Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Young Leaders’ Program (YLP)

Applications are invited for Young Leaders’ Program MEXT scholarships in Japan. Application is open for international students to pursue masters degree in 2021-2021 academic year. The YLP is one of the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Student programs.

Qualifications 

• Nationality: Applicant must be nationals of countries eligible for the YLP (School of Government). An applicant who has Japanese nationality at the time of application is not eligible.
• Age: Applicants must be, in principle, under 40 years of age as of October 1, 2021 (i.e. born on or after October 2, 1981).
• Academic Background: Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized/accredited university or college, and have achieved excellent academic performance.
• Work Experience: At least 3 years of full-time work experience in public administration (preferably 5 years or more).
• English Ability: A minimum TOEFL iBT score of 79, IELTS Academic score of 6.0 or equivalent.
• Health: Applicants must be judged that you are medically adequate to pursue study in Japan by an examining physician on a prescribed certificate of health.
• Arrival in Japan: In principle, applicants must be able to arrive in Japan during the period specified by GRIPS, within two weeks before and after the first day of the course conducted by the accepting university. If the applicant cannot arrive in Japan during the specified period for personal reasons, travel expenses to Japan will not be paid.
• Visa Requirement: In principle, a selected applicant must obtain a “Student” (留学) visa at the Japanese diplomatic mission located in the applicant’s country of nationality, and enter Japan with the residence status of “Student.” Applicants who change their residence status to any status other than “Student” (留 学) after their arrival in Japan will immediately lose their status as a MEXT Scholarship student.

Scholarship Benefits 

• Allowance: 242,000 yen per month. Due to the situation of the Japanese Government’s budget, the amount of payment may be subject to change each fiscal year. The scholarship will not be paid to a grantee who takes a leave of absence or is long absent from the assigned university.
• Traveling Costs:
• Transportation to Japan: In principle, MEXT stipulates the travel schedule and route, and provides an economy-class airline ticket from the international airport nearest to his/her home address (in principle, the country of nationality) to Narita or Haneda International Airport. The grantee shall bear at his/her own expense all costs related to domestic travel from his/her home address to the nearest international airport, airport taxes, airport usage fees, special taxes necessary for travel, travel expenses within Japan (including airline transit costs), travel insurance expenses, carry-on luggage or unaccompanied baggage expenses, etc. The present address in the country of the grantee’s nationality stated in the application form is in principle regarded as the recipient’s “home address”. If, however, the address stated in the application form will be changed at the time of leaving from his/her country, the changed address will be regarded as the “home address”.
• Transportation from Japan: Based on the application by the grantee, MEXT will provide an airline ticket to grantees who shall graduate the accepting university and return to the home country by the end of the final month of the period of scholarship (See “3. Period of Scholarship”) designated by MEXT. MEXT, in principle, shall provide an economy-class airline ticket from Narita or Haneda International Airport to the international airport (in principle, in the country of nationality) nearest to the returning grantee’s residence. The grantee shall bear at his/her own expense all costs related to travel from the grantee’s residence in Japan to Narita or Haneda international airport, airport taxes, airport usage fees, special taxes necessary for travel, travel expenses within the country of nationality (including airline transit costs), travel insurance expenses, carry-on luggage or unaccompanied baggage expenses, etc.
• Education Fees: Fees for entrance examination, matriculation and tuition will be paid by MEXT.
• Accommodations:
• In principle, grantees may reside at residence halls provided by GRIPS.
• Private Boarding Houses or Apartment Houses:

Those who cannot accommodate in the facilities described above will be arranged at private boarding houses or apartments recommended by the GRIPS Student Office.