Scholarships for Undergraduates: Study Abroad in Japan

Scholarships for Undergraduates: Study Abroad in Japan

Introduction:

Study Abroad: Japan Offers Scholarships For Undergraduate Courses; Check Details

The Government of Japan is giving scholarships to Indian students for 2025 under the Japanese Government MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology) Scholarship programs. These scholarships are for undergraduate, college of technology, and specialized training college courses.

Fields of Study

Social Sciences and Humanities:

Law, Politics, Education, Sociology, Literature, History, Japanese Language, Economics, and Business Administration.

Natural Sciences:

Includes Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, various Engineering fields (Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, etc.), Agricultural Studies, Health Studies, Medicine, and Biology.

Application Process

Undergraduate Category:

Applicants must send their forms to the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi or the Consulates of Japan in Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

College of Technology and Specialized Training Categories:

Applications for the College of Technology category should go to the Embassy of Japan or the Consulates in Chennai and Kolkata.

Applications for the Specialized Training College category should go to the Embassy of Japan or the Consulate in Kolkata.

The deadline for application submission is May 27, 2024.

Eligibility Criteria

Nationality:

Applicants must be from a country with diplomatic ties to Japan. Dual nationality holders with Japanese citizenship must renounce their Japanese citizenship before arriving in Japan.

Age:

Applicants must be born on or after April 2, 2000.

Academic Background:

Applicants must have completed 12 years of schooling or its equivalent outside Japan by March 2025 (or August 2025 for autumn term enrollment).

Language Proficiency:

Applicants must be willing to learn Japanese and have an interest in Japan. Studies will generally be in Japanese.

Health:

A health certificate confirming no physical or mental conditions hindering study in Japan is required.

Arrival in Japan:

Applicants must be able to arrive in Japan between April 1 and April 7, 2025, or as specified by the accepting university, for the autumn term.

Visa Requirement:

Applicants must obtain a "Student" visa from the Japanese diplomatic mission in their country and enter Japan with this status.

Preparatory Education and University Study

Selected students will take a one-year preparatory course in the Japanese language and other necessary subjects.Following successful completion of this course and passing the admission exam, students will enroll in a university selected by MEXT. The academic year begins in April and ends in March the next year. All classes are in Japanese unless specified otherwise.

Placement

Direct Placement

Eligibility and Enrollment:

Applicants choosing "Social Sciences and Humanities" with enough Japanese language skills, as judged by MEXT, can enter a university directly without preparatory education. This option is also for applicants in any field who show adequate Japanese language skills.

For courses not needing Japanese proficiency at enrollment, applicants may directly enroll without preparatory education. This is called "direct placement."

Enrollment can start in the spring term (arriving in April 2025) or the autumn term (arriving in September or October 2025), depending on the university's calendar.

University Placement Decision:

MEXT will choose universities for eligible direct placement applicants in consultation with the relevant university. This decision will consider the applicant's preferences and their performance in the first screening.

The university will assess the applicant's academic achievements (such as high school grades) and determine if they have the necessary language skills for courses in Japanese or English, often verified through language proficiency tests like the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). Some universities may also conduct interviews or extra exams.

Consultation Period:

The consultation period for direct placement will be from the end of the second screening until February 28, 2025. If the university agrees to accept the applicant, they will enroll under direct placement. If not, the applicant must complete the preparatory educational course before university enrollment.

Scholarship Duration

For Grantees At Preparatory Educational Institutions:

The scholarship period is five years, from April 2025 to March 2030, including one year of preparatory education in Japanese and other subjects upon arrival in Japan. For those majoring in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, or a six-year pharmacy course, the scholarship lasts seven years, until March 2032.

Note: If the university term begins in the middle of the month, the scholarship will not cover that month. For example, if the autumn term starts between September 2 and September 30, 2025, the scholarship period will begin in October 2025.

For Direct Placement Grantees:

The scholarship period is four years, starting from the time of enrollment at the designated university. For those majoring in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, or a six-year pharmacy course, the scholarship lasts six years.

Scholarship Benefits

Allowance:

Grantees will receive 117,000 yen (approximately Rs. 62,796) per month. An extra regional allowance of 2,000 yen (Rs 1,073) or 3,000 yen (Rs 1,610) per month is provided for those studying or conducting research in designated areas.

The amount may change annually, depending on the Japanese government's budget. If a grantee is absent from the university or preparatory institution for a long period of time, the scholarship will be suspended during that time.

Education Fees:

Fees for entrance exams, enrollment, and tuition at universities will be waived.