The Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta encourages students of Japanese language and culture from Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina to apply for Japanese government financed scholarships for 2015. Applications must by submitted by Feb. 18.

The scholarships funded by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) offer full coverage of tuition and fees, airfare and a monthly living stipend for a year beginning in October.

The requirements, however, are quite stiff. Applicants must be between 18-30 years old and have sufficient Japanese language ability to study at a Japanese university.

They also have to be enrolled at a university outside of Japan as undergraduate students majoring in fields related to the Japanese language or Japanese culture at the time of arriving in and leaving Japan.

Students majoring in fields other than Japanese language or culture who wish to pursue complementary studies in these fields should apply for other scholarships, such as those offered by the Japan Student Services Organization.

Depending on their field of study, applicants have to pass an examination for which they can prepare by studying the questions asked in past years.

There are 56 Japanese universities where applicants who receive the approval of the consulate general may study from the regions of Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, Chugoku, Skikoku, Juysu and Okinawa.

For more information, send an email to mextscholarship@aa.mofa.go.jp or call (404) 240-4300.