The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, through its Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), has announced the opening of applications for the 2026 Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program. Filipino citizens may now apply for four scholarship categories: Research (Master’s or Doctoral Course), Undergraduate, Specialized Training College, and College of Technology.

Applicants for the Research category must be college graduates under the age of 35 by 1 April 2026. They must have a clear and feasible research proposal and be in good academic standing. The program runs from two to five years and covers fields in Social Sciences, Humanities, and Natural Sciences, preferably those aligned with the applicant’s previous field of study.

The Undergraduate category is open to high school graduates under 25 years old with strong academic records. The scholarship spans five years and includes studies in Social Sciences and Natural Sciences.

For those interested in vocational fields, the Specialized Training College category is available for high school graduates under 25 years old. The program runs for three years and covers areas such as Technology, Personal Care and Nutrition, Education and Welfare, Business, Fashion and Home Economics, and Culture and General Education.

Finally, the College of Technology category caters to high school graduates under 25 years old with a strong academic background. It runs for four to four and a half years and includes Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Information Communication and Network Engineering, Materials Engineering, Architecture and Civil Engineering, and Maritime Engineering.

Interested applicants can download guidelines and application forms from the Embassy of Japan website at www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp. All submissions must be hand-delivered or sent via mail. The deadline is 23 May 2025 (Friday). Only physical documents will be accepted.

Inquiries may be sent to: scholarship@ma.mofa.go.jp.

The Embassy also noted that the application process may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.