Complete guide to Monbukagakusho Scholarship to study in Japan

Are you dying to get to know the Land of the Rising Sun? If you were looking for scholarships to study in Japan, you've found them! We tell you all about the Monbukagakusho scholarships to study in Japan and live a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

What are the Monbukagakusho scholarships?

If you are a lover of Japanese culture and would like, among other things, to study Japanese in Japan, it's very likely that these scholarships are for you. But first of all, you are probably wondering what Monbukagakusho Scholarships are and who can apply for them, right?

Monbukagakusho Scholarship is a grant for students, researchers and teachers who want to spend time in Japan to study the Japanese language, immerse themselves in Japanese culture and carry out activities related to their education (Japanese studies, research, teacher training, etc. ). These grants are awarded by the Government of Japan, more specifically the MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan).

As you may have guessed, there are several types of Monbukagakusho scholarships:

• For Japanese Studies students.
• For students of specialised training.
• For graduates (masters and doctorate).
• For teachers.

In this post we tell you practically everything you need to know about these scholarships. However, each scholarship is different, so you should check all the information about the scholarship you are interested in and want to apply for on the website of the Japanese Embassy in your country and on the MEXT website.

Characteristics of the Monbukagakusho Scholarships

• Duration: 1 to 3 years.
• Amount: between 117,000 and 143,000 yen, depending on the type of scholarship (the amount may increase between 2,000 and 3,000 yen depending on the region).
• Expenses included: flights and university/institution fees.

Both the duration and the amount of these scholarships depend on the purpose and will be higher if you are awarded a scholarship for research or teacher training. Keep this in mind!

Requirements for applying for Monbukagakusho scholarships

If you were wondering how to apply for a scholarship to study in Japan, here we tell you how!

To apply for a Monbukagakusho Scholarship, you must meet a number of requirements depending on the purpose of the scholarship you have chosen. Some of the requirements are common to all scholarships and others vary, so don't hesitate to check the full list on your embassy's or MEXT websites. The requirements for the scholarships are as follows:

• Be a national of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan.
• Meet the age requirements. These requirements change every year and are different for each type of scholarship, so check the website of the Japanese Embassy in your country of origin.
• Fulfil the academic education requirements depending on the type of scholarship:
• Japanese Studies: be studying a degree in a non-Japanese university that specialises in fields related to Japanese language and culture.
• Specialised training: have completed 12 years of schooling in a country other than Japan or your country's equivalent of senior high school in Japan.
• Graduates: for master's degree, have completed 16 years of study and a period of 3 years or more at an institution to obtain a bachelor's degree. For doctoral degree, to have obtained a degree equivalent to a master's degree, or to have been involved in research and to have those skills recognised as equivalent to a master's degree.
• Teachers: be a graduate of a university or teacher training institution, and have worked as a primary or secondary school teacher (excluding universities) in your home country.
• Meet the language requirements. In general, you should have a minimum language proficiency depending on the type of scholarship and have the intention to learn and communicate in Japanese.
• Have a health certificate signed by a doctor confirming that there is no physical and/or mental condition that prevents you from benefiting from the scholarship.
• Be able to obtain a student visa for Japan.

How to apply for Monbukagakusho Scholarship

The application process for Monbukagakusho Scholarship is carried out through the Japanese embassies or consulates in the different countries, and consists of the following steps:

1. Completion and submission of documentation to the Japanese embassy in the scholarship applicant's country by the specified date.
2. First selection by Japanese diplomatic representatives in the applicant's country, including personal face-to-face interview and academic tests in Japanese, mathematics and English.
3. Second selection by MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan).
4. Results and communication to scholarship winners.

The documentation to apply for the Monbukagakusho Scholarship must be sent by registered mail to the corresponding embassy by the date indicated on their website, and consists of the following:

• Application form.
• Application form for preference of place.
• Transcript of academic transcript from current university (for Japanese studies, specialised training and research).
• Documentation verifying Japanese studies for at least one year (for Japanese studies).
• Certificate of enrolment.
• Letter of recommendation.
• Health certificate.
• Japanese language certificate (if applicable).

Depending on the type of scholarship you are applying for, the documentation may vary, so you should check all the information on the embassy's or MEXT websites.

We hope this post has been useful and that you will be encouraged to apply for one of the Monbukagakusho Scholarship to make your dream of studying in Japan come true.

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