MEXT Scholarship (Graduate Students) 2017

[hsark]

Hey there!
I have just found this forum, and wish I had known about it earlier. You guys have shared a lot of the concerns and troubles I felt too. I am one of the applicant's to the MEXT 2017, from Brazil, and got a LoA to Nagoya (which is my intended University). Nice to meet you all!

Ola and welcome!

I spoke to my Embassy they said we should start hearing results from late Nov/December but the process has already started with MEXT Japan well tomorrow 3rd Oct

 

[indojindesu]

Ola and welcome!

I spoke to my Embassy they said we should start hearing results from late Nov/December but the process has already started with MEXT Japan well tomorrow 3rd Oct

we were told early Jan.

How did you know about the october thing? (Just curious)

 

[hsark]

I was asking one the Embassy people handling the LOA what would happen if you submitted after the deadline(problem with post or communication) and he mentioned that MEXT would start processing the applications this month in Tokyo.......it make sense I suppose they have to organise all those applications....contact universities and verify the info in the space of 2-3months and still have their internal meetings on placements.........

 

[AruanM]

Thank you! Here they said that they would confirm right before Christmas. Not sure if this has been raised previously, but I have been informed that it is very difficult to be rejected by now. Were you informed the same?

 

[dauntless]

Yes, one of the ladies from the Embassy said that I can even pack my things until I hear about the confirmation. I'm very happy guys. I really wish the time passes fast

 

[Frida]

That's so nice of them.

Here in Mexico there are 11 places, and 15 people passed the preliminary selection, so there's 4 people that won't make it till the end >____<

 

[dauntless]

That's so nice of them.

Here in Mexico there are 11 places, and 15 people passed the preliminary selection, so there's 4 people that won't make it till the end >____<

It seems that there is a big difference in the selection process of each country.
Hope you pass through the second selection.

 

[indojindesu]

Not sure how many candidates are recommended from India but I think there are waitlisted people too, so there is a chance of more people being recommended. We weren't told anything about the secondary screening.
Its very scary XD

Also, Is there anyone who has chosen october departure?

 

[AruanM]

I chose April, as my knowledge in Japanese is basically zero (I have started studying the language just recently), and I want those six months of language training before applying to the MA test. But from what I have heard of the high temperature and humidity summers in Japan, October would not had been a bad choice either.

 

[Frida]

I just got word from Kyoto University that I have passed the admission examination for the MA and that they will inform MEXT that, if I get the scholarship with them, I would start directly into the MA, no research student period.

Although I am very happy to have received this news, I'm also sad to think I will not have the opportunity to study Japanese. Mixed feelings... I'm almost wishing I don't get placed at KyoDai... which I think is almost impossible, considering my other 2 options were private Universities and that MEXT would be paying 1 year less for me >___________<

but... anyways... hooray! XD

 

[Kiraboshii]

I just got word from Kyoto University that I have passed the admission examination for the MA and that they will inform MEXT that, if I get the scholarship with them, I would start directly into the MA, no research student period.

Although I am very happy to have received this news, I'm also sad to think I will not have the opportunity to study Japanese. Mixed feelings... I'm almost wishing I don't get placed at KyoDai... which I think is almost impossible, considering my other 2 options were private Universities and that MEXT would be paying 1 year less for me >___________<

but... anyways... hooray! XD

I'm actually a little jealous! I wanted to jump right in but my advisor said they're changing the structure of the degree I want to enter at Keio, and I will have to take some regular Japanese classes if I want to get enough credits. I have passable conversational Japanese but nothing up near an academic level, so I think I will have to spend a year getting that up to standard before I can actually start working on my research, haha. Good luck regardless! I hope you get something that works out for you.

I also opted for April departure, but the course I want has both April and October entry.

 

[AruanM]

I'm actually a little jealous! I wanted to jump right in but my advisor said they're changing the structure of the degree I want to enter at Keio, and I will have to take some regular Japanese classes if I want to get enough credits. I have passable conversational Japanese but nothing up near an academic level, so I think I will have to spend a year getting that up to standard before I can actually start working on my research, haha. Good luck regardless! I hope you get something that works out for you.

I also opted for April departure, but the course I want has both April and October entry.

Got a little jealous too, but mainly because I'm not sure what to expect from the MA entrance exam. Either way, I believe that these six months will be useful to get acquainted with everything over there.

On another subject, are you people intending to stay in university dormitories or will you attempt to rent a place? I've seen little coverage of this topic, sorry if this has been already discussed at some point.

 

[indojindesu]

Got a little jealous too, but mainly because I'm not sure what to expect from the MA entrance exam. Either way, I believe that these six months will be useful to get acquainted with everything over there.

On another subject, are you people intending to stay in university dormitories or will you attempt to rent a place? I've seen little coverage of this topic, sorry if this has been already discussed at some point.

No this hasn't been discussed yet. I think most of us are really worried about the secondary screening to think about dorms and everything right now haha

Now that I think about it, I'l probably go for a dorm because its convenient. Afterwards (maybe) I'l consider moving into a apartment.

 

[Kiraboshii]

I'm thinking of moving in to a dorm at first, but definitely looking at an apartment later. I know Keio's dorms, and if MEXT students get the same discount as short term exchange students, the rent is really good for the location + facilities. But if everything goes to plan, I'll be on the Shonan-Fujisawa campus once I start the Masters properly, which is over an hour away from all of their dorms! I've been looking at places like Oakhouse/Sakurahouse/Gaijinpot listings to get an idea of what to expect when I do go apartment hunting on my own.

I'm a little worried about Todai's Komaba dorm, because I've heard it's the party dorm and I'm really not that kind of person. But looking at the maps etc it looks like it'd be really expensive to rent close to campus - good thing I don't mind travel! I'm not sure about Waseda's dorms but either way, I'd like to have my own place.

 

[madphysicist]

Often the dorms are much cheaper than private apartments. So if you are in a big city it might just be a matter of whether you can afford to move out of the dorms. Also remember whenever you move into a new apartment you need to pay a deposit and "key money" and whatever other random charges they throw at you in addition to the rent.

I imagine I'll stay in the dorm as long as I can as long as there are no big issues (excessive noise, broken appliances, threatening housemates... I've had a lot of problems with accommodation in my time). It's a good way to meet people and probably more conveniently located than an affordable private apartment.

 

[Kiraboshii]

You can always negotiate for no key money, and there are sharehouses and guesthouses as well as apartments. Actually, I looked up some apartments on Oakhouse near where my old dorm was and they were much cheaper than the non-subsidised rent for the dorms (and a little cheaper than the subsidised rent), so that's another thing to check! There are so many options for living though, I'm sure everyone will find somewhere that suits them the best. I've been living in shared accommodation for so long, I'm really excited at the chance to have my own space haha.

Looking through listings is probably not the best thing to help deal with the wait, but I can't help but want to search up everything in anticipation...

 

[Kiraboshii]

accidental double post

 

[Frida]

I've lived on my own for sooooo long now that it's not even funny to think about sharing my space with a complete stranger XD
Besides, a lot of people is already planning on visiting me if I go to Japan, so I would like to be able to have them over.

I know the dorms would be ideal just as a start, but I would be eager to get my own space as soon as I can.

 

[AruanM]

Well, the dorms seemed pretty complete (at least the ones listed in Nagoya University), despite their very small size. I am still trying to figure out how one can have a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom in 14m². So, even in a dorm, I'd still be living by myself, and social interactions would be limited to common areas only, I guess. Could anyone with experience in this area confirm my thoughts?

As to costing, Nagoya is a little cheaper than Tokyo, but not that much. Half the scholarship would be used to pay for housing items, such as the rent itself, gas, electricity, water, etc. A dorm would be 20k tops, all included. That alone is enough reason for me to be in one.

Finally, does anyone know how it works to apply for a dorm? I'm waiting for the second screening results to start that, but at the same time I'm afraid there won't be any room left.

 

[Kiraboshii]

Well, the dorms seemed pretty complete (at least the ones listed in Nagoya University), despite their very small size. I am still trying to figure out how one can have a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom in 14m². So, even in a dorm, I'd still be living by myself, and social interactions would be limited to common areas only, I guess. Could anyone with experience in this area confirm my thoughts?

It depends on the dorm itself. I actually lived in one that was like its own apartment, and it didn't have any set areas to meet with people. Subsidised rent was 60k, but for regular students it was closer to 100k (located in Kawasaki). I had a scholarship of about 80k a month + a two-day part time job and I lived pretty comfortably, but I don't eat or go out much! There were other dorms where you just your bed/desk and shared for kitchen, showers, laundry, etc, and some where you had roommates and didn't get your own space. You also have to think about things like curfews and whether you're allowed guests over - it was broad policy that everyone had to be back by 12am and no guests, ever, but my dorm manager was really lax and let us do whatever we want. Some of the other dorms weren't as nice and people did get locked out if they stayed out past curfew.

For Keio at least, when I applied as an undergrad exchange student, they let us know when dorm applications were open and we had to send in a list with our preferences - first in, best dressed. For the September/October semester, it opened around July, so I'm sure there will be plenty of time even if you find out the second screening results in February for an April departure. I know that some other universities don't let MEXT students chose their dorm (as in, they have one dorm for MEXT recipients), and others that might not let you stay the whole time because they need the rooms for other students (and in the case of subsidised rooms and private universities, they'll probably kick you out so they can get full paying people in haha).

And for the make-up of Japanese rooms... don't think of them as 'bedroom', 'kitchen', etc. Most of the time in this kind of set-up the kitchen will be in the hallway which leads to your single large room - the 'bedroom', but also your main/only living space. Bathrooms are quite small and basically are big enough to fit in what they need to. It's compact living, but for someone who isn't really in to fuss and likes to have just what they need, it's a pretty good set-up!

 

[madphysicist]

You can always negotiate for no key money

Not really... These things are rarely negotiable. Especially as a foreigner.

Anyway I just point that out in order to say, make sure you check out the apartment properly before moving in because there will be a lot of upfront costs involved that you can't get back if you decide you don't like it. Sometimes they advertise no key money but then they might get you on some other charge that's essentially the same.

and there are sharehouses and guesthouses as well as apartments

True but there is not really much difference between your average dorm and a sharehouse. If someone really wants their own space, they should get a whole apartment IMO. (The "private apartment"-type dorm is rare I believe.)

Finally, does anyone know how it works to apply for a dorm? I'm waiting for the second screening results to start that, but at the same time I'm afraid there won't be any room left.

If you look at the thread from last year, it appears that most people were contacted directly by the university they were placed in about dorm applications. Sometimes they were contacted even before the official second screening result. As already mentioned, some universities place all MEXT students in the same dorm every year, so you may not have any choice.

I am still trying to figure out how one can have a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom in 14m².

I stayed in a room in Tokyo that was less than 14m2. Most private apartments for students are like a tiny studio apartment, only the bathroom/toilet is separate. Sharehouses or dorms sometimes have the kitchen in the corridor, depends. Everything's smaller in Japan lol.

 

[Kiraboshii]

Not really... These things are rarely negotiable. Especially as a foreigner.

Anyway I just point that out in order to say, make sure you check out the apartment properly before moving in because there will be a lot of upfront costs involved that you can't get back if you decide you don't like it. Sometimes they advertise no key money but then they might get you on some other charge that's essentially the same.



True but there is not really much difference between your average dorm and a sharehouse. If someone really wants their own space, they should get a whole apartment IMO. (The "private apartment"-type dorm is rare I believe.)

But it can be done c; Of course you never want to go in to a contract without discussion, negotiation, seeing what's going on with the place, etc. But like I said before - there are so many options (and there are cases where I would prefer a guesthouse to a dorm, etc), I'm sure everyone will be able to find something that suits them.

 

[bononogram]

The most important thing to be careful about when staying in the dorm - avoid foreigners looking to practise (only) english.

Get out and away from that bubble. You didn't come to Japan to speak vague, spotty english with someone who uses it as their third or fourth language (did you?).

Other than that, every dorm is different - some can be great, some can be terrible.

 

[AruanM]

Subsidised rent was 60k, but for regular students it was closer to 100k

Are you talking of a monthly or six months based payment?

For Keio at least, when I applied as an undergrad exchange student, they let us know when dorm applications were open and we had to send in a list with our preferences - first in, best dressed. For the September/October semester, it opened around July, so I'm sure there will be plenty of time even if you find out the second screening results in February for an April departure.

Thanks! That puts my mind at ease for the moment.

And for the make-up of Japanese rooms... don't think of them as 'bedroom', 'kitchen', etc. Most of the time in this kind of set-up the kitchen will be in the hallway which leads to your single large room - the 'bedroom', but also your main/only living space.

I stayed in a room in Tokyo that was less than 14m2. Most private apartments for students are like a tiny studio apartment, only the bathroom/toilet is separate. Sharehouses or dorms sometimes have the kitchen in the corridor, depends. Everything's smaller in Japan lol.

Yeah, after raising the topic I saw some videos on YouTube of people presenting their dorms/aps. Very clever space saving engineering.

f you look at the thread from last year, it appears that most people were contacted directly by the university they were placed in about dorm applications. Sometimes they were contacted even before the official second screening result. As already mentioned, some universities place all MEXT students in the same dorm every year, so you may not have any choice.

Thank you, and sorry for not noticing the previous post. I know how annoying people asking answered questions can be.

The most important thing to be careful about when staying in the dorm - avoid foreigners looking to practise (only) english.

Get out and away from that bubble. You didn't come to Japan to speak vague, spotty english with someone who uses it as their third or fourth language (did you?).

Couldn't agree more. I used to be an English teacher in Brazil a couple of years ago, and most of my students that had gone abroad used to asked me for tips on how to maximize their language learning. Single advice, don't meet any Brazilians, simple as that. I believe the same will apply to myself in Japan, as it is my intention to learn the Language. Actually, my MA kind of depends on this.

 

[Kiraboshii]

Are you talking of a monthly or six months based payment?

Monthly payment.