APPLICATION GUIDELINES

JAPANESE GOVERNMENT (MEXT) SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2023

(JAPANESE STUDIES STUDENTS)

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan offers scholarships to
international students who wish to study for a period of one year at designated Japanese universities as Japanese
Studies Students in order to deepen their understanding of the Japanese language, Japanese affairs and Japanese
culture under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program as follows.

1．QUALIFICATIONS AND CONDITIONS

MEXT accepts applications from international students for study in Japan who satisfy the following qualifications
and conditions. Its aim is to foster human resources who will become bridges of friendship between the grantee’s
country and Japan through study in Japan and who will contribute to the development of both countries and the
wider world.

(1) Nationality: Applicants must have the nationality of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. An
applicant who has Japanese nationality at the time of application is not eligible. However, persons with dual
nationality who hold Japanese nationality and whose place of residence at the time of application is outside of
Japan are eligible to apply as long as they choose the nationality of the other country and renounce their Japanese
nationality by the date of their arrival in Japan (the acquisition of student status). The First Screening must be
conducted at the Japanese diplomatic mission in the country of which the applicant chooses the nationality.

(2) Age: In principle, applicants must be born between April 2, 1993 and April 1, 2005. Exceptions are limited to
cases in which MEXT deems that the applicant could not apply within the eligible age limit due to the situation
or circumstances of the applicant’s country (military service obligation, loss of educational opportunities due to
disturbances of war, etc.) Personal circumstances (financial situation, family circumstances, state of health,
circumstances related to applicant’s university or place of employment, etc.) will not be considered for
exceptions.

(3) Academic Background: Applicants must satisfy the following three conditions:
① Applicants, in principle, must be undergraduates at foreign (non-Japanese) universities at the time of arriving in
and leaving Japan;
② Those who are majoring in fields related to the Japanese language and/or Japanese culture. On the other hand,
those who are majoring in fields of study other than Japanese language and culture (such as engineering,
economics, agricultural science, architecture, and art) and pursuing complementary studies in Japanese language
and culture are ineligible;
③ Those who have studied the Japanese Studies at a university for a total period of one year or more as of September
1, 2023. Those who have studied Japanese Studies at another university should submit documents (transcript of
grades at another university, etc.) which can verify that the applicant has studied Japanese Studies for a total
period of one year or more at the attended universities including current university.

(4) Japanese Language Ability: Applicants must have Japanese language ability sufficient for receiving education
at a Japanese university in Japan.

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(5) Health: Applicants must submit a health certificate in the prescribed format signed by a physician attesting that
the applicant has no physical or mental conditions hindering the applicant’s study in Japan.

(6) Arrival in Japan: In principle, applicants must be able to arrive in Japan by the designated period (usually
September or October) between the day two weeks before the course starts and the starting date of the course. If
the applicant cannot arrive in Japan during the specified period for personal reasons, travel expenses to Japan
will not be paid. Excluding cases in which MEXT deems as unavoidable circumstances, the applicant must
withdraw from this scholarship program if the applicant cannot arrive in Japan by the end of the specified period
above which decided by MEXT or the accepting university.

(7) Visa Requirement: An applicant shall, in principle, newly obtain a “Student” visa at the Japanese diplomatic
mission located in the applicant’s country of nationality, and enter Japan with the newly obtained residence
status of “Student.” Accordingly, even if the applicant already has other residence status (“Permanent resident,”
“Long-term resident,” etc.), the applicant must newly obtain a “Student” visa and re-enter Japan. The applicant
should be aware that the original resident status of “Permanent resident” or “Long-term resident,” might not be
necessarily granted after the expiration of the status as a MEXT Scholarship student. Moreover, it should be
noted that if the grantee comes to Japan without newly obtaining the “Student” visa, the provision of the
scholarship will be stopped.
*Please note that when the tuberculosis screening program is being conducted, the nationals of countries
designated by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare will be required to submit a tuberculosis clearance
certificate when applying for a visa.
(Note) The start date of the tuberculosis screening program for MEXT Scholarship Students is currently being
arranged.

(8) Non-Eligibility: Those who meet any one of the following conditions are ineligible. If identified ineligible after
being selected as a scholarship student, he/she must withdraw from the scholarship:
① Those who are military personnel or military civilian employees at the time of their arrival in Japan or during
the period of the payment of the scholarship;
② Those who cannot arrive in Japan by the last date of the period specified by MEXT or the accepting university;
③ Those who are previous grantees of Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship in the past (including those
who withdraw from the scholarship program after the arrival in Japan). It does not apply to those receiving
the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students in the past;
④ Those who are currently also applying for another program for which scholarship payments will begin in
fiscal 2023 through a Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarship scheme including University
Recommended Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship for Japanese Studies Students;
⑤ Those who are already enrolled in a Japanese university or other institution with a residence status of
“Student,” or who are going to be enrolled, or plan to enroll, in a Japanese university or other institution as a
privately-financed international student from the time of application to the MEXT scholarship program in the
applicant’s country until the commencement of the period for payment of the MEXT scholarship. However,
this stipulation does not apply to privately-financed international students who, even though they are enrolled,
or are planning to enroll, in a Japanese university or other institution, verifiably complete their studies before
the start of the scholarship payment period, return to their home country at the time of the scholarship
application, and newly acquire the “Student” residence status and come to Japan;
⑥ Those who are planning to receive scholarship money from an organization other than MEXT (including a
government organization of the applicant’s country) on top of the scholarship money provide by MEXT after

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 the start of the scholarship payment period;
⑦ Holders of dual nationality at the time of application who cannot verify that they will give up Japanese
nationality by the time of their arrival in Japan (the acquisition of student status);
⑧ Those who are found to have attempted or actually committed any kinds of cheating prohibited by the
examiner during the written examination of the First Screening.
⑨ Those who change their residence status to that of other than “Student” after their arrival in Japan.

(9) Return and Continue to Study after the End of the Scholarship Period: Applicants must assure that they
return to their home country by the end of the final month of the scholarship period and continue to study
Japanese language and culture at the undergraduate program of their institution which applicants had enrolled at
the time of the arrival in Japan. If a grantee does not satisfy both conditions, he/she may be ordered to return
the entire amount of the scholarship paid during the scholarship period. Those who are uncertain about
returning and continuing to study after the end of the scholarship period should not apply for this
program.

(10) Others: MEXT Scholarship will be granted those who are willing to contribute to mutual understanding
between Japan and their home country by participating in activities at schools and communities during their
study in Japan while contributing to the internationalization of Japan. They shall also make efforts to promote
relations between the home country and Japan by maintaining close relations with the university attended after
graduation, cooperating with the conducting of surveys and questionnaires, and cooperating with relevant
projects and events conducted by Japanese diplomatic missions after they return to their home countries.

2．PLACEMENT AND STUDY IN JAPANESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE AT UNIVERSITIES

(1) The study/training is implemented only in the university study courses listed in the “Course Guide of Japanese
Studies Program.” This Course Guide is available from the MEXT’s website.

(2) MEXT, in consultation with the universities concerned, will decide on the university in which each grantee shall
be enrolled by taking into consideration his/her Japanese language ability, the result of written examination and
specialized courses he/she wishes to take (the university may make direct inquiries to the applicant during the
screening process). Objections regarding university placement will not be accepted. If the accepting university
has yet to be determined by the specified period of time (by August 15th, 2023), the applicant will be
rejected.

(3) The study at universities will be conducted in Japanese.

(4) Specialized Japanese language and Japanese culture study will be divided into the following two courses,
depending on the objective of the study:
(a) A course intended mainly to study about Japan and Japanese culture
(b) A course intended mainly to improve Japanese language proficiency
The specific course contents vary with each university, but the grantees will take special lectures on Japan,
Japanese culture, and Japanese language and specialized practical study. They might also take classes in the
departments related to his/her individual major.

(5) A grantee who has completed a specified course at the accepting university will be given a certificate from the
university. Please be aware that the purpose of this scholarship program is not to obtain an academic degree. The

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 grantee, therefore, shall return to the home country by the end of the final month of the scholarship period after
the completion of the course and resume his/her study in Japanese language and culture at the undergraduate
program of their institution which applicants had enrolled at the time of the arrival in Japan. If a grantee fails
both conditions, he/she may be ordered to return the entire amount of “4．SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS”
paid during the scholarship period.

3．PERIOD OF SCHOLARSHIP
The scholarship period is the necessary period for the completion of the accepting university’s study course, which
should be within one year from October 2023 (or the starting month of the course). If the term start date (enrolment
start date) is on September 1, 2023, the scholarship period will start in September 2023. However, if the term start
date (enrolment start date) is on or after September 2, 2023, the scholarship period will start in October 2023.
Extension of the scholarship period is not permitted.

4．SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS
(1) Allowance: After arrival in Japan, 117,000 yen per month will be paid. A supplemental regional allowance of
2,000 or 3,000 yen per month will be added to the monthly scholarship amount for the grantees studying or
conducting research in specially designated regions. Due to the situation of the Japanese Government’s budget,
the amount of payment may be subject to change each fiscal year. If a grantee is absent from the university for
an extended period, the scholarship shall be suspended for that period.

(2) Education Fees: Fees for the entrance examination, matriculation and tuition at universities will be paid by
MEXT.

(3) Travel Expenses

① Transportation to Japan: For grantees who come to Japan within the fixed period stipulated in 1. (6) “Arrival
in Japan” above, in principle, MEXT stipulates the travel schedule and route, and provides an economy-class
airline ticket for the flight from the international airport closest to the grantee’s residence (in principle, the
country of nationality) to an international airport in Japan used on the normal route to the accepting university.
The travel schedule change or route change is not allowed after provision of airline ticket. The grantee shall bear
at his/her own expense all costs related to domestic travel from the grantee’s residence to the nearest international
airport, airport taxes, airport usage fees, special taxes necessary for travel, travel expenses within Japan
(including airline transit costs), travel insurance expenses, carry-on luggage or unaccompanied baggage
expenses, etc. The grantee shall also bear at his/her own expense travel and lodging costs incurred in a third
country if the grantee must travel to a third country before coming to Japan for visa purposes because there are
no Japanese diplomatic missions in his/her country, if there are no direct flights from the grantee’s country of
residence to Japan. MEXT will provide an economy-class airline ticket from the grantee’s country of residence
to the said third country, and from the third country to an international airport in Japan used on the normal route
to the accepting university. In principle, the address given in the space for “Your address before departure for
Japan” on the application form shall be recognized as the “residence,” and the airline ticket will be arranged for
a flight from the international airport nearest to that address. Except for cases when the grantee must travel to a
third country to obtain a visa, MEXT will not provide an airline for cases of travel to Japan from a country other
than the grantee’s country of residence due to the grantee’s personal circumstances. Moreover, if, due to personal
circumstances, the grantee comes to Japan outside of the fixed period stipulated in 1. (6) “Arrival in Japan”
above, the travel expenses will not be provided.

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② Transportation from Japan: Based on the application by the grantee, MEXT will provide an airline ticket to
grantees who shall complete the study course at the accepting university and return to the home country by the
end of the final month of the scholarship period (See “3. PERIOD OF SCHOLARSHIP”) designated by MEXT.
MEXT, in principle, shall provide an economy-class airline ticket from an international airport in Japan used for
the normal route to and from the accepting university to the international airport (in principle, in the country of
nationality) nearest to the returning grantee’s residence. The travel schedule change or route change is not
allowed after provision of airline ticket. The grantee shall bear at his/her own expense all costs related to travel
from the grantee’s residence in Japan to the nearest international airport, airport taxes, airport usage fees, special
taxes necessary for travel, travel expenses within the country of nationality (including airline transit costs), travel
insurance expenses, carry-on luggage or unaccompanied baggage expenses, etc. If a grantee returns to the home
country before the end of the scholarship period due to personal circumstances, or reasons stated in “5.
SUSPENSION OF PAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP”, MEXT will not pay for the returning travel expenses.

If a grantee will also not return to his/her home country by the end of the final month of the scholarship period,
or will not resume his/her studies at the undergraduate program of their home institution which had enrolled at
the time of the arrival in Japan, MEXT will not pay for the returning travel expenses.

5. SUSPENSION OF PAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP

Payment of the scholarship will be cancelled for the reasons given below. Should any of the following reasons apply,
the grantee may be ordered to return a part of, or all of, the scholarship paid up to that time. Payment of the
scholarship may also be stopped during the period up to the decision on the disposition of the matter:
① A grantee is determined to have made a false statement on his/her application;
② A grantee violates any article of his/her pledge to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
Technology;
③ A grantee violates any Japanese laws and is sentenced and imprisoned for an indefinite period or for a period
of exceeding 1 year;
④ A grantee is suspended from his/her university or receives other punishment, or is removed from enrollment;
as a disciplinary action in accordance with school regulations of the accepting university;
⑤ It has been determined that it will be impossible for a grantee to complete the study course within the standard
time period because of poor academic grades or suspension or absence from the university;
⑥ A grantee came to Japan without newly acquiring the “Student” residence status, or changed his/her residence
status to one other than “Student”;
⑦ A grantee has received another scholarship (excluding those specified for research expenditures);
⑧ A grantee does not return to his/her home country by the end of the final month of the scholarship period and
does not continue to study Japanese language and culture at the undergraduate program of his/her institution
which had enrolled at the time of the arrival in Japan.

6．SELECTION
(1) The Japanese diplomatic missions will conduct the First Screening of applicants by means of examination of
submitted application documents, a written examination (subject: Japanese) and interviews.

(2) The date and time of the notification of the results of the First Screening will be specified separately by the
Japanese diplomatic mission in the applicant’s country; the reasons for the results of the screening will not be
disclosed. Those who pass the First Screening will not necessarily be selected as the MEXT Scholarship grantees.

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(3) Applicants who have passed the First Screening will be recommended to MEXT. MEXT will conduct the Second
Screening of applicants who have been recommended by the Japanese diplomatic mission, and will select the
successful applicants of the Second Screening.

(4) The results of the final selection will be notified on a date separately designated by the Japanese diplomatic
mission in the applicant’s country. The name of accepting university will also be notified to the scholarship
grantees. Any objections to the decision on the university placement will not be accepted. If the accepting
university has yet to be determined by the specified period of time (by August 15th, 2023), the applicant will be
rejected.

7．APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
Applicants must submit the following documents to the Japanese diplomatic mission in the applicant’s country by
the designated deadline. The submitted documents will not be returned.

1 Original

No. Documents 1 Copy Remarks

① Application Form ○ Use the FY2023 Application Form. (See Note 4.)

② Placement Preference Application Form ○ Use the FY2023 Preference Form. (See Note 5.)

Certified academic transcript from the

For all academic years up to the current year of
③ university the applicant is currently ○
enrollment. (See Note 6.)
attending
Only necessary for those who cannot verify with
the document ③ that they studied Japanese
Document(s) verifying that the applicant language and culture for a total of at least one
④ has studied the Japanese language and ● year at the university he/she is currently
culture for at least one year. attending. Indicate the relevant Japanese language
and culture courses on the transcript(s) you
submit.
⑤ Certificate of enrollment ○ (See Note 7.)
Recommendation letter from the head of
Free format. A sample format is available. (See
⑥ or academic advisor at the university the ○
Note 7.)
applicant is currently attending
⑦ Medical certificate ○ Use the FY2023 certificate form. (See Note 8.)

Only in case the applicant can submit a proof

⑧ Certificate of Japanese language ability ● document concerning Japanese-language ability.
(See Note 9.)

(Note 1) Documents indicated by the white circle (○) must be submitted by all the applicants. Documents indicated
by the black circle (●) should be submitted only if applicable.
(Note 2) These documents must be written in Japanese or English, or translation in either of these languages should
be attached.
(Note 3) Write the document number, from ① to ⑧ (refer to the numbers in the table above) in the upper right-
hand corner of the first page for all the documents.

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(Note 4) The applicant’s photograph to be attached to the Application Form should be of clear quality, taken within
six months of submission, and printed on paper specially for photographs. The photograph should be 4.5
x 3.5 cm., upper-body, full-faced, no hats. Please write applicant’s name and nationality on the back of
the photograph. The photograph data can be pasted to the Application Form and printed out.
(Note 5) Select preferred universities at most from the “Course Guide of Japanese Studies Program” (available
from the MEXT’s website) and fill out the Placement Preference Application Form with the selected
university names and course code in order of preference.
(Note 6) Mark subjects related to Japanese language and Japanese culture. Those who have studied the Japanese
language and culture for a total of less than one year are not eligible to apply.
(Note 7) Since this program requires return to your home country and studies at the university you are
enrolled in after the completion of the program, please discuss your plan after returning to your
home country with the president of the university or your academic advisor from the application
stage.
(Note 8) If there is a change in your health condition (including any serious changes relating to your life
plan) after you have submitted your health certificate, please promptly share this information with
the diplomatic mission abroad since it concerns the acceptance system of the accepting university
and the Japanese medical institution.
(Note 9) Only if you have a completed certificate document that shows your name and level/score, enter necessary
information in “19. Japanese language qualifications” of the Application Form and submit a copy of the
certificate of Japanese-language ability. If printing out the certificates from the Internet, print out and
submit a page showing the applicant’s name and the details of the relevant qualification (level, score, etc.).
The date of issue of the certificates should be no earlier than two years from the date of application to the
Japanese diplomatic mission.

8. UNAVOIDABLE CIRCUMSTANCES
In the event of unavoidable or unforeseen circumstances, Japanese Government reserves the right to change or
cancel the arrival date, scholarship, and contents of the application guidelines here within, at any time before or
after notification of the results of the final selection.
Unavoidable Circumstances are defined as events whose effects could not reasonably be prevented or controlled
by MEXT or Ministry of Foreign Affairs (including Embassies and Consulate generals of Japan) including but not
limited to acts of God, acts of government (including local government, hereafter referred to as government), acts
of government authorities (including limitations on travel or immigration enacted by the Japanese government or
other foreign countries’ government due to the event of infectious disease), compliance with law, regulations or
orders, fire, flooding and torrential rain, earthquakes, acts of war (regardless of a declaration of war), revolt,
revolution or rebellion, strike, or lockout.

9．NOTES
(1) The grantees are advised to learn, before departing for Japan, the Japanese language and to acquire information
about Japanese weather, climate, customs, university education, and conditions of the university to attend in
Japan, as well as about the difference between the Japanese legal system and that of his/her home country.

(2) As the first installment of the scholarship payment will not be made from one month to one and a half months
after the grantee’s arrival in Japan, the grantee is recommended to bring at least approximately US$2,000 with
him/her to Japan to cover immediate living expenses and other necessary expenses.

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(3) The scholarship payments will be transferred to the bank account of Japan Post Bank (JP BANK) opened by
each grantee after the arrival in Japan. We will not transfer the scholarship payments to other account.

(4) Grantees must enroll in National Health Insurance (Kokumin Kenko Hoken) upon arrival in Japan.

(5) It is suggested that grantees acquire a “My Number Card” upon arrival in Japan.

(6) Accommodations:
① Residence halls for international students provided by universities: Some universities have residence halls
for international students. The grantees enrolled at such universities may reside at these residence halls under
certain conditions. However, due to the limited number of rooms, some of these facilities may be unavailable.
Expenses relating to accommodations will be borne by the grantee. Some universities might ask the grantees
to pay expenses relating to accommodations in advance of arriving in Japan, please therefore check on the
course guide regarding the advanced payment of accommodation expenses.
② Private boarding houses or apartments: Those who are unable to find accommodation in the aforementioned
facilities may live in regular dormitories of the university or in private boarding houses/apartments with
his/her expenses.

(7) Please directly ask the attending university in his/her home county whether the earned credits at the study course
in Japan can be recognized as credits in his/her home country or not.

(8) Information regarding the MEXT Scholarship Students (name, gender, date of birth, nationality, accepting
university/graduate school/undergraduate school, field of specialty, period of enrollment, career path after
completion of scholarship, contact information [address, telephone number, e-mail address]) may be shared with
other relevant government organizations for the purpose of utilization for international students programs
implemented by the Japanese Government (support during period of study in Japan, follow-up survey,
improvement of the international student system).

Information regarding MEXT Scholarship Students (excluding date of birth and contact information) may be
included in publicity materials prepared by the Japanese Government for promoting the acceptance of
international students in Japan, particularly in order to introduce former MEXT Scholarship Students who are
playing active roles in countries around the world.

These matters are included in the Pledge stipulating rules and regulations which MEXT Scholarship Students
must comply with and submit when they have been granted the Scholarship.

(9) The English texts attached to the Application Guidelines and the Application Form are for complementary use
only. English expressions do not change the Japanese content.

(10) If there are any questions about the content of the written text in the Application Guidelines or any other matters,
applicants/grantees should inquire the Japanese diplomatic mission in the applicant’s country and follow their
instructions.

(11) In addition to the regulations stipulated in the Application Guidelines, those that are necessary to implement
the Japanese Government Scholarship programs shall be determined by the Japanese government.