MEXT Scholarship 2014

[arnicdao01]

hi guys.. im planning on applying for an undergraduate scholarship this year. can you give me some advice on what should i prepare as soon as now..

as of now im still attending classes in a university.. but i want to apply for the scholarship.. im a Computer Science student.. i will graduate this year.. am i qualified for the scholarship?? what advice can you give me guys..

 

[gelaikayi]

hi guys.. im planning on applying for an undergraduate scholarship this year. can you give me some advice on what should i prepare as soon as now..

as of now im still attending classes in a university.. but i want to apply for the scholarship.. im a Computer Science student.. i will graduate this year.. am i qualified for the scholarship?? what advice can you give me guys..

i have read that students who either (1) graduated from any university; or (2) will graduate upon application are qualified; as long as you have (or will have) taken 16 years of schooling.

as for the advice, reading the earlier posts will definitely help. the other members of the forum have given various important heads-up about the scholarship.

 

[Nanari]

If you are going to graduate this year from the University... aren't u more than 21 years old? If yes, then u dont qualify for scholarship for undergrads.

 

[gelaikayi]

i have read that students who either (1) graduated from any university; or (2) will graduate upon application are qualified; as long as you have (or will have) taken 16 years of schooling.

as for the advice, reading the earlier posts will definitely help. the other members of the forum have given various important heads-up about the scholarship.

this is for graduate applicants.
what nanari said is right, you are no longer qualified for an undergraduate scholarship if that's the case, but you can still apply for graduate scholarship.

 

[arnicdao01]

If you are going to graduate this year from the University... aren't u more than 21 years old? If yes, then u dont qualify for scholarship for undergrads.

yes i am going to graduate but i am only 18 years old. am i qualified then?

..and what papers should i prepare?? when can i apply??

 

[otakuhaspie]

What will the exam be like for those applying for social science scholarships? will there be a different set or exams for social science applicants from natural science applicants?

Hey!
As far as I know, if you plan to study social sciences, you have to take Japanese, English and Math.
Whilst on the other hand, nature science applicants have to sit Japanese, English, Math and Chemistry/Physics. Well, pretty much depending on your field. But the first 3 are a must.
I don't think the first three actually differ depending on your field, though o:
Hope that helped XD Sadly, I can't offer any specific advice, but just like Gee337 said, you should look through past exams, get a grasp of what they want from you : )
Good luck to you too! :09:

 

[Garden]

Hi there.

I plan to apply for MEXT for 2014 as an undergraduate, and I plan to apply for direct placement into either Tokyo Uni, Kyoto Uni or Tokyo Institute of Technology.
I have JLPT N2, and I plan to sit N1 sometime this year so the language isn't too big of a problem, but I've been wondering what the success rate of this scholarship is.
New Zealand being what it is, I doubt there's even 5 people a year that apply, but does that mean it's highly unlikely anyone will go from NZ?

Also I've been looking at the exams, but they seem to vary in difficulties every year, and I was wondering if A level would be enough? Looking at the 2010 exams Japanese, English and Chemistry seem easy enough but Physics and Maths are a bit harder. I'll be taking MATH153 at Auckland Uni this year while I finish my last year in highschool so hopefully that'll help?

And one last question, what kind of questions do they ask in the interviews?

 

[gelaikayi]

Hey!
As far as I know, if you plan to study social sciences, you have to take Japanese, English and Math.
Whilst on the other hand, nature science applicants have to sit Japanese, English, Math and Chemistry/Physics. Well, pretty much depending on your field. But the first 3 are a must.
I don't think the first three actually differ depending on your field, though o:
Hope that helped XD Sadly, I can't offer any specific advice, but just like Gee337 said, you should look through past exams, get a grasp of what they want from you : )
Good luck to you too! :09:

thank you very much! yeah, i checked out the exams..2010 seems a bit harder.... O_O
also, are the application forms out yet? i hope to know when these are usually released?

 

[Gee337]

thank you very much! yeah, i checked out the exams..2010 seems a bit harder.... O_O
also, are the application forms out yet? i hope to know when these are usually released?

I think you shouldn't worry too much about the 2010 tests, it seemes they went a bit overboard that year. At least last year the exam was much more "friendly". Especially the Japanese.
I don't know about other countries, but in Hungary the info on the application was put on the embassy's website on 11th April.

Hi there.

[...]

Looking at the 2010 exams Japanese, English and Chemistry seem easy enough but Physics and Maths are a bit harder. I'll be taking MATH153 at Auckland Uni this year while I finish my last year in highschool so hopefully that'll help?
And one last question, what kind of questions do they ask in the interviews?

2010 Japanese test is easy? Wow... Good for you. At the exam one guy told me that his professor couldn't finish in time because it was that hard.

In the interview I was asked some basic questions.
Why did I apply, how long have I been learning Japanese, how many Kanji do I know, what would I like to do after finishing university, do I have a university that I would prefer, do I live with my parents and if I have experience living alone... That's all I can remember right now. Perhaps they'll ask some more complicated questions in English, but since I chose to do the interview in Japanese they probably tried to keep it on a more basic level. (Though I guess you would be OK with either language ^^)

 

[otakuhaspie]

Okay, I tried grading myself on the 2007 exam taken in 60 minutes, like it says on the papers.
Japanese - 98 pts.
English - 73 pts (it's funny how it's A LOT less than Japanese :I)
Math - 72 pts. (Couldn't even reach the 3rd part D: )
Erm, so what do you think of my chances? Including the real time pressure D:
I'm pretty embarrassed about the English one xD In another year's I got 92, so it depends on luck, or what? :/
Also, which do you think is the most important?

 

[Gee337]

Okay, I tried grading myself on the 2007 exam taken in 60 minutes, like it says on the papers.
Japanese - 98 pts.
English - 73 pts (it's funny how it's A LOT less than Japanese :I)
Math - 72 pts. (Couldn't even reach the 3rd part D: )
Erm, so what do you think of my chances? Including the real time pressure D:
I'm pretty embarrassed about the English one xD In another year's I got 92, so it depends on luck, or what? :/
Also, which do you think is the most important?

If I remember correctly, the average points were around 46, 75 and 42 percent for Japanese, English and Math, respectively; at least the year before I wrote the exam, so I'd say you did pretty good. I would be content with those results except for English :3
I'd say Math is quite important, because that's usually where people have difficulties - this means if you prepare well you can get an advantage. On the other hand, English is probably the easiest, so it's also important to do well so you won't get behind. Japanese is pretty much an extra in my opinion - I heard that in some countries they don't even take them into consideration when selecting people for the interviews. That also means that a good Japanese test can make you stand out.
Bottomline: All 3 of them are important, especially on Human Sciences
Do keep in mind that the Japanese test is a bit different in that it has 3 parts, you get 2 hours, and it's worth 200 points.

 

[Garden]

I think you shouldn't worry too much about the 2010 tests, it seemes they went a bit overboard that year. At least last year the exam was much more "friendly". Especially the Japanese.
I don't know about other countries, but in Hungary the info on the application was put on the embassy's website on 11th April.
2010 Japanese test is easy? Wow... Good for you. At the exam one guy told me that his professor couldn't finish in time because it was that hard.
In the interview I was asked some basic questions.
Why did I apply, how long have I been learning Japanese, how many Kanji do I know, what would I like to do after finishing university, do I have a university that I would prefer, do I live with my parents and if I have experience living alone... That's all I can remember right now. Perhaps they'll ask some more complicated questions in English, but since I chose to do the interview in Japanese they probably tried to keep it on a more basic level. (Though I guess you would be OK with either language ^^)

Well it wasn't easy easy, but I can get around 90% for the japanese test.

So how long was the interview? and was it just one person or was there a whole board of people?

 

[Gee337]

Well it wasn't easy easy, but I can get around 90% for the japanese test.
So how long was the interview? and was it just one person or was there a whole board of people?

To be honest I was so excited and nervous that I have no idea how long it was

There were 5 people in the room with me. Two Hungarian ladies, one of them was the one who basically did the administrative stuff - applications, calling succesful applicants, etc. - she told me when it was time for me to come in. The other one just watched/listened and occasionally spoke with the others. There were also 3 Japanese gentlemen, the younger one asked most of the questions, the one next to him occasionally asked something as well and the third one just sat there making notes.

 

[Garden]

To be honest I was so excited and nervous that I have no idea how long it was

There were 5 people in the room with me. Two Hungarian ladies, one of them was the one who basically did the administrative stuff - applications, calling succesful applicants, etc. - she told me when it was time for me to come in. The other one just watched/listened and occasionally spoke with the others. There were also 3 Japanese gentlemen, the younger one asked most of the questions, the one next to him occasionally asked something as well and the third one just sat there making notes.

I see. Thanks for that, I guess all I can do now is wait until the applications open!

 

[Monicca]

Hello everybody! I am applying for undergraduate MEXT scholarship in 2014~

I know that I want to do something in social sciences and humanities A, but I am not sure which specific field of study I want to choose! I think my top choice would be history, though, but I'm not sure.

Are we not allowed to change our majors if we are accepted?

Also, I was looking over the practice exam questions today. The 2010 Japanese section was really hard! @_@ I think I need to study a lot. Also, I need to re-learn algebra for the math exam >_<;;;

Everybody, let's all work hard!

 

[leebrown1990]

Hi everyone,

I'll be graduating with a Masters of Chemistry this year and will be looking for research placement for 2015. Whilst there are quite a lot of resources out there concerning the MEXT program, they seem to be giving a lot of jargon, application dates and "non-answers." So I thought it was best to get it straight from the horse's mouth as it were: from people who are already in the application process. So, my questions;

1) You can apply direct to a Global30 participating University if you will be funding your studies yourself and have no need for the funding provided through the MEXT scholarship program?

2) For a postgraduate research position you only need to take the Japanese & English tests? And the purpose of the Japanese tests is solely to gauge what Japanese level of teaching you would need upon arriving in Japan?

The science and math exams aren't too much of a concern, I'd have to brush up on things I haven't done it a good few years that's all. But I haven't started any type of formal Japanese study. When I visited 2 years ago I learnt Hiragana and a few sentences of basic dialogue that's it! And after a year placement in Germany a lot of that has been pushed out… Anyway if it was required to learn Japanese for the application process that would be the major goal of my year between graduating and applying.

Thanks in advance, and good luck to you all!

 

[Nanari]

Hi everyone,

I'll be graduating with a Masters of Chemistry this year and will be looking for research placement for 2015. Whilst there are quite a lot of resources out there concerning the MEXT program, they seem to be giving a lot of jargon, application dates and "non-answers." So I thought it was best to get it straight from the horse's mouth as it were: from people who are already in the application process. So, my questions;

1) You can apply direct to a Global30 participating University if you will be funding your studies yourself and have no need for the funding provided through the MEXT scholarship program?

2) For a postgraduate research position you only need to take the Japanese & English tests? And the purpose of the Japanese tests is solely to gauge what Japanese level of teaching you would need upon arriving in Japan?

The science and math exams aren't too much of a concern, I'd have to brush up on things I haven't done it a good few years that's all. But I haven't started any type of formal Japanese study. When I visited 2 years ago I learnt Hiragana and a few sentences of basic dialogue that's it! And after a year placement in Germany a lot of that has been pushed out… Anyway if it was required to learn Japanese for the application process that would be the major goal of my year between graduating and applying.

Thanks in advance, and good luck to you all!

1) I can't help u here, I don't have any experience with Global30 program.

2) Yes, you only write Japanese and English test. In my country English is obligatory and Japanese not, and serves only to determine placement in Japanese preparatory group. But I'm from non-English-speaking country and I heard Japanese test is treated slightly different in English-speaking countries.

 

[leebrown1990]

Global30 is just the initiative whereby they want to increase the number of foreign students: those universities are the ones that accept MEXT scholarship students. Just the websites for the individual universities seem to imply direct applications can be made and MEXT is just one entry route to which you may or may not qualify. That was my interpretation, it's not very straight forward hence I came to this forum!

 

[Lowllipop]

Hi everyone,
I'm so glad upon finding this thread, i have a few questions about the scholarship.

I was hoping to apply next year[2014] for an undergrad scholarship in medicine.
I read somewhere [on the MEXT website] that you need an '18-year school curriculum if he/she desires to enroll in a doctoral course in the field of medicine, dentistry or veterinary science, or pharmacy which is founded on a 6-year department or faculty'
I've heard of people in Canada applying and getting recommended even though Canada has 12 years of compulsory education[i think]. Since i'm in the UK, I've had 16/15 years of education, does anyone know whether that will be alright?

Also, does anyone know the [vague] dates in the UK for applying etc?

& Does anyone know, briefly, what the research proposal is to be about?

Thankyou^^

 

[Nanari]

Didn't u mix up the types of scholarship? What you wrote about 18-year school curriculum applies to people enrolling in a doctoral course and you, as u stated, want to apply for undergrad. Also, in this case, the research proposal does not apply to you.

 

[Lowllipop]

@Nanari:
Thankyou so much, i was getting worried ^^".
Ugh i still got to get a hang of all this uni stuff[which is bad, saying i'll be going to uni next year :s]

 

[Frida]

When I has about to finish highschool I thought I want to try out for the undergraduate scholarship, but after getting some of the documents ready I chickened out and didn't finish.
I really regretted it afterwards and ended up going on another scholarship to Germany but it wasn't really what I wanted.

So now I'm going to try this year for a graduate program scholarship and through all the process, but the nervousness is starting to get a hold on me. Maybe it is because it's something I really really desire?

>_<

 

[richh]

1st post I'm going to apply to the postgraduate swcholarship and hopefully get on and study my PhD in Japan! I haven't emailed any professors yet but i am thinking of applying to Kyoto university as they have a very good virology lab in my field. I have heard alot of stuff about you having to begin as research student then apply for a PhD when you are over there, i hope this isnt the case as it a PhD course is long enough as it is!!! Anyone know any more information about the 6 months language courses? My Japanese is pretty much non-existent at the moment so i guess i would need to do this course.
I wonder if you are expected to be carrying out research during this period or not also, unfortunately the information seems to differ depending on where you find it

 

[Nanari]

1st post I'm going to apply to the postgraduate swcholarship and hopefully get on and study my PhD in Japan! I haven't emailed any professors yet but i am thinking of applying to Kyoto university as they have a very good virology lab in my field. I have heard alot of stuff about you having to begin as research student then apply for a PhD when you are over there, i hope this isnt the case as it a PhD course is long enough as it is!!! Anyone know any more information about the 6 months language courses? My Japanese is pretty much non-existent at the moment so i guess i would need to do this course.
I wonder if you are expected to be carrying out research during this period or not also, unfortunately the information seems to differ depending on where you find it

Hi. I'm going to do PhD in molecular biology in Tohoku University (in a week ). This is true that in most cases you start as research student and after coming to Japan you apply for PhD. This is simply because you have to pass the exam for PhD and you can't do that unless you are there. But you start working as a research student and when you became a PhD you have some of your work already done, so you don't loose that time.
The language course is not obligatory and if you take it depends on you and your proffessor. I was extempt from this course even though my japanese is very basic. I was unhappy about it, but my proffessor wanted me to start working immediately. Finally we agreed I will take different, less time consuming, japanese course. This 6 month course takes a lot of time and there is not much time for research.

 

[richh]

Wow Congrats Nanari!! I hope you keep us all up to date with how you are getting on! What will you be studying in your PhD? There is alot of cross-over between virology and molecular biology! Also how early in the application did you contact your professor? I might send a few emails off to some professors in the next few weeks even though you aren't required to until august for applications via the embassy.

I'm sure you are very excited, have a great time in Japan!!!