MEXT Scholarships

14 March 2023
Japan Information Service
Embassy of Japan
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Academic Year in Japan

1st Semester 2nd Semester

(Apr - Sept) (Oct - Mar)

summer break winter break spring break

(Aug - Sep) (Dec - Jan) (Feb - Mar)
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Types of MEXT Scholarships

Recommendation by the Embassy of Japan

– Undergraduate
– Postgraduate (research student)
– Specialized training (college student)
– Japanese Studies (non-degree)
– Teacher Training (non-degree)
– Young Leaders Programme (Master degree)

Recommendation by Universities
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Overview 1
Undergraduate Postgraduate
Type
(Since 1955) (Research Student) (Since 1958)
Qualification - Completed SPM -Complete 16 years of school education
- Completed or currently -Complete a program with the standard
pursuing UEC, study period of three years or more at
Matriculation, STPM, A- universities, or equivalent educational
Level, Diploma, IB or others institutions in countries and receive a
degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree
Qualifying 17 to 25 years old Not exceeding 35 years old
age (as of 1st April of year of (as of 1st April of year of departure)
departure)
Amount of 117,000 - 120,000 yen 143,000 - 148,000 yen (around 5,000RM)
grant (around 4,000RM) per month
(subject to per month
change)
Number of Maximum 12 students Approximately 26 students/year from
scholarship from each country Malaysia
recipients
 Overview 2 5

Postgraduate
Undergraduate
Type (Research Student)
(Since 1955)
(Since 1958)
5 years Non-Degree Research Study:
(1 yr language course + 4 yrs 1½ or 2 years (maximum)
university) ※ Including six (6) months of
intensive Japanese Language
7 years for Medicine, Dentistry, Course
Pharmacy & Veterinary
(1 yr language course + 6 yrs
Length of university) (six (6) months of intensive
Study Japanese Language Course)
Master’s Course: 2 years
※ April Departure Doctoral Course: 3 years
Professional Graduate Degree:
1~3 years

※ April / Oct Departure

 Overview 3 6
Postgraduate
Undergraduate
Type (Research Student)
(Since 1955)
(Since 1958)
Internal Category Subjects
Examination Natural English, Math B,
conducted by Science A Chemistry,
the Embassy Physics &
of Japan Japanese
English, Japanese
(all subjects Natural English, Math B,
in English Science B/C Chemistry,
except for Biology &
Japanese Japanese
language Social Science English, Math A
paper) & Humanities & Japanese
A/B
All candidates are required to sit for Japanese language examination
regardless of Japanese language ability.
Japanese Language ability is an added advantage, especially for
Social Science & Humanities candidates
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FIELD OF STUDY

UNDERGRADUATE

◆ Natural Sciences A
Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Information Engineering,
Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Environmental
Engineering, Applied Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Chemistry, Textile
Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Maritime Engineering, and
Biotechnology

◆ Natural Sciences B
Agriculture, Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural Engineering, Animal Science, Veterinary
Medicine, Forestry, Food Science, Fisheries, Pharmacy, Hygienic, Nursing, and Biology

◆ Natural Sciences C
Medicine, and Dentistry

◆ Social Sciences and Humanities A

Economics, and Business Administration

◆ Social Sciences and Humanities B

Law, Politics, Pedagogy, Sociology, Literature, History, Japanese Language, and others
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FIELD OF STUDY

POSTGRADUATE
(RESEARCH STUDENT)

You can study any course as long as the

courses are available at Japanese universities.
Example:
◆ Social Sciences and Humanities
Literature, History, Aesthetics, Laws, Politics, Economics, Commerce, Pedagogy,
Psychology, Sociology, Music, Fine Arts, Business Administration and etc.

◆ Natural Sciences
Pure Science, Engineering courses, Agriculture, Fisheries, Pharmacology, Medicine,
Dentistry, Home Economics and etc.
 Minimum Qualifications 9
Qualifications Undergraduate Postgraduate
SPM → 9A (“A” or “A+”) or above 1. Approximately CGPA 3.4 or 85%
(including related subjects) or results deem equivalent to
CGPA 3.4
UEC → 8A (“A” or “A+”) or above
2. Good proficiency in English
(including related subjects)
and/or Japanese
Matriculation/ Foundation
Standard →A- or GPA 3.6 in related subjects
* GPA and CGPA are calculated on
Requirements plus A- in English
4.0 scale
to STPM → A- or GPA 3.6 in related
Qualify For subjects plus MUET (Band 5 or 6)
What are
Internal A-Level →AAB plus “A” or “A+” in “related subjects”?
Examination SPM English subject (Undergraduates only)
Diploma Natural Science:
→ CGPA 3.4 in related field of study English, Mathematics & Chemistry
IB → 40 points in related field of
PLUS Physics or Biology
study Social Science and
IGCSE/O-Level → 8A (“A” or “A+”) or Humanities:
above (including related subjects) English & Mathematics
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Overview - Specialized Training Program
Type Specialized Training College Students
Qualification - Completed SPM
- Completed or currently pursuing UEC, Matriculation, STPM, A-
Level, Diploma, IB or others
Qualifying age 17 - 25 years old
(as of 1st April of year of departure)
Amount of grant 117,000 - 120,000 yen (around 4,000RM) per month
(subject to change)
Number of Maximum 12 students from each country
scholarship recipients
Length of Study 3 years (1 yr language course + 2 yrs university)
※ April Departure
Diploma in
Field of studies (A) Technology (B) Personal Care and Nutrition
(C) Education and Welfare (D) Business
(E)Fashion and Home Economics
(F) Culture and General Education
Minimum Qualifications SPM → 7A (“A” or “A+”) or above
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APPLICATION PROCESS for 2024
(tentative)

March/April Submit Application Form

(First Stage) •Please make sure all documents required are in order prior to
submission.

June/July Written Examination & Interview

(Second & Third •Only candidates who meet the minimum requirement will be
called for written examination.
Stage) •Only successful candidates will be called for interview.

Nomination
August •Postgraduate candidates should submit Letter of Acceptance
(Fourth Stage) (LOA) issued by Japanese universities to the Embassy by end of
Sept.

Final Results
December •Candidates get result of nomination – whether they are
tentatively selected as scholarship recipients or not

February University Placement Result

(next year) •Candidates get to know university placement result and
confirmed as scholarship recipients.

https://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/postgraduate.html
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Other Scholarships Offered by MEXT 1

Stipend
Approx. Length of Recommending
Programme Age (subject to Qualifications
No. Study Authorities
change)
3 18 – 30 117,000 1 year Current 2nd or 3rd Japan Information
years old yen from Oct year Service, Embassy of
undergraduate Japan
student majoring in
Japanese Japanese Language
Studies or Japanese
Culture in
university outside
Japan
3 Not 143,000 yen 1 ½ years University or Ministry of Education,
exceeding from Oct teacher training Malaysia
35 years college graduates Human Resources
Teacher old and presently Management Division
Training working as
(since teachers in primary
1980) or secondary
schools
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Other Scholarships Offered by MEXT 2
YOUNG LEADERS PROGRAMME (YLP)
1 Year Master’s Degree Course

For working adults only

Features One (1) year Master’s Course at designated Japanese
universities
All courses conducted in English
1. Business Administration
2. School of Government
Available Courses 3. Local Governance
4. Law
5. Medical Administration
Application Period August / September
Submission of All applications must be submitted to the Recommending
Application Authority.
Application Oct / Nov Submit application by due date
Process Feb (following year) Interview
July (following year) Final result
Sep / Oct (following year) Departure to Japan
 Other Scholarships Offered by MEXT 3 13
Stipend Length of Study
Courses
No. Age Limit (subject to Designated Qualifications Recommending Authority
Available
change) University
Business 3 Not 242,000 yen 1 year from Degree holder with excellent results The National Chamber of
Administration exceeding September TOEFL 600 / CBT 250 points Commerce & Industry of
40 years old GMAT score at least 600 and Malaysia (NCCIM)
Hitotsubashi 3 years of working experience TEL : 03 – 6204 9811
University 03 – 6204 9711

School of 3 Not 242,000 yen 1 year from Degree holder with excellent results
Government exceeding October TOEFL 550 / CBT 213 points
40 years old 3 ~ 5 years of working experience in Public Service Department of
GRIPS public administration Malaysia (JPA)

Local 1 Not 242,000 yen 1 year from Degree holder with excellent results
Governance exceeding October TOEFL 550 / CBT 213 points
40 years old Public Service Department of
3 ~ 5 years of working experience in Malaysia (JPA)
GRIPS government sector

Medical 1 Not 242,000 yen 1 year from Degree holder with excellent results
Administration exceeding October TOEFL 550 / CBT 213 points Ministry of Health
40 years old at least 5 years of working
Nagoya University experience in public administration

Law 1 Not 242,000 yen 1 year from Degree holder with excellent results <For civil servants>
exceeding October TOEFL 550 / CBT 213 points JPA, same as above
40 years old 4 years of working experience in <For non-civil servants>
Kyushu University legal firm or government office in International Islamic
home country University of Malaysia (IIUM)
TEL: 03-6196 4226
Look East Policy students sponsorship 14

by the Malaysian Government

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Beware of Frauds and Scams!

Do not get distracted from
your purpose - studying in Japan!

FALSE “As an international student you can earn 300,000 yen a month.”
⇒ Students working part-time can expect to earn around
59,000 yen per month.

FALSE “You can receive 3,000 yen per hour.”

⇒The average hourly wage is 900 yen.

“You can cover your tuition and living costs, and even send
FALSE
some money home while studying in Japan”
⇒ There is no such thing as making plenty of money
while studying in Japan.
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Employment after Graduation

Top 10 Occupations for
International Students

Number of People Changing from “Student”

Resident Status to one of the Working Resident
Statuses

Reference : Employment status in Japanese firms of

international students 2019 (Immigration Services Agency of
Japan)
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CONTACT DETAILS

◆ Information on Japanese government

(Monbukagakusho: MEXT) scholarships
Website: https://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/scholarship.html
Email: edu@kl.mofa.go.jp

◆ Embassy provides free online education consultation

one day (10am-12am) per week. To make an
appointment, kindly email us at
Email: edu@kl.mofa.go.jp