Application Guideline for Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship for 2025 (Japanese studies students & Teacher training students)

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan offers scholarships to distinguished international students who wish to study at Japanese universities. The Embassy of Japan in Riyadh accepts application for Japanese studies students and Teacher training students as below.
    
【Selection Schedule for the Scholarship 2025】
*The schedule is subject to change without notice

1. January 9, 2025 (Thu): Start of receiving documents for application
2. February 10, 2025 (Mon): Application deadline. Only by Email (digital file)
3. By February 12, 2025 (Mon): The announcement of the application screening results by email
4. February 26, 2025 (Wed): The written exams (only for those who pass the application screening) and Interview (only for those who pass the written exams) will be at the Embassy in Riyadh. The announcement of the exams and the interview results will be on the same day by email/phone.
5. Those who pass the exams & interview will be recommended to MEXT, and MEXT will conduct the second screening. The final result will be announced around July-August 2025.

 
【Important information】

• Applicants must have Saudi nationality (Those who have other nationality should contact Japanese Embassy in their respective countries).
• Those who wish to apply for the scholarship must read the guideline carefully and send all the required documents by email to the Embassy of Japan in Riyadh by February 10, 2025 (Mon).

• All Application documents must be combined in one PDF file and total file size should be less than 10 MB (No need to send hard copies to the Embassy)

• Incomplete applications and late application will NOT be considered.

• Embassy will give written exams and interview. Please prepare well for the written exams by referring to past examination questions of other courses. https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/scholarship/application/examination/index.html

• Embassy of Japan accepts applications only from those who can certainly travel Japan if applicants successfully receive MEXT scholarship.
• If applicant declines scholarship, he/she cannot apply next year. 

 The recipient of this Scholarship will join a study course (within 1 year) of Japanese language/Japanese culture at a Japanese university.
Applicants must be Saudi nationals who were born between April 2, 1995 and April 1, 2007.

• Applicants must be enrolled as undergraduate students in faculties or schools majoring in Japanese language or Japanese culture at a university outside Japan at the time of arriving in and leaving Japan.
• Applicants are required to have engaged in Japanese studies at a university for a total period of one year or more as of September 1, 2025.
• Upon the completion of the program, applicants must return to the original university in which he/she used to study.
• Applicants must take Japanese written examination and an interview.
   

Please go to the links below and read the guideline. You can download ALL the necessary application forms from the link.
 
● General Information and Application Forms:
 Application for Japanese Studies Student - Embassy Recommendation｜Essential guide for international students considering study in Japan
● Japanese studies students Guideline:
 APPLICATION GUIDELINES JAPANESE GOVERNMENT（MEXT）SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2023（JAPANESE STUDIES STUDENTS）
● List of Universities which accept students for the program 
 日本語・日本文化研修留学生各大学コースガイド一覧 (mext.go.jp)

 This scholarship program is aimed at training teachers, which consists of study/training on educational administration, educational methods, specialized subject research, and observational tours and practice. The study/training is implemented in Japanese in principle, and the recipients whose Japanese language ability is insufficient shall take Japanese-language education in a Japanese language study course at an appointed university or at a university designated by MEXT.

• Applicants must be Saudi nationals who were born on or after April 2, 1990.
• Applicants must be graduates of universities or teacher training schools and are required to have worked as teachers at elementary or secondary educational institutions or teacher training schools in their home countries for more than 5 years in total as of October 1st, 2025 (University faculty members are not eligible).
• Applicants must return to their home country and resume their work after the end of the scholarship period.
• Applicants must take English and Japanese written examinations and an interview.
• This program is not designed to acquire Master/PhD degree and extension is not permitted.

 
Please go to the links below and read the guideline. You can download ALL the necessary application forms from the link.
 
● General Information and Application Forms:
Application for Teacher Training Student - Embassy Recommendation｜Essential guide for international students considering study in Japan
 
● Teacher training students Guideline:
APPLICATION GUIDELINES JAPANESE GOVERNMENT（MEXT）SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2023（TEACHER TRAINING STUDENTS）
 
● List of Universities which accept students for the program 
 教員研修留学生各大学コースガイド一覧 (mext.go.jp)

Can I take examination at Consulate-General of Japan in Jeddah?
- No. We only hold the exam & interview at the Embassy of Japan in Riyadh.

I have an important appointment on February 29. Can you change the exam date?
- No. We only hold the exam & interview on that day.

I do not have Saudi nationality but I have permanent residency in Saudi Arabia. Can I apply?
- No. Please contact the Japanese Embassy in the country of your nationality. (Please note that some countries may not offer the same program.)

I would like to bring my family member/ maharam 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.

Do I have to submit my photos with the application?
- Yes, under any circumstances, submission of your photos is necessary. You may wear hijab, shemagh or ghutra, but your face must be shown clearly.

My principal/ supervisor cannot speak English. Can the recommendation letter be in Arabic?
- Original letter can be Arabic but we need all the documents to be translated into English or Japanese.

I only have certificates in Arabic. Is it ok?
- Original certificates can be Arabic but we need all the documents to be translated into English or Japanese.

Do I have to take Japanese exam? I have never studied Japanese before.
- It is mandatory for you to take the Japanese exam to be considered for selection.
Past examination questions of courses for Teacher Training Students and Japanese studies students have not been disclosed. Please refer to the Japanese and English examination questions in the Past Examination Questions for other courses below. 
 https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/scholarship/application/examination/index.html

For further information, please contact Cultural Section info@rd.mofa.go.jp