Reference: Outline of the Scholarship System forJapanese Government
Monbukagakusho (MEXT) University Recommendation Scholarship(September 2025 Enrollment)
Ritsumeikan University
International CenterOctober 2024

The Japanese Government MEXT University Recommendation Scholarship is a prestigious “full-ride” scholarshipsponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (which is abbreviated toMEXT in English, and known as the “Monbukagakusho” in Japanese) and the Japanese host universities. Recipientsof this award, referred to as MEXT Scholars, are high academic achievers who are expected to go on to act as bridges
between Japan and their home countries and contribute to the overall good of society.
I. Application Requirements
Nationality:
Applicant must be a national of a country that has formal relations with Japan, must currently
reside outside of Japan, and must intend to come to Japan from their home country for the purposeof studying.
*Persons currently residing in Japan who wish to enroll in either the Graduate School of Scienceand Engineering or the Graduate School of Life Sciences, however, may also apply.
Age:
Applicants must have been born on or after April 2, 1990.
Health:Applicants must have no physical or mental obstacles to studying in Japan.
Arrival in Japan: Applicants must be willing to arrive in Japan in mid-September 2025 on a date specified by theuniversity.
Eligibility: Applicants must meet all of the following eligibility conditions:
1) Applicant must not be active duty military or military-employed civilian.
2)

If applicant previously received a Japanese government scholarship, they must have completed at least three (3)years of education, research activities or formal employment since the completion of sponsored studies.
*Students who received a Japanese Language or Culture scholarship from MEXT (“Nikkensei”), or theMonbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students (“JASSO” scholarship), areexempt from the waiting period. Students who received a MEXT Scholarship to complete their undergraduate
studies may also be exempt from this waiting period, and should consult with the International Center at cgerbkc@st.ritsumei.ac.jp prior to application to clarify.

3)

Applicant must not be receiving or scheduled to receive scholarship from any other organization or government,including in the applicant’s home country.

4)Applicants who have applied to another university under this same scholarship, who are currently applying for
any other MEXT Scholarship or for the JASSO short-term student exchange program, may not apply.

5)

Applicant must agree that if they are selected for recommendation for scholarship and agree to accept
recommendation, that they will immediately withdraw any other concurrent applications for scholarship,whether in Japan or overseas.

6)

Applicant must not already be scheduled to enter a university in Japan in 2025.
*Applicants will need to newly acquire a “Student” Visa in their home country just prior to traveling Japan. For
reference, the process is expedited for MEXT Scholars and does not require a COE.
*Mid-degree-program transfer to other universities with MEXT scholarship is not possible.
*If accepted, applicants are highly recommended to bring sufficient funds to Japan to cover initial living expenses
for their first 5-6 weeks before payment of the first scholarship stipend. Preparing approximately 200,000 to250,000 Japanese Yen is generally more than enough.

7)

After enrollment, scholars must be able to maintain a yearly grade point average of 2.30 or higher out of 3.00.

II. Scholarship SummaryMonthly
JPY 143,000-145,000 (The amount is subject to change according to budgetary constraints and cost
Allowance:of goods.
Admission Fee Admission Fee: Waived

& Tuition:
Tuition: Waived during the scholarship award periodAward Period: Master’s Students : 2 years, the standard length of our Master’s Program
Doctoral Students: 3 years, the standard length of our Doctoral Program
Travel:(to Japan)
As a rule, Scholars will be provided a one-way, economy-class ticket from the International Airport
nearest their home residence to Kansai International Airport (KIX), the nearest international hub tothe university. Travel to the airport in their home country and travel within Japan are at the expenseof the Scholar. Travel must originate from the Scholar’s home country.
(return)
Scholars who graduate from their program within the timeframe of their scholarship award period
who leave Japan during the month of their graduation will be provided an economy-class ticket fromthe international airport closest to their university, Kansai International Airport (KIX), to theinternational airport closest to their residence in their home country.

III. Possibility of Extension of Master’s Program Scholarship to cover Doctoral Program Enrollment
1) MEXT Scholars enrolled in a Master's Degree program who wish to progress to a Doctoral Degree program
may be granted an extension of their scholarship award period to cover enrollment into a Doctoral Program if
they meet standards for enrollment, pass a rigorous internal university review, and a final evaluation by MEXT.
Eligibility to apply for extension varies based on scholarship subcategory and annual budgetary restraints,
however, and not all scholars are eligible to apply for this extension every year.
*The preceding is based on the MEXT Scholarship System as of 2024 and conditions may change in the future.