MEXT Scholarship: Research Students (starting from 2026) for Maltese Citizens - Application Deadline: Thursday 15 May 2025, 5:00p.m. (CEST)
2025/4/15
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT) will be offering a scholarship programme for Research students to Maltese and Gozitan citizens (must be graduated before the departure for Japan; also, must be born on/after 2nd April 1991), starting from April or September/October 2026.
1) APPLICATION PROCEDURE
For information about qualifications and conditions, the terms of the scholarship and other details, kindly refer to the “Application Guidelines” at the following link:
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-research.html
Prepare the documents as listed under the item 9 "Application Documents" (Application Form, and other forms can be downloaded from the above link), and send them via e-mail by Thursday 15th May, 2025, 5.00 p.m. (CEST) to culture@ve.mofa.go.jp.
The subject title of the e-mail should be named as “Application Research Students 2026”, using the same e-mail address provided in the “Application Form” (and which will be used during the whole selection procedure). The original documents are to be provided on the day of the written exam and interview.
Please note that the size of the e-mail with the attached documentation should not exceed 10 MB! Otherwise, consider reducing the quality of scan, or scanning only in black and white, or sending more than one e-mail (in this case, please in the title of the e-mail add “ 1 of 3”, “2 of 3” etc.
2) FIRST SCREENING
The Embassy will select preliminary candidates by reviewing of the submitted documents. Shortlisted candidates will be informed of the details of the written exam and interview via e-mail by Friday 30th May 2025. The exam and interview are to be scheduled in the first week of July 2025.
Previous examination questions for applicants are available for download at the following link:https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/scholarship/application/examination.html
3) REQUEST OF PROVISIONAL ACCEPTANCE BY JAPANESE UNIVERSITY
Applicants who have passed the First Screening will receive a notification via e-mail, along with a “Passing Certificate of the First Screening” and a copy of the documents submitted by the applicants verified by the Embassy. These documents are necessary to contact the Japanese Universities.
Applicants must ensure to contact the Japanese Universities of their preference to request a Letter of Provisional Acceptance by Monday 1st September 2025 (JST) (please, read carefully the “Application Guidelines”, p. 8). The Letters of Acceptance you will eventually receive from the Japanese Universities will have to be sent to the Embassy of Japan in Malta.
Please find below a selection of useful links to explore suitable universities in Japan:
Study in Japan
Japan Study Support (JPPS)
4) SECOND SCREENING AND UNIVERSITY PLACEMENT
From November 2025, the MEXT selection committee will carry on the Second Screening to select the applicants as MEXT Scholarship Students. Around January/February 2026, the Embassy will inform the applicants of the results of selection and will inform them of the University placement.
5) PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE
Scholarship grantees will be informed of the flight details and date of arrival to Japan via e-mail. The departure for Japan should be in April 2026 or September/October 2026, at a date decided by the Japanese University.
■Important Points to Consider
- Please do not make use of the forms for the previous year.
- All submitted documents will be retained and will not be returned.
- Late and/or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
- Only successful candidates will be contacted and invited for examinations.
- The format (i.e., location and date) of the written exam and interview (to be scheduled in the first week of July) will be the same for all candidates and no exceptions (such as online format) can be made.
- Please note that the final result depends on confirmation of your university placement, not on the Embassy’s shortlisting process.
- Non-Maltese citizens must contact the Embassy of Japan of the country in which you hold citizenship for information on how to apply.
For any inquiries relating to the MEXT scholarship, please contact the Cultural Section of the Embassy of Japan in Malta:
tel. +356-2732-4491
e-mail: culture@ve.mofa.go.jp
1) APPLICATION PROCEDURE
For information about qualifications and conditions, the terms of the scholarship and other details, kindly refer to the “Application Guidelines” at the following link:
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-research.html
Prepare the documents as listed under the item 9 "Application Documents" (Application Form, and other forms can be downloaded from the above link), and send them via e-mail by Thursday 15th May, 2025, 5.00 p.m. (CEST) to culture@ve.mofa.go.jp.
The subject title of the e-mail should be named as “Application Research Students 2026”, using the same e-mail address provided in the “Application Form” (and which will be used during the whole selection procedure). The original documents are to be provided on the day of the written exam and interview.
Please note that the size of the e-mail with the attached documentation should not exceed 10 MB! Otherwise, consider reducing the quality of scan, or scanning only in black and white, or sending more than one e-mail (in this case, please in the title of the e-mail add “ 1 of 3”, “2 of 3” etc.
2) FIRST SCREENING
The Embassy will select preliminary candidates by reviewing of the submitted documents. Shortlisted candidates will be informed of the details of the written exam and interview via e-mail by Friday 30th May 2025. The exam and interview are to be scheduled in the first week of July 2025.
Previous examination questions for applicants are available for download at the following link:https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/scholarship/application/examination.html
3) REQUEST OF PROVISIONAL ACCEPTANCE BY JAPANESE UNIVERSITY
Applicants who have passed the First Screening will receive a notification via e-mail, along with a “Passing Certificate of the First Screening” and a copy of the documents submitted by the applicants verified by the Embassy. These documents are necessary to contact the Japanese Universities.
Applicants must ensure to contact the Japanese Universities of their preference to request a Letter of Provisional Acceptance by Monday 1st September 2025 (JST) (please, read carefully the “Application Guidelines”, p. 8). The Letters of Acceptance you will eventually receive from the Japanese Universities will have to be sent to the Embassy of Japan in Malta.
Please find below a selection of useful links to explore suitable universities in Japan:
Study in Japan
Japan Study Support (JPPS)
4) SECOND SCREENING AND UNIVERSITY PLACEMENT
From November 2025, the MEXT selection committee will carry on the Second Screening to select the applicants as MEXT Scholarship Students. Around January/February 2026, the Embassy will inform the applicants of the results of selection and will inform them of the University placement.
5) PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE
Scholarship grantees will be informed of the flight details and date of arrival to Japan via e-mail. The departure for Japan should be in April 2026 or September/October 2026, at a date decided by the Japanese University.
■Important Points to Consider
- Please do not make use of the forms for the previous year.
- All submitted documents will be retained and will not be returned.
- Late and/or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
- Only successful candidates will be contacted and invited for examinations.
- The format (i.e., location and date) of the written exam and interview (to be scheduled in the first week of July) will be the same for all candidates and no exceptions (such as online format) can be made.
- Please note that the final result depends on confirmation of your university placement, not on the Embassy’s shortlisting process.
- Non-Maltese citizens must contact the Embassy of Japan of the country in which you hold citizenship for information on how to apply.
For any inquiries relating to the MEXT scholarship, please contact the Cultural Section of the Embassy of Japan in Malta:
tel. +356-2732-4491
e-mail: culture@ve.mofa.go.jp