Introduction:
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) extends its scholarships to global scholars aspiring to pursue undergraduate studies at Japanese academic institutions, within the framework of the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for the year 2020.
Host Institutions:
Educational Institutions across Japan
Field of Study:
Individuals aspiring to partake in undergraduate studies in Japan must opt for a major field of study from two predominant categories: (1) Social Sciences and Humanities, and (2) Natural Sciences.
For an exhaustive list of eligible fields of study, please consult the official website.
Number of Scholarships:
Not explicitly specified.
Target Group:
Citizens of nations maintaining diplomatic ties with the Japanese government.
Scholarship Advantages:
This scholarship encompasses tuition and ancillary charges, an allowance of 117,000 yen per month, with an additional monthly subsidy of 2,000 or 3,000 yen potentially granted to those engaging in studies or research within specifically designated regions. Furthermore, travel expenses to and from Japan are covered. For a comprehensive overview of the scholarship benefits, please refer to the official website.
The scholarship tenure spans five years, commencing from April 2020 to March 2025, encompassing a one-year preparatory education phase in the Japanese language and other subjects, scheduled upon arrival in Japan.
Eligibility:
(1) Nationality: Applicants must possess citizenship from a nation engaged in diplomatic relations with Japan. Applicants concurrently holding Japanese citizenship at the application time are ineligible. Nevertheless, individuals with dual citizenship, holding Japanese nationality and residing outside Japan during the application, remain eligible provided they opt for the foreign nationality, renouncing their Japanese citizenship before their arrival in Japan. Assessment of applicants will occur at the Japanese diplomatic mission within the applicant’s home country.
(2) Age: Applicants, by and large, should have birthdates ranging between April 2, 1995, and April 1, 2003.
(3) Academic Background: Applicants must meet one of the following conditions. However, those aspiring for direct placement must satisfy either condition ① or ③.
- Individuals completing 12 years of education in nations other than Japan. (Applicants on track to meet these qualifications by March 2020 remain eligible. However, those desiring enrollment from the autumn term through direct placement should anticipate completing 12 years of education by August 2020.)
- Individuals concluding their studies at an institution equivalent to a Japanese upper secondary school outside Japan. (Applicants on track to meet these qualifications by March 2020 remain eligible.)
- Apart from conditions 1 and 2, applicants qualified for admission to a Japanese university at the time of application.
(4) Japanese Language: Aspirants must exhibit a readiness to learn the Japanese language. They should harbor an interest in Japan and a commitment to deepening their comprehension of the country upon arrival. Additionally, in principle, applicants should be willing to conduct their academic pursuits in Japan using the Japanese language.
(5) Health: Applicants must furnish a health certificate in the prescribed format, attested by a physician, affirming the absence of physical or mental impediments hindering the applicant’s academic pursuits in Japan.
(7) Arrival in Japan: As a general rule, applicants must have the capacity to arrive in Japan between the 1st and 7th of April 2020. For those enrolling in university from the fall semester through direct placement, arrival in Japan must align with the period specified by the accepting university, falling within two weeks before and after the commencement of the university’s relevant academic term for that year.
(7) Visa Requirement: Applicants should, in principle, secure a “Student” visa from the Japanese diplomatic mission in their home country and enter Japan with the residence status of “Student.”
For a comprehensive elucidation of eligibility criteria and scholarship conditions, kindly consult the official website.
Application Guidelines:
Applicants must submit the requisite documents to the Japanese diplomatic mission in their home country within the stipulated deadline. Due to variations in the application process depending on the location of the Japanese embassy, please make inquiries at the Japanese embassy or consulate general in your home country for specific details. The application deadlines differ according to each country.
It is imperative to peruse the official website (links provided below) for exhaustive information on the application process for this scholarship.
Website:
Official Scholarship Website: https://www.jasso.go.jp/en/study_j/scholarships/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2019/04/17/scholarships_2019_e.pdf
