When you’re just starting out, sometimes what you need most is just a little water and light.
If you want to know more about the differences in the application processes and application timeline, plus advice on creating an application strategy and adopting a successful applicant mindset, my ebook How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship has in-depth discussions and further advice!
I’ve addressed all of the questions I’ve received so far in a recent article on How to Get Started Applying for the MEXT Scholarship and in this FAQ, but if you think I’ve missed anything, please add your questions in the comments!
Note: This FAQ covers the graduate level scholarship, only. I will write a separate FAQ later about the undergraduate application.
A Word of Warning
If you’re at this stage of the application, you have a lot of preparation to go. The MEXT scholarship is not something you can simply make a half-hearted pass at and hope to to win. These basics will get you started, but you’ll get a lot farther by reading the in-depth guides I share in the “MEXT Scholarship” link in the header and on my mailing list.
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How Can I Apply for the MEXT Scholarship?
There are two ways to apply for the Graduate Level scholarship: The Embassy-recommended MEXT Scholarship Application and the University-recommended MEXT Scholarship Application. You should choose one then contact either the Japanese Embassy/Consulate in your country or the university you want to apply to, depending on the system you choose.
I have more information on the difference between the types in my article on MEXT Scholarship Application Basics.
What do I do if there is no Japanese Embassy in my country?
Refer to the official list of Japanese Embassies and consulates. You should find an entry for your country, even if there is no physical embassy there. That should tell you how to get in touch with the official Japanese representative for your country. (It may be located in a neighboring country).
Do I have to apply to the embassy first, the university first, or both at once?
If you are applying for the Embassy-recommended MEXT scholarship, you apply to the Embassy first and once you pass the Primary Screening, to apply to universities for Letters of Acceptance. However, you should also initiate contact with your target universities well in advance to start building a relationship, even though you won’t start any official application paperwork until later.
If you apply for the University-recommended MEXT scholarship, then the embassy isn’t involved at all, except for your visa paperwork, of course.
Which universities can I apply to under the MEXT scholarship?
All Japanese universities are eligible to host MEXT scholars.
How many places are available for the MEXT scholarship?
This question isn’t really going to help you do anything other than stress yourself out unnecessarily. Pretend like there is only one and you have to do everything possible to get it.
You could look up old news articles to see how many MEXT scholars were selected from your country during the previous year (embassy-recommended MEXT scholarship), though there is no guarantee that will give you the complete picture. For the university-recommended scholarship, you can calculate the likely number of slots for the university, though the formula changes every year and isn’t announced usually until after the application deadline.
What you should do instead is spend that time making your Field of Study and Research Program Plan stronger, or trying to build a relationship with your target professor.
What are the chances of winning the MEXT Scholarship?
It all depends on how hard you work at the application and how you do relative to the competition, which is every other applicant. You have to be one of the very top applicants in order to get through.
Where can I get the MEXT Scholarship Application Form?
Get it from the Embassy or University where you plan to submit your application (get the other documents from them, too!).
When you sign up for my MEXT scholarship email list (below), I will send you a sample application form to help you fill it in, as well,
Where can I find the application instructions?
You will find them on the website of the Embassy or University where you plan to submit your application. Please note, however, that they may only be available during the application period, but you need to start preparing much earlier than that. Try to find the previous year’s guidelines on those websites to get started – they don’t change much from year to year.
If you can’t find old instructions on the Embassy website in your country or the university you want to apply for, try other Embassies and universities. Remember: Google is your friend! Seach for MEXT Scholarship Application Guidelines, or similar terms.
What else do I need to submit besides the application form?
Please refer to the application guidelines from the embassy or university where you will apply. The requirements may differ for each.
(I will cover questions about the specific documents in another FAQ article)
What is the application fee?
There is none. If anyone is charging you a fee, be wary of a scam. (Note: I charge a fee for application reviews, but that is not related to the application process itself, it is a coaching service to help improve your chances).
When is the application deadline?
It varies. Each Embassy (for the Embassy-recommended MEXT Scholarship Application) and University (for the University-recommended MEXT Scholarship Application) sets its own application period and deadline.
For the Embassies, application information is typically available around April and the deadlines are around late May or early June. (Note: your scholarship would not start until April or October of the following year).
For universities, application information usually becomes available between August and October with applications due any time between September and early December.
Be sure to constantly check the website of the embassy or university where you want to apply for updates and announcements!
How/where do I submit the application?
Please refer to the instructions from the embassy or university where you will apply.
Can I apply by email?
No.
Can you check my application for me?
Yes, but I charge a fee for application reviews. If you are interested, you can apply for application reviews or coaching services by completing the form at: http://www.transenzjapan.com/coaching-application/.
I want to study [insert field] in Japan. What should I do?
You need to find at least one university in Japan that offers a degree in your field (taught in English) and determine if they have a professor that can supervise your research. Then you need to apply the same way as anyone else!
It is mandatory to know Japanese before arriving?
It depends on your field of study. If you can find a university that offers the degree you want in English, then no, Japanese language ability is not required.
Of course, it is helpful to have some Japanese language ability before you come live here, and having language ability will make you stand out more as having serious interest in Japan.
How long is the degree program>
Two years for a master’s degree and three years for a PhD.
What happens if I missed the deadline? Is there another chance?
If you missed the embassy deadline, you should have enough time to apply for the University-recommended scholarship for the same year. Otherwise, you have no choice but to wait a year and try again.
Are there other full scholarships to study in Japan if I don’t get the MEXT scholarship?
There may be, in some specific cases, based on your nationality and field of study, but I do not have any information about them.
A Guide to the Basics of Applying for the MEXT Scholarship
I have written a separate article on How to Get Started Applying for the MEXT Scholarship, so I recommend you read through that, as well, for a more linear explanation of the process.
Want to know more?
My new ebook, 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!
More Questions Coming
The questions above represent the common themes from scores of emails I received over the summer. I’m sure there will be more in the future, so I will update this page again when I catch up on the other FAQs and have enough new questions to circle back.
If you have any questions about this article, please add them in the comments below! I will update this page with more questions and answers as soon as I can!
Ads by Google:
Hi Travis,
I am currently 16 and i just got into grade 12 so should I apply to MEXT next month or wait for 2026 MEXT because I think I don’t meet either of the criterias of being 17+ or having completed 12 years of schooling (unless nursery and KG are included) because of I do apply what would I give as my 12th result if I just started
Thank you 😀
Hi Prikshit,
Have you read the eligibility criteria? There is nothing mentioned about being 17+.
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/_mt/2023/04/2024_Guidelines_Undergraduate_E.pdf
The link above is to the guidelines from last year, so you’ll need to add one to all of the years. Note that you need to meet the eligibility criteria by March of 2025 if you apply next month.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello, Travis! I just want to know if MEXT scholarship includes Japanese Language Studies (like those with 2 yrs duration) ? I really want to work in Japan and the chances for landing a job there are very slim since I am not fluent in Nihongo (based on the jobs I searched online, they require fluent/native level) so I want to study Nihongo and apply for a job in Japan once I finished. Thank you in advance for your response.
Hi Alaska,
I’m not sure what type of MEXT Scholarship you plan to apply for, but for most cases, expect that you’re going to have to do a lot of additional work on your own to improve your Japanese level.
Some of the scholarships do include Japanese language training to some degree:
If you’re applying for the undergraduate scholarship, then typically you spend your first year in an intensive Japanese language program in order to get to the level to pursue your bachelor’s in Japanese.
The Japanese Studies Scholarship (for a one-year student exchange) focuses on studying Japanese language and culture, but you have to already be majoring in that field at home.
For the Embassy-Recommended Japanese Scholarship, many or most scholars spend their first semester in a survival Japanese course, if they have no background in the language. That semester is designed to help you get enough language ability for day-to-day life tasks, not academic or professional level Japanese, so it won’t get you to employment level on its own, but it’s a start.
For all others, if your university offers Japanese language classes for international students, you should be able to enroll in them, as long as they don’t conflict with your courses for your degree, but it’s going to be extra on top of your degree, and you’re going to have to work pretty hard to make progress in both areas, I think. You can also look for private tutors and other opportunities to study, like conversation exchanges.
Bottom line: If you really want to improve your language ability, you’ll be able to find ways to do it, but you’ll have to be committed and prepared to overcome challenges!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey Travis, so i have this situation where i am from india and currently living in Botswana as a student and i want to apply for MEXT scholarship, i called my local embassy in Botswana and they said i can’t apply for The scholarship is there any other way i can do so, if there is please help.
Thanks
my regards
Hi Harinder,
For the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, you have to apply in the country where your are a citizen. So in your case, even though you are living in Botswana, you would have to apply through the Japanese embassy or consulate in India that servers your home area. During the application process, you would most likely have to return to India for the in-person portions of the application, such as the tests and interview.
Another alternative would be to apply for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship. You can do that from anywhere in the world and you would apply directly to the university where you want to study.
However, in either case, be aware that if you are not living in your country of residence immediately before departing to Japan for the scholarship, MEXT would not pay for your flight ticket to Japan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis.
Thank you for you great work. Please i have 3 questions;
1)Can someone apply for MEXT undergraduate and Master same time?
2)If you did not pass the screening can you applied for a scholarship in Japan? like university recommended for undergraduate program?
3)if you have a bachelor degree but you still want to pursue another bachelor in Japan is it possible?if yes,will you required to tell them or just applied as a fresh man in the form.
Hi Junior,
1) No. You can only apply for one MEXT scholarship at a time, even if they are different types.
2) If you do not pass the primary screening, you are no longer considered to be applying for a MEXT Scholarship, so then you could apply for another scholarship (MEXT or not). There are very few university-recommended MEXT scholarships for undergraduate – essentially, there are just a few PGP programs – but it would be possible to apply like you said.
3) Yes, you are allowed to apply for a second bachelor’s degree if you meet the other eligibility criteria. You have to list all of your education history in the application form, including the existing bachelor’s, and provide your grades and certificate of graduation from your current bachelor’s program.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello! I will be applying for MEXT 2023. It will be extremely helpful if you could review my application form. I am willing to provide a fees if required. Thank you for your hard work!
Hi Himika,
Thank you for your interest! Please check out the “Coaching Services” link at the top right corner for information on my review services and fees. There is a form there to message me to request a review, as well.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis!
I wish you nothing, but the best!!
my question is that: i had to leave my country due to war and some tragedy incidents and currently residing in another country. last year and this year mext doesn’t offer scholarship through embassy for our country because their embassy have been shut down and moved out of here, but my country name is still on the university recommend list. i had/have strong desire to apply for mext. can i get the scholarship through university recommendation in another country or i have to return to my country and apply from there?
patiently waiting for your response.
Hi Alee,
If you want to apply for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, you do not need to be in your home country to do so.
For the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, sometimes if the Japanese embassy is closed in a country due to war, etc., they will accept applications via another Japanese embassy in a third country, but you would have to check with them, directly. (For example, the Japanese embassy in Yemen has been closed for several years, but they have been accepting applications via the embassy in Saudi Arabia).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much for quick reply and Your affords. we appreciate it
And one more question please:
i calculated my gpa with the mext calculator. it’s 2.65 out of 3.00, it fulfills the eligibility, but do you think is it good enough to get the scholarship in a middle ranked japanese University?
Hi Alee,
2.65/3.00 is respectable, but you will almost certainly be competing with students with higher GPAs, so I recommend that you do everything possible to make your application stand out in other ways, starting with the Field of Study and Research Program Plan!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Dear,
I have a question please.
I have consent from a Japanese professor and of course, I shall apply for both tracks. This consent is very good and mandatory item for university recommendation. But, I wanna ask that either I have to attach such email screenshot or letter of acceptance from desired professor along with application materials for embassy recommendation or not? If it can enhance some chances then it will be good to submit this one too. What would you suggest?
Hi Hassan,
You do not need to include a copy of the consent from the professor as part of the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, but you can include it. If you do so, I would recommend paper-clipping it to the Placement Preference Form, since that is where you list your preferred professors. They might consider it or not in your evaluation, but the worst they can do is to ignore it. I certainly recommend that you mention that you have the professor’s consent during the interview stage, though!
By the way, you can’t apply for both tracks simultaneously. You would only be able to apply for the University track if you had confirmed that your application for the Embassy track had already been rejected.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you for putting all this valuable info together. I am also a prospective MEXT applicant (PhD) but I have some concerns about my eligibility. I have an existing masters degree (UK) and I am currently doing a second one in PRC. Despite already finishing the coursework, due to national regulations I will only be awarded my degree in Summer 2023. Am I eligible for this application round? Or should I not mention my second masters at all in case they’d have a problem with my enrollment status?
Your input would be very much appreciated, but do let me know if you suggest me to seek this info from somewhere else. Best regards.
Hi Faye,
Do I understand correctly that you will be applying for the upcoming cycle (2022/2023 Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship?)
If that’s the case and you plan to start in Fall 2023, there would be no problem at all. If you plan to start your scholarship before the second masters is awarded, then you should still mention it in your application and state in the “Remarks” section that all requirements for the degree have been completed but that the award date will be in the future, like you explained to me. In that case, there should be no problem.
When you list the second master’s as your most recent degree, though, that means your letter of recommendation will need to come from that university and you’ll need to provide all of the necessary documentation (transcript, certificate of expected graduation) from them, as well.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I have a question regarding what the rough timetable will look like for students graduating the summer of 2023. I’m a little confused as to when the exact date to apply should be. Because departure is in Spring, will I have to leave while attending a U.S. college or high school? And based on that, would I begin applying 2023 or 2022? Another question I have is if MEXT fails, is it still possible to directly apply for Japanese colleges without MEXT? My final question is could certain achievements or activities (jobs, sports, academic achievements, etc.) possibly increase your chances (such as kendo) and if so how would you present it (such as a resume)?
Hi Irfan Hossain,
It sounds like you’re applying for the undergraduate MEXT Scholarship, right?
In general, the undergraduate scholarship starts in April, only, so you would apply this year around April/May of 2023 and would depart for Japan in April 2024. So, there would be a gap between when you graduate and when you start your studies in Japan.
Of course, if you do not earn the MEXT Scholarship, you can still apply to Japanese universities directly as a fee-paying student. If you were to apply in Aril 2023, the results of the embassy’s Primary Screening would be out by late July or early August. At that point, you would have a pretty good idea if you earned the scholarship or not, based on the results of that screening. If you didn’t pass, then there should still be time to apply to Japanese universities for April 2024 admission, but it depends on each university’s admission policy.
Finally, I think academic or practical achievements that are related to your proposed field of study in Japan would be the most effective at improving your chances, particularly if you can use them as evidence as to why you will be a better scholar or achieve greater results after graduation in the future. Most of your application should be focused on the future, not what you have achieved in the past, so if you have achievements unrelated to your field of study, then it might not be worth the space it takes in your application to mention them. As for Japanese culture involvement like Kendo, you can mention it briefly, perhaps as part of the trigger for why you wanted to study in Japan or as an example of how you will get involved in the local community after arrival, but I would not expect it to make a significant difference in your application compared to academic factors.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi!
I’m planning to apply for Master’s.
I have already fulfilled my credit requirement. However, I took one extra course and not be able to continue as it clashes with my full time internship. Thus, I would automatically get an F grade since the deadline to drop the course is over.
But it won’t affect my CGPA since the course will be excluded later on. My concern is that the grade F will still be shown in the transcript since all the registered courses are recorded in the transcript.
So, will this affect my chance of getting the MEXT scholarship? Or is there any way to explain this situation to them?
Hi Subs,
If the course appears in your transcript and there is no clear indication in that document that it should be excluded/not counted, then I’m afraid that it would be counted in the calculation of your GPA by the MEXT reviewers.
Unfortunately, you do not have any opportunity to explain directly to them that it should not be counted, so there would have to be a clear and official indication in your transcript itself that it doesn’t count.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi there,
Thank you for the informative article. I’ve just applied for the undergraduate program via embassy. Do you have a rough estimate of when I would happen to hear back? In a month or so?
Hi Mukize,
It has taken me a long time to reply to your comment, so I hope you have heard back by now!
The time to hear back varies from country to country and there is no particular standard. It could be days or weeks. The best way to find out would be to check if the Embassy mentioned when the tests would be or ask them directly.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, I am applying for the Mext embassy recommended scholarship and I want to do my masters in public health. I want to do something about racism and health as my research plan… so i need a little advice.Do you think is a sensitive topic or it’s okay?
Hi Wezzie,
Who might be sensitive about your topic? Your research proposal is going to go through a review at the Embassy level, first, usually with bureaucrats involved in the screening. If Japan or your home country might find the topic sensitive (i.e. you are discussing racism in either of those countries and the countries don’t want to admit that it exists), then individual reviewers might be prejudiced against your topic. That’s not something that you can control.
But otherwise, if you can find a professor in Japan with a similar research interest, then it should be fine to apply.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello, I’m applying for a Master’s dregree, Is it compulsory to include my undergrad project, since I did not publish it officially online.
Hi Ola,
If you completed an undergraduate capstone thesis or project, you should include it in the application form and also attach an abstract (one-half to one page in length), even if it was not published.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, I’m currently doing my application process for this year’s MEXT Scholarship, I just want to ask if I failed the entrance exam for this year’s scholarship, am I still eligible to take next year’s MEXT Scholarship or no? This has been running on my mind since I saw the scholarship program and I just want to know if I can take the exam again next year.
Hi Aaron,
Failing in a previous year would not make you ineligible, as long as you still meet all of the other eligibility criteria. I have heard of applicants winning the scholarship on their second or third attempt!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz