Japanese Government Scholarship Programs

Japanese Government is now offering scholarships to U.S. high school graduates who wish to pursue an undergraduate degree in Japan under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for 2027.

Note: Only U.S. citizens who live in the Consulate’s jurisdiction of Northern California and Nevada are eligible to apply through this consulate. U.S. citizens residing in other regions should apply to the Japanese consulate responsible for their region. Please click here for a list of Japanese consulates in the United States

Those who apply for this scholarship must choose a Field of Study from (“Social Sciences and Humanities” or “Natural Sciences”), including Course, and Major(s). Please read the application guidelines carefully.

1. Applicants must hold U.S. citizenship. (Applicants who hold Japanese nationality at the time of application are not eligible.)
2. Applicants must have been born on or after April 2, 2002.
3. Applicants must be a high school graduate (at the time of participation on the program) or have the certified equivalent (i.e. GED).
4. In principle, applicants must be able to arrive in Japan between April 1, 2027 and April 7, 2027. Departure from the home residence should be on or after April 1.
5. Applicants must be willing to learn the Japanese language and to receive a professional training college education in Japanese.

Application guidelines, forms, and instructions are available from the MEXT website, “Study in Japan”.

Application Deadline:
All application documents must be received by 5:00 PM, Friday, May 22, 2026.
 
How to Submit:
Please upload your completed application forms and scanned required documents to a folder on an file uploader site (Google Drive, Dropbox). Then, please share the link to the folder with your application documents with education@sr.mofa.go.jp by the submission deadline.

Please contact our Education Coordinator at education@sr.mofa.go.jp with any questions or concerns.
 
Note 1: Please send one set of required digital documents (you don't have to duplicate files).
 
Note 2: Other file sharing sites may be accepted, please contact education@sr.mofa.go.jp before sharing.
 
Note 3: Once we have received your application documents, we will reply to your e-mail.
If you do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt within three (3) business days, please call 1-415-780-6086 or send a separate e-mail.

D. FIRST SCREENING PROCESS:

Interview and Written Examination

1. Interview: Applicants who pass the initial application screening will be invited to participate in an online interview in late June. Details will be provided through e-mail. 
2. In-person Written Test: Applicants who pass the initial application screening will be invited to take a series of written examinations in Japanese, English, Mathematics, and additionally for STEM majors, Chemistry, and either Biology or Physics, in-person at the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco. The test date is TBD. Please check back later.​

Note 1: Calculators and other devices used during the written examinations.
Note 2: You can find the past examination questions on the MEXT website. 

Acceptance Notification
Candidates will receive notification of acceptance after January 2027.

E. FAQ

Q1 Letter of Recommendation:

Please ask your recommender to e-mail the PDF to us directly.

Q2 Transcript:

If you have digital transcripts, please submit them with your other application documents via file uploader site. If you have paper transcripts, you can upload a scanned copy with your other application documents and submit via file uploader site. 

Q3 Diploma:

Please DO NOT send the original diploma. Please upload a scanned copy with your other application documents and submit via file uploader site.

Q4 Medical certificate:

If it is difficult for you to submit your medical certificate by the deadline, please let us know. We can extend the due date of the medical certificate until the announcement of the results of first screening (mid-August).

Q5 Direct Placement:

If you desire direct placement and would like to check the list of universities that accept direct placement, please contact us. For more information about direct placement, please refer to the application guidelines.

Q6 Useful Links:

Planning studies in Japan provided by the Japan Student Services Organization

 

For more information, please contact the Japan Information Center, Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco:
Tel: (415) 780-6086
E-mail: education@sr.mofa.go.jp