MEXT Scholarship for Postgraduate 2009: Post Application

[maaya]

Actually, once I get a Japanese bank account, I will probably just get my parents, who will be in charge of my account back home, to do a direct bank transfer if/when I need some extra funds. That has got to be cheaper than withdrawing money at an ATM.

Actually, I wouldn't be so sure that the bank transfer will be cheaper. But maybe it will be between Israel an Japan. Does Isreal has some special international agreements with Japan, so that you can transfer money cheaply? Once I tried to make a bank transfer to my friend in Japan. At the end, the transfer failed and the money came back to me. I lost 50 euro in the process (bank transfer fees and conversion from euro->yen and then yen->euro). I guess the cost of the bank transfer might have been about 25 euro, I don't remember anymore (I only memorized how much I lost ).

 

[jim84]

25 euros per transaction? that sucks man!
then what should we do? bring cash and handcuff the suitcase to our wrist? =p

 

[Vyen]

Mailing list?? I dont even know who are they.. LoL.. Can ask Ms Yin to do it for us since she visit this forum...

actually we can get the email address of all of the malaysian recipient from Ms Yin's email which she sent to us previously. Try to search from there...

 

[jim84]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[kouki]

I don't know what will she say if she sees this... ☝

 

[menrui]

*cough* don't do it *cough*

speaking of money transfers~~ My bank credit/debit card allows me to withdraw cash with a 2% processing fee, which is actually really good. I think that is the same rate as a travelers check. Maybe you guys can use travelers check instead of carrying all the cash?

But, I really don't want to exchange into yen right now since the yen got stronger during the recession.

 

[clockworkorange]

Hi guys,

I wanted to ask those going in October...have any of u guys contacted the university regarding accommodation yet? Or will you all be waiting for July, which is the period of applying for the October intake?

 

[menrui]

Oh, and earlier, someone asked a question about entrance exam, but was ignored . It seems as if, if you are under the scholarship, then you can only enter graduate school at the same university that you are attending as a research student. Here is a line from the guideline:

(6) If a grantee desires to step up to a regular graduate course from a Research Student course, in principle he/she must move on to
the graduate school of the university at which he/she is studying as Research Student. If proceeding to such graduate school is
deemed inappropriate given the grantee's major field or ability, he/she may be allowed to move on to another graduate school
provided that he/she is admitted.

 

[c0ok1e]

speaking about research student,a question just cam eup my mind..

Just wanna ask if all of u have to sit for the research student for 2 yrs before being able to start your masters or we will be able to take the entrance exam this year then straight start our masters?? if need to sit for 2 yrs research student imagine how old we will b when we graduate from phd...

 

[jim84]

speaking about research student,a question just cam eup my mind..
Just wanna ask if all of u have to sit for the research student for 2 yrs before being able to start your masters or we will be able to take the entrance exam this year then straight start our masters?? if need to sit for 2 yrs research student imagine how old we will b when we graduate from phd...

Basically you need to pass the entrance exam to be granted "graduate student" status, if not exempted.
If not, you will be under 'research student' status. You need a status to be granted a VISA. Let it be graduate or research student.
So if you're not granted exemption, you are a research student.
When you hold a 'research student' status, your VISA is maximum 2 years.

The 2 years research student phase is not strictly and compulsory 2 years, it depends on how soon you are able to pass the entrance exam and upgrade your status. If your Uni allows you to take it by end of this year, then it'll be great, most of us have to sit for it in February next year.
Graduate school is generally 2 years.
So if you work out the Math, it's minimum 3 years, maximum 4 years to get your master's. Unless you can find other ways to shorten it, such as taking an earlier entrance exam, complete your research earlier and so on.
Did i answer your question?

 

[kouki]

Updates
Cash to Bring
From the handbook given, we should bring USD 1500 + transport fee to our respective universities. Other fees like airport tax and others, we would have to prepare that as well.

Stipends
It is confirmed that our stipends will be reduced, but not yet received any formal notice from MEXT.

Send-Off Ceremony for Malaysian Scholars
There will be no parking for us... unless you want to do illegal parking

>clockworkorange
I have not yet contacted my university. I will send an e-mail to the international student office of my university later on. I would suggest you to ask are there any follow up steps which I should be followin g at the moment.

 

[eucalyptus]

thanx for the invitation ooillingfan!!! totally have no idea about this forum before
seems like ive missed a lot here - and everyone's already actively involved!!
btw, i'm going to Todai this April - Graduate School of Frontier Sciences~~ is there anyone else??
jz read through the package and boy, there's so many things to do!! and being superbly insecure before, i didn't exactly make any specific arrangements there.. am i in danger?? do u guys think there'll be enough time for me to get prepared??
since i am relatively new here - onegaishimasu!! (uh-oh i hv2 to work on my japanese too )

 

[c0ok1e]

ooilingfan,
kind of answered my question. means that nobody knows how long they gonna do their masters but rushing to pass the entrance exam as soon as possible

eucalyptus,
wow.. frontier science sounds really really high tech.. engineering based or biology??

menrui,
so wheres the promised facebook group? been waiting so long for it.. hehe..

 

[clockworkorange]

eucalyptus, hello!!

I'm going to todai too!! but only in october.

Nice to meet you!!!

 

[c0ok1e]

where is todai? near north, center or south?

 

[jim84]

thanx for the invitation ooillingfan!!! totally have no idea about this forum before
seems like ive missed a lot here - and everyone's already actively involved!!
btw, i'm going to Todai this April - Graduate School of Frontier Sciences~~ is there anyone else??
jz read through the package and boy, there's so many things to do!! and being superbly insecure before, i didn't exactly make any specific arrangements there.. am i in danger?? do u guys think there'll be enough time for me to get prepared??
since i am relatively new here - onegaishimasu!! (uh-oh i hv2 to work on my japanese too )

Welcome Eucalyptus!
Don't worry, we're all at the same stage now. Some even way ahead of others, such as having good command of the Japanese Language. I'm at JLPT 5 or 6 basically =p.
I'm jealous! I applied to a few profs in Frontier Sciences but nobody replied me.

Btw guys, I got some updates from my Uni student centre:
So basically you can go to the dormitory directly.
(In case the plane arrive Japan too late, you may have to stay at hotel one night.
So menrui, do take note. Check your arrival time and update ISC. =)

 

[kouki]

>eucalyptus
Welcome!
>c0ok1e
Usually the Imperial Universities (the older seven universities) has the short form of their universities.
Todai（東大）=University of Tokyo（東京大学）
Kyodai(京大)＝Kyoto University(京都大学)
Handai (阪大)= Osaka University(大阪大学)
Hokudai(北大) = University of Hokkaido (北海道大学)
Tohokudai (東北大)= Tohoku University（東北大学）
Kyudai（九大） = Kyushu University(九州大学)
Meidai (名大)= Nagoya University(名古屋大学)
There are another two private universities which are very famous, due to their histories:
Sodai(早大)＝Waseda University(早稲田大学)
Keio（慶応）＝Keio University（慶応義塾大学）

>ooilingfan
I suppose if your plane is late, you will have to stay hotel or somewhere and you will need to pay your accomodation yourself?

>Everyone else
Can we compile a 'To Do' list before our departure?

>Malaysians
I read that we have to write a letter of acceptance? Any idea on how to write that?

 

[eucalyptus]

c0ok1e:

well, it's basically a combination of both disciplines
todai, as kouki explained, Uni of Tokyo is located in Tokyo. yet my campus is not - it's located in Chiba. I am still working on the locations of places

clockworkorange:

hello to you too!!!
which campus will you be in?? mine's in Kashiwa~
october eyh?? ☝ great to know!!

ooilingfan:

hello there!!! oh my, it'd be really great if you got in GSFS too!! i'll be so bummed if i'm stuck alone there

kouki:
Hello kouki!

urm regarding the acceptance letter, I haven't done mine yet. Planning to submit it next week. However, normally acceptance letter should be simple. something like: thanking them for the selection, then say sthing like "i herewith accept this offer.." yadda yadda.. shouldn't be too long cz their intention is to have our agreement in black & white only i presume.
and yes, i am 120% with you on the to-do list!! (especially beneficial for someone with STML - short term memory loss - like me!!!! )

 

[kouki]

To do list

By 10 March 2009 (Deadline for Malaysians only)Return the slip of attendance for the Send-off Ceremony (Malaysians only)

By 13 March 2009 (Deadline for Malaysians only)
1 Return the letter of pledge
2 Write a letter of acceptance of the scholarship (Malaysians only)
3 Submit with a copy of the passport

As of Departure
1 Valid passport
2 Visa (Status: College Student)
3 Money (USD 1500 or equivalent)
4 Photographs 10x 4.5cmx3.5cm
5 Air Tickets
6 Traveller's Insurance (optional)

 

[c0ok1e]

someone said earlier that we receive a thick manual on japan life mana tau i only receive a 100 page book.. i tot thick will be around few hundred pages.. did u guys receive the same thing?

 

[cktey]

cookie,

Yes that's only what I received.

I have met Ms Yin to submit the letter of acceptance and the required attachments, but can't do the visa yet before I renew my passport (though the passport lasts until Nov 2010 - better renew it for peace of mind >.<). Therefore just to remind all pals there to check your passport validity period ^^

 

[menrui]

cookie,
yes we will be "old" when we graduate from the PhD courses. But your not getting any younger, so don't worry about it and live in the moment. About facebook, hehe it didn't seem like a popular idea so I didn't make one.

ooilingfan,
I am taking notes... hmm, I didn't get that email.

kouki,
yes, ever since they have been "cutting back," it seems like the student are now responsible for all accommodations after arrival. I would suggest staying at a internet cafe haha. Its much less paper work and such, and you are only staying for 1 night.

 

[kouki]

>c0ok1e

It is considerably thick, as what we got is a reduced version (2 pages in one). Haha. What makes you think it is even thinner is that because it is done bilingually. Don't be disappointed. You will get more information when you go to the embassy. There are some useful articles there too. You can try get a copy of 'A Guide to Japan', meant for tourists... You can refer to the pdf for the international students in JASSO webpage.

I think what that person tried to say is that there are many information to be process from that handbook.

>menrui
Are you sure you can get empty seats there? I heard since the economy slumped, many of them are opting for staying overnight in the internet cafes. I think airport would sound better...

You can keep on doing that facebook. I see some of us are expecting your announcement of the group.

>cktey
I thought at least 6 months of validity would be sufficient? As we can go to the embassy of Malaysia in Shibuya, Tokyo later?

 

[c0ok1e]

So anyone have a better sugegstion how we could get together?

 

[maaya]

I think a facebook group would be nice - that way we could see each others photos for example, and recognize ourselves when we meet at the airport or on the campus.

I hope we'll arrive on time so that we can get to the dormitory without staying somewhere overnight. There's a public transport until 12 o'clock in the evening, so it should be ok I guess.