MEXT Scholarship 2015 (Research Students)

[Nicolaus Ramos]

Hey Ya'll!
I have one more question if someone does not mind answering. Should Americans or any other country in which English is their native language, exempt the English written test? I know we have the option to do that, but I don't know if it would be best to take the test or not. Please and thank you! =)

 

[LynetteT]

Thanks for sharing all these information. So, we must first apply for the MEXT scholarship and those that would like to complete a graduate program have to apply for a separate entrance exam in July/August for the april intake?

When do MEXT scholars go to Japan is it in april?

 

[nar]

So basically I have to first go to Japan as a Research Student and then pass an entrance exam while there so that I can join a Master's Course?

Isn't there a way in which I can directly join as a Master's Degree Student at a University which has accepted me?

Please help to explain the details as I am interested in getting a "Master's Degree" in Computer Science (& Engineering) for Japan and I do not want to go there as a "Research Student".

A list of the procedure would really be nice

So the question is then, do you want the MEXT Scholarship? The procedure for skipping the research student phase (though if your classes are in Japanese and you don't know Japanese you'll need to spend time learning anyways, you can spend that time as a Research Student without having to do anything special) is as follows.

1. DO NOT sign up for a MEXT Embassy Scholarship
2. Contact a professor to be your advisor
3. Submit an application to take the entrance exam in the university (or universities, you can apply to as many as you like) along with all the necessary documents and fees (the fees are pretty high)
4. Travel to Japan
5. Take the exam and pass
6. Either go back and then come back to Japan later, or just stay in Japan and get your visa status changed to a Student
7. In the meantime you can try to get a University Recommendation for MEXT, I believe some universities will automatically offer you one if you do not have a scholarship and you score very high in the entrance exam.
8. Attend your Master's Degree course and if you don't have a MEXT Scholarship yet, you can try to apply for the MEXT Scholarship Domestic Selection next year (but not during your first year of your Master's Degree)

The reason why you cannot take the Embassy Recommendation or a normal application path for the University Recommendation is because the timing typically does not work. Some universities may offer an exception to entrance exams in some cases or allow you to take the entrance exam and enter as a student much later, you can apply normally for a scholarship in this case but it's very rare.

 

[nar]

Thanks for sharing all these information. So, we must first apply for the MEXT scholarship and those that would like to complete a graduate program have to apply for a separate entrance exam in July/August for the april intake?

When do MEXT scholars go to Japan is it in april?

Pretty much, as I described above you typically need to pass an exam to enter a graduate program and since your not expected to travel to Japan before you get the scholarship to take the exam, you typically enter as a non-degree student first and take the entrance exam while you're there. Though the schedule is typically:

July/August exam for October Intake
February exam for April Intake

Not all graduate schools offer both, some offer only one or the other.

Hey Ya'll!
I have one more question if someone does not mind answering. Should Americans or any other country in which English is their native language, exempt the English written test? I know we have the option to do that, but I don't know if it would be best to take the test or not. Please and thank you! =)

Never hurts to have a 100% grade on the english test on your application documents.

 

[Nicolaus Ramos]

Never hurts to have a 100% grade on the english test on your application documents.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the quick response!

 

[mai7120]

I am from Malaysia. Now studying master course at Japan and will graduate by sept 2014.Hope my application for PHD scholarship will pass.

 

[AmyLee]

Hello guys

Am from Tunisia , still have 12 days to apply for the scholarship so i am very stressed . I have a bachelor degree in it SO I couldn't find the right Master filed in IT , I am afraid to choose one then I get rejected ! also in the Preference Paper have to put the name of the Lecturer , how is that possible ???

anyone can help me to pick a reasonable Master in IT ? please :?

 

[LynetteT]

Hi Mai. Good luck for your scholarship.

I wanted to ask if universities in japan are famous for a specific field of study (eg. business/ law) or are there any master courses which you feel are well run?

Also what do you study?

 

[foruiz]

AmyLee and Lynette, I guess it would be best for you to start asking some of your advisers in your present university if they can give you leads on what Japan uni will suit well for your specific courses. That what I did and mine was able to direct me to potential advisers who can take me in later. Of course you should be prepared with your research proposal because the Japanese senseis who you will be contacting will use that to see if your research study matches theirs.

 

[AmyLee]

AmyLee and Lynette, I guess it would be best for you to start asking some of your advisers in your present university if they can give you leads on what Japan uni will suit well for your specific courses. That what I did and mine was able to direct me to potential advisers who can take me in later. Of course you should be prepared with your research proposal because the Japanese senseis who you will be contacting will use that to see if your research study matches theirs.

Hi Foruiz,

I am not a student , I am already a Business Intelligence Consultant and I am afraid to go for SDM " System Design and management" at ( keio Uni) it's the best field for me but if it is legible for Research students or other category of Mext scholarship , and another course which is " Project research" that i don't understand what is the purpose of this field ' no description is available for it. :?

do you have any idea?

another question please if you don't mind

in the paper of "Field of Study and Research Program Plan" , I made a research proposal at the question Number2 but the 3rd question ( ３ Research program plan in Japan) I didn't understand what i have to answer ??

would you help me please ?

 

[wantei]

Ok Getting a direct master's course sounds tough. I guess it would be better to first get the Research Student Scholarship and then prepare for entrance exams in Japan itself. Besides I think that I "will" be requiring Japanese Language Courses. What do you think is a better choice guys?

 

[mai7120]

hi LynetteT.
In Japan,the famous field of study is engineering,as i know.
Now i am studying regional management at Japan.At the same time,i am doing the research about non-profit organization of Japan.

 

[maggie19]

I have a question here
after the research student phase, if i apply to a public or private university (other than a national uni.) for an international master program, will monbusho continue to cover fee and other allowance?

 

[Dalia Daud]

Any applicants from malaysia here?

applicants from Malaysia here!! btw i saw one of your post, is it true there are more than 300 applicants this year?

 

[kokwai4869]

applicants from Malaysia here!! btw i saw one of your post, is it true there are more than 300 applicants this year?

Wow, it's great to know another applicant from malaysia.

Yeap, i am pretty sure with that because i have talked to one of the PIC and she told me that this year round, it has more than 300++ applicants. Due to that, they couldn't reply the status of submission to all the applicants.

Are you applying for post-graduate as well? Which field are you in?

 

[mai7120]

hi,Dalia Daud, it is great for me too to know another applicant from Malaysia.
300++ applicants is considered not much.As i know,the applicants for year 2008 was around 500.
Let's fight for the scholarship together!

 

[kokwai4869]

hi,Dalia Daud, it is great for me too to know another applicant from Malaysia.
300++ applicants is considered not much.As i know,the applicants for year 2008 was around 500.
Let's fight for the scholarship together!

Hi mai7120,

That's quite a lot of applicants compare to the current one. Let's cross fingers and hope that we can get into the written examination in the meantime.

 

[Dalia Daud]

Hi mai7120,
That's quite a lot of applicants compare to the current one. Let's cross fingers and hope that we can get into the written examination in the meantime.

Hi Kokwai4869 and mai7120
wow, and i thought 300 was alot
yes! lets hope to at least get into the written examination

i'm applying for computer science as well, though its on information security(cryptography)
i'm eyeing for kyushu university and i already email a lab if there's any available spot for graduate/master student and were told there are spot for new student
hope all goes well for all of us

 

[kokwai4869]

Hi Kokwai4869 and mai7120
wow, and i thought 300 was alot
yes! lets hope to at least get into the written examination

i'm applying for computer science as well, though its on information security(cryptography)
i'm eyeing for kyushu university and i already email a lab if there's any available spot for graduate/master student and were told there are spot for new student
hope all goes well for all of us

Hi Dalia,

That's a great news to you, you should probably try to get consent from the professor to take you in for your research topic as well, just an advance preparation so that when you have passed the first screening, you can put your mind at ease when MEXT requests us to search for a lab and a professor.

Another one of my coursemate here. Can't wait to know all of us get into the written examination, really am looking forward to see you all. ^^

 

[kokwai4869]

Hi Kokwai4869 and mai7120
wow, and i thought 300 was alot
yes! lets hope to at least get into the written examination

i'm applying for computer science as well, though its on information security(cryptography)
i'm eyeing for kyushu university and i already email a lab if there's any available spot for graduate/master student and were told there are spot for new student
hope all goes well for all of us

Hi Dalia,

That's a great news to you, you should probably try to get consent from the professor to take you in to his laboratory for your research topic, as it will favor you when you have passed the first screening. You will not need to struggle and stress to look for a professor and a lab.

Another coursemate and really can't wait to know all of us get into the written examination. Looking forward to meet you all.^^

 

[mai7120]

so stress for waiting the first screening result.And It is time for us to contact sensei.
Hope we all can pass!!!!

 

[wantei]

Wow everyone is trying to get in the Computer Science department seems nice!

 

[bcaapower]

Hi nar,

thank you for your reply and sorry for being so late...I somehow didnt get email notificaiton about getting reply to my post.

I already wrote my research plan, used many parts from my diploma thesis as a background andslo listed some references from publications to show that I know what I am talking about So far, answering to those 3 questions made 5 pages for me.

 

[bcaapower]

A slightly different research topic than what you graduated in shouldn't be a problem, heck I graduated in Computer Engineering and my research topic was in Theoretical Neuroscience.

For your Japanese problem, 6 months may indeed not be enough, taking the initiative to start learning Japanese now may help and since the entire process takes just under a year to finish, if you start now you'll in actuality have been learning Japanese for 18 months, which may put you in an ok position. Also the dedication to start learning Japanese on your own is looked at well by the interviewers and those reviewing your application.

For the research plan, it depends, for us we had 3 questions, current field of study, research theme and specific study plan. I wrote about half a page for each for a total of 1.5 pages. My friend wrote about 6 pages for a full on research proposal, we both were accepted so I don't think there needs to be a specific length. They are just looking for a clear goal, a clear plan for achieveing that goal, a legtimate and academically satisifying topic and real thought and sincerity into studying in Japan. Just write however much you feel you need to be able to properly convey all of that.

Hi nar,

thank you for your reply and sorry for being so late...I somehow didnt get email notificaiton about getting reply to my post.

I already wrote my research plan, used many parts from my diploma thesis as a background andslo listed some references from publications to show that I know what I am talking about So far, answering to those 3 questions made 5 pages for me.

 

[Frida]

Hi again,

For those who have already contacted the professor, what subject did you put in the e-mail.

Did you tell them they are just one of the three options you have?

=)