023 Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship (apply in 2022/scholarship starts in 2023). This article covers everything you need to know about those requirements.
Embassy Recommendation MEXT Scholarship Eligibility Requirements: Research Students
The requirements below are for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship. As I detail in my book, How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship, there are differences between the eligibility requirements for University and Embassy Recommendation. I have published another article about the eligibility requirements for the University Recommendation MEXT Scholarship.
These are also the eligibility requirements for the MEXT Scholarship for Research (Graduate) Students. I do not cover the requirements for undergraduates below. If you want to know about the MEXT Scholarship for undergraduate students, I recommend reading the official application guidelines.
A Word of Caution
The eligibility requirements I describe below are the requirements set out by MEXT. However, when you apply to universities for Letters of Acceptance after passing the primary screening, the universities may have their own higher eligibility requirements, as well. If you find that the university you are applying to specifies higher or additional requirements compared to what I describe below, you must meet both sets of requirements. Do not bother trying to argue with the university that MEXT’s standards are lower. That won’t work!
You may also find additional requirements unique to your country. For example, there may be a GPA requirement established in your country’s GPA system, a limitation on fields of study, or other rules. Be sure to check the application guidelines on the homepage of the Japanese Embassy for your country!
Minimum GPA
You must have a minimum 2.3 / 3.0 GPA on MEXT’s scale over the course of your most recent degree, including all grades shown on your transcript at the time of application.
For more information on how to calculate your GPA, I have a separate article dedicated entirely to that process.
You will not find this requirement listed in the official application guidelines provided by MEXT or the embassies (or universities). It is a requirement that MEXT sends to embassies and universities to nominate candidates.
However, frankly speaking, if your converted GPA is even close to that minimum standard, you are going to be facing an uphill battle to get this competitive scholarship!
Nationality
You must have the nationality of a country that has formal relations with Japan (e.g. not Taiwan or North Korea) and must not have Japanese Nationality, including dual nationality. If you currently hold Japanese nationality as a dual national, you must give up your Japanese nationality prior to arriving in Japan.
If you have dual nationality (or more) but do not have Japanese nationality as one of them, then you can ignore the statements about dual nationality throughout the application guidelines. You will use one of your nationalities for this application.
You must apply for the scholarship via the Japanese embassy in the country where you have nationality, including being present at the embassy in person at certain stages of the application. If you had multiple nationalities, then you must choose the country of your primary nationality (typically the country where you live).
Age/Date of Birth
As of the application for the 2022/2023 scholarship, applicants would need to have been born on or after April 2, 1988.
Exceptions to the Age Requirement
The only exceptions to the date of birth requirement above is if MEXT has determined that you could not apply during the ages when you would have been eligible because of a situation in your country beyond your control, such as compulsory military service or the total suspension of higher education due to war, etc.
I have never heard of any country qualifying for this exception, but if you find out that yours has been, please let me know in the comments below!
MEXT will not consider personal circumstances, such as your job, family, health, etc., for an exception.
Academic Background
For the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship, you must meet the requirements below, based on the level of degree you are applying for:
Master’s Degree or equivalent (including Master’s level research student)
- Completed 16 years of school education in a country outside of Japan.
- Completed an undergraduate program with a standard study period of at least three years at a university in a country outside of Japan and received a degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
- Not meet either of the requirements above, but be eligible for a master’s degree at a Japanese graduate school.
In Japan, you need to complete 16 years of study, starting from elementary school, in order to earn a bachelor’s degree, so that is the assumption for criteria 1. (However, if you completed 16 years of study and have not earned a bachelor’s degree because your country’s system requires more years, or because you repeated a year, etc., you would not qualify). For countries that require fewer than 16 years of formal education to earn a bachelor’s degree, refer to criteria 2.
The reference to “standard study period” in criteria 2 above, refers to what the university says should be the length of study. If you graduated early because of high ability and credit loading, that would not make you ineligible. For example, graduating from a 3-year program in 2.5 years still means that you completed a 3-year program. (You will know if this applies to you!)
Doctoral Degree (Non-Medical Practitioner Degrees*)
This is the set of criteria that apply to almost all doctoral degrees.
*There are separate criteria for doctoral degrees in medicine, dentistry, veterinary sciences, and certain pharmaceutical faculties, as listed below.
- Earned a degree at a university outside Japan that is equivalent to a Master’s Degree or Professional Degree.
- Earned a bachelor’s degree, have at least two years of experience in research at a university or research center following that degree, and be considered to have academic competency equal to a person with a master’s degree, as recognized by a Japanese graduate school.
- Not meet either of the requirements above, but be eligible for a doctoral degree at a Japanese graduate school.
Doctoral Degree (Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Sciences, and Certain Pharmaceutical Fields)
- Completed 18 years of school education in countries other than Japan.
- Completed a program with a standard study period of at least five years in a country outside of Japan and received a degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
- Completed 16 years of school education in countries other than Japan, have at least two years of experience in research at a university or research center following that degree, and be considered to have academic competency equal to university graduates in the same field, as recognized by a Japanese graduate school
- Not meet any of the requirements above, but be eligible for a doctoral degree (medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, or pharmaceutical science) at a Japanese graduate school.
Besides the criteria above, you must also review the admissions requirements for the specific program(s) that you want to enroll in and meet all of those requirements. For example, the universities in Japan are likely to require that your previous degree be in the same field (medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, or pharmaceutical science) that you are applying to in Japan.
Field of Study
Need help with your Field of Study and Research Program Plan? How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan will walk you through choosing a field, developing a research question, and completing the final report to give you the best chance of success!
I have another article (and book) all about how to find degree programs taught in English in Japan. The book also goes into detail about how to determine which professor would make the best advisor for your studies and how to contact them.
I have discussed the meaning of a “related field of study” in past articles and in my book, How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship, but here is a 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 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 acceptable. Do not worry about the specific name of the major or graduate school, all that matters is if the contents of the degree program are related.
If there is no obvious relationship between your fields, then you have to establish and prove 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. For example, if you can show that you are researching the same subject matter from a different perspective, that can be successful. I have often seen that approach work for applicants who want to pursue a business degree in Japan after completing a degree in another field during their previous studies. If they can justify that they want to explore the business development opportunities for their previous field of study, that can be considered to be related.
Field of Study Limitations by Country
MEXT allows the embassy in each country, in consultation with the local government, to limit the fields of study in which you can apply. Please check the website of the Japanese Embassy in your country to see if this applies to you.
Prohibition of Technical/Artistic Training Fields
The MEXT Scholarship does not permit study of traditional Japanese performance arts, such as Kabuki and Japanese Dance, that require studio training. You could study kabuki, etc., but not take part in a to train performers.
Similarly, the scholarship does not cover programs that require technical training at factories, etc.
Additional Requirements for Medical Degrees
Medical, Dental, and Social Welfare degrees typically require clinical training, but students cannot take part in such training until obtaining the required licenses from the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. These licenses must, of course, be obtained via testing in Japanese, so unless you are already highly fluent in Japanese, any degree that requires clinical training is essentially going to be impossible.
Language Ability
MEXT requires that applicants have a strong interest in dedicating themselves to studying the Japanese language and deepening their understanding of Japan, but does not have any set minimum language requirements, assuming that you are planning to study in a degree program taught in English. MEXT also requires that you have the requisite language ability to complete your research and survive in daily life in Japan.
There are no specific minimum language ability requirements in English or Japanese and you are not required* to submit proof of language ability during the Primary Screening, but language ability will still be an important part of the screening. During the Primary Screening, you will take language proficiency tests in Japanese and English at the embassy, which will be part of your evaluation. (You can find old tests on the official Study in Japan website for studying.)
*Note: During the COVID-19 Pandemic, some embassies cancelled in-person written exams and instead required applicants to submit proof of language ability using test scores, such as TOEFL or JLTP. Be sure to check what the requirements are in your country for your year.
The second time that language proficiency test scores matter is when you apply to universities for a Letter of Provisional Acceptance after passing the Primary Screening. The universities may require that you submit language proficiency test scores (this is particularly true for programs taught in Japanese!), so I recommend you check the websites for the programs that you want to apply to in advance.
It would be safe to assume that you cannot apply for a program taught in Japanese if you do not have at least N2-level Japanese language ability at the time of application. To apply for a program taught in English, assume that you should have at least B2 level English ability on the CEFR scale.
CEFR B2 Equivalency Table
Here are the scores that MEXT has determined to be equivalent to the CEFR B2:
- Cambridge English (Preliminary, First, Advanced, Proficiency): 160 or higher
- Eiken (Jun-1 kyu, 1 kyu): Any passing score
- GTEC (Advanced, CBT): 1190 or higher
- IELTS: 5.5 or higher
- TEAP: 309 or higher
- TEAP CBT: 600 or higher
- TOEFL iBT: 72 or higher
- TOEIC L&R/TOEIC S&W: 1560
The N2/B2 suggestions above are not official minimum requirements. You may find that the requirements are higher or lower depending on the program that you want to apply to.
Health
You must have no physical or mental health obstacles to studying in Japan, as indicated by a doctor on your Medical Certificate.
A pre-existing medical condition will not disqualify you, as long as your doctor says that you are still fit to study in Japan. If your condition is self-managed, or you can manage it under the continuing care of a Japanese doctor, you should be fine. (If you need continuing care, though, that might limit your choices for universities in Japan, as you will need to be close to a doctor that can treat you in English.)
Ability to Arrive in Japan on Designated Date
In the application form, you will specify whether you want to arrive in Japan for the April or September/October term in 2023. Note that this is when you will arrive in Japan, not necessarily when you will start your degree or your studies at your university (you may spend the first semester in an intensive language program). Once you select your month of arrival, you cannot change it later.
- April Arrival: You must leave your country of residence on or after April 1, 2023, and arrive at your university in Japan between April 1-7, 2023.
- September/October Arrival: You must be able to arrive on the dates specified by your accepting university, which should be within a 2-week window surrounding the start of the Fall 2023 Semester there.
If you do not arrive during those dates, you would have to withdraw from the scholarship, unless MEXT determines that your inability to arrive was because of unavoidable circumstances.
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 re-obtain 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.
The comment in the application guidelines about not being able to re-obtain “Permanent Resident” or “Long-Term Resident” status only applies to applicants who already hold those statuses in Japan. It is possible for any MEXT Scholar (including scholars who were previously Permanent Residents or Long-Term Residents) to apply to change their residence status after completing their studies and to stay in Japan after graduation. However, if you apply to change your residence status after graduation, you would have to meet all requirements to change it, so the results cannot be guaranteed.
Note that if you change your residence status before completing your scholarship/studies, you would instantly be disqualified and lose the scholarship, as discussed in the “Disqualification Criteria” below.
Disqualification Criteria (“Non-eligibility” in the MEXT Guidelines)
Anyone meeting any of the criteria below is ineligible to apply for the scholarship. If a scholar is found to meet any of these criteria during their studies, they would be forced to withdraw from the scholarship immediately.
- 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 accepting university.
- Previous recipient of the Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship (including those who withdrew from the scholarship in the past after arriving in Japan).
However, applicants who have over 3 years of education or employment history between the 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, even if they do not have 3 years of education/employment from the end of the previous scholarship period. Past receipt of the MEXT Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students does not disqualify applicants.
Note that if you are a past MEXT scholarship recipient and over three years have passed since your last award, but you were not employed or enrolled in a degree for at least three full years during that time, you would not be eligible.
- Applicants who are simultaneously applying for any other Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarship, including students who applied for a scholarship to begin in Fiscal Year 2022 (April 2022-March 2023) and have not yet been told that their applications were rejected and students applying for other programs that will begin payment in Fiscal Year 2023.
This means that applicants who applied for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship or the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship in 2020 who passed the Primary Screening and are waiting on the final confirmation of results from MEXT are not eligible to apply this year. You cannot even apply as insurance in case your application is rejected in the end.
- Applicants who are already enrolled at a Japanese university or any other institution (including Japanese language schools in Japan) with a residence status of “Student” at the time of application or who will enroll in a Japanese university or any other institution prior to the start of the scholarship award period. However, applicants who are currently enrolled in a Japanese university/institution (or who will enroll in a Japanese university/institution) as fee-paying students and who have definite plans to complete their studies, return to their home countries, and obtain a new student visa before returning to Japan are eligible.
Essentially, this requirement means you cannot be enrolled in a Japanese university, language school, etc., intending to quit if you receive the MEXT Scholarship. The exception applies to students who enrolled in Japanese university (or language programs) and will complete their course of studies/graduate before the start of the scholarship. This would have to be shown in a Certificate of Expected Graduation, etc.
- Applicants who are planning to receive scholarship money from an organization other than MEXT (including a government organization of the applicant’s country) besides the scholarship money provided by MEXT during the MEXT scholarship award period.
*Note that this does not apply to specific research grants, etc., only to scholarships that cover the same areas as the MEXT scholarship, such as travel, living, or tuition expenses.
- Applicants who have not yet graduated from their qualifying degree at the time of application and who do not 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, you will also be required to submit your final Certificate of Graduation prior to starting your studies in Japan to prove that you graduated as expected. If you do not graduate as expected, you would lose the scholarship.
- Applicants who have multiple nationalities that include Japan, at the time of application and who do not renounce their Japanese citizenship prior to the start of the scholarship.
Note: If you have multiple nationalities, but none of them are Japanese, then you are still eligible.
- Applicants who change their residence status in Japan to a status other than “Student” after arriving in Japan during the scholarship award period.
- Applicants who at the time of application 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 that exceeds one month or interferes with coursework during the semester. MEXT Scholars are required to sign in once each month at their universities and show that they still have “Student” residence status. If you do not sign in on the designated date, you lose your stipend for the month in question and, if you miss three months in a row, you lose the scholarship entirely. Fieldwork outside the country could be possible during vacation periods, for less than a month.
- Applicants who have already obtained a doctoral degree and are applying as a non-degree student.
Item 4, above, means that applicants for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship for 2022 or the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship for 2022 who are still waiting on the final confirmation from MEXT cannot apply for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship for 2023. However, if you applied for either of those application processes and have already been told that your application was rejected, you may apply. It is only applicants who are still in the application process who are ineligible. (Practically speaking, applicants who have not received notification of rejection by this point should receive the scholarship without fail, so there is no need to apply in that case.)
Willingness to Participate in Intercultural Interaction
During your studies in Japan, you must be willing to actively take part in interaction events with local 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, take part in follow-up surveys and studies, and join in activities conducted by the Japanese diplomatic mission in your home country to promote relations with Japan after returning home.
Of course, this is unmeasurable, but stating your willingness/excitement to take part in such activities during the application process, where possible, would help you application.
Scholarship Revocation Criteria
Any of the following, if discovered during your application or during your scholarship award period, will cause you to lose eligibility, be disqualified from the scholarship, or lose the scholarship in progress (including losing your paid ticket back to your home country). Students who have already started receiving the scholarship may be asked to pay back all or part of the stipend received. If any of the items below are in question, then MEXT may suspend payment of your stipend until the issue is resolved.
- You are determined to have made a false statement on your application
- You violate any article of your pledge to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
- You violate any Japanese law and are sentenced and imprisoned for an indefinite period or for a period exceeding 1 year
- You are suspended from your university or preparatory educational institution or receive other punishment, or are removed from enrollment; as a disciplinary action under school regulations of the accepting institution
- It has been determined that it will be impossible for you to complete the course within the standard period of study because of poor academic grades, suspension, or absence from the university or preparatory educational institution
- You come to Japan without newly acquiring a “Student” residence status, or change your residence status to one other than “Student” after arrival
- You receive another scholarship (excluding those specified for research expenditures)
- You proceed to a more advanced level of education without receiving approval for an extension of the period of the scholarship.
Of the criteria above, 5 is really the only one that most applicants are at any risk of encountering. Essentially, if you were to fail a class and, because of that, not be able to earn the credits you need in time to graduate, you could not continue your studies. As soon as it was determined that you could not graduate on time, you would give up the scholarship, including your ticket home. Really, though, all of these situations are perfectly avoidable!
Pledge Form
Item 2 above mentions the “articles of your pledge to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The Pledge Form is something that you sign after arrival in Japan, and the 2023 version is not yet available, but you can find the 2022 version on MEXT’s website. Here is a summary of the items you must pledge:
- To obey the rules set by the university or the enrolling institution and devote yourself to your study and research in order to accomplish the aims of the Scholarship.
Obeying the rules set by the university is clear and understandable, but part of the meaning of “devote yourself to your study and research” means that you should not engage in any other activities, including part-time work.
- To not violate Japanese laws and regulations.
Sounds obvious, but I actually had a MEXT Scholar at my past university get arrested and lose his scholarship for stealing, including falsifying records of tutoring sessions he offered through the university to collect additional pay
- To not bring the MEXT Scholarship program into disrepute.
The Japanese statement here actually goes further and says that you will do nothing to cause distrust in the acceptance of international students by Japanese universities. In the COVID-19 pandemic era, this could mean strictly following all quarantine, mask-wearing, and other rules.
- To accept responsibility for any expenses incurred beyond those covered by the Scholarship awarded by MEXT.
- To accept responsibility for payment of any debts you might incur in Japan.
- To not receive other scholarships (excluding those specified as being for research expenditures.).
- To acknowledge that the scholarship awards will be tenable during the period stated in the notice of selection.
This item means that you understand that the scholarship period cannot be deferred or changed. (It is possible to apply for an extension later, such as when progressing from research student status to a degree program or from a Master’s degree to a PhD, but that would entail an additional scholarship award for that program.)
- To acknowledge that information (name, gender, date of birth, nationality, accepting university/graduate school/undergraduate school, field of specialty, period of enrolment, career path after completion of scholarship, contact information [address, telephone number, e-mail address]) regarding the MEXT Scholarship recipient may be shared with other relevant government organizations for the purpose of utilization for overseas students programs implemented by the Japanese Government (support during the period of overseas study, follow-up support, improvement of the overseas student system).
In addition, to acknowledge that information regarding the recipient other than date of birth and contact information may be made public in materials produced by the Japanese Government as publicity information for promoting the acceptance of overseas students in order to introduce the activities of recipients in countries around the world after their study in Japan.
End of the Eligibility Criteria
You can find the original eligibility requirements for 2023 in English and Japanese in the application guidelines on the Study in Japan website, below
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-research.html
Want to know more?
My book, How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship describes the scholarship in detail, including the eligibility criteria, purpose and coverage, how to develop a successful applicant mindset, and how to craft your application strategy for the greatest chance of success!
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Hi Traviz
I plan to apply MEX Scholarship Embassy Recommendation this year and thanks to all your mails and your blog, it help me a lot. But after I read your recent mail about the mistake people usually make when applying for this Scholarship, I become worry that I’ll be one of the people you described as “impossible” to get a chance for this Scholarship because of the eligibility criteria – including the ones that are not publicized. It will be very kind of you if you explain more about these criteria to us. And thank you very much once again.
Hi Nisa,
This article describes all of the eligibility criteria in detail, including the non-publicized ones, so between this and the article about how to calculate your GPA, you should have all of the information about the eligibility criteria! I don’t really have anything else to add beyond that, but if you’re confused about what I’ve written here and have specific questions, please feel free to let me know!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi TranSenz,
I am interested in applying for the Goverment Mext Scholarship Undergraduate program and have noticed that in the Application Guidelines it states that I need to have an original copy and a copy of all my documents. I was wandering how many copies of the original documents do I need. The other issue is that I have already graduated from school but will be retaking one of my subjects to increase my grades. I will only know the grade result after the application closes so I would like to know if it’s possible to resend them my new grades.
Thank you very much
Hi Mia,
According to the guidelines, you need one original and one copy of most documents.
You will be screened based on the documents you submit by the deadline, so if the course that you are retaking will not release the new/replaced grade until after the application deadline, you will not be able to replace your certificate of grades at that point.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Good day, Mr. Senzaki,
If an applicant has multiple middle names (all of which are stated on their birth certificates and international passports) will the use of one of the middle names during the first half of their secondary school education affect them if a different middle name was used later on in the second half of their 3 year secondary school education after a school transfer. Will it affect the applicant during the document screening by making the embassy think the documents are somewhat fake and inconsistent? Or will it be waived on account of all the names being legally acknowledged? Or is it better to have your current school change the middle name being used to the one used in previous records. These questions are in respect to the issuance of transcripts.
Also, with respect to the undergraduate scholarship, do you think the embassy would consider the timing of the secondary school certificate examinations (school leaving certificate exam, equivalent to SAT for example) when setting the date for the primary screening? Or, will there be no exceptions made for those eligible, but awaiting graduation (even if majority of the applicants are not trying to apply as already admitted undergraduates but as prospective high school graduates) when timing the written examinations and interviews? I tried asking the embassy in my home country but they did not respond. I feel it may be because this could be an undisclosed decision of the embassy.
Hi Janet,
No, it should not affect you if different middle names appeared on your previous school records. If you are applying for the undergraduate scholarship then you would have to submit secondary school records, but you would not submit them if you were applying as a graduate student, anyway. I have actually seen applications where the applicant had a different first name and different sex on the previous school records and we were able to process that.
The embassy will not consider personal circumstances in the timing of the primary screening, but you do not need to finish your secondary education before applying. You just need to be able to show that you will graduate before the scholarship period begins (in April 2024 for this next cycle).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Happy new years Mr. Senzaki!
You’ve stated that you didn’t work with applications for the undergraduate category of the embassy recommended MEXT scholarship but based on the sample graduate form you provided,how best do you think information regarding a school transfer and a skipped class can be stated in the schooling history area of the application? (In the remarks column) In my country, a 12-year schooling system is run (6years of primary and secondary school respectively). The 6th grade in primary school is optional so I skipped it and went straight to secondary school. Since I technically have 11 years of schooling does that affect my eligibility? How best can it be stated that my double promotion from grade 5 to grade 7 does not mean that I went against the schooling system in my country? (Since I have the equivalent qualifications of a high school graduate, but I’m not sure if this tallies with MEXT). Would my situation be counted as a personal circumstance or be understood as the accepted regional procedure?
Hi Janet,
For the undergraduate application, you are eligible if you have “completed [your] studies at a school equivalent to a Japanese secondary school in countries other than Japan.” (From the application guidelines.) So, the fact that you finished in 11 years will not hurt you in any way. And besides, even though you only took 11 years, you completed a 12-year program, so that would be fine, anyway.
As for recording it in your application form, this section is basically the same as the graduate application, so my advice for that form would apply.
Write the actual dates that you started and finished, but write the years of schooling as 6 (this would all be in the primary school section). In the remarks section, write that you skipped the 6th year of primary school and advanced to secondary school.
You can then fill in your secondary school information in the appropriate rows.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, I’ll apply for undergrad next year through the embassy. I’m rather confused as to how levels of tests I would need to take as an applicant for embassy rec.
I know I’ll have to sit for one round of exams after the primary online application, I’m rather confident about those. But what about after? If I’m selected for the next level, would I need to sit for another entrance exam for the speicific university I’ll be studying at upon arriving in Japan?
Hi Nusrat,
For the undergraduate MEXT Scholarship application process, you will just take the one set of exams during the Primary Screening. The exact subject exams you will take are determined by what major you choose.
You will spend the first year of your scholarship in an intensive Japanese language program and during that time, MEXT will determine which university you will go to for your degree. In that case, I do not think you have to sit an entrance exam for the MEXT-determined university, but I have never heard for sure one way or another from other applicants, so if anyone else knows, I hope they can chime in!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis
please may I know the pass mark for the embassy mext English exam for masters?
Hi Rose Asante,
I am not aware of a particular “passing score”, though you need to have at least B2 level proficiency. Also keep in mind that the exams are part of the competitive evaluation, so in addition to making sure that you have the minimum level required to succeed, they will also be part of your comparison against other candidates, so you should try for as high a score as possible.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis,
Thank you for this blog and for being so helpful – your books (1&2) were very valuable to me.
I have a question regarding receiving grants and/or additional scholarships as a MEXT recipient.
In the official guidelines, it says that the MEXT scholarship will be suspended if “a grantee has received another scholarship (excluding those specified for research expenditures)”. (1) Do you know if this includes grants (such as travel to a conference, winning a essay contest etc.), and also, (2) would you happen to know in more detail what the definition of a scholarship “specified for research expenditures” would be? My current professor suggest I apply for a scholarship, but I am afraid I would loose the MEXT scholarship if awarded.
Thank you very much!
Best, Steven
Hi Steven P,
Thank you for your kind words! I am happy to hear that the blog and books were helpful in your application!
1. Research/event-specific grants are a great example of what is allowed. Essentially, you cannot receive any scholarships or grants that cover the same things that the MEXT Scholarship does, like cost of living, tuition, or travel to/from Japan to start your studies. However, a grant for a research project or a travel grant to attend a conference would be allowed. As for the essay contest, it depends on what the reward is and whether or not it conflicts with what MEXT is already paying for,
2. If a scholarship or grant is specified for research expenditures, it means that it is funding for a specific research proposal, such as covering the costs of necessary equipment, research activities/travel, etc. But it could not include personal support or funding for you like housing, etc. (covered by MEXT).
I hope that helps!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you very much mr Travis for the thorough reply, I appreciate what you are doing a lot! The scholarship my professor suggested is in conflict with the MEXT one, so after reading your answer I decided to not apply for it. Please enjoy your weekend!
Hello Travis hope you are doing well!
First of all we are really grateful for providing detailed informations about MEXT scholarship and answering our questions. I would be very glad if you answer my question in this issue. I am from Turkmenistan and passed both screening periods, my GPA is 5.00 but I really wonder if they can accept me. I applied for a college there and here is my question. Can I study online for an undergraduate bachelor degree program which only covers up tuition fee and study at college (if I receive) at the same time?Thanks for your attention we really appreciate it
Hi Jennet,
Thank you for your kind words!
I’m not sure what a 5.00 GPA system would convert to in the Japanese system, so I can’t comment on how competitive that would be.
For the MEXT Scholarship, you have to study in Japan in person. It does not cover online studies. You also have to be studying full-time, and I think it would be impossible to study full-time, in-person at one university and also study full-time online at another one.
I think you should focus on just one in-person degree program in Japan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from Transenz
Hi Travis, thank you for sharing this helpful information. I would like to ask a question. I have been granted a mext scholarship to study in an MA program (graduated in 2019) and would like to apply for a PhD with another mext this year. I have working for 3 years in total. I spent 2.5 years of working in non-academic job (due to the pandemic) as an enterpreneur and a freelancer. In the past 6 month, I’ve been employed as a part-time lecturer. I would like to know the chance of me getting an acceptance in the phd program and mext scholarship with this background. Thank you in advance!
Hi Neoneo,
I’m not sure that MEXT would consider your time as an entrepreneur/freelancer as employment. If you had a business that was legally registered with you as the CEO and you could list that in the employment history, that might work.
I don’t want to tell you not to apply, since I can’t say for sure one way or another, but I also can’t guarantee that you would be considered eligible.
On the other hand, I don’t think there would be any issue with recognizing your part-time lecturer status as employment!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis!
First of all, thank you so much for providing us with such detailed information regarding the whole procedure and eligibility criteria. I really appreciate all the time you take to answer our queries. I personally wanted to ask you if it is possible to apply for the MEXT scholarship 2022-2023 through embassy recommendation and university recommendation at once? And what is the deadline for university recommendation MEXT scholarship for 2022-2023? And can we get any sample research plan just like you generously offered the sample filled MEXT application. Lastly is the primary screening test really difficult?
I posted a comment previously but due to some reason it got deleted. Thank you so much for your time and guidance in advance.
Hi Tehrim,
Your previous comment wasn’t deleted, but I have it set so all comments have to be approved manually (to avoid spam), and I usually approve them when I’m able to reply, so it takes a little while when there is a long queue. I answered your question here.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I was sent an application for UG to the embassy without marking “application for UG” in the envelope (which they have specified in the embassy website),It was my mistake not noticing that earlier, was that a problem , I’m really worried.. was my application going to discarded for that?
I hope you Reply soon
Thank you,
Hi Victor,
If you didn’t mark the envelope correctly, I don’t think that in and of itself is enough to get your application rejected, it just might result in a delay in delivering it to the correct office at the embassy for processing. As long as you aren’t right up against the deadline, hopefully they should have the chance to open it and route it to the right place!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you Travis,
Hi Travis!
Thank you so much for your detailed post. Is it better to apply for the MEXT scholarship 2022-2023 through embassy recommendation or university recommendation? And can we apply for both of them at once? Can you please share any sample research proposal or research proposal writing tips?
Lastly, is the primary screening test difficult and how to score well in it?
Thank you so much for your time and guidance in advance.
Hi Tehrim,
I recommend applying for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship in almost all cases. The application starts earlier and there are a lot more places available!
You cannot apply for both at once (that’s one of the eligibility requirements I described in the article!), but the results of the Embassy Primary Screening should be released before the University Recommended MEXT Scholarship application starts, so if you don’t pass the Primary Screening, you can then apply for the University Recommended MEXT Scholarship. (On the other hand, if you pass the Primary Screening, you don’t need to worry about applying for the URMS).
I have an article about how to write the Field of Study and Research Program Plan that includes my tips. I also have a whole book on the subject, if you want more detail!
If you are applying for the scholarship for research students, then the tests during the primary screening are only language proficiency tests in English and Japanese. The link above has sample tests from the past that you can check.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you detailed information about MEXT.
I still need help with Grade conversion.
1) I am from India and my university gives final result on Degree certificate in First class, First class with distinction and so. My last two year’s/last 4 semester aggregate is 60.2% How should I convert this to GPA out of 3.0 . Using 4 -grading scale calculator I got 2.4 for 60.2%
2) And I can not calculate as you informed above because, Different subjects and labs had different total marks. (each Theory subject total marks= 125, each lab total marks=75,Project work total marks in last sem=200,Seminar marks in last sem=50)
3) Are Embassy recommended eligibility marks and University recommended MEXT eligibility marks are different? Because in MEXT 2023 update, minimum marks asked is 65% and University recommended is 2.3 GPA is minimum I am bit confused here.
4) If my marks are as shown below for one sem, How can I convert them to GPA
1.Subject 1 =62/125
2.Subject 2=69/125
3.Subject 3 =62/125
4.Subject 4 =75/125
5.Subject 5 =187/200
6.Subject 6 =47/50
Kindly help me with this.
Hi Kirti,
I saw your question on another post and answered it there, first.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Please I wish to know, m in my 2nd year inthe university of my home country and applying for undergraduate MEXT, what should I put in the area of tertiary education, which checkbox can I click? “Expected to graduate” or “others” ? What do you think?
2) will they calculate my university GPA or my high school GPA or both?and how,if you know please.
Hi Junior,
If you expect to graduate from your undergraduate degree before starting your MEXT scholarship, then check “Expected to Graduate.” If you will withdraw from that program to start your undergrad over in Japan, then check “Others” and explain in the remarks session.
I am not sure if they will use your high school or university grades to determine eligibility, though they will almost certainly use both as a reference. I suspect it would be your university grades, since those are most recent. I have another article on how to calculate your grades on the MEXT GPA system, so I recommend referring to that for information on the calculation method.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz