MEXT Scholarship (Research/Graduate students) 2018

[Alexaandra12]

I have been invited to the Japanese Embassy in Sweden next Monday for a English exam, Japanese Exam and Interview!
I'm so excited and worried something will go wrong. Also I wrote that I know next to no Japanese, the plan is the do the courses in English while I'm in Japan, do I still have to do the Japanese exam and what should I expect from that interview?

Great! Good luck!

 

[melokaan]

I have been invited to the Japanese Embassy in Sweden next Monday for a English exam, Japanese Exam and Interview!
I'm so excited and worried something will go wrong. Also I wrote that I know next to no Japanese, the plan is the do the courses in English while I'm in Japan, do I still have to do the Japanese exam and what should I expect from that interview?

From what I gathered they ask about your motivation, how you'll adapt to life in Japan, how you think you'll do your research ....

 

[unnecesart]

Had my interview a few days ago. It all went fine, except for the fact that one of four interviewers had a really thick accent, so I sometimes couldn't understand her. She even had to dismiss a question, because I just couldn't get what she was saying.
I'm kinda freaking out right now, as I have a month to wait for an answer, and I'm sure that I've failed because of me not understanding a question of hers.
So practice understanding Japanese accent, it may be helpful!

 

[Alyssa]

Had my interview a few days ago. It all went fine, except for the fact that one of four interviewers had a really thick accent, so I sometimes couldn't understand her. She even had to dismiss a question, because I just couldn't get what she was saying.
I'm kinda freaking out right now, as I have a month to wait for an answer, and I'm sure that I've failed because of me not understanding a question of hers.
So practice understanding Japanese accent, it may be helpful!

What did they ask in your interview? And I don't think you will fail just because you didn't understand one question, so keep hoping. Good luck.

 

[unnecesart]

What did they ask in your interview? And I don't think you will fail just because you didn't understand one question, so keep hoping. Good luck.

Thanks, I guess it just all that stress that went into the admission. Yeah, let's hope.

So, they've asked really typical questions:
Why are you interested in Japan?
In what universities do you want to study?
Have you contacted any of the professors?
Do you think you will have any troubles living in Japan?
They also had a specialist for engineering degrees, so he too asked me a technical question.

I think that's all.

 

[Alyssa]

Thanks, I guess it just all that stress that went into the admission. Yeah, let's hope.

So, they've asked really typical questions:
Why are you interested in Japan?
In what universities do you want to study?
Have you contacted any of the professors?
Do you think you will have any troubles living in Japan?
They also had a specialist for engineering degrees, so he too asked me a technical question.

I think that's all.

Thanks for sharing your interview experience. I am still waiting for document screening result. Best wishes for both of us.

 

[Centuries]

Hm, they asked if you contacted professors already? Is it bad to not have had contact...? I have read not to contact : ( confusing

 

[Tom48]

Some embassies seem to have a quick turnaround - is it always around a week before the interview you find out if you've been selected?

I'm assuming UK applicants won't hear for a while - the deadline for the application was 1 June but the interviews and exams aren't until 17 or 18th July

 

[Lowlow]

I have been invited to the Japanese Embassy in Sweden next Monday for a English exam, Japanese Exam and Interview!
I'm so excited and worried something will go wrong. Also I wrote that I know next to no Japanese, the plan is the do the courses in English while I'm in Japan, do I still have to do the Japanese exam and what should I expect from that interview?

Congrats....Was it the same Field of Study

 

[Lowlow]

Hey how many copies of the applications is one to submit

 

[Alexaandra12]

Hey how many copies of the applications is one to submit

My state's Embassy guidelines said to submit one original and two copies.

 

[Lowlow]

My state's Embassy guidelines said to submit one original and two copies.[/QUOTE
OK i know this is kinda stupid but im still confused. They encourage you not to submit original as you wont get them back... Do they mean one copy and two certified copies

 

[Alexaandra12]

Yes, but be sure to check the guidelines on your Embassy 's website. It may be different where you're from.

 

[Lowlow]

Yes, but be sure to check the guidelines on your Embassy 's website. It may be different where you're from.

Oh ok Thank you very much

 

[Alexaandra12]

For those who went through American Embassies, how long after the deadline did they notify you about the interview?

 

[Centuries]

For those who went through American Embassies, how long after the deadline did they notify you about the interview?

Hey, I went through an American embassy (Boston), and they notified me a couple hours after the deadline. They also already had an interview date scheduled on their website, though: seems like they have everything planned out ahead of time. Which embassy did you go through?

 

[Alexaandra12]

Hey, I went through an American embassy (Boston), and they notified me a couple hours after the deadline. They also already had an interview date scheduled on their website, though: seems like they have everything planned out ahead of time. Which embassy did you go through?

Atlanta. The deadline is tomorrow but I submitted mine like a month ago.

 

[Akumzui]

Atlanta. The deadline is tomorrow but I submitted mine like a month ago.

Denver for me. Deadline was last Wednesday. Haven't heard back.

 

[SayuKami21]

Hello!! I have the language tests tomorrow and I'm really nervous, is there any advice you could give me?

Hello guys,
So I applied for the Scholarship one day before the deadline on June 2nd (MBA). I went directly to the embassy in Chicago and submitted my paperwork alongside a friend who is also applying (PHD). Today June 7th he got an email notifying him that he was selected for an interview on June 15th . I have not gotten anything yet, do you guys think I still have a chance? Do they send all notifications at the same time? Do you guys know if they send rejection notifications too?
The wait is literally killing me :S

Well my embassy sends an email before the deadline to everyone who made it, and then the day of the deadline they send an email to all the people that didn't

 

[Centuries]

Good luck, Alexaandra and Akumzui - I truly think all embassies are different, even between American ones. I wish I could help more. : (

SayuKami, I am taking the language exams tomorrow as well. Best of luck to you.

EDIT: I was typing on my phone and pressed enter too early... I just want to say that I am nervous about my Japanese language level, but I've been told to "sell yourself" in the interview if they have concerns about it. Have you done foreign research before? Lived in Japan before? Talk about programs you are in now for language study.

Also, take deep breaths and focus on long breaths out - breathing in tenses your muscles, while breathing out relaxes them! I hope this helps a little.

 

[Isaberu]

Hey! Good luck @SayuKami21 and @Centuries! I think that the most important thing is to have in your mind very clear what are you going to research in Japan, and how that research would contribute to your home country and to Japan.

Hope it helps! I'll waiting for your news!

 

[SayuKami21]

Hello! Just took them! Gotta wait for the results! Hopefully I will get called to the interview! aghh I'm so nervous, I'm not sure if my level of Japanese is acceptable.

 

[Centuries]

What a whirlwind.

I had my tests today: my Japanese is not great at all, so I knew I would not do well on that exam. I passed the English exam and thus was invited to interview. The exams were held in the morning and graded over lunch: the interviews were held after lunch.

There were four research candidates total and we all passed the exams and were interviewed. My interview was last, and hoo boy. There were three interviewers on the panel, and one of them misunderstood what I was planning to study. I suppose he saw "art" and thought "making art", but I had to explain and defend myself that I was not pursuing that. The language was a common topic of discussion, since I do have poor skill, and I was ready to converse about it. They asked me about language barriers and my research abroad I did previously. Overall, the questions were VERY tailored to me: I was not asked anything generic, which surprised me. I think the person who misunderstood my proposal took up some time with strange, irrelevant questions, but I was able to clear it up.

According to the other applicants, the person who gave me a hard time also gave them a hard time. He picked apart their proposals and was very negative. I think he was the "bad cop" and was trying to make the applicants slip up or fluster them. I held my ground and defended well: just stay calm if this happens to you! It could be an act!

I do not think I will pass the interview. My language skills were a concern, and I respect that. It was a long day and I am just so happy that I even made it this far in the process! I made friends with the other applicants who are all just stellar, and I wish them all the best!

Good luck to everyone!

 

[Isaberu]

What a whirlwind.

I had my tests today: my Japanese is not great at all, so I knew I would not do well on that exam. I passed the English exam and thus was invited to interview. The exams were held in the morning and graded over lunch: the interviews were held after lunch.

There were four research candidates total and we all passed the exams and were interviewed. My interview was last, and hoo boy. There were three interviewers on the panel, and one of them misunderstood what I was planning to study. I suppose he saw "art" and thought "making art", but I had to explain and defend myself that I was not pursuing that. The language was a common topic of discussion, since I do have poor skill, and I was ready to converse about it. They asked me about language barriers and my research abroad I did previously. Overall, the questions were VERY tailored to me: I was not asked anything generic, which surprised me. I think the person who misunderstood my proposal took up some time with strange, irrelevant questions, but I was able to clear it up.

According to the other applicants, the person who gave me a hard time also gave them a hard time. He picked apart their proposals and was very negative. I think he was the "bad cop" and was trying to make the applicants slip up or fluster them. I held my ground and defended well: just stay calm if this happens to you! It could be an act!

I do not think I will pass the interview. My language skills were a concern, and I respect that. It was a long day and I am just so happy that I even made it this far in the process! I made friends with the other applicants who are all just stellar, and I wish them all the best!

Good luck to everyone!

Dear Centuries,

Excuse me my question, but, why do you say your language skills are poor? Were you interviewed in japanese?

Good energies for both of you! I suppose you'll be notify the next week, aren't you?

 

[Centuries]

Dear Centuries,

Excuse me my question, but, why do you say your language skills are poor? Were you interviewed in japanese?

Good energies for both of you! I suppose you'll be notify the next week, aren't you?

My level is a solid N5, so I am applying for programs in English. The scholarship says that you don't need Japanese language, but my embassy seemed to believe that I needed the language to be picked.