Giving up MEXT Scholarship--Reapplication possible?

[Akramsey07]

Dear Fellow Japanophiles,
Its amazing how circumstances change, life comes into full force and throws your future plans completely out of whack. I have applied and successfully received the Monbukagakusho scholarship for 2014 and was scheduled to leave in April. However, my father has recently become unemployed and we are facing troubling financial times and I will probably have to give up my dream of going to Japan and studying for a Master's Degree. I therefore asked the Embassy and the university to postpone my enrollment until September, In hopes of us getting back on our feet in that time.

However things aren't looking so good and when I asked the Embassy about the possibility of reapplying for the 2016 scholarship, they told me that because I have already accepted the scholarship and asked for September enrollment , it prohibits me from applying again. I feel like this is the biggest decision of my life and I don't know what to do.
Does anyone have any advice or knowledge that could confirm or deny the possibility of reapplying?

Thanks,

 

[mesolithic]

3 years back I had a similar issue whereby work commitments meant that I had to postpone my entry from April to October (research scholarship too). I did toy with the idea of a further postponement (as my wife was pregnant) but was firmly told NO.

I guess the crux of the issue that once you accept the scholarship, you are considered a grantee and the following exclusion rule applies:

If the Applicant was a grantee of a Japanese Government Scholarship in the past. Unless he/she has had at least three years of research or teaching experience between the completion of the first scholarship and the start of the second scholarship period. This exclusion will not apply to a research-student applicant, who (i) as an international student in Japan received training in Japanese studies at a university but graduated from his/her home university, who (ii) was an international student in Japan under the Japan-Korea Joint Government Scholarship Program for the Students in Science and Engineering Departmentsﾂ or who (ﾃｺB) was an international student in Japan under the Young Leaders Program.

 

[Akramsey07]

3 years back I had a similar issue whereby work commitments meant that I had to postpone my entry from April to October (research scholarship too). I did toy with the idea of a further postponement (as my wife was pregnant) but was firmly told NO.
I guess the crux of the issue that once you accept the scholarship, you are considered a grantee and the following exclusion rule applies:

Mesolithic,

and what did you do in the end? I did not sign the pledge as yet mind you, but i don't know if that gives me any leverage or not to reapply.

 

[tomoni]

sorry to hear about your personal situation.

One thing to consider that is you may be able to give your family some financial support if you can live frugally. The monthly stipend is 147,000 JPY which can go a long way if you are willing to live like a student, and cut corners. It is possible to bank at least half of that. (This might make your decision a bit easier knowing that you may be able to "pitch in" and help a bit at home financially (you also get point to point airfare and a wavier of all school costs, so it is a good opportunity).

As the Embassy has clearly told you, this is your "shot".

good luck