Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship Information

The Japanese Government Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Monbukagakusho or MEXT) sponsors the Monbukagakusho Scholarship to enable foreign students from around the world to earn undergraduate degrees, study Japanese language and culture at the undergraduate level, train in Japanese specialized training colleges, and research a broad range of topics at the graduate level in Japanese universities. Since its inception in 1954, more than 100,000 students from various countries and regions around the world have studied in Japan under the Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship program.

The following information applies to those applying through the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta. ONLY U.S. citizens residing in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina may apply through the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta. U.S. citizens residing outside this area should contact their representative consulate or the Embassy for scholarship application details. Contact information can be found HERE.

For questions about applying for the MEXT Scholarship through the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta, please email mextscholarship@aa.mofa.go.jp or call our office at (404) 240-4300 ext 3022.

Application Procedure

1. Review the appropriate scholarship's Application Documents via the link provided under each scholarship, paying specific attention to Application Guidelines and required documents.
2. Download the appropriate scholarship's Application Documents. Please mark each document's number in the top right corner.
3. Complete, collect, and mail all necessary documents to our office to be RECEIVED by the designated due date.


4. Mail or drop off* all completed applications to:
   
   Attn: MEXT Scholarship Coordinator
   Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta
   3438 Peachtree Road NE
   Suite 850
   Atlanta, GA 30326
   
   * If you are dropping off your application, email us the day and time you expect to arrive at the office


5. (If selected) Sit for an in-person interview and/or examinations at the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta.

Application period: April/May - early June 2025

Research Student Scholarships offer college graduates and graduate students the opportunity to study and research a specific field at a Japanese university.

To apply, applicants must :

1. Hold U.S. citizenship
2. Be born on or after April 2, 1991
3. Satisfy the qualification requirements for admission to a master's degree course or a doctoral degree course at a Japanese graduate school (Includes applicants who are certainly expected to satisfy the requirements by the time of enrollment)
   

   Students must satisfy ANY one of the following eligibility criteria.

   
   

   1. Master's program / Doctoral program (first phase)
      • Japanese university graduates.
      • Students that have been conferred their bachelor's degree through the National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education (NIAD-QE).
      • Students who have completed 16 years of school education in countries other than Japan.
      • Students who have completed a program with the standard study period of three years or more at universities or equivalent educational institutions in countries other than Japan and received a degree equivalent to a bachelor's degree.
      • Students who have completed 16 years of education at education institutions in Japan recognized as having overseas undergraduate programs.
      • Students who have completed designated professional training college courses.
      • Students recognized as having academic abilities equivalent to or better than university graduates in an individual entrance qualification examination conducted by a graduate school, and who have reached 22 years of age.
   2. Doctoral program (second phase)
      • Students with a Japanese master's degree or students with a Japanese professional degree.
      • Students who have been awarded with an overseas degree equivalent to a master's degree or professional degree.
      • 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.
      • 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.
      • 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. 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. When selecting an April start date, applicants must be able to arrive in Japan between April 1, 2026 and April 7, 2026. For October selection, applicants must be able to arrive in Japan during the period specified by the accepting university within two weeks before and after the starting date of the university's relevant academic term (September or October) for that year.

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.

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 they obtain a relevant license from the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare under applicable Japanese laws.

Applications are: CLOSED

MEXT Scholarship applications can be accepted by mail or drop off. We recommend using a tracking number when mailing documents. If you are dropping off your application, we advise calling or emailing at least two days prior to inform us of the day and time. Please note that all applications must arrive by 5:00PM Eastern Time or they will not be accepted.

Timeline

Application period: April/May - early June 2025

Specialized Training College Scholarships offer high school graduates the opportunity to receive professional training in Japan in a variety of vocations.

To apply, applicants must :

1. Hold U.S. citizenship
2. Be born between April 2, 2001 and April 1, 2009
3. Be any one of the following conditions
• Applicants who have completed 12 years of schooling in countries other than Japan. (Applicants who will meet the above qualifications by March 2026 are eligible.)
• Applicants who have completed studies at a school equivalent to a Japanese upper secondary school in countries other than Japan. (Applicants who will meet the above qualifications by March 2026 are eligible.)
• Other than the above two conditions, applicants who are eligible for enrollment in a postsecondary course at a specialized training college at the time of application.
• Be willing to learn Japanese. Applicants must be interested in Japan and be willing to deepen their understanding of Japan before and after arriving in Japan. In addition, in principle, applicants must be willing to carry out their academic studies in Japan in Japanese.
• Be able to arrive in Japan between the 1st and 7th of April 2026.

Applications are: CLOSED

MEXT Scholarship applications can be accepted by mail or drop off. We recommend using a tracking number when mailing documents. If you are dropping off your application, we advise calling or emailing at least two days prior to inform us of the day and time. Please note that all applications must arrive by 5:00PM Eastern Time or they will not be accepted.

Timeline

Application period: April/May - early June 2025

Undergraduate Student Scholarships are for high school graduates who wish to study at a Japanese university. The awards are tenable for five years including the one-year Japanese language program at a Japanese language school prior to attending a Japanese university as an undergraduate student.

To apply, applicants must :

1. Hold U.S. citizenship
2. Be born between April 2, 2001 and April 1, 2009
3. Be any one of the following conditions. However, applicants desiring direct placement must satisfy either of the following first two conditions.
   • Applicants who have completed 12 years of schooling in countries other than Japan. (Applicants who will meet the above qualifications by March 2025 are eligible. However, applicants wishing to enroll from the autumn term through Direct Placement must be expected to complete 12 years of schooling by August 2026.)
   • Applicants who have completed their studies at a school equivalent to a Japanese upper secondary school in countries other than Japan. (Applicants who will meet the above qualifications by March 2026 are eligible.)
   • Other than the above two conditions, applicants who are eligible for enrollment in a Japanese university at the time of application.

Applications are: CLOSED

Application Documents for the Undergraduate Student Scholarship
• Applicants applying for Direct Placement should submit the appropriate forms with the sections for Field of Study and Preferred University left blank. You will complete and resubmit this form after your application passes the 1st Screening.
DEADLINE: To Be Decided

MEXT Scholarship applications can be accepted by mail or drop off. We recommend using a tracking number when mailing documents. If you are dropping off your application, we advise calling or emailing at least two days prior to inform us of the day and time. Please note that all applications must arrive by 5:00PM Eastern Time or they will not be accepted.




Timeline

Testing and Interviews:	Test: Mid-June Interview: mid to late June
Result of 1st Screening:	July
Departure for Japan:	April

Application period: December 2024 - January 2025

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) is now offering one-year scholarships to study in Japan for currently enrolled undergraduate students majoring in Japanese language, Japanese affairs or Japanese culture.

To apply, applicants must:

1. Hold U.S. citizenship. and live, study, work or maintain a home address in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, or North Carolina.
2. Be born between: April 2, 1995 to April 1, 2007.
3. Be a current undergraduate student majoring in fields related to Japanese language or Japanese culture at a non-Japanese University at the time of arriving in and leaving Japan.
4. Must have studied Japanese language or Japanese culture at a university for a total period of one year or more as of September 1, 2025.
5. Be able to arrive in Japan within two weeks before the first day of the study course set by the university (usually September or October).
6. Must have sufficient Japanese language ability to take classes at a Japanese university in Japanese.

Applications are: CLOSED

We recommend using a tracking number when mailing documents. Please note that all applications must arrive by 5:00PM Eastern Time on the above date or they will not be accepted.

Timeline