The Japanese Embassy Is Offering Scholarships for Brazilians

Embassy of Japan in Brazil, alongside MEXT, is offering several scholarships for Brazilians who wish to study abroad. These are scholarships of 145,000 yen that can last up to 8 years.

The applications are open for the 2023 Japan Embassy Scholarships, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of the country (MEXT). This opportunity is part of the annual scholarship program promoted by the Japanese government. All foreigners wishing to study and enhance their professional skills at an educational institution in the Asian country can apply for the scholarships from Japan.

Scholarships Exceeding 5,000 Reais for All Levels

The scholarships apply to undergraduate, master’s, technical courses, or doctoral degrees. Those approved in the opportunity program in Japan must start their studies in April of this year. The scholarship is completely free and will cover tuition fees, airfare, and other school fees.

The monthly amount will be 143,000 yen for undergraduate students, 145,000 yen for doctoral studies, and 144,000 yen for master’s and vocational courses. At the current exchange rate, this amounts to over 5,000 reais for all levels. Additionally, those selected to study in Japan will have the opportunity to participate in a free Japanese language course during their first year of studies.

Scholarship recipients will also learn about Japanese culture during classes. The duration of the scholarship will be 5 years, from April 2023 to March 2028, with exceptions for dentistry, medicine, veterinary, and pharmacy courses. For these students, the scholarship will extend until March 2030, totaling 7 years.

Applications for Scholarships to Study in Japan

The application process will take place through the Japanese Embassy in Brazil, as is done in other countries around the world. Applications for the program can already be made and will close on May 31.

Individuals with a completed higher education degree and a maximum age of 34 years as of April 2023 can apply. For undergraduate scholarships, vocational courses, and technical schools, candidates with completed high school by March of this year and up to 24 years old in April 2023 will be accepted.

Application Dates

Applications will start on June 1 and close on the 24th of the same month. It is important to mention that this schedule applies only to candidates living in the Federal District, Goiás, and Tocantins, who must submit their applications directly at the Embassy.

Contact can be made at the headquarters in Brasília or via email at cultural.japao@bs.mofa.go.jp. Those residing in other regions of the country and interested should contact their local consulate. The Japanese consulates are located in the capitals Belém, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Manaus, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo.

Understand How the Selection Process Will Take Place

The MEXT scholarship program from Japan began in 1954, with the aim of promoting international exchange, friendly relations, and the training of qualified professionals. According to the Embassy of Japan, over 200,000 international students from approximately 160 countries around the world have had the chance to study in Japan through scholarship programs.

Candidates will be selected through document analysis (including research proposals for graduate programs), written tests, and interviews.

Each phase of the selection process will be eliminatory, and among the basic documents that must be submitted are the application form, academic transcript, field of study and research plan, a letter of recommendation from the academic advisor, and a Japanese language proficiency test, where basic knowledge of the language is required.