18 April 2013
Guideline for Application for Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT Scholarship)
1. All of applicants must have Saudi nationality. (Those of other nationality should contact the Japanese Embassy in their respective countries.)
2. The Embassy of Japan will give written examinations and interviews by either English or Japanese language. Please see the also Selection Schedule and Qualification exam in previous year. FAQ is also available on the bottom of the page.
3. Those who meet the qualifications and wish to apply for the scholarship must read the guideline carefully and submit all the required documents to the Embassy of Japan in Riyadh by 8th June 2013. The submitted documents will NOT be returned to the applicant.
The Address of the Embassy of Japan:
Culture Section, Embassy of Japan
A-11 Diplomatic Quarter, P.O. Box 4095, Riyadh 11491
Candidate who wishes to deliver personally his/her documents to the Embassy should leave the document at the Embassy's gate during 8 am -5 pm Satuarday-Wednesday. Write on the envelop [Attention to: Culture Section].
4. For further information, please contact: info@rd.mofa.go.jp *English and Japanese only
[Type of Scholarship]
1. Research Students
2. Undergraduate Students
3. Specialized Training College Students
1. Research Students
- Applicants must be born on or after 2nd April 1979.
- The scholarship will be provided for 24 months (from April 2014 to March 2016) or 18 months (from October 2014 to March 2016).
- Applicant must have completed or will complete a 16-year school by the end of March 2014.
The guideline is available HERE
Required documents for Research Students (These documents must be written in Japanese or English)
(1) Application Form: 3 originals (Download: PDF / Word)
(2) Application Form (Attachment) : 1 original (Download: PDF / Word)
(3) Research Program (Attachment): 1 original & 2 copies (Download: PDF / Word)
(4) Photographs (4.5 by 3.5 cm): 4 copies
(5) Academic transcript of each academic year of the last university attended: 1 original & 2 copies
(6) Graduation certificate or degree certificate of the last university attended (or certificate of expected gratuation for an applicant due to graduate): 1 original & 2 copies
(7) Recommendation from the principal or the adviser of the last university attended: 1 original & 2 copies (Download: PDF / Word)
(8) Recommendation from the present employer (if currently employed): 1 original & 2 copies (Download: PDF / Word)
(9) Medical certificate on the prescribed form: 1 original & 2 copies (Download: PDF / Word)
(10) Abstracts of theses: 1 original & 2 copies
(11) Photograph showing applicant's own works of art or a recorded tape of musical performance (only for those majoring in fine arts or music): 1 original & 2 copies
2. Undergraduate Students
- Applicants must be born between 2nd April 1992 and 1st April 1997.
- The scholarship will be provided for 5 years (from April 2014 to March 2019) including the preliminary instruction in the Japanese language and other subjects for one year. Students majoring in Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Medicine or a six-year in Pharmacy will be provided with the scholarship for 7 years until March 2021.
- Applicants must have completed a 12-year regular course of school education or will complete a 12-year school by the end of March 2014.
The guideline is available HERE
Required documents for Undergraduate Students (These documents must be written in Japanese or English)
(1) ①Application Form: 2 originals (Download: PDF / Word)
(2) ④Application Form (Attachment) : 1 original (Download: PDF / Word)
(3) Photographs(4.5 by 3.5 cm): 3 originals
(4) ②Academic transcript for the past 3 years: 1 original & 1 copy
(5) ③-1 Recommendation from the principal or the adviser of the last school attended: 1 original & 1 copy (Download: PDF / Word)
(6) ③-2 Graduation certificate or the last school attended (or certificate of expected graduation for an applicant due to graduate): 1 original & 1 copy
(7) ③-3 Certificate of passage of university entrance qualification examination (if applicable): 1 original & 1 copy
(8) ⑤Certificate of enrollment (for an applicant currently enrolled in a university): 1 original & 1 copy
(9) ⑥Medical certificate (Download: PDF / Word): 1 original & 1 copy
*Number the documents(1 through 6) in the right upper corner.
3. Specialized Training College Students
- Applicants must be born between 2nd April 1992 and 1st April 1997.
- The scholarship will be provided for 3 years (from April 2014 to March 2017) including the preliminary instruction in the Japanese language and other subjects for one year.
- Applicants must have completed a 12-year school curriculum or graduated from a school equivalent to an upper secondary school in Japan. (Included is any Applicant who will satisfy the above qualifications by March 2014)
The guideline is available HERE
Required documents for Specialized Training College Students (These documents must be written in Japanese or English)
(1) ①Application Form: 2 originals (Download: PDF / Word)
(2) Photographs (4.5 by 3.5 cm): 2 originals
(3) ②Academic transcript for the past 3 years: 1 original & 1 copy
(4) ③-1 Recommendation from the principal or the adviser of the last school attended: 1 original & 1 copy (Download: PDF / Word)
(5) ③-2 Graduation certificate or the last school attended (or certificate of expected graduation for an applicant due to graduate): 1 original & 1 copy
(6) ③-3 Certificate of passage of university entrance qualification examinations (if applicable): 1 original & 1 copy
(7) ④Certificate of enrollment (for an applicant currently enrolled in a university): 1 original & 1 copy
(8) ⑤Medical certificate (Download: PDF / Word): 1 original and 1 copy
*Majors and related key terms for fields of study (Download)
*Number the documents(1 through 5) in the right upper corner.
【Frequent Asked Questions】
Do I have to submit my photos with the application?
- Yes, under any circumistances, submission of your photos is necessary. You may wear hijab, shemagh or ghutra.
Do I have to take Japanese exam? I have never studied Japanese before.
- It is mandatory for you to take both Japanese and English exam. You will not be rejected because of your lack of Japanese language ability. We will take the better score (Japanese or English) for screening criteria. We will not adopt avarage score between these two exams.
For undergraduate student scholarship, it is mandetory to submit recommendation from the principal or the adviser of the last school attended. My principal cannot speak English. Can the recommendation letter be in Arabic?
- Yes, it can be but English is preferable.
I would like to bring my family member to Japan. Is it possible?
- Please note that under the MEXT scholarship program, the allowance and plane ticket fare will be covered only for the student who passed the exam and the screening. If you wish to bring your family to Japan, Japanese government will not pay for his/her visa, allowance or plane ticket fare. Visa processing time and necessary documents may vary depending on how you are related to the family member who wishes to go to Japan with you.