During Your MEXT Scholarship: Academic Life and Beyond
Lab culture with unwritten rules. Part-time work that requires permission. Scholarship renewal that depends on your record. And the wild job-hunting process called shukatsu. What life as an active MEXT scholar is like.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
1 min read
Updated Oct 5, 2026
Academic requirements
- Poor grades can result in scholarship suspension or cancellation.
- An extension requires good academic standing and your advisor's support.
- Expect your university to track your academic progress closely.
- Research students can extend from a master's to a PhD with MEXT funding — but only after passing the graduate school's entrance exam and MEXT's own extension review. Moving up without approval means continuing as a privately financed student.
Part-time work
- Part-time work requires special permission from immigration.
- The maximum is 28 hours a week during term and 8 hours a day during breaks.
- Certain industries are prohibited (entertainment, gambling).
- Teaching assistantships at university are often available.
Don't double up
Accepting another scholarship or fellowship from the Japanese government or a related organisation after your MEXT payments start is grounds for cancellation.
Social life
- University clubs (bu-katsu) are the best way to make Japanese friends.
- Every major university has an international student association.
- Deep Japanese friendships take time and language skills.
- Many MEXT scholars form tight-knit communities with other international students.
Understanding academic life is half the preparation. The other half is putting together a strong application from the start: start your application or write your research plan.