Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship for 2026
2025/4/14
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of the Japanese Government offers scholarships for 2026 to Tongan citizens who wish to study in Japan. Its aim is to foster human resources who will become bridges of friendship between Tonga and Japan through study in Japan and who will contribute to the development of both countries and the wider world. All application procedures for scholarships are conducted through the Embassy of Japan in Tonga.
●Undergraduate students (Arrival in Japan: April 2026)
Applicants must be born on or after 2 April 2001. Undergraduate scholarship is available to applicants who want to undertake their undergraduate degree in a Japanese university.
1. Qualifications and Conditions
Please refer to Application Guidelines for more information.
2. Application Forms
Applicants must submit their application or enquire to the Embassy of Japan by 4:00pm 9 June 2025.
Please download necessary documents from Study in Japan website:
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-undergraduate.html
●Specialized Training College students (Arrival in Japan: April 2026)
Applicants must be born on or after 2 April 2001. This scholarship offers a postsecondary course at a specialized training college.
1. Qualifications and Conditions
Please refer to Application Guidelines for more information.
2. Application Forms
Applicants must submit their application or enquire to the Embassy of Japan by 4:00pm 9 June 2025.
Please download necessary documents from Study in Japan website:
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-specialized.html
●College of Technology students (Arrival in Japan: April 2026)
Applicants must be born on or after 2 April 2001. The grantees of this scholarship will be enrolled into the third year of the course at the national institute of technology, receive specialized education for three years prior to graduation and will be awarded a diploma and an academic title of “Associate”.
1. Qualifications and Conditions
Please refer to Application Guidelines for more information.
2. Application Forms
Applicants must submit their application or enquire to the Embassy of Japan by 4:00pm 9 June 2025.
Please download necessary documents from Study in Japan website:
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-technology.html
●Research students (Arrival in Japan: April, September or October 2026)
Applicants must be born on or after 2 April 1991. Each applicant must have an undergraduate degree or equivalent or a higher level of academic ability than a university or college graduate for admission to either a master's or doctoral course.
1. Qualifications and Conditions
Please refer to Application Guidelines for more information.
2. Application Forms
Applicants must submit their application or enquire to the Embassy of Japan by 4:00pm 9 June 2025.
Please download necessary documents from Study in Japan website:
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-research.html
●Helpful Site
The following website may be helpful to select universities and courses in Japan.
●Contact
For further enquiries, please contact:
The Embassy of Japan in Tonga
Level5, National Reserve Bank of Tonga Building,
Nuku'alofa, Kingdom of Tonga
P.O. Box No 330
Tel: (676)22-221
E-mail: ryugaku_embjapan@nu.mofa.go.jp
●Undergraduate students (Arrival in Japan: April 2026)
Applicants must be born on or after 2 April 2001. Undergraduate scholarship is available to applicants who want to undertake their undergraduate degree in a Japanese university.
1. Qualifications and Conditions
Please refer to Application Guidelines for more information.
2. Application Forms
Applicants must submit their application or enquire to the Embassy of Japan by 4:00pm 9 June 2025.
Please download necessary documents from Study in Japan website:
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-undergraduate.html
- The submitted documents will not be returned.
- The Certificate of Health is not necessary at the application stage for applicants from Tongatapu. Only successful applicants will be required to submit after primary selection.
- Applicants from outer islands group must submit a Health Certificate at the application stage.
| Date | Schedule |
| 9 June (4:00pm) | Application close |
| 14 June | Written Examination (Time will be notified to successful applicants) |
| 25 June | Interview (Time will be notified to successful applicants) |
●Specialized Training College students (Arrival in Japan: April 2026)
Applicants must be born on or after 2 April 2001. This scholarship offers a postsecondary course at a specialized training college.
1. Qualifications and Conditions
Please refer to Application Guidelines for more information.
2. Application Forms
Applicants must submit their application or enquire to the Embassy of Japan by 4:00pm 9 June 2025.
Please download necessary documents from Study in Japan website:
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-specialized.html
- The submitted documents will not be returned.
- The Certificate of Health is not necessary at the application stage for applicants from Tongatapu. Only successful applicants will be required to submit after primary selection.
- Applicants from outer islands group must submit a Health Certificate at the application stage.
| Date | Schedule |
| 9 June (4:00pm) | Application close |
| 14 June | Written Examination (Time will be notified to successful applicants) |
| 25 June | Interview (Time will be notified to successful applicants) |
●College of Technology students (Arrival in Japan: April 2026)
Applicants must be born on or after 2 April 2001. The grantees of this scholarship will be enrolled into the third year of the course at the national institute of technology, receive specialized education for three years prior to graduation and will be awarded a diploma and an academic title of “Associate”.
1. Qualifications and Conditions
Please refer to Application Guidelines for more information.
2. Application Forms
Applicants must submit their application or enquire to the Embassy of Japan by 4:00pm 9 June 2025.
Please download necessary documents from Study in Japan website:
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-technology.html
- The submitted documents will not be returned.
- The Certificate of Health is not necessary at the application stage for applicants from Tongatapu. Only successful applicants will be required to submit after primary selection.
- Applicants from outer islands group must submit a Health Certificate at the application stage.
| Date | Schedule |
| 9 June (4:00pm) | Application close |
| 14 June | Written Examination (Time will be notified to successful applicants) |
| 25 June | Interview (Time will be notified to successful applicants) |
●Research students (Arrival in Japan: April, September or October 2026)
Applicants must be born on or after 2 April 1991. Each applicant must have an undergraduate degree or equivalent or a higher level of academic ability than a university or college graduate for admission to either a master's or doctoral course.
1. Qualifications and Conditions
Please refer to Application Guidelines for more information.
2. Application Forms
Applicants must submit their application or enquire to the Embassy of Japan by 4:00pm 9 June 2025.
Please download necessary documents from Study in Japan website:
https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-research.html
- The submitted documents will not be returned.
- The Certificate of Health is not necessary at the application stage for applicants from Tongatapu. Only successful applicants will be required to submit after primary selection.
- Applicants from outer islands group must submit a Health Certificate at the application stage.
| Date | Schedule |
| 9 June (4:00pm) | Application close |
| 21 June | Written Examination (Time will be notified to successful applicants) |
| 25 June | Interview (Time will be notified to successful applicants) |
●Helpful Site
The following website may be helpful to select universities and courses in Japan.
- Schools in Japan http://www.jasso.go.jp/en/study_j/search/index.html
- JAPAN STUDY SUPPORT http://www.jpss.jp/en/search/
- Japanese College and University Portraits https://jpcup.niad.ac.jp
- Past Examinations https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/scholarships/mext-scholarships/examination.html
●Contact
For further enquiries, please contact:
The Embassy of Japan in Tonga
Level5, National Reserve Bank of Tonga Building,
Nuku'alofa, Kingdom of Tonga
P.O. Box No 330
Tel: (676)22-221
E-mail: ryugaku_embjapan@nu.mofa.go.jp