2019 Guidelines Research E PDF
2019 Guidelines Research E PDF
2019 Guidelines Research E PDF
(RESEARCH STUDENTS)
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan offers scholarships to
international students who wish to study in graduate courses at Japanese universities as Research Students (either regular
students or non-regular students) under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program as follows.
2. FIELDS OF STUDY
Applicants should apply for the field of study they majored in at university or its related field. Moreover, the fields of
study must be subjects which applicants will be able to study and research in graduate courses at Japanese universities.
The fields of study may be restricted to particular fields by the Japanese Embassy/Consulate General (hereinafter
referred to as the “Japanese diplomatic mission”) in the applicant’s country.
Traditional entertainment arts such as Kabuki and classical Japanese dances, or subjects that require practical training in
specific technologies or techniques at factories or companies are not included in the fields of study under this scholarship
program.
A student who studies medicine, dentistry or welfare science will not be allowed to engage in clinical training such as
medical care and operative surgery until he/she obtains a relevant license from the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare
under applicable Japanese laws.
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2 Doctoral program (second phase)
① Students with a Japanese master’s degree or students with a Japanese professional degree.
② Students who have been awarded with an overseas degree equivalent to a master’s degree or professional
degree.
③ Students who have completed graduate programs at education institutions in Japan recognized as having
overseas graduate programs and who have obtained a degree equivalent to a master’s degree or professional
degree.
④ Students who have graduated from universities and have been involved in research study at universities or
research centers (including overseas universities and research centers) for two years or more, and recognized
as having academic competency equivalent to persons with a master’s degree by the graduate school.
⑤ Students recognized as having academic abilities equivalent to or better than master’s degree or professional
degree holders in an individual entrance qualification examination conducted by the graduate school, and
who have reached 24 years of age.
3 Doctoral program (faculties of medicine, dentistry, veterinary sciences and certain pharmaceutical programs)
If you apply to a program in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or certain pharmaceutical sciences, you
are required to confirm directly with the school of your choice before applying.
(4) Japanese Language Ability: Applicants must be willing to learn Japanese. Applicants must be interested in Japan
and be willing to deepen their understanding of Japan after arriving in Japan. Applicants must also have the ability
to do research and adapt to living in Japan.
(5) Health: Applicants must submit a health certificate in the prescribed format signed by a physician attesting that the
applicant has no physical or mental conditions hindering the applicant’s study in Japan.
(6) Arrival in Japan: An applicant must choose and fill in in the Application Form either of the arrival periods
specified below . In principle, a change in the arrival period is not permitted after the submission of the Application.
If the applicant cannot arrive in Japan specified period below for personal reasons, travel expenses to Japan will not
be paid. Excluding cases of unavoidable circumstances, the applicant must withdraw from this scholarship program
if the applicant cannot arrive in Japan by the end of the designated period.
① April term: The arrival date should be, in principle, during the period from 1 April to 7 April, 2019. Departure
from the home residence should be on or after 1 April.
② October term: The arrival date specified by the accepting university during the period within two weeks before
the starting date of the relevant academic term (September or October) for that year set by the accepting
university.
(7) Visa Requirement: An applicant shall, in principle, obtain a “Student” visa at the Japanese diplomatic mission
located in the applicant’s country of nationality, and enter Japan with the residence status of “Student.”
Accordingly, even if the applicant already has other residence status (“Permanent resident,” “Long-term resident,”
etc.), the applicant must change it to the “Student” status and re-enter Japan. Moreover, the applicant should be
aware that after expiration of the status as a MEXT Scholarship student and even if the student again applies for
their original resident status of “Permanent resident” or “Long-term resident,” the such resident statuses might not
be necessarily granted.
(8) Non-eligibility: those who meet any one of the following conditions are ineligible. If identified ineligible after
being selected as a scholarship student, he /she must withdraw from the scholarship.
① Those who are military personnel or military civilian employees at the time of their arrival in Japan or during the
period of the payment of the scholarship;
② Those who cannot arrive in Japan by the period designated by MEXT or the accepting university;
③ Those who are previous grantees of Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship programs (including those who
withdraw from the scholarship program after the arrival in Japan), but does not have educational research
experience exceeding more than three years from the month following the final payment of the previous
scholarship to the month when the payment of this scholarship begins. This does not apply to the past grantees of
Japanese Studies scholarship nor Japan-Korea Joint Government Scholarship Program for the Students in
Science and Engineering Departments who have graduated or are going to graduate from universities in their
home countries and past participants in the Young Leaders Program. The MEXT Honors Scholarship is not one
of the MEXT Scholarship Programs;
④ Those who are already enrolled in a Japanese university with a residence status of “Student,” or who are going to
be enrolled, or plan to enroll, in a Japanese university as a privately-financed international student from the time
of application to the MEXT scholarship program in the their home country until the commencement of the period
for payment of the MEXT scholarship. However, this stipulation does not apply to privately-financed
international students who, even though they are enrolled, or are planning to enroll, in a Japanese university,
verifiably complete their studies before the start of the scholarship payment period, return to their home country
at the time of the scholarship application, and newly acquire the “Student” residence status and come to Japan;
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⑤ Those who are planning to receive scholarship money from an organization other than MEXT (including a
government organization of their home country) on top of the scholarship money provided by MEXT after the
start of the scholarship payment period;
⑥ Those who are expected to graduate at the time of application and cannot satisfy the qualifications and the
conditions related to academic background by the deadline given;
⑦ Holders of dual nationality at the time of application who cannot verify that they will give up Japanese
nationality by the time of the arrival in Japan; or
⑧ Those who change their residence status to that of other than “Student” after their arrival in Japan.
⑨ Those whose main aim is to engage in fieldwork or an internship in a country other than Japan after submission
of Application;
⑩ Those who have completed a doctoral course and have no intention to obtain a degree.
(9) Others: MEXT Scholarship will be granted those who are willing to contribute to mutual understanding between
Japan and their home country by participating in activities at schools and communities during their study in Japan
while contributing to the internationalization of Japan. They shall also make efforts to promote relations between the
home country and Japan by maintaining close relations with the university attended after graduation, cooperating
with the conducting of surveys and questionnaires, and cooperating with relevant projects and events conducted by
Japanese diplomatic missions after they return to their home countries.
4. PERIOD OF SCHOLARSHIP
(1) Non-regular students:
- April term: maximum of two years from April 2019 until the end of March 2021.
- October term: from September or October 2019 until the end of March 2021.
In either case, the above-mentioned period of scholarship includes a 6-month period of Japanese language training
for those who require such training. In cases of arrival in Japan in other months than those specified above, MEXT
will decide the period of scholarship separately.
(2) Regular students enrolled in master’s, doctoral, or professional graduate courses:
- Regardless of the date of arrival, the scholarship period shall be the necessary period for the completion of the
regular program of the respective courses (see “12. UNIVERSITY ENROLLMENT AND ACQURING
DEGREES (4) to (6)” for the standard period of study for each course). For those requiring preparatory education,
a 6-month preparatory education period will be separately added.
6. SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS
(1) Allowance: The amounts listed below shall be paid depending on the course enrolled in. Due to the situation of the
Japanese Government’s budget, the amount of payment may be subject to change each fiscal year. The scholarship
shall be cancelled if a grantee is absent from the university for an extended period.
① Students receiving preparatory education and non-regular students: 143,000 yen per month
② Regular students enrolled in master’s courses or degree courses in professional graduate schools: 144,000 yen per
month
③ Regular students enrolled in doctoral courses: 145,000 yen per month.
*A supplemental regional allowance of 2,000 or 3,000 yen per month will be added to the monthly scholarship
amount for the grantees studying or conducting research in specially designated regions.
(2) Education fees: Fees for the entrance examination, matriculation, and tuition at universities will be paid by MEXT.
The entrance examination fee will not be paid by MEXT if the grantees cannot proceed to the master’s or doctoral
course or cannot be admitted by the university.
(3) Traveling Expenses
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① Transportation to Japan: In principle, MEXT stipulates the travel schedule and route, and provides an
economy-class airline ticket for the flight from the international airport closest to the grantee’s residence (in
principle, the country of nationality) to Narita International Airport or to any other international airport used on
the normal route to the accepting university. The grantee shall bear at his/her own expense all costs related to
domestic travel from the grantee’s residence to the nearest international airport, airport taxes, airport usage fees,
special taxes necessary for travel, travel expenses within Japan (including airline transit costs), travel insurance
expenses, carry-on luggage or unaccompanied baggage expenses, etc. The grantee shall also bear at his/her own
expense travel and lodging costs incurred in a third country if the grantee must travel to a third country before
coming to Japan for visa purposes because there are no Japanese diplomatic missions in his/her country, or if
there are no direct flights from the grantee’s country of residence to Japan. MEXT will provide an economy-class
airline ticket from the grantee’s country of residence to the said third country, and from the third country to
Narita International Airport or to any other international airport used on the normal route to the accepting
university. In principle, the address given in the space for “Residence before arrival in Japan” on the application
form shall be recognized as the “residence,” and the airplane ticket will be arranged for a flight from the
international airport nearest to that address. Except for cases when the grantee must travel to a third country to
obtain a visa, MEXT will not provide an airline ticket for cases of travel to Japan from a country other than the
grantee’s country of residence due to the grantee’s personal circumstances.
② Transportation from Japan: Based on the Application by the grantee, MEXT will provide an airline ticket to,
grantees graduating the accepting university and returning to the home country by the end of the final month of
the period of scholarship (Section 4 above) designated by MEXT. MEXT, in principle, shall provide an
economy-class airline ticket from Narita International Airport or the international airport used for the normal
route to and from the accepting university to the international airport (in principle, in the country of nationality)
nearest to the returning grantee’s residence. The grantee shall bear at his/her own expense all costs related to
travel from the grantee’s residence in Japan to the nearest international airport, airport taxes, airport usage fees,
special taxes necessary for travel, travel expenses within the country of nationality (including airline transit costs),
travel insurance expenses, carry-on luggage or unaccompanied baggage expenses, etc.
Note 1: In principle, travel expenses to the home country are not paid if the student desiring admission in April
2021 fails to proceed, or withdraws from the course, to a regular graduate course for a degree from a
non-regular student course, or to a doctoral course from a master’s course or a professional graduate course,
despite applying for extension of the scholarship period, as stated in "5. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF
SCHOLARSHIP ③," so please note this when applying for such an extension.
Note 2: If a grantee return to the home country before the end of period of scholarship due to personal
circumstances, or reasons stated in “7. SUSPNSION OF PAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP”, MEXT will not
pay for the returning travel expenses.
Note 3: If a grantee continues to stay in Japan after the scholarship period has ended in cases such as being
employed in Japan, he/she will not be paid travel expenses for a temporary return.
8. FIRST SCREENING
(1) The Japanese diplomatic missions will conduct the First Screening of applicants by means of examination of
submitted application documents, written examinations of language proficiency and interviews.
(2) Written examinations of language proficiency will be English and Japanese language tests. Both language
examinations must be taken by all applicants.
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Note 1: The result of the Japanese language examination will be used as reference data for the Japanese-language
preparatory education to be provided after the grantee’s arrival in Japan.
(3) The following policy will apply to each stage of screening:
① Examination of submitted application documents: Must show that the applicant’s academic achievement at the
university that he/she last graduated from equaled to or exceeded a certain level, and state the applicant’s desired
research program in a detailed and concrete manner.
② Written examination of language proficiency: Must show that the applicant obtained scores that clears the fixed
cut-off level in either Japanese or English.
③ Interview: Must reveal that the applicant has a clear sense of purpose relating to his/her study in Japan and has
gathered information about Japanese universities. The interview must also reveal that the applicant has sufficient
Japanese or English language ability to communicate with his/her academic adviser in Japan. If the applicant
desires to study a subject that requires advanced Japanese language proficiency, the interview must show that the
applicant has a considerable degree of Japanese language proficiency.
(4) The date and time of the notification of the results of the First Screening will be specified separately by the Japanese
diplomatic missions in the applicant’s country; the reasons for the results of the screening will not be disclosed. Those
who pass the First Screening will not necessarily be selected as grantees of the MEXT Scholarship.
(5) The results of the First Screening will be used as reference for the Second Screening and the university placement.
9. APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Applicants must submit the following documents to the Japanese diplomatic missions by the designated deadline. The
submitted documents will not be returned.
1 original
2 copies
① Application Form ○ ○ Use the 2019 Application Form. (See Note 4 below.)
② Placement Preference Form ○ Use the 2019 form. (See Note 4 below.)
③ Field of Study and Research Plan ○ ○ Use the 2019 form. (See Note 5 below.)
Certified grade transcript for each
A transcript issued either by the schools attended or by the
④ academic year from the last ○ ○
applicant's national government. (See Note 6 below.)
university attended
Graduation certificate or degree If the applicant has not yet graduated, submit an attested
⑤ certificate of the last university ○ ○ document certifying that the applicant will graduate from the
attended school. (See Note 7 below.)
Recommendation letter from the
president/dean or the adviser of the
⑥ current university or the last ○ ○ Free format. A sample format is available.
university attended or the university
currently attending
⑦ Medical certificate ○ ○ Please use the 2019 form.
Submit if the applicant has written theses. (See Note 8
⑧ Abstracts of theses ● ●
below.)
Only in case the applicant has documents attesting to
⑨ Certificate of language proficiency ● competency in language; the original is unnecessary. (See
Note 9 below.)
Recommendation letter from the Submit if the applicant is currently employed. (Free format.
⑩ ● ●
present employer A sample format is available)
Photograph(s) showing applicant's
⑪ own works of art or a digital audio ● ● Submit if the applicant is to major in fine arts or music.
file of musical performance
Note 1: Documents indicated by the white circle (○) must be submitted by all the applicants. Documents indicated by
the black circle (●) should be submitted only if applicable.
Note 2: These documents must be written in Japanese or English, or translation in either of these languages should be
attached.
Note 3: Number the documents(① through ⑪) in the right upper corner.
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Note 4: The applicant’s photograph to be attached to the Application Form should be of clear quality, taken within six
months of submission, and printed on paper specially for photographs. The photograph should be 4.5 x 3.5 cm.
upper-body, full-faced, no hats. Please write applicant’s name and nationality on the back of the photograph. The
photograph data can be pasted to the Application Form and printed out.
Note 5: The Field of Study and Research Program Plan should describe concretely and in detail the applicant’s own
research program because it will serve as important material for placement of the applicant at a university.
Note 6: The academic transcripts of the last university attended should show the grade scale applied and the grades
earned by the applicant in all the subjects studied for each year of study at a university department/faculty and
graduate school. (A degree certificate or a graduation certificate simply showing the ranking of the applicant at
graduation will not substitute for academic transcripts.) Those currently enrolled in a graduate school must
submit their undergraduate academic transcripts at the time of application, and those will graduate from the
graduate school by the time of the receipt of the MEXT scholarship, must also submit their graduate school
academic transcripts.
Note 7: A copy of the graduation certificate or the degree certificate obtained from the last university attended is
acceptable if the copy is attested by an authorized official of the university. Do not submit the originals as
submitted certificates will not be returned. Those currently enrolled in a graduate school must submit a
certificate of expected graduation. It is not necessary to submit an undergraduate graduation certificate.
Note 8: For abstracts of the theses, abstracts of the graduation thesis and any presented papers will be acceptable. These
abstracts will be used as basic data for evaluation of the applicant’s academic ability. Make sure the applicant’s
name is on the first page of the abstracts.
Note 9: If printing out the certificates from the Internet, print out and submit a page showing the applicant’s name and
the details of the relevant qualification (level, score, etc.).
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(4) Applicants should confirm carefully with the universities the period of arrival in Japan specified in admission letters
issued because it is not permitted, in principle, to change the specified period of arrival even if the applicants have
stated in their Application Forms that they were able to arrive in either for the April term or the October term.
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(6) Professional graduate schools were opened in 2003 with the aim of developing individuals with deep knowledge and
outstanding ability in their field in order to support professions that require sophisticated expertise. The standard
required duration of study is two years. In some fields of study, the duration is less than two years but more than one
year. Upon completion of the course a master’s degree (specialized occupation) is conferred. Among the professional
graduate schools are “graduate schools of law.” These schools require a standard duration of study of three years. Upon
completion of the course a student will be granted the degree of “Doctor of Law (specialized occupation).”
13. NOTES
(1) The grantees are advised to learn, before departing for Japan, the Japanese language and to acquire information about
Japanese weather, climate, customs, university education, and conditions of the university to attend in Japan, as well
as about the difference between the Japanese legal system and that of his/her home country.
(2) As the first installment of the scholarship payment will be made from one month to one and a half months after the
grantee’s arrival in Japan, the grantee is recommended to bring at least approximately US$2,000 with him/her to Japan
to cover immediate living expenses and other necessary expenses.
(3) The scholarship payments will be transferred to the bank account opened by each grantee after the arrival in Japan.
These bank accounts have to be opened at a Japanese financial institution designated by MEXT.
(4) Grantees must enroll in National Health Insurance (NHI) upon arrival in Japan.
(5) Accommodations:
① Residence halls for international students provided by universities:
Some universities have residence halls for international students. The grantees enrolled at such universities may
reside at these residence halls under certain conditions. However, due to the limited number of rooms, some of
these facilities may be unavailable.
② Private boarding houses or apartments:
Those who are unable to find accommodation in the aforementioned facilities may live in regular dormitories of the
university or in private boarding houses/apartments. It is difficult for grantees with dependents (spouse and
children) to find appropriate housing in Japan. The grantee is requested to arrive in Japan alone first to secure
housing before having his/her dependents come to Japan.
(6) Information regarding the MEXT Scholarship Students (name, gender, date of birth, nationality, accepting
university/graduate school/undergraduate school, field of specialty, period of enrolment, career path after completion
of scholarship, contact information [address, telephone number, e-mail address]) may be shared with other relevant
government organizations for the purpose of utilization for international students programs implemented by the
Japanese Government (support during period of study in Japan, follow-up survey, improvement of the international
student system).
Information regarding MEXT Scholarship Students (excluding date of birth and contact information) may be
included in publicity materials prepared by the Japanese Government for promoting the acceptance of
international students in Japan, particularly in order to introduce former MEXT Scholarship Students who are
playing active roles in countries around the world. These terms and conditions are included in the Pledge stipulating
rules and regulations which MEXT Scholarship grantees must comply with and submit when they have been granted
the Scholarship. Excluding exceptional circumstances, only those concurring with these conditions will be accepted as
MEXT Scholarship grantees and will be granted the Scholarship.
(7) The English texts attached to the Application Guideline and the Application Form are for complementary use only.
The Japanese versions of the Application Guideline and the Application Form take precedence, and any English
expressions do not change the Japanese content.
(8) If there are any questions about the content of the written text or any other matters, applicants/grantees should
inquire the Japanese diplomatic mission in the applicant’s country and follow their instructions.
(9) In addition to the regulations stipulated in this Application Guideline, those that are necessary to implement the
Japanese Government Scholarship programs shall be determined by the Japanese Government.