Hello

I was wondering if anyone knows if we have to pay the taxes of the returning flight? I remember I got an invoice for the taxes of the flight to Japan but I wonder if that also applies to the flight home.

My guess is that it does but idk

Hi everyone,

I am planning to apply for the MEXT Young Leaders’ Program (YLP) in Business Administration at Hitotsubashi University, Japan, for the next available intake.

I am currently working in a managerial position in India and would like to understand the recommendation process through FICCI or CII.

I contacted FICCI to enquire about the application procedure, but I haven't been able to get all the required information.

I would appreciate advice from anyone who has applied for or successfully received the MEXT YLP scholarship.

1. How can I check whether my employer is a member of FICCI or CII?

2. Is employer membership mandatory for getting a recommendation through these organisations?

3. How can I find the correct point of contact at FICCI or CII for the MEXT YLP application?

4. If my employer is not a member, are there any alternative recommendation routes?

5. When should I start contacting the relevant organisations for the next application cycle?

Any guidance, personal experiences, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I'm currently pursuing the BS in Data Science and Applications from IIT Madras, a 142-credit degree delivered primarily online with in-person proctored exams.

I also have around 3 years of professional experience in AI, computer vision and software development.

My goal is to pursue a master's in Robotics / Physical AI in Japan around 2030, preferably at UTokyo, Kyoto University, NAIST or JAIST.

I'm currently learning mathematics, robotics and Japanese, and plan to build research projects over the next few years.

My questions are:

1. Will Japanese universities accept my online BS degree for master's admissions?
2. Can I transition from Data Science to Robotics or Mechano-Informatics?
3. How important are research publications and academic LORs, considering I don't have regular access to campus professors?
4. Would MEXT or direct university admission be more realistic?

I'd appreciate advice from anyone familiar with Japanese graduate admissions or who has taken a similar path.

PS: I used a bit of AI in phrasing the content.

Hi everyone! I'm a 9th-grade student from Kyrgyzstan. I transferred schools this year, and our school system has 11 grades, so I have two years left before graduation.I'd really like to study in Japan, but my family can't afford to pay for my education abroad. I usually get good grades (last year, I got only one 4 in chemistry, while all my other grades were 5s).I'm interested in cybersecurity and recently started researching ways to study in Japan. I found out about the MEXT scholarship for KOSEN (National Institute of Technology) students, and I'd like to apply after finishing school.I'd really appreciate advice from anyone who has applied for this scholarship, is currently preparing for it, or has already been accepted.

1. How did you prepare for the entrance exams? What resources did you use, and how far in advance did you start studying?

2. How difficult were the math and other subject exams? Were they mostly based on high school material, or did you need to study topics beyond your school curriculum?

3. Is the chemistry exam mandatory for KOSEN applicants? (I'm fcking hate this subject sorry for my english)

4. How important is Japanese proficiency during the selection process? Does knowing Japanese beforehand give you a significant advantage?

5. What was the interview like? What kinds of questions did they ask, and was it conducted in English, Japanese, or both? English isn't my native language, so I'm a little concerned about that.

6. Do extracurricular activities matter? Can volunteering, personal projects, competitions, or other activities improve your chances?

7. How did the overall selection process go for you? Which part was the most difficult?

8. Are there any specific books, websites, or past exam papers you'd recommend?

I'm genuinely excited about the possibility of studying in Japan, but I know I have a lot to prepare for.I also have a Japanese teacher named Misato, who tells us a lot about Japan, its culture, and what life there can be like for foreigners. Her lessons have made me even more interested in studying there.

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their experience! :3

Hi all, I'm preparing a MEXT Research Student application through the Embassy Recommendation route in Morocco, aiming for April 2028 entry, and I'll be honest: I'm feeling pretty anxious about it, so I'd really love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar spot.

I have a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, and my thesis examined how global brands overlook local voices, using M.A.C Cosmetics as the case study. I'm now doing an MBA, and I'm considering a project on Skims as it enters the Moroccan market. Alongside my studies, I founded MAD, د.م, an independent street style and fashion publication documenting contemporary Moroccan dress culture, and I'm researching fashion and cultural memory in Morocco. This has been my direction for years, and my target is the English-taught Global Fashion Concentration at Bunka Gakuen University.

What scares me is that MEXT asks applicants to apply in the same or a related field to their previous studies, and I can't tell whether fashion and culture counts as related to business. I emailed a professor at Bunka, and she replied that a business background can be accepted if my research suits the program, but that I would need to show a level of fashion knowledge comparable to a fashion graduate by the admission interview. It was encouraging but also made me worry that I'm starting from behind, and I've even caught myself wondering whether I should switch to a safer program.

So I'm wondering whether anyone has been through embassy screening with a similar switch, and how strictly your embassy read the "related field" requirement. I'd also love to know how you framed your research plan to connect the two fields, and how you dealt with the nerves along the way. Any advice on preparing for the document screening and interview would mean a lot. Thank you so much for reading!

I'm a brazilian man on their 18's hardly at the start of my career and i've veen aligning my studies with what would be good for a curriculum‚ I'm making this post to know if anyone has any tips on anything i should study or know beforehand for the field i'm trying to follow to either improve my chances of being accepted or make it easier for me if i actually get there‚ For now i've been only working with what i have researched but i wanted personal input about it‚ Any help about it would be appreciated.

Hello! I am interested in applying for the MEXT scholarship to study my undergraduate studies, I'm interested in studying International Relations/International Business, but these aren't listed in the Social Sciences degrees, instead, there's an "other" option, I'm not sure if anyone knows whether it's possible to access them. I tried contacting the Japanese embassy in my country (🇸🇻) but received no response. Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my post and I hope someone can help me

Hello,

I am a graduate student from India, planning to apply for mext masters program in 2027.

Actually I just wanted to ask is it like absolute necessary to have a publication to get considered by the embassy to get the scholarship.

I have done some internships in my field got some fully funded internship opportunities too, but I dont have any publication so I was asking just in case if is beneficial for getting considered.

Also I have a decent graduation cgpa of 8.9. But was not sure how to proceed with the application and all after the university recommendation closed off, and wanted to ask the mext scholars of their opinion.

Also wanted to add that i dont have any JLPT, that is I dont know japanese. Should I work upon it to increase my chances of getting selected.

I’m a senior high school student from Russia and I’m planning to apply for the humanities undergraduate program via Embassy track.

My Japanese is around N3 level (strong listening & speaking, pretty good vocab, ok grammar & reading, bad writing kanji from memory skills). I know that it’s nearly not enough for MEXT and that the chance of me getting N1 before the MEXT entrance exams is really low.

So I’d like to know if there are key grammar or vocab topics for the intermediate/advanced level section? Something that will definitely appear on the test?

Hello everyone I am a mechatronics engineer student in Jordan in 4th year (so I have 2 years before graduate)

So what I need to have to continue master for free in Japan in Robotics

(GPA, Portfolio&Graduate project, languages, ...)

I am planning to make one of those as a graduate project

so if u are have a experment to advice me I will happy for that

https://www.reddit.com/r/robotics/s/wammnpLXU5

OR

https://youtu.be/mQfc8o9RyxU

And I know about it need to be maybe as a research with academic fields

every advice will be useful for me

And if u told me your story with MEXT if u are from a related field I will be happy for it too

Thanks All

I just learned that in some countries, the embassy gets a fixed number of research slots plus an extra slot that depends on a regional pool.

So if the regional slot doesn't open, is the extra candidate rejected in the 2nd screening, made a substitute, or something else? Has anyone been in this position?

Hey everyone! I’m preparing for the MEXT Kosen Scholarship and would love insights from current scholars or alumni:

1. Written Exam: What exact level are Math, Physics, and Chemistry (High School/A-Level/11th-12th grade)? Any recommended prep materials?
2. Profile Building: What actually makes a candidate stand out during document screening?
3. CS Major & Kosen Placement: How likely are you to get your 1st choice major (e.g., Computer Software/IT), and which Kosen campuses are best for it?
4. 1-Year Japanese Prep: Is 1 year enough to handle Kosen lectures in Japanese? What were your biggest challenges?
5. University Transfer & Scholarship Extension: Does MEXT extend the scholarship if you transfer to a 3rd-year Bachelor's degree, or do most students have to self-fund?

Any tips or experiences from MEXT Kosen scholars would be appreciated! Thanks!

as the title says, i was home schooled for the most of my life only attending high school formally and i wanted apply for mext, will their be problems or no. UNDERGRAD Program. and any tips how to fill up the academic record would greatly appreciated Pakistan,Karachi

Burkina Faso

Salut la famille STC 🇧🇫

Je cherche les gars du Burkina qui sont en STC et qui ont été retenus pour la 2ème étape là. On se signale ici les gars.

Hey everyone!
Mext applicant(UG) here.
I’ve been trying to understand how university placement works, especially when it comes to the preferences we list in the application.
I’d love to hear from people who have already received the MEXT scholarship:

1.Did you get your first-choice major/course?

2.If you didn’t get your first choice, were you placed in your second or third choice, or somewhere else entirely?

3.For undergraduate scholars, how much control did you actually have over your final university and department placement?

4.Do you have any advice for applicants who are aiming for a specific university?

If possible, please mention whether you’re an undergraduate or research student, since I understand the placement process can differ.

Thanks in advance! I really appreciate any experiences you can share.

Does the University of Tsukuba give MEXT scholarships to undergraduate students and if so, is Archaelogy included in the list of programs they offer scholarships for? Student from Pakistan btw.

Hello everyone! I’m from Morocco, and I’d like some advice about the English test for the MEXT scholarship.

I’ve received acceptance from a professor, and the university accepts both IELTS and Duolingo. The problem is that I’m not very confident about my English level, and I’m afraid of spending over $300 on IELTS without getting the required B2 level. Duolingo is much cheaper ($59), so I’m considering taking it first.

My university may allow students to pass the initial screening without B2, but they would need to retake an English test accepted by MEXT later.

So, I’m wondering if I should take Duolingo first and, if I pass the screening, prepare more and take IELTS later, or just go directly for IELTS and hope to get B2.

What would you do in my situation? I’d especially appreciate advice from people who have gone through the MEXT application process. Thanks!

Im from India. I have my 9th and 10th docs, but went to open schooling after that where you skip a year, then the next year you directly exam 12th. I passed but since I don't have 11th grade, do I need to write a note explaining what NIOS is? NIOS is a recognized board but MEXT UG requires 12 years of schooling and whime the gap year isn't really one since I studied for the 12th exam, would it appear as one? Im aiming for Embassy route. Thanks.

Hi guys! I’m a first year undergraduate student from America (specifically california) and I would love to apply for GSC! Can anyone tell me more about the program, my chances, etc? I feel like besides the website there is almost no information on it! Which is pretty scary. If anyone knows what they put emphasis on please let me know. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated:)
My major is Bio Sci btw!

Muy buenas, actualmente llevo 1 año preparando para la siguiente convocatoria de MEXT 2028, soy egresado de biología en México, aunque en mi proceso me surgió una duda sobre el proyecto de tesis, se que en la entrevista abordan este proyecto, mi duda es si debería contactar a los profesores de laboratorios mucho antes de pasar el primer proceso, de antemano muchas gracias por sus prontas respuestas.

I am preparing for MEXT mainly targetting kosen rn for 2027 just wanted to ask about sum books for maths and english.

(btw i have "Wren and Martin" is practising from it enough ?)

Planning to apply for MEXT after 4 year Bachelor that I'll start on Jan 2027. Has anyone been able to get a LoR from IGNOU? If not, can anyone recommend a distance learning programme that gives out LoR? Im from India (I added this cause the mod yold me to)

anyone here a filo and plans to take the mext in 2028? im g11 rn, would love to communicate with anybody from the ph ✌️