The Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship is provided by The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. It is for students pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees. You don’t need any japanese language proficiency to apply. It includes tuition coverage and provides monthly stipends.
Types of Japanese Government Scholarships
The scholarship is given in 7 different categories –
- Research students
- Teacher training students
- Undergraduate students
- Japanese studies students
- college of technology students
- Specialized training college students
- Young Leaders Program ( YLP ) students
(note – YLP is a program for university or college graduates who have practical work experience)
MEXT Scholarship Student Eligibility
- Research students – You must be under 35 years of age and a college graduate (includes prospective graduates). Or you must have completed 16 years of schooling.
- Teacher training students – training students You must be under 35 years of age and a graduate of a college or teacher training college. You must have at least five years of active experience as a teacher in a primary, secondary or teacher training college in your country. (Please note that college and university teachers currently in active service are not considered for this scholarship).
- Japanese studies students – You must be from 18 to 30 years old. You must be enrolled as undergraduate students in faculties or schools which major in Japanese language or Japanese culture in a university outside Japan at the time when they come to Japan and must be enrolled in the home institution at the time when they return to their home countries.
- Young Leaders Program ( YLP ) students – You must be under 40 years of age (in principle), and university or college graduates who have practical work experience, young public administrators, etc. who are expected to play active role in Asia and other countries.
Undergraduate students
- Undergraduate students – You must be at least 17 and under 25 years of age and have completed 12 years of school education or have completed courses in a school comparable to a high school (includes prospective graduates).
- College of Technology students – students You must be at least 17 and under 25 years of age and have completed school education comparable to a high school (a minimum of 11 years beginning in primary school) education (includes prospective graduates).
- Specialized training college students – You must be at least 17 and under 25 years of age and have completed 12 years of schooling or have completed school education comparable to a Japanese high school (includes prospective graduates).
Students can apply for the MEXT scholarship in two ways. They can either apply through the Embassy recommendation or University recommendation.
- Embassy Recommendation
Students from all the categories can apply for Embassy recommendation.
- University Recommendation
For university recommendation, students apply to a japanese university. Then upon successful enrollment, the university will recommend you to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as a candidate for the scholarship. Only Research students and College of Technology students can apply for University recommendation.
The embassy application process in Bangladesh typically starts in April every year for the next year. Meaning, the application in April 2024 is for 2025.
Universities have two sessions. Spring session (starts in April) application starts typically in November and ends in January. While Fall session (starts in October) application starts in May.
Note – Application date varies for different universities. Please check the websites of the university you want to apply in.