Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program
2024/6/7
The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (abbreviated as Monbukagakusho in Japanese or MEXT in English) sponsors scholarships to enable foreign students from around the world to study and earn degrees at Japanese universities. Since its inception in 1954, more than 100,000 students from approximately 160 countries have taken advantage of these scholarships to study in Japan. MEXT Scholarships generally cover the cost of tuition, provide a monthly stipend to put toward living expenses, and provide round trip airfare. Specifics can be found in the application guidelines for each category of scholarship. Please note that the Consulate-General of Japan in Boston can ONLY accept scholarship applications from U.S. Citizens who live, study, or work in the (6) New England states (Connecticut (except Fairfield County), Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont). If you currently reside outside of the jurisdiction, please check with your nearest Consulate-General of Japan.
Scholarships
Each scholarship has its own individual guidelines and qualifications. Please read everything carefully and note that regardless of when they are postmarked, our office must receive your documents by the stated deadlines. If you are ineligible to apply for a MEXT Scholarship, please visit the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO). This organization is an invaluable resource for international students who would like to study in Japan.
2025 Research Student Scholarship
- Application: CLOSED
- Level of Studies: Graduate School Level.
- Duration of Program: Maximum 2 years for non-regular students. Varies by degree requirements for masters, doctoral or professional school students.
- Notes: Please review age limits and degree requirements in the application guidelines.
- Application Documents: Access the application from this Link
Consulate-General of Japan in Boston
ATTN: MEXT Scholarship Desk
100 High Street 6th floor
Boston, MA 02110
Note: Applicants who submit late and/or incomplete applications may be disqualified.
- Next step (after screening application forms):
Consulate-General of Japan in Boston will contact ONLY qualified candidates and, if the applicant wishes to have his/her prospective supervisor in Japan to supervise the research in Japanese, invite them for a written Japanese language examination (Japanese proficiency examination) to be held on June 14, 2024, at the Consulate-General of Japan in Boston. The interview for qualified candidates will be held online in the middle of June.
2025 Undergraduate Student Scholarship
- Application: CLOSED
- Level of Studies: Undergraduate level
- Duration of Program: 5 years in general (4 years of undergraduate level education and 1 year of preparatory Japanese-language training)
- Eligibility Notes: Please review the age limits and note that generally a candidate must finish high school by March of the year that the scholarship starts. Applicants should also take special note of the required exams*.
- Application Documents: Access the application from this Link
Consulate-General of Japan in Boston
ATTN: MEXT Scholarship Desk
100 High Street 6th floor
Boston, MA 02110
Note: Applicants who submit late and/or incomplete applications may be disqualified.
- Next step (after screening application forms):
Consulate-General of Japan in Boston will contact ONLY qualified candidates and invite them for a written Japanese examination to be held on June 24 at the Consulate-General of Japan in Boston. The interview may also be held on the same day or before/after June 24.
2025 Specialized Training College Student Scholarship
- Application: CLOSED
- Level of Studies: Specialized training college (post-secondary education)
- Duration of Program: 3 years in general (2 years of post-secondary professional education and 1 year of preparatory courses in Japanese language, Japanese affairs and other subjects.)
- Eligibility Notes: Please review age limits and education requirements in the application guidelines. Applicants should also take special note of the required exams*.
- Application Documents: Access the application from this Link
Consulate-General of Japan in Boston
ATTN: MEXT Scholarship Desk
100 High Street 6th floor
Boston, MA 02110
Note: Applicants who submit late and/or incomplete applications may be disqualified.
- Next step (after screening application forms):
Consulate-General of Japan in Boston will contact ONLY qualified candidates and invite them for a written Japanese examination to be held on June 24 at the Consulate-General of Japan in Boston. The interview may also be held on the same day or before/after June 24.
2024 Japanese Studies Scholarship
This scholarship is for 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.
◎Applicants must be enrolled at a university outside of Japan as undergraduate students majoring in a field related to the Japanese language 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;
◎Applicants should have studied Japanese Studies at a university for a total period of one year or more as of September 1, 2024. 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.
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-japanese.html
Please mail (NOT e-mail) all the application materials in one packet to the address below. Applications must be received at the office by February 12, 2024, in order to be considered (NOT post-marked).
Consulate-General of Japan in Boston
ATTN: MEXT Scholarship Desk
100 High Street 6th floor
Boston, MA 02110
Note: Applicants who submit late and/or incomplete applications may be disqualified.
* Note that the written exams required for these scholarships are formatted differently than American style exams. It is strongly encouraged that potential applicants review the exams before applying. Past exams should be accessible through the application link.
This scholarship is for 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.
- Application: CLOSED
- Level of Studies: Undergraduate Level
- Duration of Program: Approximately one year from October 2024 (or the starting month of the course).
- Eligibility Notes:
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens living in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont. Please contact the nearest Consulate-General of Japan or the Embassy of Japan, if you do not reside in the aforementioned six states.
- [Citizenship] It is not possible to participate in the scholarship program if the applicant holds Japanese citizenship. Applicants with dual citizenship (Japan and US) must renounce the Japanese citizenship by the date of arrival in Japan.
- [Age] Applicants must be born between April 2, 1994 and April 1, 2006.
- [Japanese Language Ability] Applicants must have the Japanese language ability sufficient for taking classes at a Japanese university in Japan.
- [Required academic background]
◎Applicants must be enrolled at a university outside of Japan as undergraduate students majoring in a field related to the Japanese language 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;
◎Applicants should have studied Japanese Studies at a university for a total period of one year or more as of September 1, 2024. 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.
- Application Documents: For other details, please read the Application Guidelines (including notes) from the site shown below carefully and follow all the instructions.
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-japanese.html
Please mail (NOT e-mail) all the application materials in one packet to the address below. Applications must be received at the office by February 12, 2024, in order to be considered (NOT post-marked).
Consulate-General of Japan in Boston
ATTN: MEXT Scholarship Desk
100 High Street 6th floor
Boston, MA 02110
Note: Applicants who submit late and/or incomplete applications may be disqualified.
- Next step (after screening application forms):
Consulate-General of Japan in Boston will contact ONLY qualified candidates and invite them for a written Japanese language examination (Japanese proficiency examination) to be held on February 26, 2024, at Consulate-General of Japan in Boston. The interview may also be held on the same day or after February 26.
* Note that the written exams required for these scholarships are formatted differently than American style exams. It is strongly encouraged that potential applicants review the exams before applying. Past exams should be accessible through the application link.
General Timeline (Varies each year)
The application process for the Research, Undergraduate, and Specialized Training scholarships begins the spring of the year BEFORE the scholarship begins. The applications for the Undergraduate, Specialized Training and Research scholarships are usually due in early June.
The application process for the Japanese Studies scholarship begins the winter BEFORE the scholarship begins. The applications for the scholarship are usually due in early February.
The MEXT scholarship application process involves a multi-tiered, multi-month process that begins with your application arriving at our office. Promising applicants will then be invited to take the written exams and/or interview. Both the exams and interview may take place in a single day.
The application process for the Japanese Studies scholarship begins the winter BEFORE the scholarship begins. The applications for the scholarship are usually due in early February.
The MEXT scholarship application process involves a multi-tiered, multi-month process that begins with your application arriving at our office. Promising applicants will then be invited to take the written exams and/or interview. Both the exams and interview may take place in a single day.
Contact Information
Please contact our office at the Consulate-General of Japan in Boston at infocul2@bz.mofa.go.jp if you have additional questions about the qualifications for a particular scholarship. Please refer to the specific scholarship in the email.
