MEXT Scholarship (Research/Graduate students) 2018

[Centuries]

I'd like to add some thoughts:
I've seen this guy's paper referenced often and many people point to it -- in fact, I've seen so many other people copy the structure in their research plans, especially the timetable, and I have to ask myself...how much should one really look at this guys paper? He submitted it in 2007, that's 10 years ago. Did anyone here base their research plan structure on Lars' paper?

I think it is shared a lot because frankly it is one of the best out there. It's well-formatted, written, and articulated. The timeline is so crucial to a research proposal and yet many people omit it.

It's a good reference, but by no means should anyone copy a proposal - but they do anyway. That is why I am wary to post my own, because people do copy and fill in with their own stuff. I took some guidance form Lars' proposal but expanded in the timetable to be more specific and include more concrete dates and scheduling. I also took guidance from academic research proposals not specific to MEXT.

Consider it a reference, not a template.

 

[Centuries]

An update! I received an email from my first choice advisor asking if I was still interested in undergoing MEXT and that he was contacted by the administration to confirm. Kind of an odd question, but it's some contact about results maybe?

 

[Santanu]

An update! I received an email from my first choice advisor asking if I was still interested in undergoing MEXT and that he was contacted by the administration to confirm. Kind of an odd question, but it's some contact about results maybe?

Congratulations dear...
Your waiting period is over, its time to plan to move to Japan.
I think your supervisor is asking as some people move on for better choice and it's no doubt a lengthy process.
May I ask where are you from nd what's your first preference ?

 

[Itasimisete]

I am not comfortable posting my research proposal. However, there are some examples online. Here is one that includes a timetable, which I think is a must for the proposal:

Research Proposal – Lars Martinson: Cartoonist

I am a little confused by your question about having a thesis and the like. Yes, all research should have a thesis and work towards exploring said thesis. A high undergrad GPA also seems to be a must - they do look at them. Is that what you meant? Sorry if I misunderstood you.

I am from the US and haven't heard anything yet either!

I've actually seen his proposal while I was doing research about the MEXT, but I always tend to look up some more examples as you can get quite 'baised' by looking at just one example of course as well. I can fully understand that you don't feel comfortable doing that, no problem at all!

As I have finished a bachelors degree I have never had the structure of that of a Master study. When I look at the MEXT Scholarship guide provided by JASSO they mention that Research students come in two categories:

So, Graduate School Students & Research students, is there any difference between those two? I haven't seen anything about a thesis or someone who actually finished MEXT but normally in Holland, in order to finish a degree you have to pass the 'end thesis' (or what ever you have to deliver) with a certain grade. That is what my confusion is about. If you get the MEXT Scholarship for Research Student, you have to finish a thesis in order to 'complete' it, as in, to graduate from your master I suppose? You can't not hand in a thesis while still studying there if I correctly understand this?

(Sorry, I'm trying to figure everything out but some websites are quite difficult to navigate)


And also: Congrats on the positive message (I suppose). Hopefully everything will work out for you!

 

[Andrik]

I've actually seen his proposal while I was doing research about the MEXT, but I always tend to look up some more examples as you can get quite 'baised' by looking at just one example of course as well. I can fully understand that you don't feel comfortable doing that, no problem at all!

As I have finished a bachelors degree I have never had the structure of that of a Master study. When I look at the MEXT Scholarship guide provided by JASSO they mention that Research students come in two categories:

View attachment 25703

So, Graduate School Students & Research students, is there any difference between those two? I haven't seen anything about a thesis or someone who actually finished MEXT but normally in Holland, in order to finish a degree you have to pass the 'end thesis' (or what ever you have to deliver) with a certain grade. That is what my confusion is about. If you get the MEXT Scholarship for Research Student, you have to finish a thesis in order to 'complete' it, as in, to graduate from your master I suppose? You can't not hand in a thesis while still studying there if I correctly understand this?

(Sorry, I'm trying to figure everything out but some websites are quite difficult to navigate)


And also: Congrats on the positive message (I suppose). Hopefully everything will work out for you!

Hi! I had the same kind of question when I first applied, and here's what my embassy told me:

A Research Student is not enrolled in any degree program, they are there only to do research. They will receive scholarship funding for up to two years only, and I think they receive slightly less money. Since these people aren't enrolled in a degree program, they won't be writing theses.
(In my case, if I am accepted for the scholarship, I would start as a research student until I take and pass the entrance exams for the grad school. Then, as a grad student, I would apply to extend my funding as a graduate student.)

A graduate student is enrolled in a graduate school, and will receive scholarship funding until completion of their program. As far as I know, Masters' programs in Japan require completion of a thesis, and Doctoral programs require a publication in an international journal.

 

[beingmani]

My professor from Todai has sent an email regarding the notification. He has asked me to fill up some application for student registration in Todai. Although, he has mentioned that my final placement university is not decided yet. *fingers crossed*

 

[Santanu]

My professor from Todai has sent an email regarding the notification. He has asked me to fill up some application for student registration in Todai. Although, he has mentioned that my final placement university is not decided yet. *fingers crossed*

Omg ! It's indeed a great news for you !
U r finally placed man !
When did you get the mail ? And what kind of application he asked you fill up ??

 

[beingmani]

Omg ! It's indeed a great news for you !
U r finally placed man !
When did you get the mail ? And what kind of application he asked you fill up ??

Hey Santanu,
I got the mail around 5pm IST. He has asked me to fill an International Researcher Application. I think its specific to Todai.

 

[Alexaandra12]

So glad to see people getting their confirmations! I'm still hoping and wishing for the rest of us that we'll hear something back very soon

 

[Itasimisete]

Happy to hear that things are going good guys! I wish you all the best in achieving this oppertunity!

 

[beingmani]

What's your first preference guys ? Any todai here ?

 

[Centuries]

Congratulations dear...
Your waiting period is over, its time to plan to move to Japan.
I think your supervisor is asking as some people move on for better choice and it's no doubt a lengthy process.
May I ask where are you from nd what's your first preference ?

I am from the US and my first choice is Nagoya University. I'm really happy because my field research will be done at an art museum in Nagoya!

 

[fanfan13]

Hi, my name is Fanfan and I am from Indonesia. I also applied for MEXT Scholarship 2018 via the Japan Embassy in my country and like most fellow applicants here I'm waiting for the secondary screening result.

My embassy said that the result will most likely be announced in early December.

However two of my fellow applicants here, already got an email by their respective professor. One from Kyushu University and another from Osaka University. Both were asked about these:
1. When would you like to come to the University? April?
2. Would you like to take an intensive Japanese language learning course in the university, which will start in April? (the professor also mentioned the detailed schedule of the course)
The professor would have to submit the answers to the university by Nov 29.

Meanwhile I still haven't received any emails from my prospective professor yet. Right now I'm so anxious and worried!

 

[Alexaandra12]

My first choice is Nagoya but I haven't heard anything back yet ... I got my acceptance letter through the international department of the grad school, so I probably won't get a direct confirmation from my advisor.
I am super worried.

 

[Santanu]

Hi, my name is Fanfan and I am from Indonesia. I also applied for MEXT Scholarship 2018 via the Japan Embassy in my country and like most fellow applicants here I'm waiting for the secondary screening result.

My embassy said that the result will most likely be announced in early December.

However two of my fellow applicants here, already got an email by their respective professor. One from Kyushu University and another from Osaka University. Both were asked about these:
1. When would you like to come to the University? April?
2. Would you like to take an intensive Japanese language learning course in the university, which will start in April? (the professor also mentioned the detailed schedule of the course)
The professor would have to submit the answers to the university by Nov 29.

Meanwhile I still haven't received any emails from my prospective professor yet. Right now I'm so anxious and worried!

I'm suffering from the same as you are !
I think you can mail to your professor and ask him if he get any update from MEXT. This worked for one of applicant from our country. Mainly I suggested her to do so and she got good news in one hour.
You can have a try... Good luck !

 

[fanfan13]

My first choice is Nagoya but I haven't heard anything back yet ... I got my acceptance letter through the international department of the grad school, so I probably won't get a direct confirmation from my advisor.
I am super worried.

My first choice is Nagoya University too! But I got my LOA directly from my Sensei (he sent me the LOA himself with a cool paper folder), as for now he still hasn't emailed me yet though. However when I first contacted him, we've already discussed about the departure schedule, entrance exam in August and the last year example questions, about taking Japanese class, etc.

My other fellow applicant who applied to Chiba University hasn't got an email from her professor yet either.

 

[Santanu]

My first choice is Nagoya University too! But I got my LOA directly from my Sensei (he sent me the LOA himself with a cool paper folder), as for now he still hasn't emailed me yet though. However when I first contacted him, we've already discussed about the departure schedule, entrance exam in August and the last year example questions, about taking Japanese class, etc.

My other fellow applicant who applied to Chiba University hasn't got an email from her professor yet either.

Ohh ! Then MEXT must not yet contacted with your supervisor. Their contacting procedure is under process. Keep patient, you will get mail soon....

 

[fanfan13]

I'm suffering from the same as you are !
I think you can mail to your professor and ask him if he get any update from MEXT. This worked for one of applicant from our country. Mainly I suggested her to do so and she got good news in one hour.
You can have a try... Good luck !

Thank you for the suggestion. I think I will try to contact him, maybe.
What about you? Have you tried to email your professor? What university are you applying to?

 

[Santanu]

Thank you for the suggestion. I think I will try to contact him, maybe.
What about you? Have you tried to email your professor? What university are you applying to?

Actually I sent mailed and asked about it on 6th of Nov. and he told, he did't get anything as of then. So I was thinking if it will be good to mail him again. But finally I mailed him about an hour ago, still no reply yet, eagerly waiting for this mail.
My first preference is Uni of Tsukuba.

 

[fanfan13]

What's your first preference guys ? Any todai here ?

I don't apply for Todai, but another of my fellow applicants (well actually there's 5 of us in our LINE group lol) applied for Todai, but she's already taken the Entrance Exam in Todai in August 2017 and she passed, so I think she's filled the application and I know she submitted a Master Degree acceptance letter to the embassy.

 

[fanfan13]

Actually I sent mailed and asked about it on 6th of Nov. and he told, he did't get anything as of then. So I was thinking if it will be good to mail him again. But finally I mailed him about an hour ago, still no reply yet, eagerly waiting for this mail.
My first preference is Uni of Tsukuba.

Please tell us when you get the reply, whether he already got an update or not. I'm so worried...

 

[beingmani]

That's great

 

[Quingueni]

Hi, my name is Fanfan and I am from Indonesia. I also applied for MEXT Scholarship 2018 via the Japan Embassy in my country and like most fellow applicants here I'm waiting for the secondary screening result.

My embassy said that the result will most likely be announced in early December.

However two of my fellow applicants here, already got an email by their respective professor. One from Kyushu University and another from Osaka University. Both were asked about these:
1. When would you like to come to the University? April?
2. Would you like to take an intensive Japanese language learning course in the university, which will start in April? (the professor also mentioned the detailed schedule of the course)
The professor would have to submit the answers to the university by Nov 29.

Meanwhile I still haven't received any emails from my prospective professor yet. Right now I'm so anxious and worried!

Is the same thing that happened to me, the same questions. I believe that the issues are already standardized, the MEXT sends to school and the school sends to teacher. After this suffocation of waiting, I think we should all meet in Japan regardless of whether or not in the same university, we should organize a meeting of the FORUM of 2018. I think we'd have a lot to talk. I hope to see you all in Japan fellow applicants.

 

[Quingueni]

after all this forum is helping alot.....

 

[fanfan13]

Is the same thing that happened to me, the same questions. I believe that the issues are already standardized, the MEXT sends to school and the school sends to teacher. After this suffocation of waiting, I think we should all meet in Japan regardless of whether or not in the same university, we should organize a meeting of the FORUM of 2018. I think we'd have a lot to talk. I hope to see you all in Japan fellow applicants.

Well, as far as I know from local blogs I've read about MEXT scholarship experience, the announcement for university placement (which my Embassy said will most likely take place in January) will include:
1. The name of the assigned university
2. Month of arrival
3. Place/Institution of Japanese learning course
4. Status (Research Student/Preparation/Master or Doctor Degree)