MEXT Scholarship Program

Every year, the Government of Japan (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology - MEXT) offers scholarships to foreign students who wish to study at Japanese universities.

There are three types of scholarships offered through the Consulate General of Japan in Montreal: (1) Japanese Studies Students, (2) Undergraduate Students, and (3) Research Students. Each covers the round-trip flight between Canada and Japan, full tuition, and a monthly allowance.

Important!

This website describes only the scholarships available in Canada; types of scholarships available in other countries may differ.

Only Canadians, whether residing in Canada or abroad, can apply for a scholarship through one of the Japanese diplomatic missions in Canada.

Non-Canadian candidates, including permanent residents and landed immigrants, must contact a Japanese diplomatic mission in their country of citizenship. For contact information of Japanese embassies and consulates abroad, please click here.

Thinking of studying in Japan?

Read about Former MEXT Scholars' Experiences on our ''Former Scholars" page.

Types of Scholarships

Japanese Studies Students
For undergraduate students already majoring in Japanese language and/or culture.
2020 Application Cycle Status: CLOSED

Undergraduate Students
For undergraduate studies in any university subject.
2021 Application Cycle Status: CLOSED

Research Student
For graduate studies in any university subject.
2021 Application Cycle Status: CLOSED

For undergraduate students already majoring in Japanese language and/or culture.
2020 Application Cycle Status: CLOSED

Please use the information below as reference for any future application. For updates on this scholarship, subscribe to the eBulletin, our monthly newsletter, or "like" our Facebook page.

Fields of Study
Japanese Language and Japanese Studies

Application Deadline
All required documents must be received by the Consulate General of Japan in Montreal by 5:00 pm EST, Tuesday, February 25, 2020.

Scholarship Duration
One year or less, from September/October 2020

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, a candidate must meet the following main requirements:

• Be a Canadian citizen;
• Be born between April 2, 1990, and April 1, 2002;
• Be a regular undergraduate student at a foreign (non-Japanese) university majoring in fields related to Japanese language and/or culture before and after the period covered by the scholarship (must have completed at least one year of said studies by September 1, 2020);
• Have sufficient Japanese language ability to receive instruction in Japanese.

For a detailed list of all requirements, please consult the Application Guidelines.

University Placement
Designated by MEXT, taking into account your stated preferences.

You may refer to the Course Guide of Japanese Studies Program 2020 to consider your placement preferences.

Application Process
Please consult the Application Guidelines for more details regarding this scholarship.

• Application deadline (late February-early March)
  *The application forms are available for download here.
• Review of documents (early March)
• 1st screening: examination (Japanese) and interview (early March)
• 1st screening result notification (March)
• 2nd screening, by MEXT
• 2nd screening result notification (June-July)
• Placement notification and pre-departure preparations
• Departure for Japan (September/October)

Applicants should use the Document Checklist, and may also book an appointment with the MEXT Scholarship Desk, for final verification purposes prior to submitting their application.

Examinations and interviews will be held in person at the Consulate General of Japan in Montreal; no exceptions will be made.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to review examples of qualifying examinations on the Study in Japan website.

Please read all available documentation carefully. Should you have any questions thereafter, please do not hesitate to contact the Montreal MEXT Scholarship Desk.

For undergraduate studies in any university subject.
2021 Application Cycle Status: CLOSED

Please use the information below as reference for any future application. For updates on this scholarship, subscribe to the eBulletin, our monthly newsletter, or "like" our Facebook page.

Please note that the general information below is indicative only; for detailed information on the Undergaduate Students Scholarship, consult the Application Guidelines.

**IMPORTANT NOTICE*
In reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 application schedule for the Undergraduate Student Scholarship has been modified.
The application cycle being more condensed, it is of the utmost importance that all applicants ensure that their application file is complete and in order before its submission. All deadlines must be strictly respected. Failure to follow directives may result in the rejection of the applicant’s candidacy.
Moreover, all applicants should be advised that, depending on the evolution of the COVID-19 situation and the measures taken, the 2021 Undergraduate Students Scholarship application cycle may be further modified or cancelled, or recipients may be unable to travel to Japan despite having been selected.
***********************

Fields of Study
Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Health Sciences (Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy)

Application Deadline
All required documents must be received by the Consulate General of Japan in Montreal by 5:00 pm EDT, Friday, July 10, 2020.

Scholarship Duration
5 years from April 2021 for Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences
7 years from April 2021 for Health Sciences

*The scholarship period includes a one-year intensive preparatory course in the Japanese language and other necessary subjects at an institution designated by MEXT. Exemption may be possible.

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, a candidate must meet the following main requirements:

• Be a Canadian citizen;
• Be born on or after April 2, 1996;
• Must have completed 12 years of education or a program the equivalent of Japanese Senior High School by March 2021;
• Possess a solid base in the Japanese language.

For a detailed list of all requirements, please consult the Application Guidelines.

University Placement
Designated by MEXT, taking into account your stated preferences.

Application Process

• Application deadline (early July)
      *The application forms are available for download here.
• Review of documents (July)
• Examinations (Japanese, English, and Mathematics; plus Sciences*) and interview (August)
      *Only for applicants who choose a Natural Science field
• 1st screening result notification (September)
• 2nd screening, by MEXT
• 2nd screening result and placement notification (January-February)
• Pre-departure preparations
• Departure for Japan (April or September/October)

Applicants should use the Document Checklist, and may also book an appointment with the MEXT Scholarship Desk, for final verification purposes prior to submitting their application.

Examinations and interviews will be held in person at the Consulate General of Japan in Montreal; no exceptions will be made.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to review examples of qualifying examinations on the Study in Japan website. 
IMPORTANT: The Japanese high school curriculum being largely different from Canada's, Undergraduate Students Scholarship applicants should pay special attention to the material covered in the examinations.

Please read all available documentation carefully. Should you have any questions thereafter, please do not hesitate to contact the Montreal MEXT Scholarship Desk.

For graduate studies in any university subject.
2021 Application Cycle Status: CLOSED

Please use the information below as reference for any future application. For updates on this scholarship, subscribe to the eBulletin, our monthly newsletter, or "like" our Facebook page.

The general information below is indicative only; for detailed information on the Research Students Scholarship, consult the Application Guidelines.

**IMPORTANT NOTICE**
In reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 application schedule for the Research Student Scholarship has been modified.
The application cycle being more condensed, it is of the utmost importance that all applicants ensure that their application file is complete and in order before its submission. All deadlines must be strictly respected. Failure to follow directives may result in the rejection of the applicant’s candidacy.
Moreover, all applicants should be advised that, depending on the evolution of the COVID-19 situation and the measures taken, the 2021 Undergraduate Students Scholarship application cycle may be further modified or cancelled, or recipients may be unable to travel to Japan despite having been selected.
***********************

Fields of Study
Must be the same field that the applicant has majored in or a related field, and be available at Japanese universities.

Application Deadline
All required documents must be received by the Consulate General of Japan in Montreal by 5:00 pm EDT, Friday, July 17, 2020.

Scholarship Duration
18 months from September/October 2021 for a fall departure
Note: Due to the changes made to the application schedule, only the fall departure option will be available in 2021.

*Scholarship period includes a six-month Japanese language preparatory course for recipients who require it.

**Scholarship extension may be possible if proceeding to a degree track (to obtain a Master's or PhD degree).

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, a candidate must meet the following main requirements:

• Be a Canadian citizen;
• Be born on or after April 2, 1986;
• Have a Bachelor’s degree or higher;
• Have languange proficiency in either English or Japanese sufficient to pursue their research in Japan.

For a detailed list of all requirements, please consult the Application Guidelines.

University Placement
Designated by MEXT, in conjunction with the Japanese universities who have issued a provisional acceptance letter to the candidate.

Application Process

• Application deadline (mid-July)
  *The application forms are available for download here.
• Review of documents (July-August)
• Examination (English and Japanese) and interview (September)
• 1st screening result notification (October)
• Submission of letters of admission or provisional acceptance (late December)
• 2nd screening, by MEXT
• 2nd screening result and placement notification (June-July)
• Pre-departure preparations
• Departure for Japan (September/October)

Applicants should use the Document Checklist, and may also book an appointment with the MEXT Scholarship Desk, for final verification purposes prior to submitting their application.

Examinations and interviews will be held in person at the Consulate General of Japan in Montreal; no exceptions will be made.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to review examples of qualifying examinations on the Study in Japan website.

Please read all available documentation carefully. Should you have any questions thereafter, please do not hesitate to contact the Montreal MEXT Scholarship Desk.

Q: What is the first step in applying for an Undergraduate Students Scholarship?

A: First, decide on a major field of study, which is like declaring your major for undergraduate study in Canada. Major fields of study may include subjects in the areas of Social Sciences, Humanities, Natural Sciences, or Health Sciences. For example, one major field of study might be Computer Science Research in Artificial Intelligence, which falls under the Natural Sciences category.

Q: As a Research Students Scholarship applicant, how can I choose which university to apply to in Japan?

A: Ask your current and/or past professors if they can suggest universities to apply to in Japan. You may also consult the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) website which provides a search engine for all the universities in Japan. The search engine can help you find a university which offers the program of study you wish to pursue.

Q: When does the academic year begin and end in universities in Japan?

A: The academic year in universities in Japan begins in April and ends in March of the following year. In most cases, the year is divided into two semesters, the first lasting from April to September and the second from October to March.

Q: I am a Canadian student currently studying outside of Canada. How do I apply, and do I have to return to Canada for the interview and examinations?

A: You must obtain the application forms from the Embassy website and submit your application to either the Embassy or Consulate General which is closest to your home city in Canada. Yes, you must return to Canada for the interview and testing; no exceptions.