The Japanese Embassy in Manila has extended until May 30 the application period for Filipinos interested to apply for the research category of the 2026 Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship program.

Applications for the undergraduate, specialized training, and college of technology categories officially closed on May 23, according to the embassy.

The MEXT research category offers applicants the opportunity to spend 18 or 24 months conducting independent research under a Japanese professor.

Any field of study is eligible for the scholarship, but applicants must find a Japanese professor willing to supervise their research.

The embassy advises interested applicants to check the websites of Japanese universities to look for professors under their desired field of study.

It clarified that this does not guarantee the applicant will be placed with the same professor but said they are allowed to contact the professors directly when they pass the first selection.

Applicants interested in the scholarship may visit the Japanese Embassy website https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000198.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawKeb_tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHqRDXYJ-DDuxdST-M2uvZjbeV9_JqKzGoJH2HDIkM6zXn7LUjwGxh51HyH2A_aem_l3sh8snhdwvwvu83Cx6xwA. (PNA)