Japan Scholarships

Good news for Ghanaian teachers! The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) of Japan offers scholarships to Ghanaian teachers who wish to conduct research in the field of school education at designated Japanese universities. These scholarships are part of the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program, specifically designed for teachers to enhance their professional development and deepen their knowledge in education through advanced studies in Japan.

Eligibility:

Nationality Requirement: Applicants must have the nationality of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan.

Japanese Nationality: Those with Japanese nationality at the time of application are not eligible.Dual Nationality: Applicants who have dual nationality (Japanese and another country) are eligible if their place of residence is outside Japan at the time of application. They must choose the nationality of the other country and renounce their Japanese nationality before arriving in Japan.

Age:

In general, the applicant must be born on or after April 2, 1990, to meet the age requirement. However, there are some exceptions where the applicant could be older than this cutoff date if their country’s specific circumstances (such as military service obligations or disruptions due to war) prevented them from applying earlier.

Personal circumstances like financial, family, or health issues will not be considered when determining exceptions to the age limit. This suggests that the program is focused solely on external factors (such as national situations) rather than individual hardships.

Academic and Career Background:

Educational Background and Work Experience:

• Applicants must be graduates of universities or teacher training schools.
• Applicants must have at least five years of teaching experience at primary, secondary, or teacher training schools in their home countries (excluding universities), as of October 1, 2025.
• Current in-service faculty members in higher education institutions (e.g., universities) are not eligible.

Japanese Language and Cultural Adaptability:

• Applicants must be willing to learn Japanese.
• Applicants should be interested in Japan and have a desire to deepen their understanding of the country.
• Applicants should have the ability to conduct research and adapt to living in Japan.

Health: Applicants must submit a health certificate in the prescribed format signed by a physician attesting that the applicant has no physical or mental conditions hindering the applicant’s study in Japan.

Arrival in Japan:

• Applicants must arrive in Japan between two weeks before the course starts and the start date of the course, typically in September or October.
• If an applicant cannot meet this timeline for personal reasons, MEXT will not cover travel expenses. In such cases, applicants must withdraw from the program, unless MEXT deems the circumstances unavoidable.

Visa Requirements:

• Applicants must obtain a “Student” visa from the Japanese diplomatic mission in their home country. This is a mandatory requirement for entering Japan under the MEXT Scholarship.
• Even if an applicant holds a different type of residence status (e.g., “Permanent resident” or “Long-term resident”), they must change it to the “Student” status and re-enter Japan under this status.
• If the grantee does not acquire the “Student” visa before entering Japan, the scholarship will be terminated.

Post-Scholarship Status:

• After completing the MEXT Scholarship program, if the applicant seeks to return to their original residence status (e.g., “Permanent resident”), it is not guaranteed that this status will be granted.

Return and continue to work after the end of the scholarship period:

1. Return to their home country after completing the scholarship period.

2. Resume their work as a teacher at their primary/secondary educational institution or teacher training school.

3. Utilize the research results from their time in Japan in their teaching work back home.

If a guarantee fails this condition, he/she may be ordered to return the entire amount of the scholarship paid during the scholarship period. Do not apply if you are uncertain about your return to your country.

Submission: Completed application forms should be sent to;
The Registrar, Scholarship Secretariat
P.O.Box M75, Accra
Tel: 0302 662681/662732

Submission Deadline: 31st Jan. 2025

Important Notes:

• The scholarship schedule may change or be canceled based on prevailing circumstances.
• Only shortlisted applicants will be notified of the next steps.
• Only shortlisted applicants will be required to submit a medical certificate. The Embassy of Japan in Ghana will notify those selected to submit the certificate.
• Please do not use the forms from the previous year.

For more information, please contact;
     Embassy of Japan in Ghana (Public Relations/ Cultural Section)
     Dr. Hideyo Noguchi Street, West Cantonments
     Tel: 0302765060/1
     E-mail: prudence.kuuridong@ar.mofa.go.jp