Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of the Government of Japan offers scholarships to New Zealand students and professionals who pursue to study or conduct research at Japanese universities.
To date, some 65,000 students from approximately 160 countries and regions around the world have studied in Japan under the Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship programme established in 1954.
These programmes align with the Japanese government's efforts to strengthen ties with other nations through educational and cultural exchanges. By offering opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds to study and conduct research in Japan, the programs aim to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and ideas, promote cross-cultural understanding, and foster long-lasting friendships between Japan and other countries.
Through these programmes, participants have the chance to gain a deeper understanding of Japan's culture, society, and academic landscape, which can contribute to their personal growth and professional development. Additionally, they can share their own unique perspectives and experiences with the local community, creating a mutual learning experience that benefits both the individuals involved and the broader society.
Overall, these programmes play a vital role in promoting global cooperation and understanding, and can have a lasting impact on the lives and careers of participants, as well as the relationships between nations.
Warning: In some countries there are fraudulent organisations that offer to help students apply for these Japanese Government scholarships in return for a deposit. The only ways to apply for a Japanese Government scholarships are through the Embassy of Japan in your home country, or through a participating Japanese university. You will not be asked to pay a deposit to apply for the scholarships.
Study In Japan Promotional Video
Reference
"Student Guide to Japan" is an essential book for international students planning to study in Japan.
Study & Work in Japan on JETRO (Japan External Trade Organisation) website is also useful for further reference.
Contact Details
Please submit your application to the office where you intend to sit examinations and be interviewed. For further enquiries, please contact one of the three offices below.
- Japan Information & Cultural Centre,
Embassy of Japan in New Zealand (Wellington)
Email: jicc@wl.mofa.go.jp Phone: 04 472 7807 - For residents of Auckland and the upper North Island, please contact: Consulate-General of Japan in Auckland
- For residents of Christchurch and the Canterbury region, please contact Consular Office of Japan in Christchurch
Information Session:
WHEN: Wednesday, 28th May 5:30pm - 6:30pm
WHERE: Embassy of Japan in New Zealand - 18F Majestic Centre, 100 Willis Street,
Wellington
REGISTRATION: Please follow this link: https://forms.office.com/r/hYcaxxCL9B to attend.
We will hold an information session at the Embassy of Japan (based in Wellington) to talk about the scholarships in more detail. If you want to hear more about the application process, or want to hear what it's like to study in Japan as a MEXT Scholar, register via the URL link above and come along, or join us online!
Scholarship programmes
There are three Embassy-recommended scholarships. Please click on the respective programme below for more information.
This scholarship is open to students who want to undertake research or a graduate degree in Japan. Course fees for the entirety of the scholarship will be covered, along with flights to and from Japan, and a monthly stipend for living costs.
Applicants must:
- Be a New Zealand, Cook Islands or Niue citizen
- Be born on or after 2 April 1991
- Have either an undergraduate degree, or the same or a higher level of academic ability as that of a university graduate.
- Have intention to obtain a degree in Japan
- be interested in Japan and willing to learn Japanese
The term of scholarship is in principle, 18 months to two years (including Japanese language studies where applicable), however the scholarship may be extended for a maximum of seven years depending on study. The area of study must be the same field or in a related field to what the applicant studied previously.
Application Guidelines and Forms
- Please refer to https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-research.html
*Submitted documents cannot be returned.
**Applicants MUST read through the Application Guidelines. - Note 1: Please submit your application or enquire to
the office where you intend to sit examinations and be interviewed. For
further
enquiries, please contact
your
closest office.
Please note that applications will only be accepted in physical form, handed in or sent by post. Applications sent by email will NOT be considered. - Note 2: Academic transcript must be certified, MyeQuals print outs are NOT accepted without the online document being shared through the portal.
- Note 3: The Certificate of Health is not necessary at the application stage. Please fill out the Self-Assessment Medical Report instead. This is a temporary alternative form to the Certificate of Health, which successful applicants will be required to submit at a later date.
To select universities and courses you want to study in Japan, the following URLs may be helpful:
- http://researchmap.jp/?lang=en Researchmap developed by the National Institute of Informatics in Japan. It allows researchers to create personal profiles, showcase their research achievements, and connect with other researchers.
- http://jglobal.jst.go.jp/en/ J-GLOBAL is a web-based integrated database service provided by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). It offers a comprehensive search engine for various types of information related to science and technology, including academic papers, patents, research projects, and organizations in Japan and around the world.
- http://www.jasso.go.jp/en/study_j/search/index.html Search for Schools
- http://www.jpss.jp/en/search/ Japan Study Support - Information for international students
Research (Postgraduate) Students Scholarship Timeline
| 22 April 2025 | Applications open |
| 5pm, 27 June 2025 | Applications close |
|
10 July 2025 |
Applicants are notified whether they will be invited for exams |
|
14 July 2025 |
Examinations |
|
15 July 2025 |
Interviews
[WELLINGTON] |
|
July 2025 |
Applicants who pass both the exam and interview contact their preferred universities to request Provisional Acceptance |
|
22 September 2025 |
University deadline for Provisional Acceptance Response |
|
Mid November 2025 |
Secondary Screening (MEXT side) |
|
Late January - February 2026 |
Secondary Screening decision notification |
|
February/March OR |
Visa Issuance, Pre-Departure Orientation |
| Early April OR September/October 2026 |
Departure for Japan |
Previous Exams
Previous exam papers for the scholarship exams are available
online for
reference.
Previous MEXT Scholarship Exams
This scholarship is available to applicants who want to undertake their
undergraduate degree
in a Japanese university. Course fees for the entirety of the
scholarship will
be covered,
along with flights to and from Japan, and a monthly stipend for living
costs.
* All classes will be given in the Japanese language in principal
(except where a
grantee is directly placed at a university which requires no Japanese
language ability).
Applicants must:
- Be a New Zealand, Cook Islands or Niue citizen
- Be born on or after 2 April 2001
- Be 18 years old or over at time of entering university course
- Completed 12 years of school education by March 2026 OR have equivalent to high school completion
A five-year scholarship is offered beginning in April (September/October 2026 for some universities); the first year in Japanese language training, and the following four years being study towards a degree in the field of your choice. For those majoring in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or a six-year pharmaceutical course, the term of scholarship is seven years, including the first year in Japanese language training.
Application Guidelines and Forms
- Please refer to https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-undergraduate.html
*Submitted documents cannot be returned.
**Applicants MUST read through the Application Guidelines. - Note 1: Please submit your application or enquire to the office where you
intend to sit
examinations and be interviewed. For further enquiries, please
contact your
closest office.
Please note that applications will only be accepted in physical form, handed in or sent by post. Applications sent by email will NOT be considered. - Note 2: The Certificate of Health is not necessary at the application stage. Please fill out Self-Assessment Medical Report instead. This is a temporary alternative form to Certificate of Health and successful applicants will be required to submit a Certificate of Health.
- Note 3: Academic transcript must be issued by your school or the Government, and show an official signature or stamp to prove this; personal print outs are NOT accepted.
Undergraduate Student Scholarship Time line
| 22 April 2025 | Applications open |
| 5pm, 27 June 2025 | Applications close |
| 10 July 2025 | Applicants are notified whether they will be invited for exams |
| 14 July 2025 | Examinations |
| 15 July 2025 | Interviews [WELLINGTON] Interview date will vary by office |
| October - November 2025 | Secondary Screening |
| November 2025 | Secondary Screening decision (MEXT side) notification |
| December 2025 - February 2026 | University Placements finalised |
| February/March OR August/September 2026 |
Visa Issuance, Pre-Departure Orientation |
| Early April 2026 | Departure for Japan (September/October 2026 for some universities) |
Previous Exams
Previous exam papers for scholarship exams are available online
for
reference.
Previous MEXT Scholarship Exams
Fully funded scholarship for a one year exchange to Japan, to learn Japanese language/culture at University!
This scholarship is available to those wishing to study abroad for a year in a Japanese university to learn about Japanese language and culture. Flights, university fees and a monthly allowance (From 117,000 yen) are provided by the Japanese Government (MEXT).
Applicants must:
- Be New Zealand citizens from 18 to 30 years old at time of application (born between 2nd April 1995 and 1st April 2007).
- Have been enrolled for at least one year as an undergraduate student majoring in Japanese language or culture at a university outside of Japan, as of 1st September 2025.
- Have Japanese abilities of a level at which the student can participate in university lessons.
- Return to their home institution upon completion of the scholarship.
If you are interested in living and studying in Japan, improving your Japanese language skills, and having a fully funded overseas exchange experience, this scholarship is for you! Take a look at the guidelines linked below and apply!
Application Guidelines and Forms
Please be sure to thoroughly read through the Application Guidelines first. Please submit necessary documents to the office where you intend to take your examination and interview. (Refer to Contact Details above for your closest office)
The application deadline is by 5pm on Wednesday 19 February 2025.
*INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. PLEASE READ GUIDELINES CAREFULLY
Previous Exams (Subject: Japanese)
Available at via the "Application Guidelines and Forms" link above.
Japanese Studies Students Scholarship Time line
| 15 January 2025 | Applications open |
| 19 February 2025 | Applications close |
| By 21 February 2025 | Examination and Interview announced |
| 26 February 2025 | Written examination (subject: Japanese) and interview |
| Early to Mid March 2025 | First Screening Decision (Embassy Side) notification |
| July/August 2025 | University Placement notification, Pre-departure orientation etc. |
| September/October 2025 | Departure to Japan |
Fully funded scholarship for a total of four years in Japan for Niuans and Cook Islanders with New Zealand passports. The first year is a preparatory course after which participants are enrolled into a course at the national institute of technology (KOSEN) selected by MEXT for three years.
The primary goal of KOSEN is to foster creative and practical engineers with specialized knowledge and skills. Flights, tuition fees and a monthly allowance are provided by the Japanese Government (MEXT).
Note:
- Applicants must be either Niuans and Cook Islanders with New Zealand passports only who will complete Year 11 on or by March 2026, and who are born on or after 2nd April 2001.
- Applicants will ideally have intermediate level Japanese at present, be willing to learn Japanese and will have competency to receive education in Japanese after the one-year preparatory Japanese language course as all classes are taught in Japanese.
If you are interested in living and studying in Japan, improving your Japanese language skills, and having a fully funded overseas exchange experience in the engineering field, this scholarship is for you. It is important to take a look at the guidelines linked below for more details.
Application Guidelines and Forms
Please be sure to thoroughly read through the Application Guidelines first. Please submit the necessary documents to the office where you intend to take your examination and interview. (Refer to Contact Details above for your closest office)
The application deadline is 5pm on 27 June 2025.
*INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. PLEASE READ GUIDELINES CAREFULLY
Previous Exams
Available at HERE.
Timeline
| 22 April 2025 | Applications open |
| 5pm, 27 June 2025 | Applications close |
| 10 July 2025 | Applicants are notified of results. |
| 14 July 2025 | Examinations *Date: TBC for Niue and Cook Island residents who wish to take exams. |
| 15 July 2025 | Interviews
[WELLINGTON] Interview date will vary by office. *Date: TBC for Niue and Cook Island residents who wish to take interviews. |
| October - November 2025 | Secondary Screening |
| November 2025 | Secondary Screening decision notification |
| February/March 2026 | Visa Issuance, Pre-Departure Orientation |
| Early April 2026 | Departure for Japan |
This scholarship is for students who want to undertake a postsecondary course at a specialised training college.
Each grantee will take the preparatory course, which is a one-year intensive course in the Japanese language, Japanese affairs, and other subjects necessary for preparation for proceeding to a specialised training college for the first year of the scholarship period.
After completion of the preparatory course, grantees of this scholarship will be enrolled into a postsecondary course of a specialised training college selected by MEXT and receive professional education for two years.
The study fields available under this scholarship are as follows.
(A) (Industrial) Technology (B) Personal Care and Nutrition (C) Education and Welfare (D) Business (E) Fashion and Home Economics (F) Culture and General Education
Note:
- Applicants must be either Niueans and Cook Islanders with New Zealand passports who have completed Year 12 on or by March 2026, and who are born between on or after 2nd April 2001.
- Applicants will ideally have intermediate level Japanese at present, be willing to learn Japanese and will have competency to receive education in Japanese after the one-year preparatory Japanese language course as all classes are taught in Japanese.
If you are interested in living and studying in Japan, improving your Japanese language skills, and having a fully funded overseas exchange experience in the field stipulated in the guidelines, this scholarship is for you. It is important to take a look at the guidelines linked below for more details.
Application Guidelines and Forms
Please be sure to thoroughly read through the Application Guidelines first. Please submit the necessary documents to the office where you intend to take your examination and interview. (Refer to Contact Details above for your closest office.)
The application deadline is 5pm on 27 June 2025.
*INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. PLEASE READ ALL GUIDELINES CAREFULLY
Previous Exams
Available HERE.
Timeline
| 22 April 2025 | Applications open |
| 5pm, 27 June 2025 | Applications close |
| 10 July 2025 | Applicants notified of result |
| 14 July 2025 | Examinations *Date: TBC for Niue and Cook Island residents who wish to take exams. |
| 15 July 2025 | Interviews
[WELLINGTON] Interview date will vary
by
office. *Date: TBC for Niue and Cook Island residents who wish to take interviews. |
| October - November 2025 | Secondary Screening |
| November 2025 | Secondary Screening result notification |
| February/March 2026 | Visa Issuance, Pre-Departure Orientation |
| Early April 2026 | Departure for Japan |
Voices from the current scholars
