How to prepare for the MEXT scholarship
If you are reading this article, you probably have already decided to apply for the MEXT scholarship. Being determined about it is a necessary step because only then can you truly put all you’ve got into accomplishing this goal. Below are seven simple steps about preparing for the MEXT scholarship to help you accomplish your dream of studying in Japan.
1. Choose your field of study
Decide what you want to study in Japan while on the MEXT scholarship, for example, business, medicine, engineering, etc. You must be very specific about it.
You also need to consider your future and why this scholarship will be valuable to you. Do you want to continue to work in Academia or a company?
Any questions you have about the field of study and filling your forms with the field of study, you must ask them at your local Japanese embassy or consulate either by email or phone.
2. Prepare for the MEXT scholarship exams
–Research students: English and Japanese
–Undergraduate students: English, Japanese, Mathematics (A or B), Chemistry, Physics, Biology
–Specialized Training College students (STC): English, Japanese, Mathematics
–College of Technology students (CT): English, Japanese, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics
Go through MEXT past exams to see the format, get used to the questions, and prepare for the scholarship of your choice. You can find a good selection of previous MEXT tests in my book packs for undergraduate, graduate, STC, and CT.
Check your level for each subject by testing yourself and aim for at least an 80% score for each test. Start studying for each subject where your score is below 80%.
For undergrad students, the MATH test is essential. I have written a MATH preparation book with previous tests, theory and extra practice – this has more than 500 pages at the moment and contains both A and B tests. If necessary, hire a tutor to help you.
3. Put together your application documents
Download the forms from the Japanese Embassy’s website in your country or the JASSO official website
Fill out the forms by yourself! Don’t hire someone to do this for you; ask the embassy if you have any questions about filling out your forms.
The embassy or consulate is obliged to answer all your questions, which is especially good if you have any particular situations. You will find many materials about the forms on the net and people offering plenty of answers, but are you willing to put your future and chances in the hands of opinionated strangers? You should only seek answers to these questions from official sources, which means calling or emailing your local embassy.
4. The importance of the research plan and justification answers
Work on your research plan (research students) or your justification answers (undergrad students) that you need to write in your forms – you will have to put some effort here, especially for the research plan. I wrote a whole chapter outlining an excellent research plan in my MEXT graduate ebook.
Also, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of the clarity of your writing, either regarding the research plan or the justification questions, no matter if you apply for the undergraduate, STC, or CT MEXT scholarships. They will not pass through if the quality of your writing is low. And trust me when I say this because I have read plenty of pieces of writing this summer that needed heavily editing. Students don’t know what to write, and they either copy some ideas from the net or write things that come to their minds without logic and without returning to read twice. No wonder many of these applications fail to pass the first screening. You need to present a very polished piece of writing expressing your plan in Japan, why you want to study there, and why it is crucial for you and your community.
5. Keep in touch with the embassy where you apply
Try to get in touch with the embassy where you will apply. I started visiting my embassy two years before I applied for the scholarship.
Why is this important?
You will surely have questions about the scholarship and filling out your forms. I had more than ten questions, and everybody I knew who got this scholarship had questions. But we all have special situations, and the embassies have different requirements. Things differ slightly from country to country, so you must ask your questions directly to the embassy.
When I filled out my mock form, I wrote my questions in red directly on the form. Then I called them, and it only took a few minutes to ask everything and get the answers. You must be very concise and write down what they say. Finding other people’s responses on the net is not the right solution. You don’t know their particular situation and what their embassy requires.
The embassies are obliged to answer all your questions. Some also encourage students to make an appointment before applying to check their application file and all forms. I highly recommend you take advantage of this.
6. Be organized
The application and procedure are easy, but it is essential to be organized (all documents must be in the required order), and you must pay close attention to details. The first step to entering the MEXT competition is to fill out all the documents correctly and in capital as required. And you need the embassy’s help to ensure you did that.
Furthermore, the application for the MEXT scholarship is FREE. You do not have any taxes or fees to pay. If anybody asks for money, then there is something very wrong there.
Do everything by yourself! I think it is good to read other people’s opinions about this scholarship but not obsess about it because you will have your own exciting and unique experience with this. Put more effort into studying for the tests and writing the application form correctly.
7. Keep a positive attitude
How?
Don’t talk about your plans with people who might have a negative influence. In particular, don’t start reading negative things about other people’s experiences or how they failed. Your experience is your own.
Make a list of why you want to go to Japan, and what things you want to visit, eat, or experience. What is it that attracts you most to Japan?
Why?
It is essential to be confident, focused and undiverted from your goal. The moment you start doubting yourself, you are off your path. To return to your track, remind yourself what you love about Japan and why you want to go there. This way, you will have the energy to study for the exams, the inspiration to write your research plan (research) or answer the justification questions (undergrad), exuberance during your interview, and be able to transmit your passion for this country and your future as a MEXT student.
Conclusion
To sum up, everything is 100% in your hands because you have to study and put your documents together. And with a positive attitude and clarity of mind, you can transmit these in your interview and make a great impression. Japan is waiting for you, so enjoy the journey until you arrive.
If there are other questions you wish me to approach in my blog about the MEXT scholarship or life in Japan for a MEXT student, please write in the comment box below or send a message through the contact form. I am working hard to create math MEXT study materials at the moment, and I haven’t had much time for the blog recently.
Keep your eyes on the goal, and best of luck to all applying this year!
Hello Philip! I plan on applying for an undergrad scholarship next year so I´m collecting more info now. I would like to study veterinary medicine in Japan. Do you know if there is any list of topics that need to be covered for exams? If we are talking about biology, chemistry, and math. I´m not doing excellent in those subjects, therefore, I would really like to prepare as much as possible. Thank you!! 🙂
Dear Sasha, thank you for your comment and sorry for the late reply. About your question, to prepare for the undergraduate MEXT scholarship, the veterinary field of study (Natural Science B), you will have the following exams: Math B, English, Japanese, Chemistry and Biology. The scholarship will be granted for seven years (including the prep year in Japan). Even if you take the scholarship now with low math, chemistry and biology, you will still need these in the future because you will have to take an admission exam at a university in Japan to enter the actual veterinary course. The MEXT scholarship application only helps you take the scholarship and get you to Japan, but there will be a second step there: the university admission examination. If this is what you want to study (veterinary), then it is best to start preparing for it in this year that you have. The first thing is to focus on the exam subjects. You must practice the past tests; consider hiring a tutor if they are too complicated.
If you are not 100% into veterinary, you might consider another field of study that does not require biology or chemistry. However, you will still have the math exam. Whatever you choose, starting as soon as possible is crucial because you have a lot to cover and one year will fly by in a moment.
Best of luck with your studies, and keep us posted about your progress or if you have any other questions.
Hello! Just wanted to ask if TOEFL and JLPT tests are required? If yes, do I still have a chance if I submitted my application form without these?
Hello! The TOEFL and JLPT are not a requirement for the MEXT application. However, some embassies might require them for the first screening. Therefore, you need to check on the website of the Japanese embassy from your country (or call them) to check whether they require these tests.
I scored 95% in my 12th class and 97% in my 11th and 10gpa in my 10th I am well versed in Physics and Chemistry and math a but math b seems a bit difficult for me. I posted all all round good application with 3 LOR’s, proper health certificates and all the transcripts and everything else that is required. I can speak japanese well and understand it well too, onto level 2 of hiragana and katakana and have around 2 and a half month to prepare everything. I gave excellent answers in the application form and my grandpa worked in japan for almost an year doing social work. I have been interested in japan from my 5th grade so have applied for Undergraduate now. what are my chances for this scholarship
I would say they are pretty high, but it is difficult to talk about chances. You did your best, and this is the most important thing. You just have to try to relax and maintain a positive mindset. Also, if your feel you have some difficulties with Math B, then you need to practice more. Best of luck, you can do it!
At first thanks a lot Philip for this wonderful article.My question is I graduated from high school about 18 months ago and had done nothing special in this past 18 months and I have planned to apply for the MEXT and it”s just 20 days remaining for the application deadline so how it is possible to get through MEXT application form and examination.Thank you for the reply in advance
Dear Samar Gautam, thank you for your comment, and I’m pleased you’ve found my website helpful.
About your question, if you apply for the MEXT now, even if you are not prepared and cannot pass the MEXT application, you will still have the experience and will be able to use this experience for your next MEXT application. Unfortunately, there is no shortcut regarding the application for this scholarship. You must pull yourself together and use the free time to prepare thoroughly and apply with confidence next year. Best of luck, and I hope things work out for you.
Hello Philip,
I hope you are doing well. I’m planning to apply for the MEXT scholarship through the French embassy to start a potential master’s degree in Japan in April 2024 at Kyoto University. The thing is I heard about this scholarship a few months ago so I’m scared that I won’t have enough time to prepare (since I’m currently enrolled in a one-year/pre-master degree and I have to write my thesis before the end of June). I’m still motivated to do it and apply anyway. I just have one question: I can speak some Japanese (a little bit ahah) because I have a lot of Japanese friends, but I can’t write or read. I’m planning to try to learn how to write hiragana and katakana in 2 months and a half (before the Japanese examination in mid-June). However, I would like to know if I really need to have a good level of Japanese in order to be selected for the scholarship. Moreover, the master’s degree I want to apply to is fully in English. Do you think I can still get rejected if I don’t have a good grade on the Japanese test?
Take care.
Hello Chloe, I think if you found a university that you like and they have a program in English, then it should be ok. Studying hiragana and katakana is a must, though. And you should also write to the university and check if they are willing to accept you for a master’s program. You will need a supervisor, so you have to try and find out if there are potential supervisors and if they are willing to take you under their wing. Either way, you should give it a try. I know many students who went to Japan without knowing any Japanese. Of course, I don’t think it is the best approach, but it is possible. And this is all we need, a chance. Best of luck, and write again if you want to share your experience or if you have other questions!
hey dude i just wanted to know if my 10th grade gpa has 88% and right now i’m in my 11th class do i have any chances to apply for mext(engineering)? Well, just got very sus from google answers HAHA, yk how higher my gpa should be???
Hello Cristian, thanks for your comment. About your question, I think your GPA is excellent. You shouldn’t worry about it. You should make sure that you also have high averages for Math, Physics, and Chemistry. They might look at these averages if you want to apply for engineering. And start preparing for the MEXT exam as soon as possible (Math B, English, Japanese, Physics, Chemistry). Best of luck, and write anytime if you have any questions!
I am into the process 7 months, cleared the written exam and the interview and now they say wait until February to get selected or rejected. How is this okay? Waiting for more than half a year and if got rejected how is this fair? How can one have positive mindset when they highlight in the email that Just because we are recommending you for MEXT does not mean you have got the scholarship and now wait for another 6 months for the results. If selected then great but now if I get rejected what was meaning of passing written and interview exam? To whosoever is gonna try for this scholarship make backups too cause they are gonna make you wait for 7 months for the results and no info. And the embassy tells nothing, if u get rejected there will be no reasons provided as such is mentioned in the email which makes no sense. Waiting from 3 months and still 4 to go….. PEACE ✌️
Hi Kenny, congratulations on making it through the first screening successfully!
I know it seems weird, but this is the procedure. I went through the same thing. They only told me in mid-February that I got the scholarship. So, how did I manage to keep calm and positive? I just focused on something different. I started another course, and when I got the MEXT scholarship, I renounced it. It was that simple. But if you have nothing better to do, I recommend studying Japanese or taking a Japanese course. There are many things you can do to increase your skills. Besides, if you pass the first screening, chances are 99% you’ll go to Japan. You shouldn’t worry. They usually pick a small number of students because they know approximately how many scholarships MEXT will offer. They will not send 20 files if they know only ten scholarships will be awarded.
Best of luck, and keep us posted. In no time, you will send everybody photos of you in Japan! Peace!
Bro you so kind. I am learning Japanese cleared N3 and now I have N2 exam in December. But learning Japanese makes me think about the results all the more. And mid-feb is so far. Thanks for the reply I just hope that I don’t fall under that 1% that you didn’t mention. Thanks for your kind words.
Fingers crossed. Keep up the good work!
Just a question. If I get the scholarship what happens next? Will I be supposed to get letter of acceptance or will they help with it?
If you are an undergrad, you don’t need to obtain a letter of acceptance. If you applied for research, you must obtain a letter of acceptance.
Hi i’m Moono from Zambia i’m in the 11th grade right now i want to study business in Japan
Could you please explain to me what i should do to prepare for the MEXT exams and were i can find some practice questions
Hi Moono! You will have the following exams for business: Math A, English and Japanese. It would be best if you started preparing as soon as possible. You can find some free samples on the official Jasso site. You apply only through the Japanese embassy of your country, and the application is free of charge. I checked the website from Zambia, and it seems that the undergraduate program has been suspended because of a lack of suitable candidates. I will paste the link below. I suggest you call them and check out this information and if you can apply or not. If not, you should go to a local university, study business administration there, and then apply for an MBA in Japan through the MEXT research scholarship. Keep in touch and let me know how it goes and if you have any other questions. Best of luck!
https://www.zm.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/11_000001_00065.html
Hi,
First of all thanks for the info there isn’t much about MEXT on the internet.
I have a doubt. That is I am very weak in chemistry and physics but I want to pursue my bachelors in japan through MEXT in information engineering [I think computer science is called information engineering right?]. I am in grade 10 right now and I’m from India. I am trying to improve in physics but doesn’t seem to be doing so in chemistry [even though I’m trying. i’ll try harder]. I also most likely won’t have nay extracurriculars since my school isn’t offering any. can I still have a chance with the scholarship? If no are there any other options I can have a chance with?
Even without extracurriculars, you should be ok and apply for the MEXT scholarship. Be careful because the competition in India is very harsh, many students apply, and they select the files before inviting students to the interview. You must ensure that your application file is well done and get good averages at school. For your MEXT exams, you need to prepare for Math B, English, Japanese, Physics and Chemistry. Try to learn as much as you can. You can do it! Best of luck!
Hy. Am ayesha..I have some confusion,I want to study in japan with mext scholarship,I have completed my FSC, (2ND YEAR) recently..but I want to ask that.if I apply for nursing.then I have to take exam for physics,chemistry,biology,math???? Am very weak in chemistry and physics..
Now what I should do…plz help me.for exam of mest
I am sorry, I don’t know what FSC is. Nursing is in Natural sciences B (undergrad students), so you need Math B, English, Japanese, Chemistry, and Biology. No physics. You need to study as much as you can. If your weakness is chemistry, try to improve it. Also, focus on getting good grades for the other subjects. You don’t have to be perfect. Just do your best.
Excuse me sir , I’m just from leaving high school ,can I apply for the college of technology in the mext scholarship
Yes, you can apply for the College of Technology scholarship. Best of luck!
Excuse me , can you tell me sir that I am a biology student and I am in 12th class so what will be the study material for mext after 12 th
Hello Kanishk,
As a biology student, you will apply for Natural Sciences B. The MEXT exams are Math B, English, Japanese, Chemistry and Biology.
Hello Philip I wants to ask that I also have biology in 12th but now I wants to take humanity is it possible?
Should be ok. Just have to justify the change, why do you want to go this way.
Hello Phillip,
I’m Himanshi and I’m from India. First, I appreciate your thoughtfulness in creating this blog. Things here look more clear and more positive as compared to other blogs or websites I surfed through.
I read the comments and found them very helpful too! Still, some questions that relate to my condition are left uncleared to me.
So I just finished my grade 12th exams a week ago, expecting the results in a month or two.
I wish to do my undergrad in Japan.
I didn’t apply for MEXT 2022-23 though. Haven’t yet given any JLPT, SAT, TOEFL, etc. Well…yes! w
I decided, on my own, that I want to give myself some time to develop and prepare myself for the coming change in life after high school. I’m not sure if I’ll be left behind this way but it felt necessary.
In the given time, until the next scholarship opportunity, I want to work on my Japanese, Coding, MEXT, maintaining contact with the Japanese Embassy, and a few more things.
But I’m not sure how positive my side looks. Is the way that I planned practical enough?
Looking forward to your guidance.
Thank you!
Hello Himanshi,
Thank you for your comment and kind words. I am happy you found my blog helpful.
About your concerns, I think it is excellent that you are taking some time to prepare for the MEXT experience. The best strategy is to plan, research, and apply when ready. You will not be left behind; I think you have more chances because you are willing to prepare. Still, one year passes quickly, so you need to start now.
First, decide on the field of study, so you know what your exams are. If you apply for Natural sciences A, you have Math B, English, Japanese, Physics and Chemistry. You have to start solving the MEXT tests, see where your weak points are, and try to improve there. You need, of course, to improve your Japanese no matter what.
Keep in touch with the Embassy. Ask them if they require JLPT, SAT or TOEFEL. It is not a requirement for MEXT, but some embassies require extra tests for the first screening.
It is essential to read the official MEXT guidelines carefully. Underline the things that you consider crucial from there. There is also a list of documents for your application. It would be good to download those and fill them in so they will be more accessible when the documents for the next application are available. You also have to think about the justification questions, and you will need time to edit those.
These are the first steps for now. Let me know if you have any other questions. I wish you the best of luck!
Hi I just wanna ask. I desire to take courses that’s more related to film media or just art course in general for mext. What are my chances and is there specific exams for them as well that I need to prepare myself with?
Yes, you can choose film media or art-related courses. For undergrad, you would need Math A, English, and Japanese. It is difficult to talk about chances, but I had a friend studying film media as a research student, so it is possible. Best of luck!
Okay so long story short, I am 7 months into the process and have cleared the written exam and interview and got the mail saying you are going to be recommended to MEXT and you have to wait for 7 months for the final results that either I am selected or not.. no matter how positive I want to be the wait is killing me and there are no articles out there telling the experience of the specialised training college student who got the scholarship. Everyone is a research or master’s student. Why is the process so long? Is it really okay for me to still hope that I will get it cause after 7 months of wait if I get rejected I will be so lost and angry cause almost 1 year of long process just to get rejected at the end with no reasons!? If I study for any exam and clear written and interview that straight outta means that I passed and have the job or admission but here it terrifies me this thought comes to my mind every night as my parents are expecting answers from me about my future and what am I to tell them when I myself don’t know. The thing that haunts me is the Highlighted Sentence they sent me in the mail saying ‘Just because we are recommending you to MEXT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE GOT THE SCHOLARSHIP’ I mean you could have said that without highlighting it and underlining it. And when I ask the embassy, instead of giving information they keep repeating a single sentence and cooperation is 0. I feel a little relieved after typing this here but night comes after every bright day…. 🫠🫠🫡
Hi Rishabh, thank you for your comment and for sharing your experience. First of all, congratulations on passing the first screening! This is super important.
I understand your fear and uncertainty about the whole situation and the pressure you are getting from your parents. I actually went through the same thing. My mother pressured me to go and study at another university in another country before receiving the MEXT scholarship because she didn’t think I would get it. So, after the application process, I moved to Germany and started a course there. Then after six months, I received an e-mail from the Japanese embassy, saying that I was to return immediately because I got the scholarship and I was going to Japan in one month.
I know it is not easy, but it really helped me to focus on something else. While I was busy studying and doing school projects in Germany, making new friends and teaching math part-time, time flew by, and I forgot about my worry about Japan. Then the happy news came and took me by surprise. I couldn’t believe it! Everything had worked out great. But it is super important to detach and move on with your life. And when the good news comes, you will feel fantastic.
I know they emphasize that just because you passed the first screening doesn’t mean you got the scholarship. But this is just procedure. Just don’t read that line, don’t think about it. Do something else in the meantime. Make yourself busy, and don’t allow your parents to interrogate you. They don’t mean to, but they do more harm than good.
Best of luck, and let me know how it goes!
Thank you man! Thanks for the reply!
HELLO, could you please tell me what is the syllabus of maths for the preparetion of Mext scholarship
It’s pretty much everything you studied during high school. Calculus, algebra, coordinate geometry, plane and space geometry… just everything. There was even a statistics problem once.
Excuse me , can you please tell me which maths should I study maths A or maths B for undergraduate social science and humanities.
You need Maths A, English and Japanese for social science and humanities.
hello, so i currently gave my 10 th exam , i want to know which subject should i study for social science and humanities and is it compulsory to apply recommendation letter, and when should i apply for MEXT scholarship , is it compulsory to know japanese for giving exam
Exams: Maths A, English, Japanese.
Yes, you need to have a recommendation letter. It is compulsory.
You have to know some Japanese. You still have time to study.
You should apply at the end of class 12.
Best of luck!
thank you
Im 13, I want to get the MEXT scholarship. Next academic year (September 2022-2023) I’m going to be in my last year of junior high (middle school/ preparatory) -incase that’s important or of value-. How can i start preparing?
Hello there! It’s so good that you are starting to prepare so early for the MEXT scholarship. This is wonderful, and I wish you all the best!
The compulsory exams are English, Japanese and Math. First, you have plenty of time to improve these. Try to take a Cambridge advanced, a JLPT level N2, and learn math. The math exam is quite challenging, so don’t overlook it. Also, it would help if you had a good level of Japanese to be able to study in Japan in the Japanese language. From time to time, take some MEXT tests and check your level, and strive for a 90% mark.
Later on, try to decide which field of study you want to apply for. Then, depending on the field of study, you will need to include in your learning Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
Another essential aspect is your high school grades. You have to try and get good grades because you will attach these to your MEXT application. Try to have at least 80% averages. And 90% averages for Math, English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology (if you will opt for Natural sciences).
I hope it is helpful. Best of luck with your studies! Let me know if you have other questions!
I am going to be 20 years old this year and I want to apply for the Undergraduate category in MEXT. However, some said it may take two years or more to prepare for this scholarship and many applicants barely get the scholarship even if they did their hardest in all five stages by embassy recommendation. Also, there is age limit like between 17-22 years old. So, I am worried if I could even make it. Maybe I am too old to apply for this scholarship for this. Right?
If you don’t try, maybe you will have some regrets in the future, thinking “What if…”. Maybe you can apply for social sciences and humanities field of study, it is a little easier and you only have three exams: Math A, English, and Japanese. But you do need some good grades in high school. Another strategy would be to finish university in your country and apply for a research scholarship and do a master in Japan. Hope it’s helpful! Best of luck!
hi dude i am currently in class 12 and i want to go to Japan for graduate studies. I want to do engineering.so can you plz tell me what subjects to study to pass MEXT scholarship test and how can i contact to the embassay???.. and Thank you. Above information helped a lot. 🙂
Natural sciences A – Exams: Math B, English, Japanese, Physics, Chemistry. Embassy list here: https://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/mofaserv.html
How long does it take to give the results of the mext written exam
It depends on the embassy’s procedure. They don’t disclose the MEXT written results, but if they invite you to the interview, it is a sign that you did well in the exams. Then, they should send notifications that you passed the first screening in a week or two. If they don’t contact you within a month after the interview, then most probably, it is not a pass. I hope it is helpful for you. Did you take the MEXT exams, and are you waiting for an invitation to the interview? Best of luck!
Hello Phillip I am a 15 year old South African applying for the Mext scholarship undergrad.I wanted to ask if I should apply during my 12th year or when I pass and is it possible to apply for both university and embassy recommendation at the same time.Thank you
Hello Izu, thank you for your message. About your question, I think that if you start preparing now, you should apply during your 12th year. You cannot apply for two MEXT scholarships simultaneously, so applying for both university and embassy recommendations is not a good idea. The best you can do is decide the field you are going for and prepare for those exams. In three years, your math and Japanese should be impeccable. Try to reach Japanese level N2 if you can.
Best of luck, you can do this! It’s good you are starting to prepare so early!
Can I apply for this scholarship during any ongoing
diploma course?
Yes, it’s ok.
Hello, I was informed recently that I got the scholarship(undergraduate) but my embassy said that they don’t have any other details, probably because of the border restrictions that Japan has. Once I’ve got the scholarship is it possible for them to cancel it if I won’t be able to go to Japan in April? Or I will just have to wait a few more weeks/months and go when possible?
Thank you
Hello Chris, and congratulations on getting the undergraduate MEXT scholarship! I am very happy for you. About your question, I can only offer you my personal opinion. I don’t think they will cancel anything once you get it. They will probably arrange to gather all MEXT students and bring them to Japan in April. They might have special requirements, though, like a negative covid test. Now you have three months to prepare and improve your Japanese as best as possible. Also, be positive! You are on the right track.
I see, thank you for taking your time to answer my question.
Also, is it possible to chose what field to study(from the 3 that I have chosen) or do I have to go with the first choice only. I wrote for the first one business administration and for the second economics but now I feel like I would like to study economics more.
Sorry if the question is confusing
You will have one year in Japan to decide which field of study to pursue from the ones on your list. During the one-year prep course, you will talk with your supervisor, and he/she will guide you. But you will need to decide quickly because you will have this year to prepare for the examination entrance at the university. So, no time to lose. You have to consider that the entrance examination might be in the Japanese language, and MEXT might choose for you at which university to go. You will need to adapt and go with the flow. Sometimes you might not be able to choose as they will choose for you. But you will be in Japan, and if your Japanese is good, you will have a lot of freedom. If you study hard, you will be able to follow through with a master, extend the MEXT scholarship. I also did business administration, and my second choice was economics. But I was happy with the business administration because I could do an MBA while on the MEXT scholarship. I hope it’s helpful for you! Best of luck!
What is the reccomended word count for the subjective questions in the undergrad application form in your opinion? Thanks in advance!
Hi Kyo, thanks for your comment. About your question, I would say somewhere between 100-130 words. But please keep in mind that this is just my personal opinion. There is no official recommendation about how much should students write. I hope it’s helpful for you! Best of luck!
Thanks a lot!
Hello, thank you for this. It helps a lot.
I have one question.
I am planning to apply for this scholarship (Undergrad) and my preferred major is International Relations in Humanities and Social Science.
Are the exam subjects for the scholarship still the same? (Math, Chemistry, Physics, Biology) Does it not change depends on the major you want to take?
Hello Kristian, yes, the MEXT exams depend on the major you want to take. In your case, for International Relations, you will take English, Japanese and Math A. Best of luck!
Thanks phillip, your articles helped me alot.
But I just want to know that, Are these exams(TOEFL/IELETS/GRE) of any use in MEXT exam.?
If yes, what’s/How’s is it?
Thanyou once again!!
Hi Pransh Kumar, I’m happy to hear that you found my articles helpful. About your question, the exams you mentioned are not of any use in the MEXT exam. If you have any of them, it’s ok to include the result in the application, but it is not significant. There will be an English test to evaluate your level of knowledge. The best you can do is prepare hard for the MEXT exams, practice past tests, make sure you get high scores. The MEXT tests, the interview, and the application forms are the ones that count the most.
Another important thing is your school grades. They will check that. Best of luck!
Hey Philip, it’s great to see how active you are in the comments section. I really appreciate you doing this!
I just had a quick question, is there any courses dedicated to helping you do well in MEXT undergrad?
Hey Ryo, thanks for your comment! I am trying to be as active as possible, although sometimes it is difficult. To answer your question, from my knowledge, there is no dedicated course for helping students apply for the MEXT exams. Nothing official anyway. I heard that some schools offer some MEXT guidance for different subjects, such as math. Not all countries/schools have this though. The best you can do is to work on the past tests and understand the procedure of the application. It is super important to follow the procedure exactly, pay attention to the smallest of details. Best of luck!
Hello, I am a 15 year old Indian student planning to apply for the mext (undergrad) after school. Should I like start applying in the year I’m in 12th, or only AFTER passing 12th? Because I don’t think its much possible to get 12th result by March. Also I don’t know how I can go about contacting the embassy in person at this stage since it’s really very early but you also got similar experience of getting in touch 1-2 years ago, so I’d appreciate any guidance
Hello Taneshq, thank you for your comment. It is good that you decided early to apply for the MEXT undergrad. You have plenty of time to study for the MEXT exams. If you apply in 12th grade, you will need the results by summer, not March. So there is time. It depends on you if you feel ready or not. It is a little early to contact the embassy unless they offer study materials or Japanese courses to students, then it’s ok to contact them. If not, maybe a year before you apply. For now, you should decide approximately what you want to study in Japan so you can prepare for the exams. English, Japanese, and Chemistry are a must. But then you have some options: Math A or Math B; Physics or Biology. It all depends on what your field of study will be. I hope it is helpful! Best of luck with your studies!
Thanks! I’ve decided to pick architecture as my preferred field and i guess it requires maths, chem, physics only, right
For architecture, you need Math B, English, Japanese, Physics and Chemistry. It’s a wonderful field of study! Best of luck!
Wait so i need to know Japanese before the exams? I thought Japanese is to be learnt during a 1 year course in Tokyo afterwards
It would be best if you studied at least some Japanese before you applied because you will have a MEXT Japanese exam. You will improve your Japanese during the one year course, but then you will have to take admission to the university, and the exams will be in Japanese. So, yes, Japanese is pretty important. There have been students who went to Japan without knowing any Japanese, but you will lower your chances of obtaining the scholarship if you try. Who do you think the embassy will select for the scholarship, a determined student who has been learning Japanese for some time or a student who promises to learn in the future?
So one does not need to add the high school graduation certificate in the application form only the confirmation by school that you will pass by summer next year?
Yes, but double-check with the embassy where you apply. You should be able to present the graduation certificate later on.
Good day, thank you for sharing these information!
I also want to ask, what do you mean by keep in touch? Can you share your experience how did you get in touch with the embassy you applied? Did you ask a few questions to keep in touch with them or what? Thank you! Have a great day ahead!
Hi Cael, thank you for your question. First, I went to the embassy about a year or two before applying for the MEXT scholarship. In my country, the Japanese embassy offers some materials for students to learn Japanese. They have a library, and we can borrow books. I also talked with them about the scholarships and studying Japanese and asked them if they were involved in other programs. It seemed that they had an e-mail list and organised free Japanese movie nights at a cinema, and they were also involved in organising speech contests for people learning the Japanese language. So, I asked them to put me on the list, and I went to the movie nights from time to time. I went to the speech contest (but only in the audience, I didn’t participate). I went there regularly to borrow books, although sometimes I wouldn’t read them. So, in this way, I got familiar with the location and the people there. When I submitted my papers, they knew my face and knew I was interested in Japan and involved in different activities. And at the interview, I already knew at least one or two people on the committee, so I was not nervous or afraid to be there. I was confident. Everything felt familiar and went smoothly. And when I had to ask them questions about my forms, I was not afraid to call them on the phone and ask them directly. It is better to get in touch with them and see what activities and materials they offer. This way, they can also become more familiar with you, and you will allow them to get to know you a little better before you apply and before your interview. I think I visited the embassy about once or twice a month for about one year at least. Best of luck, let us know how it is with the Japanese embassy in your country!
Hi, Good Day! I would like to ask if are there any courses for an undergraduate examination that does not include math or physics?
No, just social sciences. You still have Math A, but no physics.
hallo im from southern Africa
i am currently 15 and want to start getting ready for when I am 18
i am deeply interested and motivated to go and do my studies in japan in engineering
I already know a good amount of Japanese I can read and write but I am not good with kanji at all
and is there anything you think I need to prepare now or start preparing before I finish high school.
Dear Nicole, thank you for your comment. About your question, It is good you are preparing so early. This way, your chances of success will be very high. For engineering, you will need to take the following exams: Math B, English, Japanese, Physics, and Chemistry. It would help if you prepared for all these subjects well, especially for Math and Physics. Also, your high school grades should be perfect for these subjects. Japanese is essential, but it is not the only thing you need to prepare. You should start learning kanji and study the Japanese language very seriously. At some point, in a year or so, you should start working on the past tests and familiarize yourself with the MEXT exam format. Then you will need to think about what you want to study in Japan and why. You can do this later on. For now, studying the subjects I mentioned and having good grades at school should be your priority.
I hope it is helpful! Best of luck! You can do it!
Hello, i have a question!
If you apply for engineering in mext (undergrad programme) then is it necessary to give biology exam?
No biology, just Math B, English, Japanese, Physics, Chemistry. Good luck!
Thank you for you information Philip!
I’m in my last year of high school and I utter wish is to go to Japan to study computer science. I will apply for it next year. So I was asking if you could tell what kind of questions that might be done by the interviewers.
They will ask you why do you want to study this, what are your plans for the future and if you are able to adapt to life in Japan. They want to know how clear-minded you are.
I am doing BSc( means undergraduate) in Mathematics. I want to do masters in Japan so please guide me. I’m a new one and I’m from India.
Hi Jimmy, you will have English and Japanese exams. You need to write a practical research plan about what you want to study in Japan, why, how you intend to do that. You need a step-by-step solid research plan. Find 3 potential universities willing to accept you as a maths research student. The next application is in spring 2022. Best of luck!
Hello, I’m an undergraduate student and I was the only one in my country that passed the interview and now I have to wait a few months for the final answer. I was wondering, what are my chances of getting the scholarship at this point? I did well on the Japanese and English exam but poorly on the math one (I’m studying social sciences). The interview went well too and it was only in Japanese, probably because of my good score on the Japanese exam but I don’t know if this will matter that much.
Hi Chris, thanks for your message. First, congratulations on passing the interview. If the embassy called you or emailed you that you made it, then it’s all good. Your chances of getting the scholarship are high. Contingencies are possible, though, and anything can happen.
Thanks Phillip. Can I know up to what level should I learn Japanese comparing with jlpt
Try to complete N5 and as much as you can from N4.
hey philip
good morning, my name is miracle and am from Nigeria
i applied for the 2022 mext schorlarship for undergraduates and am really worried cos i do not know which books to start with in preparation for the exams
i equally want to know why we only have 2014 to 2016 past questions only.
Hi Miracle, thanks for your comment. If you already applied for the scholarship, then you need to focus on the exam and interview. So, you can start by doing the tests on the JASSO website. If you have troubles with Math or want to practice more tests, I suggest you check out the undergrad MEXT bundle on my website, which contains 9 years of tests plus a Math book with theory and explanations. If you only need Math A, you can check my website, a book dedicated to students who only need to prepare for Math A exam.
About your other question, on the official site, there are only the tests from 2014 to 2016. They haven’t updated the tests in many years. I really don’t know why they are doing this. But there was a rumour a few months ago that they will upload more recent tests very soon. I hope they do, but you need to try and work with what we have available until they do.
I hope it is helpful. Let me know if you have any other questions, and best of luck with the first screening!
Hi, I’m currently a Year 12 student in the UK (the US equivalent would be 11th Grade, I think). The subject I currently take are Maths, Computer Science, and Physics, and I want to study Physics in Japan on the MEXT scholarship as an Undergraduate. However, I understand that Chemistry is an exam that I have to take and I was wondering if that would be a huge deal-breaker? Is it still possible for me to get the scholarship, even if I don’t do well at all in the Chemistry exam? I’m going to find a way outside of formal education to teach myself Chemistry, but no doubt it will be very stressful on top of my current 3 subjects and my Japanese studies. Will this be enough?
Dear Samuel, thank you for your comment. Yes, I believe that if you focus on physics, maths (B) and Japanese, you have a very high chance of getting the MEXT scholarship. You should prepare as much as possible for the MEXT exam, do the past tests, learn as much as you can. Then work carefully on your application file, follow the procedure step by step, and you will be fine. As for chemistry, do what you can. Maybe you will know some answers, and maybe you will guess some others. Either way, focus on your strong points, and in case anyone at the embassy points out your weaknesses, say that you are willing and ready to improve and learn more. Nobody is perfect. Best of luck! You can do it!
Hi Dear ,
Bit confusing with the requirement . For post graduate program , got 2 exams right ? which is English and Japanese ? That’s mean i have to learned and fluent in Japanese before i apply MEXT scholarship ? Then how will one do for the Japanese language exam when i have not attended the one year Japanese language course. Or will all the exams be written after i have studied the Japanese language?? Does
Yes, you will have 2 exams for the MEXT research program (graduate and post-graduate studies). You will have English and Japanese. You need to learn some Japanese before you apply for MEXT. Then you will continue for one or two years to learn Japanese in Japan before you sit for the master or PhD admission exams. Let me know if it’s clear now or if you have other questions. Best of luck!
Hi Philip,
I am planning to pursue masters in japan, getting the MEXT Scholarship would really help my dreams come true. But since I don’t know Japanese , can you suggest me what might be the syllabus for MEXT examination and the date upon which we can start applying? Furthermore , Should I apply to an university only after the MEXT is processed or should I do it simultaneously ? Your reply would be really helpful.
Hi Navin, for the master, you will take the English and Japanese MEXT exams. You should start learning at least some basic Japanese. The next session will begin in spring 2022, so you have some time to prepare. You need to try and find a university starting now, before you apply. You have to contact them and see if they are willing to accept you as a future MEXT student. You will need to write in your application forms three potential universities. Also, start preparing your research plan from now. Best of luck!
Hey Phillip! I am Saumya, currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in arts. I have done a lot of research on the MEXT scholarship but was not sure if they select Humanities candidates as the chances are very low. Also, MEXT requires a 16-year formal education but since my Bachelor’s degree is only of a duration of 3 years and 12 years of school education that totals to 15 years of formal education, will this be a problem during the application period? Waiting for your reply eagerly!
Hey Saumya, thanks for your message and sorry for the delayed reply. About your question, I think there are some exceptions because I heard before of students applying for MEXT with only 15-year formal education. On my way to Japan, I also met a student who got an art scholarship. They do offer scholarships for humanity studies, but you just have to bring good arguments, make an excellent application file, and have good grades on the MEXT exam. If you do your best, I think you have a good chance. Best of luck!
Hi Phillip,
I applied for the MEXT scholarships for the year 2022 as an undergraduate and my desired courses of study are Information Engineering, Electronics and Mechanical Engineering. Is it compulsory for me to sit for the Biology exam as I’m an Engineering student.
You don’t have the Biology exam. You will only have English, Japanese, Math B, Physics, and Chemistry. No Biology.
Hello, is there any problem if I used a digital signature?
Sorry, I am not sure about that. You should call the embassy and ask them directly. However, from my knowledge, your signature needs to be authorized by someone, for example, a company or school. If that’s the case, you would not be able to use a digital signature for MEXT.
But it’s best to confirm with the embassy. Also, please post a reply if you find out something from them.
Hello, in the application form there’s a section called 卒業状況 Status. Do i need to write something there, for example “graduated” or do i leave it blank?
You don’t write anything in the first three boxes below the 卒業状況 Status. However, in the fourth one, if you have started or finished a university in your home country, then you will check one of the three boxes (卒業 Graduated; 卒業見込 Expected to graduate; その他 Other status). I hope it is clear now. Cheers!
Thank you!
Sure! Best of luck!
Hi, Dear
I’am new to get information for MEXT.
Now i want to know, how many time they spend between documents step and test writing one.
Hi dear Adama,
Thanks for your question. It really depends from country to country. Each Japanese embassy from each country conducts the first screening, so they have their local rules. It also depends on when you submit the application file. The file submitting window can last for about a month, then when this window closes, it can take as little as one week to organize the exams and interviews. Some embassies do a preliminary screening of the files before the exam and only invite those students to the exam. However, other embassies invite to the exam all students who applied.
If you submit your file at the beginning of the application window, you could have about one or even two months until the exam. If you submit your file at the end of the application window, you could have as little as a week to maybe 3 weeks until your exam. It all depends on how the Japanese embassy from your country decides to organize everything. This is why you need to prepare in advance, even before you start the application file, and make sure your file is close to perfection. You don’t want them to eliminate your file before they invite you to the exam.
Best of luck!
Hello, does the medical certificate need to be stamped or not?
It is better to ask the Japanese embassy about the stamp. My opinion is that your family doctor should put a stamp on the form, but there is nothing on the form about the stamp. I think that a stamp makes it official. Otherwise, they can assume you filled it out yourself.
Hello. I’m a little bit confused about the “given name” section on the health certificate. If I have 3 names (surname + 2 other names) should my medic write both of my names in the “given name” section or one in “given name” and the other one in the “middle name” section?
Let’s suppose your name is like this: N1 N2 N3 FN (N is name, FN is namily name) as it appears on your passport. In the surname section, write the family name (FN), in the given name section write N1, in the middle name section write N2 N3.
Hello, is there any problem if the recommendation letter from my teacher is handwritten or it doesn’t matter?
I think it should be ok as long as the handwriting is easy to read. This will also go to Japan, and they need to be able to read the recommendation. On the forms, it says that you can write by hand but only in block letters. In the recommendation form, it doesn’t mention anything about writing by hand. However, it is mentioned that any recommendation letter will be accepted. I think you should double-check with the Japanese embassy from your country just to be sure.
Hello, when writing my full name on the application form, is it ok if I use letters that are only used in my country? For example, in one of my names there’s a “ț”. Do I write it like this or just “t”?
Hello Andrew, you must write your name exactly as it appears on your passport. If there is a “ț” in your name and it appears on your passport as well, then use this letter. If it’s not on your passport, then don’t use it. Best of luck!
Hello, on the application form for undergraduate students there’s a section where they ask our present status(student/employed/others). In my case I just finished highschool recently. Should I select others? And if yes, what should I write there?
(P.S. Sorry if I posted the same thing twice, the first time there was an error and idk if my post reached you)
If you graduated and have the final high school degree, you can write in the “others” section “high school graduate.” But I think it is better to call the Japanese embassy and confirm with them.
I want to study medicine please guide me as I am undergraduate and I am worried about Japanese language and Math portion . I am from Pakistan .Thanks.
You should start learning the Japanese basics. Also, talk to a math tutor to help you with the math. It would be best to prepare for about a year until you apply for the MEXT scholarship. However, if your English, Chemistry, and Biology are ok, then you might have a chance with minimum Japanese and low math. You will need Maths B for medicine. Best of luck!
Hi Philip, thank you for this article. It really helped me to know about the MEXT scholarship in more detail. I have some questions regarding this scholarship.
1. I want to pursue Masters in Architecture from Japan and i am graduating in June 2021, so can i fill the form for next year (2022) scholarship ?
2. What is the syllabus for the Masters students in the MEXT Exam and how the exam is conducted ?
3. What is the normal passing marks to avail this scholarship?
Thanks
Hi Achyut Mishra, thank you for your kind words. I am happy that my article helped you. About your questions, yes, you can apply this year, even before you graduate. You will apply for the research scholarship 2022. You will be able to present your graduation certificate later on. You will also need to find a proper university and a willing supervisor to accept you in an architecture master course. Start looking for a university and supervisor right now because you will need to put this in the application form. Then you submit the application file to the local Japanese embassy or consulate. After that, if you pass the first screening, you will take an English and Japanese exam. However, I hear that some countries might not hold the examination session because of the virus and will base the preselection of students solely on their application files. You need to be careful here. If you take the exam, the English one is like a Cambridge advanced or proficiency level. It includes grammar, vocabulary, reading, etc. The Japanese exam is divided into three parts: from very easy to advanced. You need to know grammar, kanji, vocabulary, be able to read in Japanese, etc.
I don’t think there is a standard passing mark, but I would say at least 70% if there were. You need to have excellent English skills and the competence to communicate with your future supervisor in the Japanese language. It also depends on the other country’s fellow students and their grades.
I hope it is helpful! Best of luck!
Thanks for your reply Philip. There are some other things i need to ask.
1. How to find supervisor, like i have searched websites of universities but can’t find email id’s of the faculty members. Is there any convenient way to do this?
2. On the embassy website it’s written that there will be two exams one Japanese and one English. So do we need to give Japanese exam as well like if i don’t know Japanese then do i need to give it or i just need to give the English test only?
Thx
1. To find a supervisor, you first search for an appropriate university and faculty, in your case, universities that offer master courses in architecture. Then you contact the faculty’s secretary office and ask them if they can offer you the contacts of a possible MEXT supervisor professor or how to proceed with that. If you find a potential supervisor, you can also ask for his or her contact at the secretary’s office.
2. I believe you will need to take both tests, even though you might not know Japanese. So, it is best to start learning a few basic things so you get a minimum score. I heard of countries where students can skip the Japanese test, but only rumors. I haven’t actually met a student who didn’t take the Japanese MEXT exam.
Are undergraduate students allowed to choose a private university after the preparatory year?
MEXT will choose for you. You will need to discuss with the supervisor from Japan if they can make some recommendations for you, but in the end, at the undergrad level, MEXT chooses the university you will attend. Hope it’s helpful!
Hello Philip;
Thank for sharing such motivated words in this article; it encouraged me even more to apply for this years scholarship program; I am Somaiya Meer an associated professor in English Department of Languages and Literature Faculty; Kabul University; Kabul Afghanistan. I have some questions in my mind that:
1. Is is necessary to find an advisor for my research proposal while applying? or after applying the program would support me to find an advisor?
2. About the age limit of scholarship; as passed dark periods in Afghanistan and it is clear globally that female in Afghanistan missed years to continue their education; therefore; my age is above the required age; shall I still be hopeful to apply?
Hello Somaiya Meer,
Thank you as well for your kind words. I fully support your quest for education, and I think you should try to pursue this path no matter the result. I am sorry I am not familiar with the situation from your home country. Suppose you can bring clear and straightforward arguments that the opportunity you missed was not personal. It happened, for example, because of war or other country-related circumstances. In that case, I think you have a good chance of being accepted.
For sure, I would continue with the application, and I would also write an email to MEXT directly to inquire about this kind of circumstance. You should emphasize that this situation has affected women in particular, if so.
Regarding your other question, you will need to try and find a suitable university and a professor willing to supervise you before you apply. To do that, you first look for universities with faculties that offer a master’s program or PhD related to your proposed research plan. Then you contact the secretary and ask for the professor’s contacts. Even if they don’t respond, you can write three possible professors on the application form. Then, if you are accepted, you will contact the university again, and it will be much easier to obtain a response and an admission letter.
Make sure your research proposal is top-notch, and make sure that your field of study matches the university’s department. For example, if your research proposal is from the business field of study, don’t ask a professor from the economy or social department to supervise it, even though they might be closely related. I made this mistake already, and it didn’t work.
I hope it is helpful, and I wish you the best of luck! If you can, I would love to hear from you again and know how it went.
Yes! I want to know about interview exams ( written/lively communication). If I desire to apply for undergraduate degree, if I choice chemistry, Biology where the questions are came from, The 11th classes?? Or the 12th classes book’s? And if yes, it’s whole book is matters of questioning or not? What should I do practice for preparing the exam so that I can win.
As a new students because I forgot all of 12th studies so what I should practice 😊
Hi Mjk, thanks for your comment. About your questions, I think that you need to study the whole book starting 9th grade to 12th grade for chemistry and biology. There can be questions from anything within the high school textbooks. Try to take some previous MEXT tests and do the chemistry and biology tests from there. Look up in the high school books the things you don’t know. Another approach would be to read the books and underline directly on them, then make some summary notes with the important things you should know. Then retake the MEXT tests and see if there is any progress. Best of luck!
Hello philip,
I want to apply MEXT scholarships for Postgraduate’s studies. Is it the embassy will choose the university for us? Or we need to search it for ourselves? i was quite confused with the application form. What should i write down for the statement “Study programme in japan in detail?‘ ? Is it my proposal to study or to do research?
Hello Nur, thank you for your comment. If you want to apply for Postgraduate studies, this means a Ph.D. You still have to go through the research, but it only depends on you for how long. If you are interested in Graduate studies, this means a Master’s Course. For both the Master’s and Ph.D., you need to search for universities yourself. You need to contact the faculties and see if any professors are willing to take you under their wing to become your supervisor and help you conduct your research. When you find potential universities, you will put three of them on the MEXT application form, and if you pass the first screening, you will contact the universities again to ask for a letter of acceptance.
On the MEXT form at the section “Study program in Japan in detail,” you need to write your research proposal plan. Say what you intend to study, how you will do that, why it is essential, why you want to do this in Japan, etc. It should be about a page, but you need to write it carefully and bring forth logical arguments.
I hope it is helpful. Best of luck!
Hii, I want to apply to this scholarship but I can’t understand the application forn clearly…like it says to fill the school name from elementary school to high school but what we have to fill in remark box( like grades or something else)? And do we have to send our original certificates and medical reports/X-ray?
Hi Vrishali, thanks for your comment.
You don’t need to write anything in the remarks section unless you skipped a class or something out of the ordinary happened.
You NEVER send your original certificates anywhere, not even to MEXT. You make certified copies, and those will be considered originals.
About the health form, you talk with your family doctor to fill that one out. You will attach a small x-ray from the doctor and do the tests mentioned there. Your family doctor should know what those are. Mainly blood and urine tests.
I hope it is helpful. Best of luck!
Hello, do you think it is a good idea to write my application form in Japanese if I can speak the language?
Yes, it’s good, but if you do that, you must also be prepared to take the interview in Japanese. You also have to write the answers to the questions where you justify why you want to go to Japan in Japanese. Have someone check your forms and answers, a teacher, a Japanese friend or a Japanese freelancer if necessary. Best of luck, you can do it!
Hey Phillip, I see that you didn’t give the college of technology exams that much of an attention but thats understandable since there are only about 400 international college of technology students in Japan. Is your math exams capable of giving me enough knowledge for the MEXT technology math exams? because as i saw from the samples i know those exams are way harder than the regular ones ,, and if not do you have any suitable resources for the exams ?
Hi Hawk, thanks for your message. You are right; I didn’t say anything about the college of technology exams yet. You are the first to ask about this exam. The math for the college of technology is actually on my to-do list, so if you need to prepare for this, I can put together something that will help you.
I can also send you an e-mail, and I can notify you when the college of technology math book is ready. Let me know if that would be ok with you. Best of luck!
Hello, if I get the scholarship can I chose to study any of the three subjects I put in the fields on the application form or does it have to be the first one only?
The second and third are more like back-ups if they cannot find a suitable university for the first one. Besides, the subjects must be within a similar field of studies because you need to take the same exams for all three. Just be careful about what you choose, and write first your preferred subject. Best of luck! You can do it!
Thank you for the fast answer. Is it okay if I chose sociology as the first choice, economy as the second and business administration as the third?
Not really because MEXT says “select up to three majors from within the same course”, in your case, sociology is in Social sciences and humanities – course A, and here you have plenty of options. However, if you change the order, you can use these three subjects, for example, business administration, sociology, economics. But if you want sociology to be your main subject, and are not interested in the rest of the subjects from course A, then maybe it is better not to include anything else in the list. However, please double-check the same question with the embassy from your country. You can give them a call and see if they advise otherwise. I know it is a little complicated and MEXT only offers one similar example on their guidelines on how to choose subjects. (guidelines for undergrad 2021, page 1, footnote)
So, will you have to learn Japanese on your own or will they offer classes- considering you are an international student?
Hi Vanessa, thank you for your question. They will offer Japanese classes. There will be another placement test at the university when you get to Japan, and they will tell you which level to take, and they will register you for the class. But you really need to keep up, study what they give you, the kanji, vocabulary and grammar, do the homework. It is a lot, but it’s important to allocate 3-4 hours a day for studying Japanese outside of this class that they offer. I hope it helps. Best of luck!
Sir i was wondering, even if i will study fine arts(BFA) in animaton, do i need to give the science part…
Hi Rick, I am not sure about this field of study, but it seems to fit within Natural Sciences A as there is a lot of computer work involved. If this is the case, you will have to take the following exams: Math B, English, Japanese, Physics, Chemistry.
You should confirm this with your embassy as well.
Hello, thanks for all of the helpful advice. I was wondering if there’s any problem if I don’t have any English or Japanese language proficiency certificate. I wanted to take jlpt n1 last year but it was canceled because of the virus
No, it’s ok. It is not compulsory to have official certificates. Just take good scores at the MEXT exams, and you are all set.
Good luck!
Hi, this article was very helpful but I have a few questions
1) I’m in my last year of highschool and will be giving my exams this june. My result however will be issued around August or September. Can I apply this year for mext?
2) Do I have to apply to universities in japan before submitting my mext form? How I select universities?
Hi Aisha, thank you for your questions, and sorry for the very late reply. Normally you should be able to apply for MEXT and submit the results later when you have them. It is possible that in countries where the final high school exams are in June, for example, they will also delay the MEXT exams for August. However, you need to double-check at the Japanese embassy.
You only need to select universities if you go through direct placement. I don’t recommend this because students indeed need to find universities, go through the examination process, and submit the acceptance letter to MEXT before getting the scholarship. It is just too complicated. If you don’t use direct placement, you don’t need to worry about selecting universities while applying for MEXT.
I hope it is helpful. Best of luck!
Thank you so much for publishing this article. It was a big help.
I have some questions that I’d appreciate if you answer to them. I’m from Iran and currently 20 years old and would like to apply for undergraduate MEXT 2021. Do you think the left months would be enough to study all the subjects for a non native English speaker like me? and also my Japanese level is N4 and I have no idea what resources should I use for Japanese language subject. Currently I’m self studying Japanese but I’m not sure if it is enough. I’d appreciate a lot if you give me advice!
Thank you
Hello Setayesh, thank you for your message.
The time is a little short, but you must start to prepare for the application of 2021 right now. Choose a field of study that you know well and are passionate about. Be careful what you choose because you have different exams like physics and chemistry. For example, if the chemistry is your weakness, do not select a study field where you must take a chemistry exam.
Be extra careful when you write your application file, so they invite you to the exam and interview.
Also, consider hiring a tutor to help you with your Japanese. Focus on vocabulary, try at least to complete part A of the Japanese exam. For part B and C just write random answers, but do not leave them empty.
Best of luck to you!
Hello,
Thank you very much for this article. It was incredibly helpful as it cleared almost everything for me.
I have been gathering information about MEXT for a few weeks now and I found more than few varied opinions. Some said “It is easier than you think” meanwhile other went with “You gotta be among top students in the world”.
Currently I am in my 3rd year of high school (out of 4) so it might be too early to worry about all of this, but there are few things on my mind.
I am attending best high school in my region but till now I had no clear goal (i. e. no motivation). Therefore my grades were simillar to my efforts => I scored only A-s & B-s (mostly B-s).
But now that I set my sights on MEXT, I grew worried whether my prevous “slacking” could sabotage my chances.. To be exact: whether they can reject me simply based on my grades or do they only acknowledge their tests?
Now I might be seriously overestimating myself but I would like to aim for the undergraduate scholarship. I couldn´t find any referential numbers as for amount of applicants compared to amount of accepted and the average performance(?) of those accepted. I´m aware that this is no joke so please tell me if being better than everyone else around me is enough or do I have to be exceptional?
If I am not good enough, would my chances be higher in college of technology program or should I completely forget about it and get back to ground where I belong?
Anyway, I know that I might be a dreamer, attempting something I clearly can´t pull off, so please tell me your honest opinion.
Marco
Hello Marco, and thank you for your message.
It is good that you have decided on your goal, and it is not too late to start preparing. You have good chances of obtaining the undergraduate scholarship. However, you will have to put some effort into it. There is no need to compare yourself with people from other countries. Just do your best and try to be better than the other students from your own country.
MEXT decides how many scholarships are awarded to each country. So, a European country might get around 3-6 undergraduate scholarships. Larger countries, like the USA, will get more. Your exam scores and application file will only be compared with fellow students who apply in your country.
Your high school grades are important, so maybe you can try to improve them from now on. Also, you could try talking with your teachers to offer you the possibility to improve your grades. It is not too late for your third year.
You need to decide about your field of study, which is very important because you will have different MEXT exams based on this. You will need to start preparing for these exams beginning now. English and Japanese are compulsory. Then Math A or B, Physics, Biology, and Chemistry.
Start working on your Japanese and hire a tutor if you must. There is no time to waste. As an undergraduate student in Japan, your classes will be in Japanese.
I hope it is helpful. Keep in touch if you have other questions. And most importantly, believe in yourself! You can do it!
Best of luck!
Do I have to take Japanese exam if I want to study medicine?
Yes, you need to take the MEXT Japanese exam.
So I have to take: English, Japanese, math, biology and chemistry (is that all)?
What results should I get?
Is there any possibility to get that scholarship without knowledge of Japanese?
Math B and the rest, yes. You might be able to get through if you promise them that you will learn Japanese. Sooner or later, you will need it. Your classes and practice will all be in Japanese, there is no going around it.
This article was really informative, thank you.
I have a couple questions, if you could answer them.
I just graduated high school in the country of Myanmar, and my family is low on finances. I had applied to a school and received a scholarship but even that wasn’t enough for me to be able to attend, so I came across the MEXT scholarship program. However, I came across this too late, seeing that every website had said the deadline was back in June. It is currently November.
I’m thinking of applying to Kyushu University, with a major in Engineering and Computer Science.
I wanted to know if it was possible to apply for the scholarship while studying and attending my first year of University in Japan. I couldn’t find any information about whether this was possible or not.
I don’t want to have to wait for another year, since that would require me to wait for another year until 2022. I just feel as if this is a waste of time.
Thank you.
Dear Minn,
Thank you for your kind words. I am happy that you found my article useful.
About your question, unfortunately, it is not possible to apply for the MEXT scholarship while studying in Japan. The rule for the MEXT scholarship is to apply in your own country and follow the MEXT procedure to go to Japan.
You are right; the application for this year is over now. If you apply next year (in 2021), and if you get the scholarship, you will be able to arrive in Japan in April 2022. It does seem a lot of time. However, the application is time-consuming, and the benefits are worth it. If you get this scholarship, MEXT will take care of all your costs (transportation, school fees, monthly allowance), and you will be able to focus on your studies without worrying about finances. As well, this is a government scholarship. It is very prestigious, and afterwards, you can easily apply for any job you like.
I hope it is helpful for you. I wish you the best of luck no matter what you choose!
Hey there, You have done an incredible job with this article on how to prepare for the MEXT scholarship. It is very informative and helpful.
Thank you for your kind words! Best of luck!
You can definitely see your enthusiasm within the article you write.
The arena hopes for more passionate writers like you who are not afraid to say how they believe.
Always follow your heart.
Thank you for your kind words. I am happy you enjoyed my article.
excellent points altogether, you simply won a new reader.
What may you recommend in regards to your post that you
just made a few days ago? Any certain?
Thank you for your kind words. About your question, if you were a little more precise, I might be able to offer an answer.
Hii Phillip
i have a few questions .
1)I’m doing my Bachelor’s in Computer Application .I’m in my 2nd year but I’m interested in taking economics and want to do as my masters.I would like to know whether it is possible for me to apply for the graduate program in Economics through mext schlolarship.?
2)And if suppose i want to attend university in the year 2022 when should i apply for mext scholarship?
3)Is the entrance exam conducted by the universities related to the field of study?
Hi Sw! Thank you for your comment. About your questions:
1) Yes, it is possible to apply for the graduate program in Economics through MEXT scholarship. However, you should at least attend some Economics classed during your BA program, get a recommendation from your Economics professor, and have excellent reasoning why you want to change your field of study from Computer Application to Economics.
2) If you want to attend university in 2022, then you should apply in 2021. You will have to apply for the research scholarship first, and then when you go to Japan, you will be able to apply for the master program.
3) Yes, the entrance exam at the universities in Japan is related to the field of study. So, if you apply for Economics, the exam will be from Economics. Also, take into consideration that the exam might be in the Japanese language, and not the English language. If you find a university that has the courses in English, you might have the exam in the English language or an interview.
The MEXT exams will be English and Japanese for the research scholarship (graduate program).
Thank you very much for this article. I have one question. I am research student now. Next year I wanna do my master course in another university. But I am worrying whether I could extent Scholarship or not, because I wanna change my national university to private one, where tuition fees is supposed to be 140, 0000/year . Will MEXT approve my Scholarship and pay tuition fees even its so expensive? I am worrying that now MEXT maybe has some problems with financing because of coronavirus.
Thank you for your answer
Hello Diara, thank you for your comment. About your question, it should be ok to move to another university. Also, you can opt for 3 universities, so you have 3 chances of being accepted.
First, you need to make sure that the university you choose has the appropriate master course for you. Also, ask about the requirements to enter their master program. They might require an EJU score, a university admission exam and an interview. Just make sure you are well informed and well prepared.
If you move from this university, you will need to find a new supervisor, so you have to contact the new university and discuss with them about this, consult with the potential new supervisor. You will need a recommendation for MEXT and a recommendation for the university.
When you extend your scholarship, you have to do 2 things at the same time: one is to prepare your MEXT file, and second is to prepare your master application file for the new university. If you get rejected for the master, you will be forced to renounce the scholarship. So be very careful when you discuss with the new university. Also, make sure you have excellent reasoning (positive, not negative things) why you want to make this change.
I know many students who changed university and even the field of study in Japan. It is very easy to do this while on the research scholarship. Don’t think about the MEXT budget. Just make sure your papers are all in order. And be careful about the taxes. The last time I checked, the exam fee for the master was 35.000, so if you apply for 3 universities, it will be 105.000. It’s quite expensive.
Let me know how it goes and if you have any other questions. I wish you the best of luck, and I believe you can succeed!
Is it necessary to take an admission exam for the university once I have been awarded the scholarship as a master degree student ? Or any other kind of exam ?
Dear Fabia, thank you for your question. It is not so simple to give you a direct answer because it depends. First of all, to do a master, you have to apply for the MEXT research scholarship. This is the standard procedure. And if you are awarded the research scholarship, then you go to Japan, and during the research period, you have to extend your scholarship for the master and enter the master program. The extension of the scholarship and the admittance to the master are two different things but must be done simultaneously.
It might be possible to find a university that will accept your entrance to the master and PhD., without further examination, and I think I remember a student among my acquaintances who did this. She was admitted to do her master and then continue with her PhD., and she didn’t need to pass any admittance examination. This depends on the university you go to.
However, usually, students take the university examination to enter the master. This exam can be in English or Japanese, again depending on the university. As well, most universities will have an autumn admission (around September-October) and a spring admission (around February). This is good because you have two chances to enter the master.
Some universities might require an EJU exam before being able to take the admission exam. In this case, you take the EJU exam and submit the score in your master application file. You have to submit this file (register) to take the master admission exam. But again, it all depends on the university. You have to check their requirements on their website or ask at the university’s faculty.
The best advice I can give you here is when you arrive in Japan, ask at the faculty’s secretary for the past examination tests. They will probably give you the last two years of tests. And then ask again begore you take the exam. This way, you might be able to get four years of tests instead of two. And of course, you will have a better idea of what to study for the exam. Don’t suppose that they will give you a syllabus because they might not. Let me know if you have other questions about this. It’s a great topic to debate. Best of luck!
Is it necessary to give next Japanese language exam for undergrad in science a?
Hello Soorya, thanks for your question. The answer is yes, you must take the MEXT Japanese language exam. Best of luck!
Hi, I was wondering how important is jlpt for MEXT? I wanted to take N1 this year but it was canceled due to the pandemic. I solved 2 of their previous exams and scored 285-290/300. Would it be enough to take a high score on their Japanese exam, or do they care a lot about jlpt?
Hi Daniel, this is a good question. MEXT does not require students to submit a JLPT score, but if they do, the better it is. Also, if you can take the N1 level, then nothing can stop you from doing very well in the MEXT Japanese exam, and this is very important in getting the scholarship. So, to answer your question, you don’t need to take the JLPT, you have to take a high score in the MEXT Japanese exam. You should also practice the MEXT Japanese test so you can get accustomed to the time and format. I hope it helps. Best of luck!
Hi Phillip. This article is really helps me and thank you for the effort you put to this.
Thank you, Keshani, for your kind words. I appreciate it! Best of luck with your studies and if you have any question, let me know! Have a great day!
Hi, I was checking out your books and saw that you have one that has both Math A and B exams, and another one that has only A exams. I will apply for something in the humanities field so, which one should I buy? I’m more inclined in buying the book that has both A and B exams because it doesn’t hurt to be more prepared. What do you think?
Dear Alex,
Thank you for your message. About your question, you are right. The difference between the Math Undergrad and Math A is simply that the Math Undergrad has the B tests included. The theory and Math A tests are the same. Even if you apply for humanities, you still have some problems from the B tests that you can practice on. Usually, parts 1.1-1.5 are compatible with math A. Problems 2-3 are more complicated, but some of them are accessible. I suggest you skip the most difficult. Also, about 10 problems are missing from this book at the moment (mostly from B part). I am working on updating the book and including them as soon as I can. Let me know if you have any question. Best of luck with your application and exams!
Hi Phillip. This article is really helpful and you’re very kind. Can you tell me which subjects should I study for IT?
Dear Kaung,
Thank you for your kind words, I am delighted to hear that my article is helpful. About your question, I think IT would fit best within Engineering Information (6) major. This means that you will take the following exams: Math B, English, Japanese, Physics, and Chemistry. Also, please double-check with the embassy where you apply if you can choose Engineering Information major for IT studies or another major. I am only giving you my personal opinion here. But if this is the correct major, then you will have to take the exams I mentioned. I wish you the best of luck and please let me know if you checked with your embassy.
hi i am an undergraduate student from pakistan.i applied for mext scholarship.i selected two subjects(biology and chemistry)i want to know that will my test comprise of only bio and chemistry or something else like mathematics/english/japanese?please tell me.it will help me alot….
Dear Sidra,
Thank you for your comment. Besides Chemistry and Biology, you will have to take Math B, English and Japanese. You will have 5 tests in total. I hope it is helpful. Best of luck with your application!
Considering if I do pass the MEXT entrance exam (UNDERGRADUATION) and acquire the scholarship, would I still have to give the university entrance exams too? if yes, please could you give me some details. thanks!
Dear Alia,
Thank you for your question. The answer is yes. Even if you get the scholarship and pass the MEXT exams, when you get to Japan you will have to take the EJU exams and then you will have to take the university admission exam. So, getting the scholarship is just the beginning, you really have to prepare yourself to make it in Japan as an undergrad student. But it is worth the trouble and I believe people can do anything. Best of luck to you!
Can i contact you
If you have a question, maybe I could help you. It is possible for people who comment here to prefer to remain anonymous.
Hello sir, my name is kyrshan syiemlieh and recently I just finished my secondary studies and I am very eager to know as to what kind will mext exams be. Please, I need your support so that I could get myself into some of the best universities in Japan through mext scholarship.
I am from Meghalaya( India).
Hello Kyrshan Syiemlieh, thank you for your comment. The MEXT exams are intermediate-advanced level. The compulsory exams are English, Japanese, and Math. For social sciences, you will take Math A, and for natural sciences, you take Math B, which is also more advanced. For natural sciences, you will also take Chemistry, and either Physics or Biology, depending on the course you choose. I hope this is helpful. Good luck and study hard if you want to enter into the best universities in Japan.
Do I have to give math too?
I am an undergraduate, I am aiming to get into medical school
Of course, for medical school, you will take the Math B exam. Good luck!
Hi sir, my name is S.Ethan Elijah. I am from Hyderabad (India). I have recently completed my first year of intermediate education and I’m now in my second year in MEC group. I have recently come to know of the MEXT scholarship and I’m highly interested in studying law in Japan. I wanted to know how I can do my best to prepare for the scholarship exam and the subjects I need to study. I am very interested and will work hard to study for those subjects. Thank you for this blog sir as I found it really helpful 👍
Hello Elijah, and thank you for your kind words. I am happy you found my blog helpful. About your question, to apply for law, you will have to choose the ‘Social sciences and humanities – course A.’ You will submit an application file at the local Japanese Embassy and then take the following exams: Math A, English, Japanese. Students who wish to study law in Japan, and especially Japanese law, are required to have a high level of Japanese. So, it would be best if you reached level N2, at least, before you take the MEXT exam. Then, of course, you need to have a good grade in Math A, so you need to study the theory and practice the tests. I hope this is helpful to you. Best of luck!
Hello, I was searching for someone who can explain everything about the MEXT an your article was the best thing that i found thank you. But I have some I already send a email to the Embassy asking about that but right now i’m short in money and I have to pay some consultation with doctor for the health certificate but i’m afraid that I can’t get the everything in time(The Application time limit is July 31). My Questio is I can give the Health Certificate after the first screening.
Hello Lukeni, thank you for your comment and kind words. I’m happy to hear that my article was helpful for you. About your question, you must try to submit your health certificate together with your application file. I am sorry but they will not accept your file otherwise. Try to talk to the doctor to do the minimum check so you don’t spend too much money there. My family doctor took the health information from my file and stamped and signed the certificate and it was over in one day. I hope things will work out for you! Best of luck with the MEXT application!
Hi I’m from Jamaica and I want to study in Japan so I’m really interested in the MEXT Program. I am really nervous about it and I’m happy to have found your post. It is helping a lot. I have a few questions
1) I’ll be starting my final year September 2020 and the deadline for MEXT in my country is August 2020. Should I be hurrying to apply now or wait until I graduate?
2) My major is film production. Will a master’s in film be supported by MEXT?
3) From the previous comments, I’m understanding that I should write a research paper. Is that for every major?
4) I found a university I’m interested in. Should I apply for it now or wait until after I have applied for MEXT?
5) I studied Japanese in my first year for the fun of it. I never thought I would need for a scholarship. So far I can read and write in hiragana and Katakana but kanji is my weakness. Would I need to master it for the MEXT exam?
Dear Othneilia, thank you for your kind words. I’m happy my articles were helpful for you. And by the way, I love Jamaican music, so beautiful! About your questions:
1. You need to graduate first. If you apply now, you will not be able to go to Japan in April 2021 because you’ll still be in school.
2. It should be ok. I had a colleague who was doing his master in film production and he he was on the MEXT scholarship. He was actually at my university, at Meiji University, in Tokyo.
3. Yes, if you apply for the research scholarship, you need to write a research plan. It’s not exactly a research paper, just a summary and your plan about what you intend to study. It’s kind of a miniature research paper, concise, and some hypothesis you intend to study. You will need to prepare it in advance and read more about how to make it.
4. Not now. A few months before you apply for the MEXT, you can write to the university and see if they can recommend a supervisor, if they do, you can try and contact that professor. You will need 3 options with 3 universities and 3 supervisors. You will put them in your application for MEXT. Then, when you pass the tests and interview, the embassy will ask you to contact again the universities and obtain an admission letter. You submit the letter to the embassy and then they give you the scholarship and start the following April with the research course. Then, you will have 2 years of adjustment and time to apply for the master, take the entrance exam, and extend the MEXT scholarship.
5. You will need to take an English and Japanese exam after you submit the MEXT application. You do this at the embassy. You will need to study more Japanese until your application next year. Grammar, verb endings, adjectives, vocabulary, and kanji. Try to reach level N4 until spring if not N3. You will also need Japanese in Japan, so better start now. Kanji characters are a little challenging, but start with the easy ones, and step by step, don’t force yourself. Try to see the meaning of each kanji part. I use tagaini jisho for kanji study and it’s free, and I love it. Check the kanji naritachi, the origin, how they formed to have more fun with them. Oh, and always in a context, learn kanjis from simple texts.
I hope it’s helpful! Good luck, you can do it!
Hi Sir,
I am interested in applying for the MEXT Scholarship in Physics (Doctoral program). I have a university third rank(9.1) in my Bachelors and topper in M.Sc So far (9.2 till 3rd sem). What chance have i got in receiving this Scholarship? Please do guide me through the research proposal process.
Hello Asiba, thank you for your comment. About your questions, you have high chances of getting the MEXT scholarship, but you need to prepare in advance. You will also need some Japanese language skills. About the research proposal, you need to write a research plan, about what you intend to study and accomplish in Japan. Don’t forget your hypothesis, because they usually ask about them. So apply for the research scholarship and from there you will be able to continue with a PhD program and extend your scholarship. Best of luck!
Hi Sir,
Just an inquiry. I am currently pursuing my masters in Physics (final semester) and am willing to pursue my doctoral degree in Japan. I believe I have a strong Academic profile with university First (Gold Medal) in my UG degree in Physics (CGPA of 9.36) and well on my way to top the batch in PG degree (CGPA of 9.2) so far. My college has a lack of research facilities in my desired area, thus I was forced to do my master’s research in an unwilling field of research. I hope to carry out research in my desire field in my Doctoral program. Considering my academic profile and a short lack of apt research experience, How well am I placed for receival of MEXT Scholarship? Also will there be any subject oriented Entrance examination? Please Guide me on this
Hello Arun and thank you for your questions. I believe that you have great chances of obtaining the MEXT scholarship in order to pursue a doctoral program in Japan. You should go for it and do your best. First you need to apply for the research scholarship and after you finish the 2-years research in Japan you can extend your scholarship and continue with the PhD course. First you will take an English and Japanese exam to get the research scholarship. Second, when you extend the scholarship and go for the PhD, you will have an admission exam at the university, most probably related to your field of study.
Don’t worry so much about your lack of research skills. You can acquire them in Japan during your research program. Focus on your strengths and your research plan for your application file. Best of luck! You can do it!
Sir, so first I must go for M.Phil and then for ph.d sir? Am I right?
The pathway is research-master-doctorate. However, you can skip the master if you already have one and go from research to doctorate. But in your case, if you are changing your field of study, then you have to think if you want to do another master in this field of study or skip it. In either case, you start with the research. You cannot start directly with the master or PhD, not with this scholarship. So, if your current field of study is not very different from the desired field of study, then you could go on this field of study and change to the desired field of study in Japan. But, you need to think very well about your path and approach. If the fields of study are very different, then it cannot work, and you might consider going through the research-master-PhD. I hope it’s helpful. Also, you should call at the Japanese embassy and ask for advice/ details, just to make sure you understand the procedure, to reconfirm everything. Don’t forget that if you want to do a PhD, then you will be targeting a research or professor job. They will ask you about your plans for your future at the interview.
Hi sir,
Just an inquiry. I am willing to pursue doctoral studies in Physics in a Japanese university. I believe I have an excellent Academic Profile as I have a University Gold Medal in my undergraduate program (CGPA 9.35) and an equivalent award in my PG (currently in my final semester) (CGPA 9.2 SO FAR) . My college has a lack of research facilities, thus, I was unable to pursue my masters research in a desired field but am hoping to do so in my doctoral studies. Thus, considering my strong academic profile, and a short lack of research experience, how well am I placed with respect to receiving a MEXT Scholarship? I am from India .
Hello sir, first of I wanna say you wrote an awesome blog and thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
But sir I have a few questions, I am a 12th passed student studying Japanese n4 because of Corona and all I couldn’t get admission in college so I wanted to ask can I apply for MEXT? My dream goal is to become an interpreter and I want to do my higher studies from Japan in language and experience the Japanese culture that’s my dream sir, and I am an Arts student so what kind of exam will I have to give for MEXT
Hello Aditya, thank you for your kind words. I hope you are in good health and have not been affected by the Coronavirus. About your question, yes, you can apply for MEXT even though you are not admitted to college. You only need your high school degree. I think it’s a beautiful dream that you have and you can do it. You just need to prepare a little. Your Japanese level (N4) is a bit low, and you should try to reach at least N3 or N2. Your MEXT exams in this situation are English, Japanese, and Math A. MEXT requires students to have a good grip on the Japanese language if they want to pursue Japanese studies. Best of luck with your studies and application!
Hello, I’m Bidisha from India
I want to apply for MEXT 2021 for Msc Biotechnology, currently I’m completing my bsc biotechnology.
I’m not able to understand what subject I have study and how to study, and what more extra things I should get knowledged about this scholarship.
Please help me out
Hello Bidisha, thanks for your comment. About your question, I understand you intend to apply for a master class. This means you will apply for the MEXT Research scholarship and then when you get to Japan after you complete your research, you can further apply for a master and extend your scholarship. For this, you will need to take an English and Japanese exam and have an interview at the Japanese embassy. You will also need to write a research plan (about what you want to study in Japan), have good grades at university now, and obtain an excellent recommendation from a professor. You can check out my book on this topic if you want: MEXT Scholarship: Graduate Students eBook guide
I hope it helps. Best of luck and let me know if you have other questions.
Hello Phillip,
i’m currently a second year bachelor level in Urban planing and design with a business administration minor, i’m thinking of continuing as a research student through the scholarship after i graduate. My major lets me graduate in my 5th year, and i want to go to Japan as fast as possible, and i have a few questions if that’s okay,
1) when should i start preparing for the scholarship, like going to the embassy and preparing the documents, should i start at my 5th year or wait after i graduate? does the process take a whole year? 2) what do you think i should choose as my major in the master’s program that will be supportive to my bachelor’s major and minor? i was thinking of either business or interior design.
3) how can i find suitable universities for my chosen major? and would they have proper near accommodation to the campus?
4) how can i write a research plan? do i have to know all the details before i even start studying for it?
5) after i choose the 3 universities when is the best time to start asking for the Letter of Provisional Acceptance?
Sorry for asking too many questions but i wanted to make sure i prepare in advance before everything gets too hectic 🙂
Thank you
Hello Rama, these are very specific and excellent questions. I will answer your question in order, I hope it is helpful for you.
1) You should start preparing, even from now. You know what you want, so now it’s only a matter of organizing yourself. Start by reading the official guidelines for the MEXT research students. Make a folder with the necessary documents. Some will change, and you don’t need to fill them out now, but just be aware of them. You will need a recommendation from a teacher who is related to either your major or minor. You can start building up a good reputation and relationship from now.
The application process takes almost a year, so it is best to apply just before you graduate. For example, the application starts in April-May (depends from country to country), and you might graduate in July. So, the next April, you could go to Japan instead of starting the application procedure and having to wait another year to go.
2) You should, for sure, choose something related to either your major or your minor. I also studied business, but you need to follow your feelings here. I like the idea of Urban Planning, as well. Still, you need to find three faculties, supervisors willing to accept you and connect your motivation for studying this major with the reason for choosing Japan. They will ask you why do you want to study this in Japan, what do you expect to gain from this experience, what advantage does Japan have that you cannot study this in your own country. I also believe that the guys from MEXT are looking for diversity, so either subject is a good bet. Of course, you will need to narrow down and find a topic that you will research and then hopefully continue to study during your master’s course.
3) You can use this site to try and find a proper university: https://researchmap.jp/researchers I can see they have made some changes to it. It was a little different in the past. Anyway, you need to check out the faculties related to your chosen field of study. It has to be quite exact. And then, you can contact the faculty or professor per e-mail and ask if they are interested in accepting a MEXT student. The professors I contacted never replied to me, but MEXT also contacts the potential supervisors that you put on your list. Anyway, for starters, you could just get in touch with the faculties. Typically, you contact them just before you submit the application, and you will need the letter by September (approximately) the year you apply, so after you pass the exams and interview. But until then, you can search for faculties and professors. It is very time-consuming. Also, when writing, then you should do so in Japanese. So, use the next two years to study Japanese if you haven’t already.
The faculty should suggest some accommodation, like a dormitory, but not necessarily close to the university. Everything is so far away, especially in Tokyo, and it took me 90 minutes from my dorm to my uni. But this is the least of your worries. Once you get there, you can only stay for two years in a dorm, and then you can move to an apartment. That’s how I did anyway, and I was pleased in my studio, although the rent was double, so I got a part-time job.
4) First, you need to understand what research is, then you read some articles from journals to see how they look like. And then you actually start researching about the topic you choose, and start outlining the research plan. It’s like a mini-research. This is also time-consuming, and you should ask the help or guidance of a teacher. You can even start reading some articles from now. It has to look professional, and the supervisor you choose must have some tangencies with the topic so they can further guide you.
5) You can contact the universities before you apply for the MEXT scholarship, but you only need the letter after you pass the exams and interview.
I think you should start visiting your embassy as soon as possible, see if they can offer you study materials, see if they can include you in their newsletter email so you can participate in events. Just slowly let them get to know you and see that you are interested in Japan, in learning, and try to take an active part in speech contests or whatever they offer. Just be casual about it, don’t bother them too much, and start with something easy to create a bond.
But don’t forget, the most important for you right now is to reach level N3-N2 in Japanese, advanced or proficiency level in English, have excellent grades at university. Grades and exams do matter. Anyway, this will be very exciting for you, and you can enjoy the journey until you reach your goal. You can do it one step at a time. Best of luck and let me know if you have any other questions!
Hey!
I am Aarushi from India. I want to apply for MEXT 2021 for Forestry undergraduate program. Is math compulsory for that? or if it is, then please suggest me what kind of questions they will ask in maths and from where I can prepare for that and also please tell me can I fill application form online from any cyber cafe?
Dear Aarushi, thank you for your comment. To apply for the Forestry undergraduate scholarship, you need to take the Math B exam, which is advanced math. Besides this, you will have the following tests: English, Japanese, Chemistry, and Biology. You can purchase a math book on my website to help you with your study and check out the exam format: https://myjapaneseexperience.com/product/math-undergrad-mext-scholarship/. There are problems containing functions, derivatives, integrals, geometry, and others. About the application documents, you can download those from the Jasso website when they are available, or you can also ask about them at the closest Japanese embassy. Best of luck!
Thank you very much for this article.It is very kind of you to write it. I’m from Pakistan and studying Pharm D. It is my first professional in my university. Can I continue from 2nd year by applying in MEXT or the admission will be from 1st year again?
Hello Tuba, thanks for your kind words. About your question, from my knowledge, you will start from year 1. However, you should reconfirm this with your local Japanese embassy. Do you want to apply this summer?
Like!! Thank you for publishing this awesome article.
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts! I really appreciate it!
Best of luck!
Hi sir, I turn into 25 years next March, can I apply?
I got 97.9% in the 3rd year of high school it was back in 2014
Do I have a chance ?!
Dear Maryam, thank you for your questions. It might be difficult to apply for the undergraduate scholarship because the age limit is 22 years old. However, you should try and confirm again this with the local Japanese embassy. Another solution for you will be to apply for the research MEXT scholarship if you are a university student. This way, you could still go to Japan and do a master course there. About your second question, yes, you have a very high chance, especially since your high school grades are so good. Don’t lose hope! Best of luck!
Dear
Philipp
I want to ask you how to prepare MEXT research exam in English, wich books do you suggest, is it difficult to pass this exam. Only grammar or vocabulary
Dear Ayjemal, thank you for your comment. For the MEXT research application, you will take English and Japanese exams. For English, you will need as much vocabulary as possible and advanced grammar. I recommend Michael Swan’s grammar compendium and Advanced Grammar book. I also recommend you start with a MEXT test to check your actual level. Then go step by step through the test, learn all the unknown vocabulary, and check the grammar points you didn’t know. By vocabulary, I don’t mean just words, but also expressions, phrasal verbs, idioms, synonyms, etc. For grammar, you should be very familiar with the active and passive tenses, if clauses, subjunctives, and even punctuation. Strive for more than 80% score in the English test. You will also need some speaking skills for the interview, but to reach that, you need to pass the test. Best of luck!
Hi Travis, I’m currently applying for MEXT undergrad, from Nigeria and we were asked to submit 2packs of documents, original copy and photocopy… I can’t submit my original documents as it will not be returned. i want to get copies of the original certified. my question is, do I photocopy the certified copies(as the second pack) or just submit ordinary photocopies? (photocopies of the original copies before I got the original copies certified)
Hello Fatima, thank you for your question. You need to legalize the original documents and then make simple copies from the legalized documents. However, I highly suggest you double-check this with your embassy because procedure differs from country to country. For example, in other countries, they require 3 packs of documents, one legalized and two copies. It is much safer to ask about forms and file-related questions directly to the embassy. They are obliged to answer your questions. Best of luck with your application.
How can i prepare for japanese language test? is it must? if i doing well only in english test then it is possible for me to pass the exam?
Dear Jamal, thank you for your questions. About your first question, it depends on whether you are starting from zero or you already have some knowledge of the Japanese language. If you are starting from zero, the best you can do is to find a tutor who can help you learn and prepare for the exam. If you already are level N3, then you can take past tests and work your way through them, try to fill in the gaps where you don’t know kanji, vocabulary or grammar. About your second question, I would say that it is important to know at least some Japanese before you apply for the scholarship. Some embassies seem to accept students with no Japanese knowledge, so it is best to ask at the embassy where you will apply and see precisely what their requirements are. I have met MEXT students in Japan with very little or no Japanese knowledge, so it might be possible. About your third question, it might be possible with a good English score to pass the exam, but again, you need to ask at the embassy where you apply. However, I truly believe that your chances of passing the MEXT exam are higher if you put in a bit of effort and try to learn some Japanese. I hope it is helpful. Best of luck!
Hi Phillip, your article has been very helpful for me. I’m planning on applying for the undergrad scholarship for Business Administration or Global business and I have started the 3rd year of my O’levels (it is a British based school system). I’d like to know when I will be eligible to apply for Mext and which exams I will have to give if I’m doing business. Also, i have 9 subjects in Olevels and I will take 4 subjects in my Alevels. I want to know what grades will be best to successfully acquire this scholarship. I’m sorry for asking so many questions but I’m hoping you can answer all of them. It is preferable if you can also email me your reply. Thanks!
Dear Hamna,
Thank you for your comment. About your questions, for Business Administration/ Global business, you will have three exams: Math A, English, and Japanese. You are eligible to apply once you are 17 years old, and you will need to have a high school degree at the moment of application or receive one shortly after applying. About the grades, you should strive to have good grades (85% or more) in the A-level subjects, and anything in the O-levels related to business administration, also 85% or more. If you study biology, maybe it is not so important to have an excellent grade here since it has nothing to do with business administration. However, it would be good to start preparing for the 3 MEXT exams as soon as possible. Your focus should be to get your high school degree while at the same time, study hard for Math A, English, and Japanese. I hope it helps! Best of luck!
Hi.
I am in my second year of bachelor’s degree and I want to apply for MEXT scholarship bachelor’s degree next year. Is it possible for me to be rejected because of this?
Hi! It depends on the embassy if they want to recommend you further to MEXT. But there is an age limit of 22. You must contact your embassy and discuss with them your option. If it doesn’t work with the undergraduate program, you can apply for the research program when you finish your bachelor’s degree. But either way, it is worth a try and you must believe in yourself that you can do it. Don’t overthink it, just go for it!
Thank you Phillip!
You made me feel hope!
Good luck!
You’re welcome! Best of luck!
Hello
Pls I am applying for the undergraduate scholarship, I have few questions
1 How do I know d 3 universities to choose pertaining to my major or is that only for direct placement.
2 How do I contact the university international office and secretary.
3 In your personal opinion from your experience and knowledge what universities does a Nigerian undergraduate with MEXT scholarship going for Medicine have d best chance to be recommended and accepted or giving admission
Hi Fortune and thank you for your questions.
1. You need 3 universities only for direct placement.
2. You have to find contact info on the university website.
3. You have high chances only if you study and get high grades at the MEXT exams. With good grades you have access anywhere you want.
Best of luck with your application!
What do I need to study to study for getting a MEXT scholarship for medicine?? Please answer. I want to know about it
Hello Smyan, thank you for your comment. For medicine, you need Math B, English, Japanese, Chemistry, and Biology. Best of luck!
I’m in Year 11 and I plan to apply for the MEXT Scholarship next year in 2021, my last year of high school. I intend to do Natural Sciences B, the tests consist of Maths, Japanase, English, Biology and Chemistry. I apologise for having many questions but here I go: Do you have any advice or tips on how to prepare for the exams? Which exams should I be stressing over with? Where do I submit my application documents? And for undergraduate students, what is a 4Q?
Thank you for your patience!
Dear Vivi, thank you for your message. About your questions:
1. To prepare for the exams, you need to have an idea about what kind of topics/ problems they approach and then practice as much as possible, and memorize definitions or formulas. First, test yourself in these subjects (Math, Japanese, English, Biology, Chemistry). Second, if your score is below 80%, then you know you have some gaps, and you should try to improve there. After you study for a month, test yourself again with another set of tests and see if your score improves.
You need to be organized and focused when you study, but also make it fun, like a game. And always test yourself to make sure you retain the information. Sometimes we are just familiar with what we have studied, but we haven’t actually learned the stuff. That’s why if you test yourself, you can know if you can reproduce the information or not. I wrote an article about how to study for the MEXT exams, but of course, you need to find out what works for you.
2. In my opinion, the math exam is very important. However, if you are good at math, you should focus on improving the subjects where you have a score lower than 80%.
3. You submit the application document at the local Japanese embassy or consulate. It is best to contact them in advance, by e-mail or phone, or even visit them, and become familiar with the location and the people there. It is best to get all the information from them because the procedure slightly differs from country to country, and embassies have their own way of doing things. So, it’s ok to get some general idea from the internet but always double-check with the embassy.
4. The 4Q are four questions from the application form where they ask you how do you perceive Japan, and your plans for the future, etc. They are quite important, and you should spend some time thinking about giving a pertinent and mature answer. Everything gets analyzed, so you have to do your best, put your best foot forward, but also have high scores at the exams. It matters.
Best of luck to you! You can do it! There is plenty of time if you start preparing now.
Hello, I would like to ask a question: what Japanese level is required to successfully pass exams for Undergraduate program? I am from Kyrgyz Republic and did not study Japanese at all. When I went to my local embassy they said that I should know Japanese at least at a basic level. Also, thanks for this article, it is very helpful
Hello Emir, thank you for your kind words, I really appreciate it.
About your question, it is true, you need basic level at least. M5 or even better, N4 level. Now it depends a lot on what you do at the other exams, how the other candidates do, and also you need to tell them at the interview that you are willing to learn Japanese and study in Japanese. You need to understand that at undergrad level, most classes will be in Japanese. So they want to know that you can handle it, and see through with your studies.
I hope it helps. Are you going to apply this year?
Best of luck!
Thank you and yes, I am applying this year. I forgot to mention that I’m learning Japanese on Duolingo but I don’t think it will help me too much
Good luck then for this year!
About Duolingo, I am not a big fan; it wouldn’t work for me. But who knows? I guess it is worth a try. I would recommend a real Japanese book, like a manual. I am actually working on one, but it is under construction. Try to find something with audio, and then memorize as much as you can. Not just words, but sentences, short texts, and dialogues as well.
Hello sir
My name is Victory.
I just wanted to ask that is it compulsory to prepare for biology too.
Here in India after 10th standard we get to opt if we want medical(physics,chem and bio)
Or
Non medical ( physics, chemistry,maths)
I had opted for the latter so I really don’t know much about biology.
And also is there any preparation material available other than the one you’ve provided like for example : a book or something else…or is there any definite syllabus list?
Hello Victory,
thank you for your comment. If you want to avoid Biology, you will have to apply for either Social sciences and humanities (A or B) or Natural sciences A. So non-medical studies.
MEXT doesn’t provide any syllabus, so you need to consider everything you studied throughout high school for the exam subjects. Also, there aren’t any books from official sources. This was the whole point of my work, to create something helpful, something that I didn’t have access to when I applied for this scholarship.
Well, I hope it helps. Best of luck!
Hi, I am interested in using the Mext Scholarship for a gap year in Japan to attend Japanese language school or maybe even to attend college in Japan. I am going to graduate high school in a few months. Could you please assist me on which scholarship to apply for and what i should prepare? My embassy’s info on these are kind of confusing and I have no idea if they are even still offered.
Dear Emi,
Thank you for your comment. From my knowledge, there is only one scholarship that offers something similar to what you are asking, “Japanese Studies” scholarship. However, you already have to be a university student, majoring in Japanese. And for this scholarship, some countries require a high level of Japanese, some accept students with no Japanese knowledge. So, it is a little complicated.
Among the MEXT scholarship, the most suitable for you would be the “Undergraduate Scholarship.” Of course, you need some time to prepare, and you have to be sure this is what you want. With this scholarship, you could have a one year of Japanese studies in Japan and then continue with a university in Japan. If you don’t like it, you can just stay for one year. However, you cannot say this when you apply. You need to tell them that you are interested in going all the way. Also, if you get the scholarship and decide to renounce it after one year, you will not be able to apply again for this scholarship.
It is a little difficult situation. Maybe you can try to find a one-year course or exchange program. It probably wouldn’t come with a full scholarship, but it would give you the experience you want for a year. And then you can decide if you want to apply for the MEXT scholarship. I hope it helps. Best of luck! Write again anytime!
Hello, My name is Oguljemal. I am from Turkmenistan.I want to study my master degree in Japan and want to apply Mext scholarship progam.But I dont know what to do, where to ask, when is deadline to apply. Please, give me some information
Dear Oguljemal, sorry for the late reply. I have been very busy with personal things. You have to apply to the Turkmenistan Embassy of Japan for the Mext research scholarship. You need English and Japanese; you will take some tests after you apply. You will also need a professor’s recommendation from your school or university. You will need to write a research plan that you intend to follow through while in Japan. If you are accepted for the research program, you can take the university entrance admission to start a master program when you are in Japan. The research program can be 1-2 years. Here’s a link for you where you will find the information from your country: https://www.tm.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ru/00_000036.html
Best of luck!
Hi, I’m an undergraduate student interested in business administration. I was wondering if the inspectors (or whoever is responsible in examining the students) care about your grades you had in highschool. Especially those that are unrelated to your field of study (in my case programming and chemistry). I wasn’t that good at those subject and my grades are mediocre. But the rest of them are pretty good in my opinion.
Hi there George, thanks for your comment. It is difficult to know if they look over your high school grades because they don’t disclose the selection procedure. However, I think you should focus on what you can control: your application file and MEXT tests. For business is easier in my opinion. I also chose business and it was perfect for me and quite easy. You need English, Japanese, and Math. This should be your priority at the moment. If you get good grades at these, and have a good application file, then you’re on the right track. Related to the high school grades, they will most probably check your final average. I hope it helps. Let me know if you have any other questions. Best of luck!
Thank you for your answer. I don’t have any problems with Japanese and English, but my math is mediocre I guess (7.5~8.0/10.0). As for my final average, it’s around (9.05/10.0).
It’s good to be confident, but don’t forget, there is always room for improvement. The competition is with the other candidates. If they are better than you, then they have the advantage. In the first step, the candidates are selected according to their MEXT exam grades. You need to make sure that you have one of the best exam scores. Maybe among the first 5 scores for undergraduate. Your final average is ok.
Hello there, I am an undergrad student from India and want to apply for the MEXT scholarship in the coming years as I have not yet finished my high school. I have started studying Japanese and wanted to know the difficulty level of the Japanese test, also I’m not good in maths so how much do I have to get in the math test. As for physics and biology isn’t there an option?
Also, I wanted to know, how to get a recommendation from a university and would I not have to give an examination if I get it?
Dear Debarchan,
There is no way around this. Either you study hard or not. And you have to study if you want to take the scholarship. You need English, Japanese, Math – these are compulsory. Try to achieve 80% at these tests. The physics and biology tests depend on the course you choose. If you don’t want to take these tests, just go for a business course. I only deal with information related to embassy recommendation, not university recommendation. You will have to ask at the university about their procedure. Best of luck! You have time to read more about it and to study hard.
Hello Philip! Thank you sooo much for the information! I am confused over the research student group, is a research student a masters student? I only want to apply for a master’s program
The research student is not a master student. To become a master student you have to go through the research course.
I am aiming to take MEXT undergraduate exam this year/natural science A/, I saw the english and chemistry materials, but that was way too different from other standardized tests. So i have no idea how to prepare except work on past materials. Unfortunately I did not find a single complete prep book or this kinda guide. So can you share your books’ content or explain what exactly in your prep books.
Dear Karen,
Thank you for your comment. It is true, there are no prep materials for this scholarship, and for a good reason. It makes taking the scholarship more difficult and students really have to prepare hard for it. I have on my website a procedure guide for undergrad which includes 9 years of past tests. If you only want to practice the tests, this is a good option as it contains all the undergrad tests. I also have a math book where you find 9 years of math tests and step by step solutions, explanation, theory, and some extra practice. If you are interested in this and also the undergrad tests, then I suggest the bundle which contains everything. If you don’t need the math step by step solutions book, then the undergrad book is enough as it includes the math tests, but not the math book. The tests have answers but they don’t have step by step solutions. So, you have to practice and then check the things you don’t know or talk with a tutor to help you. You have descriptions for each book, so you can check there what they contain. But please understand that digital products are not refundable, so read the descriptions carefully to make sure you understand what they contain and if it is useful for you. Best of luck!
Hi, I have a question that I was wondering if you could answer. I would like to apply for this scholarship, but the main problem is that I am currently residing in another country which I don’t have citizenship for. I’ve been living here for about 7 years without one. I am originally a USA citizen from North Carolina, and it is the only citizenship that I have. Is it possible to still be able to apply for this scholarship at a US Embassy/Consulate coming from another country (in this case, Mexico), although I am actually an American citizen? I’ve heard people say that you must be residing in the designated area of your local consulate or embassy to be able to apply there. Thanks!
Dear Logan,
This is a difficult question. It might be possible to apply through the local consulate and then go to the Consulate in Atlanta for your exam and interview. The best advice I can give you is to ask both at the Embassy/ Consulate of Mexico and the Consulate of Atlanta about how you should proceed. I don’t think it is helpful to read about this on the internet because your situation might be different than what other students in similar situations have experienced. Just ask at the embassy about your particular case and how you can apply. I’m sorry I could not be of more use to you. Best of luck!
North Carolina: https://www.atlanta.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/index.html
Mexico: https://www.mx.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_es/index.html
Hello Phillip, this article is extremely helpful, thank you …
I’m an undergraduate student ( second year ) I study biology, I want to apply to the research scholarship after I get my master’s degree which means after 4 years but in my first year, I didn’t get good grades, I got 11.73/20 annually ( 2 semesters ) sooo it’s kinda low
My questions are, how can I maximize my chances to pass the first screening? Does having a good level in English and Japanese helps? Does having a language certificate like JLPT and TOEFL help? Does having recommendation letters from my professors or Japanese professors help?
Sorry for theses too many questions.
Hello Chafik,
Thank you for your comment. I am happy you find this article helpful.
If you apply for the research scholarship after you get your master’s degree, then it means you will want to continue with a Ph.D. in Japan. If so, then it won’t matter much what grades you have now. Only the grades from your master will be important.
It is true that your grades are a little low, but maybe you can talk to your professors to try and take some exams again, if possible, so you can increase your overall score. Also, it will be very useful to improve your English and Japanese and have some really good JLPT and TOEFL scores. And of course, an excellent recommendation letter is a must.
Best of luck!
Hi Philip,
I want to do research in organic chemistry but I have less score in masters… But i have 3 yrs of research experience… So there is an any axam for us to get admission in good university with good guid?
Hi Satish,
For the MEXT research scholarship, you choose your own university and a guide. If you enter the program, you’ll have admission exams later on in Japan. Until then, you only need English and Japanese MEXT tests for the research scholarship. I hope it helps.
Hello sir,
The main question bothering me is that, is it compulsory to do that one year Japanese course to learn the language before one can apply for the scholarship.
or is that one will learns it by oneself and then sit for the exam on Japanese and English with the other subjects. Am from Nigeria
Dear Samuel,
I can understand why you find the procedure a little complicated. The one-year Japanese course is not compulsory, but it can only take place after you obtain the MEXT scholarship. First, you must study Japanese and the other subjects, then you apply for MEXT, and then you have a one-year Japanese course in Japan. If you opt for direct placement, you will not have a one-year Japanese course. Best of luck!
Hi, I don’t know if you know something about this aspect but maybe you can help me with some advice. I intend to apply for a MEXT scholarship next year as an undergraduate student and I was wandering what grades would be necessary in order to get accepted to the University of Tokyo?
My country doesn’t use the GPA system, but I used a site that turns my overall average and it’s 3.8/4.0. Do all the international students accepted there have 4.0/4.0? Beside math, chemistry and computer science all my grades are pretty good, and I’m interested in economy so maybe it doesn’t matter that much.
The reason I’m asking is because it would be a waste to chose UTokyo as a choice and not even be eligible for it. Should I chose a university with lower requirements instead?
Dear Andrei,
Thank you for your comment. About your question, if you want to take this path, you will have to go through direct placement. Is this your choice? Also, I don’t want to discourage you, but I am biased regarding TODAI. I had friends who went there, but my opinion of this university is not very good. If you are determined, it should be ok with your score (3.8/4.0). However, they have many other requirements. For example, you will need N1 or N2 Japanese levels. I know for sure that the Japanese language is a must at TODAI for the economy. In my opinion, the best chance to go to Japan as an undergraduate with a monbusho scholarship is to apply through the embassy recommendation, with the one-year preparatory course, not direct placement. Also, for the economy, you will need to pass Math A, English, and Japanese exams. So, math is essential, and you need to start preparing for the MEXT exam. I hope it is helpful. In any case, you must always follow your feelings and always do what you think is best no matter what anybody tells you. You can do this!
I see. I didn’t know that the only way to apply is by direct placement.
If I’ll pass the N1 this December I’ll think whether it’s worth it or not. I have to research more about the University.
Thank you for the help! Have a nice day.
If you apply for N1, then you have a great advantage. It is worth thinking about going to this university. But I see there is a lot of confusion about the direct placement. So, if you want to choose your university from the beginning, then you can only do this through direct placement. If you want to choose the university after you arrive in Japan, then you have to go through the one-year prep course.
But why do you have to write three universities on the application form even for students that want to go through the prep course? Doesn’t that mean that I need to chose 3 universities from the beginning? And I thought that you have to obtain a letter of acceptance from the university you want to go to, or do you obtain it after arriving in Japan?
Sorry for so many questions.
This is the normal procedure for the research scholarship and for undergraduate direct placement. It is understandable you are confused, but you can just call the embassy and ask them. So, there are multiple ways to obtain the undergraduate scholarship. Either through university recommendation or embassy recommendation. And through embassy recommendation, there are again two ways: one-year prep course and direct application. But the direct application is optional. It is not mandatory. You need to read the regulations more carefully. The normal procedure and the easiest way is through one-year prep course, and on the form there is no mention of choosing 3 universities nor obtaining an acceptance letter. Only on the direct placement form you choose 3 universities. I think he best is to first read the regulations again and then call the embassy to double-check. If you have doubts, always go to the official source.
Hi, there’s something I’d like to ask. Does mext also arrange a place for me to stay at?
Let’s say I get accepted to a university, when I arrive in Japan do I already have a place prepared for me (apartment /dormitory)?
If not, what should I do?
Dear Dan, thank you for your question. It is a good question, and it is natural to worry about accommodation. So, MEXT does not arrange for accommodation. However, the university where you go can help you with that. More precisely, the international student office. When you get accepted, you contact the university that you will attend and then you discuss with them the accommodation. In my case, my university asked me where I wanted to stay, and they told me that they recommend staying in a dormitory. Then they sent me links of two possible locations. And after I told them my preference, they booked the room for me. However, it was not at the dormitory that I chose. In the end, they set me up with the other one. But everything worked out, and I was content there. If you prefer to rent an apartment, it is twice as costly, and the university will tell you to take care of it yourself, which of course, is difficult if you are not already in Japan. I hope it helps and let me know if you have any questions.
Hi, I thought about buying your book for undergraduate math, but before that I would like to ask a question.
If I’m interested in economy, which is a social science does math play a big role in deciding if I’ll get the scholarship?
I don’t mean the math exam given by the embassy, but my math grades from high school. They’re not bad, but not great either.
Dear Vlad, thank you for your comment. Well, it is a tricky question because this is about the internal procedure, and they don’t disclose it. We can only make suppositions. Honestly, if you have an average of 70% in math, it should be ok. I think they look at many aspects when they select the candidates. They look at the grades you have at school, but maybe they are more interested in the general average or GPA than certain subjects. I believe the math exam counts more than the math grades you take in school. This means, if you improve your math and have a good score at the exam, it won’t matter what your grade at school was. However, you should strive to obtain a good overall grade average. I hope it helps. I am here if you have any questions!
I see, then I’ll try improving my math as much as I can.
My overall average is 91/100 and my math average is 75/100.
Thank you for the help.
Your overall average is very good. Well done!
Best of luck! You can do it!
Hi, I applied for the 2020 scholarship mext and I haven’t seen any reply yet,is it only me or just that I have fail the screening or rather, they are still working on it
Hello Terhemba, I need to know a few things before I can give an answer to your question. First, were you invited to the exams? Second, were you invited to the interview? Third, did you apply for the undergraduate or research scholarship? I’m waiting for your reply when you can.
I applied for undergraduate but i wasn’t invited for any exams nor interview till now
I am sorry to say then, your application file did not pass the first screening. The embassy doesn’t announce if students fail. And all countries have already had the exams, interviews, etc. I am very sorry to give you this information. I know from experience it feels bad.
I heard they are still doing a second screening by december till febuary 2020
Yes, this is true. But the second screening is for students who passed the first screening. It means the second phase of the application process.
Hi, would you recommend contacting a few teachers one or two months before applying for the scholarship and asking them if they’re willing to give a letter of acceptance? Also if my japanese is quite good, should I write to them in Japanese?
Dear Adrian, thank you for your comment. Yes, for sure, I highly recommend contacting some teachers from Japan before applying. This way, you can find out if they are willing to accept some students. If they already have a student, maybe they will not accept a second one. Also, it is good to contact the university – international office and secretary and see if they have any recommendations. If your Japanese is good, then it is for the best to write them in Japanese. And be super polite. Follow the formal letter writing guidelines for Japanese correspondence. Thank them for their effort at the beginning and end. You are on the right track! Best of luck and let me know if you have any questions!
Hi, I posted a question a few hours ago but it seems like there was a problem and it doesn’t show on the site. Or maybe you deleted it. If that’s the case I’m sorry and I won’t try the third time.
The question was, is there any site where I can look for all the universities that are approved by MEXT?
Dear Rei, sorry for the late reply. I woke up late today. Also, sometimes, I need to think about the questions because I want to give people the best possible answer. Please don’t be upset. Let me know if I can help you with anything. All the best, and have a great day!
Don’t worry, your answer wasn’t late at all! I just thought that my question might be stupid and it’s something I should have known.
Thank you for the answer!
Don’t worry about it! It’s really ok. It is impossible to know everything. And your questions are pertinent. Information is the key. But always double-check if possible, and also check the official websites as well. Although I know they are not very transparent.
You’re welcome, I am happy if I helped a little.
Hi, is there any site where I can check what universities are approved by MEXT?
Dear Rei, thank you for your question. This is actually a great question. A little difficult to answer though, because there is not much information on this subject. However, there is an official website where students can search for universities for both undergraduate and graduate. However, I believe that MEXT offers scholarships to students no matter which universities they choose. The problem is more with the universities and supervisors if they want to accept that student with a specific field of study. Here is the link: https://www.jpss.jp/en/
Oh, I see. Thank you.
Would you recommend contacting the university before and asking them if they would accept?
Yes, definitely! It is very important to contact the university even before applying for the MEXT scholarship. You need to see if they are willing to accept you, if they have places available if they have a supervisor willing to accept you for a specific field of study. Contacting the university is a must!
Hi, can you give me an opinion about my high school grades and tell me if I have a chance? I’m really worried about this aspect, as I’ve seen that most of the people that got accepted had really good grades. My country doesn’t use the GPA system. The system my country uses is from 1(the lowest) to 10(the highest).
[…]
Are these good enough? I’m interested in studying Economics or Business administration and applying for the undergraduate scholarship.
Hello Daniel! Yes, I calculated your GPA, it is 3.59, and it is very competitive. This is great. However, a bit of advice for you, you should try to start preparing for the math exam. Your score is ok, but the exam will be more challenging. Business Administration is a great choice, and you will have to take Math A. Let me know if you have other questions.
does business administration only takes maths A and not maths B?
Yes, only Math A if you apply for Business Administration.
Hi, I was wondering if I have more chances of getting accepted if I try applying for more public universities compared to private ones? Is this true?
Hi Alex, that’s an interesting question. There was some debate about this topic among the MEXT students in my dorm. Some said that the chances of being accepted were higher for public universities than private ones. But I was accepted at a private university, and everything was perfect. Some of my friends were attending public universities and some private ones. I just don’t think it is that important. If you go for the research scholarship, it is essential to match the faculty with your field of study and to find a teacher with that specific background who is willing to accept you.
Thanks for the fast answer.
I’m going for the undergraduate scholarship and I want to maximize my chances of getting accepted. I was thinking about choosing 2 public universities and just one private.
All of them have almost the same scholarship fee, but maybe the demands are higher for the private one.
I know the Japanese government pays for the fee, but they might be more willing to to offer a scholarship if the fee is cheaper.
This means you are trying to go through direct placement?
I’m going through the embassy from my country, but I’ve heard that if the scholarship is cheaper you have better chances to get the scholarship. I was expecting the private university to have a more expensive scholarship fee, but it’s almost the same.
Yes, the fees are almost the same, but in this situation, it is better to follow your instinct. If you are thinking about choosing 2 public universities and one private, then that’s what you should do. Well, best of luck to you and if you have other questions, please write to me anytime!
Hey Phillip,that was a very informative post.
I am in 11th grade right now and will be in 12th next year,so i was wondering when am i supposed to apply for MEXT. Is it possible to apply for it while being in high school?
If so then am i expected to be well versed with the syllabus of both 11 and 12 by July? And will N5 knowledge suffice for the MEXT japanese exam?
Hello Ray,
Thanks for your comment. These are really good questions! So, you can’t apply for MEXT until you finish 12th grade. You will need to have proof of finishing high school when you apply. This is good because it means you have more time to prepare. If you have decided to apply, you can start studying right now. It is never too early to prepare for the Monbukagakusho scholarship. About the Japanese, you should strive for at least an N3 level. N5 is too basic, and it will not suffice for the exam and for your daily life in Japan.
Have you thought about what would you like to study in Japan?
Hey Phillip
I am still contemplating about the field of study to be taken after 12th.
Your reply helps me to plan accordingly.Thanks for replying to my question.
Sure, no problem!
Hi, I’ve completed my graduation (Major Accounting) from National University of Bangladesh. I want to study (Master of Business Administration) MBA in Human Resource Management (HRM). Can it possible with MEXT scholarship? After completing my course in Japan can I hold an honorable job in my country (Bangladesh)? #ThanksInAdvace
Dear Abu Rashed,
Thank you for your comment. The answer to your first question is yes. It is very possible to do an MBA in Human Resource Management with a MEXT scholarship. I am positive because this is what I did. I also have an MBA from Japan. You will need to prepare carefully though for your application and exams. For your second question, the answer is also yes. You can have a very honorable job with an MBA, just give yourself time to search and select the best job for you. Best of luck!
Thank you so much. The last one so far, Can I hold a Govt. Job in Japan, after completing my course? Is it hard to get a Govt. job there?
It is possible, but you will have to know perfect Japanese, and you will need excellent recommendations from your professors. If you work/ study hard and have great relations with your professors, you can get any kind of job, even a Govt. job.
Hii, I want to apply for MEXTscholarship..is it compulsory to learn Japanese language? I want to apply as research student still I’m doing master in karnataka it I’ll get complete before may 2020 do I eligible to apply ?
Dear Varsha, thank you for your comment. Yes, you need to study some basic Japanese. For the MEXT research scholarship you will have an English and Japanese exam. Also, if you finish your master by May, you will be able to apply for MEXT. Best of luck!
So i would like to apply for the undergrad MEXT
but how well does your proficiency in Japanese need to be for this?
as a highschool student i have been able to study some genki books but im not even near being n4/n3 will this be a probem?
Dear William,
You should be able to take a minimum of 50% at the Japanese MEXT test. You can try on a previous test to see your score. You should be able to do the first part of the test, the easiest level, without any trouble. You still have time to study until June, and maybe you can reach N3 level. However, Japanese is not the only test here, are you sure you are well prepared for Math as well? This is another mandatory exam for the undergraduate level, and it is quite important.
Hi Philip, that was a great post.
Though there is something I am wondering about, are you required to go back to your home country after finishing your studies with the scholarship or continue to live and work in japan?
Hi there Edvin,
Thanks a lot for your kind comment! About your question, students are not required to return to their home countries after they finish. However, students who choose to remain must apply for a job-hunting visa and find a job within a maximum period of 12 months. If they cannot find a company which offers visa sponsorship, they must leave Japan. I know many people who continued to live in Japan, as well as people who chose to return. The ones who remained usually had a high level of Japanese language skills. Hope it is useful! Best of luck! Drop a line anytime!
Thanks a lot,but please how or where can I study Japanese language in order to write the exam very well?I’m from Nigeria
You should try to find a tutor or a course in your country. If that is not possible, there are many sites that provide free Japanese study materials. However, Japanese is not the only concern. Math is mandatory and equally important, if not more important. Good luck!
Is it the aggregate score they will consider or score in each subject.That is if you score low in the Japanese exam but you score very high in the other subjects,will u b considered??or is it that one is to score high in every subject including the Japanese exam.please don’t be angry if I’m disturbing you.Thanks
Dear Jonathan,
Your question is very good, but unfortunately, no one can answer it precisely because this is an internal MEXT procedure. They don’t disclose the way they analyze test scores. However, I can tell you my personal opinion. I think there is a minimum score for each subject, and it’s probably around 50%. So, if you get a minimum of 50% in Japanese and more than 80% in the other subjects, you might be accepted. However, it also depends on what the other students do at the exam. Among the applicants, they will select the ones with the highest score.
Your blog is a ton of help:)
I was wondering if there are any materials where I could prepare for maths,physics and chemistry exams and also what subjects/topics does the maths B exam tackle?
Dear Sarah,
Thank you for your kind words. Yes, you can get 3 years of tests to practice from the JASSO website. I also have in my undergrad book on this site 9 years of tests that you can practice. It includes Physics, Chemistry, and Math A/B. They come with the MEXT undergraduate eBook guide. As well, I have a dedicated MEXT math book on my website, where you have full solutions, theory, extra practice and you can see there the subjects and topics for Math B exam. At the moment this book contains both A and B tests. I also have a bundle which offers 2 in 1 undergrad guide book, Physics, Chemistry, Biology tests, and Math A/B. Here’s a link: https://myjapaneseexperience.com/product/2-in-1-mext-scholarship-undergrad-math-bundle/
I hope it is helpful for you. I wish you the best of luck with your application!
The application asks questions like –
What triggered your interest in Japan?
What will you do to help bridge the relations between Japan and your home country?
How do I answer such questions?
Dear Onkar,
Your observations serve you very well. Indeed, these kinds of questions appear at the MEXT application and are very relevant in obtaining the scholarship. However, to answer them here would take me pages. Luckily, I fully debate the form questions together with the interview questions, and how to answer them in my book. I hope it will be useful for you. I will post a link to my books below. Best of luck to you! https://myjapaneseexperience.com/shop/
Hello Phillip, and thanks for your contribution in this topic.
I have a specific doubt related to the Research Students Scholarship.
I have read the Guideline and it states that the students who get the scholarship, in the beginning, start their “path” as non degree students and, if they need to take Japanese language lessons and they arrive on April, they take a 6 months course of Japanaese. So, in October, they are enrolled in the University as research students but they need to prepare for the examination if they want to become Master or Doctoral students.
My question is the next one: if I’m applying for the shcolarship next year (2020) and if I get the scholarship, I will be in Japan in 2021, but, when will I take the examination entrance? That year in the April-October period so I will start the master course in October 2021 or, I will apply for the enrollment in 2022 and, if I pass the examination entrance, I will be starting the Graduate course on 2022? So, in that case, the duration of the scholarship will be extended?
Thanks in advance and I hope you can answer my doubt.
Best Regards.
Dear Miguel,
Thank you for your message. This is a good question! It actually depends on the university, so if you ask different people, you will get different answers.
Basically, universities have admission exams in autumn and spring. This can depend from university to university, as well as the exact exam month/ date. It is possible for a university to have only spring examination entrance.
So, let’s suppose you arrive to Japan in April 2021, then you will have 3 chances to take the entrance exam and start the master with the next semester. If you fail the first, you can prepare better for the next session. In parallel, you will have to speak at the international student office and check when to apply for the scholarship extension depending on your admission exam. These things go hand in hand, you will have to do them at the same time. So, always keep in touch with the international office which handles the MEXT application and the Japanese optional course, and with the faculty office which handles the research/ master/ PhD application.
I hope this answers your question. If you still have uncertainties, please ask me anytime.
Best of luck!
Your method of describing all in this post is actually good, all can easily understand it, Thanks a
lot.
Thank you, I’m happy it is useful. Good luck!
Hello thank you for the information 🙂
i want to apply for MEXT scholarship for art(illustration) and i wanted to know if i should pass math exam too?i asked the embassy and they said its written on the embassy site but it wasnt(because you normaly dont need to pass math/physic/alchemy for applying for art subjects)
Dear Shoghak,
Thank you for your message. Unfortunately, all applicants for the undergraduate MEXT scholarship must take the math exam which is compulsory. If you want to apply for art, you will take Maths A. You won’t need physics and chemistry. Your exams will be English, Japanese, Maths A.
Good luck to you!
Hello
Just getting to the point ,I also want to apply mext from art stream but I am having a hard time differentiating maths A and maths B.
Plz explain a lil bit
Dear Ansu,
Thank you for your comment. About your question, if you want to prepare for the MEXT scholarship art stream, you need to study Math A. This is the only math exam you will take. The other one, Math B, is for students who want to study more technical subjects, such as engineering. The difference between them is that Math A is slightly easier than Math B. If you need to prepare yourself more in math, I have a special book MEXT Math for undergraduate students. There are nine years of tests with step by step explanations and helpful theory. However, if you are a beginner in math, I suggest you hire a tutor as well. Best of luck and if you have any questions, please write to me anytime.
Hi, thanks for all the useful information.
I was wondering how much do my high school grades matter? I don’t have bad grades but my math, physics and chemistry grades are mediocre. The rest are above average. Will this have a big influence or they won’t care that much, especially if I’ll get a good score on the exams given by them?
And another question, does having a jlpt certificate (N2 or N1) helps?
Thank you
Dear Chris,
Thank you for your comment. About your question, of course, high school grades are important, but if you have an average above 8, it should be ok. Math is also important because when you to apply for the MEXT scholarship, you will take a mandatory math exam. You need to start preparing as soon as you can. Physics and chemistry are not so essential if you go for business studies, for example, or for social studies. But if you want something more technical, then they are critical. Try to prepare for the MEXT exams (Japanese, English, Math) starting now. If you have a JLPT certificate (N2 or N1), it is excellent. You still have to pass the MEXT exams, but if you have that level of Japanese, it will be an advantage for you. It means you will take a good score on the Japanese exam, and maybe you can have an interview in Japanese. It is, for sure, an advantage. Keep in touch and best of luck!
I am a undergrad student.
How can I get previous math & English questions and solutions?
Hello Ahmed,
Thank you for your message. You can get previous tests from the JASSO website, just write into google ‘JASSO MEXT exams,’ you will find there 3 years of tests. Best of luck!
I’m so grateful of your pieces of advice.
Confidance is significant to reach your goals.
Dear Amine,
Thank you as well for reading my article and for your kind words.
Yes, confidence is essential. The way we think influences our path.
Best of luck to you!
I am from Nepal. I am a computer engineering graduate. In years of engineering, my slight deviation or appropriately I would say; inclination is towards business, economics and management. Henceforth to put into the right words, I long for post graduate degree in MBA. I would like to get into the fields of finance and pursue my career in such fields. As of now, I am past deadline, but can I get into the right direction of getting a scholarship for post graduate program? I am a very Willing and hard working person as I would advocate myself. I don’t really know if I can be lucky enough to study in Asian grounds.
And about the article, it was heuristic. Thank you for posting this.
Dear Mishra,
Thank you for your kind words.
About your question, please let me know if I understand correctly. You have a master’s degree in computer engineering, and you would like to apply for the business administration doctoral course through the MEXT scholarship?
You would need to apply for the MEXT research scholarship next year. After receiving the research scholarship, you can redirect to a master of business administration (MBA) or post-doctoral studies (Ph.D.) However, having studied computer engineering, you will have to bring excellent arguments as to why you want to change your field of study.
Also, I think the MBA is a more natural path than the Ph.D., mainly because you are changing your specialization.
It also depends on what you want to do in the future. If you’re going to work in a company or have your own business, the MBA is the best choice. If you want to become a university professor, then you can go towards the Ph.D.
I hope it helps.
Thanks for answering my Questions.
Yes it would be great for me to talk more about that on email.
Thank you very much for this article it is kind of you to write such a good article.
I am an undergraduate student( I was in terminal) and I have participated in the program but I got rejected. I will participate next year but by this time I will enter a university in my country.
My question are the followings did I get rejected because I didn’t pass the TOEFL IBT test and because I have anemia?
and should I wait more before participating again??
Please answer me..
Dear Miya,
Thank you for your comment and kind words.
About your question, it is a little difficult, and I would need more details. I think it is more complicated than that. Did you pass the MEXT exams and were you invited to the interview? Usually, the TOEFL test is not required for the MEXT application, but maybe some countries do require it. About your anemia, is it a light condition or a more complicated situation? I also have slight anemia, and I am treating it at the moment with some natural supplements.
Usually, students fail in two situations. First, students make mistakes in their application file, or they are not clear or convincing enough when they write their answers. Second, they do not study enough, and they get low scores at the MEXT tests (English, Japanese, Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology.)
I think it is good for now to pursue a university in your own country. At the same time, prepare for the next application for undergraduate MEXT. If it happens to fail again, you still have another option, you can finish the university in your country and apply again for the MEXT research, so you can do the master’s degree in Japan. The research scholarship is slightly easier to obtain, but you will need to take excellent grades at university. So, you will still have multiple opportunities to go to Japan, you just need to think about what you want and plan ahead. Either way, I suggest you apply again for the undergraduate because you will become more familiar with their procedure.
If you would like to talk more on e-mail, let me know.
Please,is the exam supposed to be written before you get the scholarship?? If yes,then how will one do for the Japanese language exam when you have not attended the one year Japanese language course. Or will all the exams be written after you have studied the Japanese language??
Dear Jonathan,
Thank you for your questions. You need to study Japanese before applying for the scholarship. All the exams, including the Japanese exam, will be taken during the application period. So, to receive the MEXT scholarship and to go to Japan, you need to pass the exams and interview. After you arrive in Japan, you will have a one-year preparatory course, including a one-year Japanese course. If you want to apply for the next session (Summer 2020), you need to start studying now. Time is short. I hope this is helpful.
Hey phillip ,your information was really helpful…I just wanted to ask , do I have to give an entrance exam after reaching japan ,after I qualify mext scholarship by embassy recommendation ?… I mean if I qualify mext and the embassy will tell me which university to go , do I have to give an exam to start studying in that university after I reach japan ?
Hi Louren, yes, sadly, you will have to take an admission exam at the university. It might be possible to have just an admission interview, but the chances of that are very slim. So, applying for the MEXT scholarship does not automatically mean that you will be enrolled at the university as a regular student. You will take the admission exam, and after you pass that, you will become a regular student. This is why students should learn some Japanese before going to Japan. This way, they will be able to focus on the entrance exam and not language study, especially because the exam will most probably be in the Japanese language. But the effort is worth it. Best of luck if you apply this year!
what is the deadline for nepalese student to fill up form this year
For Research is finished (13-17 May 2019), for undergraduate 8-12 July 2019. You can find all the information on the Japanese Embassy site from Nepal – link here: https://www.np.emb-japan.go.jp/study.html
Thank you very much, this article helps me a lot
Thank you as well! I am very happy to hear that!
Best of luck!
I want this book it’s name mext maths a and b for undergraduate . Could you explain me the further steps to buy this book . Btw I’m from India
Hello Metha, thanks for your interest in my book. You can read more about how to make a purchase on the policy page, here under the heading “Making a purchase”: https://myjapaneseexperience.com/policy/
If you still can’t make the purchase, please write again using the contact form and we can discuss alternative ways of purchasing.