Culture & Education

Application for MEXT (Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology) Scholarships

Research Students Scholarships

[2026 applications are now closed] - Application materials for the 2027 scholarship will be available around April or May 2026

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan offers Scholarships to Iraqi nationals with a minimum of a bachelor's degree who wish to study in graduate courses at Japanese universities as Research Students (either regular students or non-regular students) under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program.
Applicants must must generally be under the age of 34.
You may check the below information for the previous application cycle.

For the application form and all other forms, and for further information, click here.
If you do not submit all the required documents, your application will not be considered.
Placement Preference Application Form can be modified as appropriate after passing the exam and interview.
The Embassy will not return any of the submitted documents.
You may submit copies of transcripts and certificates of graduation instead of originals.

Please carefully read the application guidelines here and prepare all required documents.
Age limits set by the MEXT Guidelines are definite. No exceptions can be made for anyone under any circumstances.

Submission details will be posted in due time.

Check Frequently Asked Questions here before sending any questions.
All questions sent via email which have already been answered in the FAQ or through the available information on this page and the guideline will be disregarded. No questions via phone and no visits to the Embassy are allowed.

Written examination and interview will be held. Those who passed the screening of the application documents will be contacted by the Embassy viaemail in due course. You are kindly requested to write your email address clearly on your application form.
The Embassy reserves the right to refuse any application without assigning any reason.
All documents, examinations (except the Japanese language examination) and procedures are written and conducted in English.

Previous Qualifying Examinations for MEXT Scholarships are available here.

Undergraduate Students Scholarships

[Applications canceled] - MEXT has decided since 2020 to currently suspend offering Iraqi nationals its scholarships other than research students scholarship program. We will update this page if the decision changes in the future.

Further information on study in Japan is available at Study in Japan.

College of Technology Students Scholarships

[Applications canceled] - MEXT has decided since 2020 to suspend offering Iraqi nationals its scholarships other than research students scholarship program. We will update this page if the decision changes in the future.

Further information on study in Japan is available at Study in Japan.

Specialized Training College Students Scholarships

[Applications canceled] - MEXT has decided since 2020 to suspend offering Iraqi nationals its scholarships other than research students scholarship program. We will update this page if the decision changes in the future.

Further information on study in Japan is available at Study in Japan.

Teacher Training Students Scholarships

[Applications canceled] - MEXT has decided since 2020 to suspend offering Iraqi nationals its scholarships other than research students scholarship program. We will update this page if the decision changes in the future.

Further information on study in Japan is available at Study in Japan.

Outline of Schedules for the scholarship programs (Subject to Change)

	Application opens	Deadline of Application	Screening by the Embassy				Screening by MEXT	Final Announcement	Orientation	Departure
			Screening	Exams	Interviews	Result Announcement
Research Student	Apr. - May	May-June	June	June	June	July	Sep.-Feb.	February	March	April