Established in 1918 as Sapporo Agricultural College, Hokkaido University is one of Japan’s most respected public research institutions, known locally as Hokudai. Located in Sapporo, it holds the distinction of being the first institute of higher education in Japan to award bachelor’s degrees and is one of the five former Imperial Universities.
The 2025 Hokkaido University MEXT Scholarship is a fully funded program by the Japanese Government, supporting exceptional international students pursuing Master’s or Doctoral degrees at the Graduate School of Environmental Science at Hokkaido University. This scholarship covers tuition, and travel expenses, and provides a monthly allowance.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Hokkaido University MEXT Scholarship, applicants must:
- Be international students with outstanding academic records, either entering Japan as new students or already residing there.
- Hold a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.30/3.00 or above in their current or previous academic programs, maintaining this GPA while receiving the scholarship.
- Meet English proficiency requirements at a B2 or higher level on the CEFR scale.
- Fulfill at least one of the following language requirements:
- Completed a curriculum that meets the conditions for admission to a master’s or doctoral program in Japan, with English as the primary language of instruction.
Scholarship Benefits
The Hokkaido University MEXT Scholarship provides recipients with:
- Tuition Exemption: Full coverage of tuition fees for Master’s students for two years and Doctoral students for three years.
- Monthly Stipend: A monthly allowance of 144,000 JPY.
- Travel Costs: Coverage for arrival and return flights to and from Japan.
- Application and Matriculation Fee Exemption: Complete waiver of application and matriculation fees.
Required Documents
Applicants must prepare the following documents:
- Copy of Passport or other government-issued ID (e.g., family register or citizenship certificate).
- Certificate of Graduation or Diploma from the last attended university/graduate school.
- Field of Study and Study Program document, detailing the relevance of the research plan to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Official Academic Transcripts for all years from the last university attended, including grading scale information.
- Proof of Outstanding Academic Achievements (if applicable).
- Recommendation Letter from a dean or higher-level official at the current university addressed to the President of Hokkaido University.
- Thesis Abstracts that concisely summarize any relevant thesis work.
- Proof of Language Proficiency meeting the above requirements.
Application Procedure
To apply for the Hokkaido University MEXT Scholarship, follow these steps:
- Secure Admission: First, apply and secure admission to Hokkaido University.
- Access the Application Portal: Submit your scholarship application through the university’s application portal.
- Contact a Prospective Supervisor: Reach out to a prospective supervisor at Hokkaido University to discuss your suitability for the scholarship.
- Submit Documents: Send the required documents to your prospective supervisor via email.
- Entrance Examination: If accepted, applicants must take the entrance examination in the summer of 2025.
- Program Start: Admitted students will begin their master’s or doctoral program in October 2025, with no research student period required.
Application Deadline: December 5, 2024.
This is a fantastic opportunity for international students to study in Japan with full financial support at one of the country’s most prestigious universities. Early application is encouraged to secure this comprehensive scholarship.
Application link: https://www.ees.hokudai.ac.jp/?p=8667&lang=en
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