The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT) is offering scholarships for research students from Malta and Gozo, for studies in Japan starting in April or September/October 2026.

The MEXT Research Student Scholarship supports students and graduates from all academic fields who wish to further their studies in Japan through a Master’s or PhD course.

Scholarship Coverage

• Full university tuition and examination fees
• Monthly stipend (approximately ¥143,000–¥145,000, depending on the level of study)
• Round-trip airfare between Japan and Malta

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be Maltese or Gozitan citizens
• Must be born on or after 2 April 1991
• Must hold at least a bachelor’s degree before departure for Japan
• Field of study must align with the applicant’s academic background and available research in Japan
• Applicants must be willing to learn Japanese and adapt to life in Japan

Application Procedure

Applicants are required to:

1. Prepare all required documents as listed in item 9 of the official Application Guidelines (including the application form and other relevant materials)
2. Submit the documents via e-mail by Thursday, 15 May 2025 at 17:00 (CEST) to culture@ve.mofa.go.jp

First Screening

• The Embassy will review submitted applications and shortlist candidates
• Shortlisted applicants will be notified by Friday, 30 May 2025
• Written examination and interview will take place in the first week of July 2025

Previous exam papers are available for reference:
Download past exam questions

Provisional Acceptance by Japanese University

Applicants who pass the First Screening will receive:

• A Passing Certificate
• Verified copies of their application documents

They must then contact Japanese universities to request a Letter of Provisional Acceptance by Monday, 1 September 2025 (JST). These letters must be submitted to the Embassy of Japan in Malta.

Second Screening and University Placement

• From November 2025, MEXT will conduct the final selection process
• Results and university placements will be communicated around January–February 2026

Preparations for Departure

Scholarship recipients will be informed of travel arrangements via email. Departure to Japan is expected in April 2026 or September/October 2026, depending on the host university’s schedule.

All information and guidelines, including application forms and a detailed schedule, are available on the Embassy of Japan in Malta’s website:  MEXT 2026 Guidelines – Embassy of Japan to Malta

For more general information about studying in Japan and the MEXT scholarship programme: Study in Japan – MEXT Research Student Scholarship

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