MEXT Scholarship 2025-2026: Complete Application Guide

A complete, plain‑English guide to the MEXT Scholarship for Bangladesh-based applicants starts with one core principle: most categories are applied through the Embassy Recommendation route in Dhaka, with applications submitted to the Ministry of Education (Secondary and Higher Education Division, SHED), followed by exams and interviews managed in coordination with the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh. MEXT offers several tracks, Research (Master’s/PhD prep), Undergraduate, College of Technology (KOSEN), Specialized Training College, Japanese Studies, and Teacher Training, each with different eligibility, tests, and timelines, so the first step is to pick the category and read the official application guidelines for that year before preparing documents or tests. Embassy recruitment runs annually, with Bangladesh’s call for applications typically announced around April–May via SHED and the Embassy; the primary screening (document check, written tests, interview) generally happens May–July, followed by university contact for provisional acceptance for Research track, and final results in late winter before April or September/October arrival in Japan.

For Bangladeshi Research Students (the most pursued route to Master’s/PhD), the cycle usually begins with the Embassy/SHED call around April, primary screening by May–July, applying to 2–3 Japanese universities for Letters of Provisional Acceptance by a strict early September Japan-time deadline, and a MEXT secondary screening through winter; successful applicants arrive in April or September/October of the following year. Eligibility for Research typically includes a bachelor’s or higher, age under roughly 35 at the time specified in the annual guideline, continuity with a related field, and Bangladeshi citizenship, with exact year‑of‑birth cutoffs and rules published in the official guideline PDF each cycle. After passing the first screening, contacting target graduate schools is mandatory to obtain at least one Letter of Provisional Acceptance, which confirms a host lab or supervisor, universities publish their procedures and deadlines, and missing the early September cutoff invalidates placement that year.

Undergraduate, Specialized Training College, and College of Technology tracks have centralized placement led by MEXT, and written exams differ by track: undergraduates take Japanese, English, and often mathematics plus sciences (for Natural Sciences); Specialized Training and KOSEN also include math and science tests alongside language, so strong prep across core subjects matters as much as language scores. Age ranges for these tracks are usually 17–25 at the time set in the guideline, and durations are longer because many include a 1‑year Japanese language preparatory course before degree coursework, making planning and family logistics from Bangladesh especially important. Japanese Studies (for Bangladeshi undergraduates majoring in Japanese language/culture) and Teacher Training (for in‑service school teachers with 5+ years’ experience) are shorter non‑degree programs with targeted eligibility and September/October arrivals, announced separately through the Embassy and SHED notices each year.

Application documents are standardized by MEXT and include the Application Form, Placement Preference (if applicable), Field of Study and Research Plan (for Research), academic transcripts, degree certificates, recommendation letters, and a medical Certificate of Health on the official template, each year’s guideline sets exact formats, issue‑date windows, translation rules, and notarization requirements. Bangladesh-specific submission is routed “to the Ministry of Education, Bangladesh” per Embassy instruction, not directly to MEXT; the Embassy page and SHED portal publish the year’s category-wise calls, forms, and any local instructions, so applicants should monitor both and avoid third‑party deadlines. Post–first screening, Research candidates must follow university-specific instructions for provisional acceptance, most universities only accept embassy‑screened candidates within a narrow window and will not consider late emails or incomplete document sets.

Testing and interviews follow Embassy protocols: written Japanese and English for Research; for Undergraduate, Japanese and English with math and science depending on chosen field; Specialized Training and KOSEN add subject tests aligned to technical disciplines; interviews evaluate academic fit, research clarity, motivation, and preparedness for life/study in Japan. Even when English‑medium study is expected later, the scholarship assumes willingness to learn in Japanese; many categories include a preparatory year in Japanese language, and the Embassy’s basic information highlights that instructional language in Japan is largely Japanese outside designated English tracks. Visa and arrival are coordinated toward the end: successful candidates must enter Japan on a Student visa in principle, after MEXT’s secondary screening and university placement confirm final acceptance and travel timing.

A practical timeline for Dhaka applicants is: monitor SHED and the Embassy website starting March–April; download the official MEXT guidelines and forms immediately upon release; prepare transcripts, recommendations, and a research plan (for Research) by early submission windows; sit embassy tests/interviews in May–July; if shortlisted for Research, email target professors/graduate schools for provisional acceptance by early September JST; submit letters and preferences to the Embassy in September; await secondary screening and placement through winter; plan for April or September/October arrival. SHED’s Scholarship Notification page aggregates government scholarship calls, including the MEXT 2026 cycle, which helps track exact Bangladeshi deadlines, while the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh hosts category pages with local eligibility notes and step-by-step instructions for where to submit. For reference and cross‑checking, the Study in Japan portal centralizes Embassy Recommendation procedures, required exams, and the annual forms, which should be the definitive source for formatting and completion standards each cycle.

Key tips for Bangladeshi Research applicants: write a specific Field of Study and Research Plan that aligns with a named professor’s interests; shortlist 2–3 universities in advance and draft tailored emails for provisional acceptance; and verify each university’s rules for accepting embassy‑screened candidates, including file naming, document certification, and email subject templates. Keep an eye on “date of issue” limits for certificates and translations in the year’s guideline, older documents can be rejected, and ensure medical forms use the official MEXT health certificate completed by a registered physician. Finally, always prioritize primary sources, SHED notices, the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh pages, and the official Study in Japan/MEXT guidelines, over blogs or social media summaries to avoid missing country‑specific instructions or updated deadlines for the Dhaka process.