The MEXT scholarship (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) is awarded by the Japanese Government and funds undergraduate, master's, and doctoral studies at Japanese universities. For Colombians, the call opens each year through the Embassy of Japan in Bogotá.
MEXT tracks
- Undergraduate (Gakubu Ryugakusei): 5 years (1 year of Japanese + 4 degree)
- Research Student (Kenkyusei): 1.5-2 years of research, can transition to master's/PhD
- Specialized Training College: technical 3-year programs
- Japanese Studies: 1 year of Japanese studies (for current university students)
Benefits
- Full university tuition (no cost)
- Monthly stipend: ¥117,000 for undergraduate, ¥143,000-145,000 for researcher, up to ¥148,000 for PhD
- Round-trip airfare
- Health insurance
- Free student visa
Requirements for Colombians
- Be under 25 for undergraduate, under 35 for graduate
- Completed high school with good GPA (minimum 4.0/5.0)
- Willingness to learn Japanese (not mandatory to master it before)
- Not hold Japanese citizenship
Application process (embassy track)
1. Open call: usually April-May
2. Required documents:
- Official MEXT form
- High school diploma and grades (translated and apostilled)
- Statement of purpose in English or Japanese
- Study or research plan
- Recommendation letters
- Medical certificate (MEXT format)
3. Written exam: math, English, and basic Japanese (June-July)
4. Embassy interview: August
5. Preliminary results: October
6. Final Japanese government results: February-March
7. Travel to Japan: April (start of Japanese academic year)
Key tips
- Start early: the full process lasts 10-12 months
- The written exam is hard: math at calculus/algebra level, English at B2 level
- Your study plan must be specific: don't say "I want to study technology in Japan", say "I want to research X applied to Y under Professor Z's line at University W"
- Connect with current scholars: find them in Facebook groups like "Becarios MEXT" or LinkedIn
What happens if you're selected?
The Embassy of Japan provisionally assigns you and MEXT places you at a university. You can request up to 3 preferred universities but the final decision is the government's. Most scholars end up at national universities (Kyoto, Tohoku, Hokkaido, etc.) rather than private ones.
At ORIEN we advise you on the study plan, document translation and apostille, and exam/interview preparation. Book your consultation.