Scholarships

The MEXT Undergraduate Students Scholarship is for high school seniors or recent graduates who intend to earn an undergraduate degree from a Japanese university. It provides airfare to Japan, tuition for the university, and a stipend for cost of living. In addition to the information listed on this page, all applicants are responsible for reading and following the instructions in the 2026 MEXT Undergraduate Students Scholarship Application Guidelines.

 

Applicants must indicate their intended program of study (major) in the application. The scholarship is open to students pursuing any major and is intended to provide the student with a one-year program of intensive Japanese study and then complete an undergraduate degree (typically a four-year program), for five years on the scholarship.

 

*Note: Some courses of study may have difficulties in finding universities that can accept them, depending on the major. Fields of art, including music, are not majors eligible for application (See Application Guidelines, p. 1 for more information.)

 

Individuals who already have knowledge of the Japanese language sufficient to function in an academic setting may choose to opt out of the one-year intensive study of Japanese language. The term of the 2025 MEXT Undergraduate Students Scholarship is from April 2026 to March 2031. The scholarship period for those majoring in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or a six-year course in pharmacy is from April 2026 to March 2033.

 

For information on studying at Japanese universities, please use the resources below as a starting point:

• Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
• Japan Study Support

 

Eligibility Requirements:*

 

• Must have U.S. citizenship and reside in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington State.
• The applicant must be able to travel to the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle to interview and take examinations. They must also be able to obtain a visa through the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle prior to departure.
• Born on or after April 2, 2001.
• Completion of a high school diploma (or equivalent) by March 2026.

*Read the Application Guidelines for more detailed descriptions and additional requirements

 

Knowledge of Japanese Language

 

All applicants who pass the document screening will be required to take a Japanese language exam as part of the First Screening’s academic examinations, so prior study of the Japanese language is highly encouraged. Applicants must be willing to learn Japanese, deepen their understanding of Japan, and carry out their academic studies in Japan in Japanese. If selected, grantees will be enrolled in a one-year preparatory education course. Individuals who have a strong functional command of Japanese may instead choose to be directly placed in a university and begin their program of study.

 

Interviews and Examinations

 

The format of the interview will be announced to applicants upon receipt and review of the application documents. In addition to the interview, applicants will be required to sit for written exams held at the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle, including a Japanese Language Exam, an English Language Exam, and a Mathematics Exam. Additionally, applicants whose chosen field of study is a natural science must take a chemistry exam and either a physics exam or a biology exam.

 

Sample examination questions from previous years can be found here: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/scholarships/mext-scholarships/examination.html

 

Application Timeline

 

April 2025	MEXT scholarship application documents become available
June 10, 2025	Application submission deadline
Mid-June 2025	Notification of being invited to interview and examinations
June 26, 2025	Interviews and examinations take place
Mid-late summer 2025	Notification of results for first screening Applicant documents are sent to MEXT in Tokyo for secondary screening
January 2026	Notification of results for the secondary screening
January-February 2026	Notification of university placement
March 2026	Travel arrangements to Japan are made for scholarship recipient
April 2026	Departure for Japan and beginning of scholarship period

*The dates above may be subject to change. In case of the change, all applicants will be notified by email and on the website after the application submission deadline.

 

How to Apply

 

Applicants must carefully read the Application Guidelines before beginning to prepare their application packet. Please refer to the Japan Student Organization (JASSO)'s Study in Japan webpage using the link below to access Guidelines and Application form.

https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-undergraduate.html

All required documents should be included in a single envelope and mailed to:

Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle
ATTN: Education Desk
701 Pike Street, Suite 1000
Seattle, WA 98011

 

The deadline for application documents to be submitted to the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle is June 10, 2025*.

 

*The medical certificate may be submitted with all other required documents, but will not be required to submit until after being invited to the interview and examinations stage, no later than July 10, 2025 by mail (must arrive at the Consulate by this date). Applicants may choose to submit by either May 30 or July 10 at their own discretion.

 

This is not a “post-marked by” deadline. Late applications will not be considered.

 

If you have questions about the MEXT Undergraduate Studies Scholarship, please contact education@se.mofa.go.jp

 

Unavoidable Circumstances

In the event of unavoidable or unforeseen circumstances, the Japanese Government reserves the right to change or cancel the arrival date, scholarship, and contents of the application guidelines or the above timeline, at any time before or after notification of the results of the final selection.

The MEXT Research Scholarship is intended for graduate or post-graduate students to complete a master's or doctoral degree at a Japanese institution. It provides for airfare to Japan, tuition for the university, and a stipend for cost of living. In addition to the information listed on this page, all applicants are responsible for reading and following the instructions in the 2026 MEXT Research Scholarship Application Guidelines.

 

Applicants must explain their intended program of study (major) in the application and should take care to explain why they wish to complete their degree in Japan and how their research will benefit US-Japan relations. It should be related to their undergraduate field of study and should be a program which they can pursue at a Japanese university. The scholarship is open to students pursuing any major and is typically for a period of two years or the length of time to complete the degree program, including a six-month term of intensive Japanese language training. The term of the 2026 MEXT Research Scholarship is from April 2026 to March 2028.

 

Applicants should research universities in Japan before applying, to understand what programs are available and whether they will accept international students.

 

For information on studying at Japanese universities, please use the resources below as a starting point:

• Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
• Japan Study Support

 

Eligibility Requirements:*

 

• Must have U.S. citizenship and reside in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington State.
• If the desired language of instruction is Japanese**, the applicant must be able to travel to the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle for a written Japanese language exam. They must also be able to obtain a visa from the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle before departure.
• Born on or after April 2, 1991
• Completion of an undergraduate degree before the term of the scholarship begins

*Read the Application Guidelines for more detailed descriptions and additional requirements

 

Knowledge of Japanese Language

 

**All applicants who select “Japanese” or “Japanese or English” as the desired language of instruction at Question 23 of Application Form will be required to take a written Japanese language exam as part of the First Screening. Prior study of the Japanese language is highly encouraged. All applicants must have the Japanese language ability to adapt to living in Japan and, if selected, must be willing to deepen their understanding of Japan after arriving. There will be a six-month term of preparatory education for those requiring it.

 

*Please see the Application Guidelines Section “10.” for more detailed information.

 

Interviews and Examinations

 

The format and date of the interview will be announced to applicants upon receipt and review of the application documents. For those required to take the written Japanese language exam, the exam will be held at the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle.

 

Sample examination questions from previous years can be found here: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/scholarships/mext-scholarships/examination.html

 

Application Timeline

 

April 2025	MEXT scholarship application documents become available
May 30, 2025	Application submission deadline
Early June 2025	Notification of being invited to interview
Early-Mid June 2025	Interviews take place (online)
Early-Mid June 2025	Notification of being invited to exam
June 18, 2025	Examinations take place
Mid-late summer 2025	Notification of results for examination Applicants who have passed the first screening receive additional instructions for next steps Applicant documents are sent to MEXT in Tokyo for secondary screening
January 2026	Notification of results for the secondary screening
January 2026 – February 2026	Notification of university placement
March 2026	Travel arrangements to Japan are made for scholarship recipient
April or September/October 2026	Departure for Japan and beginning of scholarship period

*The dates above may be subject to change. In case of the change, all applicants will be notified by email and on the website after the application submission deadline.

 

How to Apply

 

Applicants must carefully read the Application Guidelines before beginning to prepare their application packet. Please refer to the Japan Student Organization (JASSO)'s Study in Japan webpage using the link below to access Guidelines and Application form.

 

https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopjus-applications-research.html

 

All required documents should be included in a single envelope and mailed to:

Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle
ATTN: Education Desk
701 Pike Street, Suite 1000
Seattle, WA 98011

 

The deadline for application documents to be submitted to The Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle is May 30, 2025*.

 

*The medical certificate may be submitted with all other required documents, but will not be required to submit until after being invited to the interview stage, no later than June 25, 2025 by mail (must arrive at the Consulate by this date). Applicants may choose to submit by either May 30 or June 25 at their own discretion.

 

This is not a “post-marked by” deadline. Late applications will not be considered.

 

If you have questions about the MEXT Research Students Scholarship, please contact education@se.mofa.go.jp

 

Unavoidable Circumstances

In the event of unavoidable or unforeseen circumstances, the Japanese Government reserves the right to change or cancel the arrival date, scholarship, and contents of the application guidelines or the above timeline, at any time before or after notification of the results of the final selection.

The MEXT Specialized Training College Students Scholarship is intended for those who wish to be enrolled in a postsecondary course at a specialized training college, or to receive preparatory education in the Japanese language and other subjects prior to placement at the college. It provides airfare to Japan, tuition for the college, and a stipend for cost of living. In addition to the information listed on this page, all applicants are responsible for reading and following the instructions in the 2026 MEXT Specialized Training College Students Scholarship Application Guidelines.

 

Applicants must choose their preferred field of study from the list indicated in the Application Guidelines and should take care to explain in the application why they wish to complete their postsecondary diploma in Japan and how their training will benefit US-Japan relations. The term of the 2026 MEXT Specialized Training College Students Scholarship is from April 2026 to March 2029, including one-year preparatory education in the Japanese language and other subjects due to be provided upon arrival in Japan.

 

For information on studying at Japanese universities, please use the resources below as a starting point:

• Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
• Japan Study Support

 

Eligibility Requirements:*

 

• Must have U.S. citizenship and reside in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington State.
• The applicant must be able to travel to the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle for the First Screening and to obtain a visa prior to departure.
• Born on or after April 2, 2001.
• Completion of a high school diploma (or equivalent) by March 2026.

*Read the Application Guidelines for more detailed descriptions and additional requirements

 

Knowledge of Japanese Language

 

Applicants who have passed document screening will be required to take a Japanese language exam and interview as part of the First Screening’s academic examinations, so prior study of the Japanese language is highly encouraged. Applicants must have the Japanese language ability to do research and adapt to living in Japan and, if selected, must be willing to deepen their understanding of Japan after arriving.

 

Interviews and Examinations

 

The applicants who pass the document screening will be required to interview and sit for written exams at the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle, including a Japanese Language Exam, an English Language Exam, and a Mathematics Exam.

 

Sample examination questions from previous years can be found here: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/scholarship/application/examination/

 

Application Timeline

 

April 2025	MEXT scholarship application documents become available
June 10, 2025	Application submission deadline
Mid-June 2025	Notification of being invited to interview
June 26, 2025	Interviews and examinations take place (first screening)
Mid-late summer 2025	Notification of results for first screening Applicant documents are sent to MEXT in Tokyo for secondary screening
January 2026	Notification of results for the secondary screening
January-February 2026	Notification of university placement
March 2026	Travel arrangements to Japan are made for scholarship recipient
April 2026	Departure for Japan and beginning of scholarship period

*The dates above may be subject to change. In case of the change, all applicants will be notified by email and on the website after the application submission deadline.

 

How to Apply

 

Applicants must carefully read the Application Guidelines before beginning to prepare their application packet. Please refer to the Japan Student Organization (JASSO)'s Study in Japan webpage using the link below to access Guidelines and Application form.

 

https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-specialized.html

 

All required documents should be included in a single envelope and mailed to:

Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle
ATTN: Education Desk
701 Pike Street, Suite 1000
Seattle, WA 98011

 

The deadline for application documents to be submitted to The Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle is June 10, 2025*.

 

The medical certificate may be submitted with all other required documents, but will not be required to submit until after being invited to the interview stage, and no later than July 10, 2025 by mail (must arrive at the Consulate by this date). Applicants may choose to submit by either May 30 or July 10 at their own discretion.

 

This is not a “post-marked by” deadline. Late applications will not be considered.

 

If you have questions about the MEXT Research Students Scholarship, please contact education@se.mofa.go.jp

 

Unavoidable Circumstances

In the event of unavoidable or unforeseen circumstances, the Japanese Government reserves the right to change or cancel the arrival date, scholarship, and contents of the application guidelines or the above timeline, at any time before or after notification of the results of the final selection.

The MEXT Japanese Studies Scholarship is intended for U.S. undergraduate students to study Japanese language and culture at a university in Japan for one year. It provides airfare to Japan, tuition for the university, and a stipend for cost of living for one school year. In addition to the information listed on this page, all applicants are responsible for reading and following the instructions in the 2025 MEXT Japanese Studies Scholarship Application Guidelines.

 

Applicants must be undergraduates at a foreign (non-Japanese) university at the time of arriving in and leaving Japan and must be majoring in a field related to the Japanese language or Japanese culture. The term of the 2025 MEXT Japanese Studies Scholarship is one year, starting from September or October 2025.

 

For information on studying at Japanese universities, please use the resources below as a starting point:

• Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)
• Japan Study Support

 

Eligibility Requirements:*

 

• Must have U.S. citizenship and reside in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington State.
• Must be able to travel to the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle for a written examination.
• Must have been born between April 2, 1995 and April 1, 2007.
• Must be an undergraduate student majoring in fields related to Japanese language or Japanese culture.
• Must have studied Japanese Studies at a university for a total period of one year or more as of September 1, 2025.
• Must return to home country and continue to study at their home institution immediately after the end of the scholarship period.

*Read the Application Guidelines for more detailed descriptions and additional requirements

 

Knowledge of Japanese Language

 

Applicants must have Japanese language ability sufficient for receiving education at a university in Japan.

 

Examinations and Interviews

 

Examinations are planned to be held in person at the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle. Interviews will be held online.

 

Application Timeline

 

February 13, 2025	Deadline for the submission of application documents
February 25, 2025	Written examination in Japanese
Late February 2025	Notification of being invited to interview
Early March 2025	Interviews take place online
Late March 2025	Notification of results for the first screening Applicant documents are sent to MEXT in Tokyo for secondary screening
Late May 2025	Notification of results for the secondary (MEXT) screening
July 2025～	Notification of scholarship recipient and university placement
～August 2025	Travel arrangements to Japan are made for scholarship recipient
September or October 2025	Departure for Japan and beginning of scholarship period

 

How to Apply

 

Applicants must carefully read the Application Guidelines before beginning to prepare their application packet. Applications submitted with incomplete information or documentation will not be considered, so please carefully review that all required forms and documents are completely filled out and submitted together. A checklist of required documents is provided in the Application Guidelines.

 

All required documents* should be included in a single envelope and mailed to:

Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle
ATTN: Education Desk
701 Pike Street, Suite 1000
Seattle, WA 98011

 

The deadline for application documents to be submitted to the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle is February 13, 2025**.

 

*The medical certificate may be submitted with all other required documents, but will not be required to submit until after passing the written examination, no later than March 14, 2025 by mail (must arrive at the Consulate by this date). Applicants may choose to submit by either February 13 or March 14 at their own discretion.

 

**This is not a “post-marked by” deadline. Late applications will not be considered.

 

If you have questions about the MEXT Scholarship for Japanese Studies, please contact education@se.mofa.go.jp