KABUL (Pajhwok): The Japanese Embassy in Afghanistan has announced the opening of applications for Japanese Government (MEXT) scholarships for Afghan students, emphasizing that the application process is free of charge and fully funded.
According to the embassy, the scholarships are available only for research students seeking to pursue higher education at Japanese universities. Applications for undergraduate scholarships will not be accepted.
The embassy said it and the Japanese government would independently oversee all screening and selection procedures. The Aga Khan Foundation Afghanistan will assist only in collecting applications and facilitating written examinations and will have no role in selecting candidates.
It added that candidates would be selected fairly and without consideration of religious, linguistic or ethnic identity. Selection will be based solely on the completeness and quality of application documents, as well as performance in written and interview examinations.
The embassy also warned applicants to remain vigilant against fraud, stressing that no payment is required at any stage of the process and that any request for money by a third party could be a scam.
According to the statement, applications will only be accepted through the designated email address, and document screening will be conducted solely on the basis of submitted materials. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The embassy noted that age limits set under MEXT guidelines are final and no exceptions would be made under any circumstances.
Due to the high number of applications received each year, only candidates who pass the document screening stage will be contacted for written examinations. Reasons for acceptance or rejection will not be communicated to applicants.
It also stated that written and interview examinations will be held in Kabul, and remote participation from outside Afghanistan will not be allowed.
The embassy added that examination dates may change if unforeseen circumstances disrupt the schedule, and applicants will be informed in advance of any such changes.
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