MEXT Scholarship 2015 (Research Students)

[AmiciaRai]

guys, I have an urgent question!

this one professor that replied to my inquiry said that he can accept advisee only until academic year 2015 and he will be retired in March 2016.
is it possible that I would attend as a research student in September 2015 under his supervising (since 6 months earlier would be japanese studying phase) and then I will do the exam for master's degree admission and choose another professor to be my adviser?

Hello!

Actually, the exact same thing happened to me!

However, because I want to pursue a PhD I gave up on that professor since it would very hard to switch mentors half way through.

If you are going to apply as a Research student though that may not be such a problem, but the thing is that you can never be sure if you will be able to find a new professor after that to be your mentor for you Master studies.Is there another professor at the university that is close to your research field and that would potential be able to accept you later? Because if you find that there is no one else that is doing the same field as you, it is probably unlikely that you will find another mentor at the same university, and they will probably ask you to return home after your research period is up. The best thing of course would be to ask this question to the professor that told you he will be retiring, and also the Student Services for his faculty, because of course they will know the answer much better than I do.

There are other things to consider as well?

1. Did you already send the application form for MEXT to your embassy? If yes, did you put this professor's name in the application? Or did you just put the faculty name?

2. If you have already sent the application, what did you circle that you wanted to achieve? A Research position or a Master's?

Even if you have already sent the application form to the embassy there is probably a way to change all this, but you just need to give us a little more information.

 

[maggie19]

Thank you for your detailed reply!

I talked to that professor again, unfortunately he said he cannot accept me if I enroll in his last semester before retiring. so, I have to give up on that one. now I'm contacting other professors from the same school.

now here please help me with this questions;
1. I will send the application on this wednesday.
if I put only faculty name and leave the mentor's name empty, is it ok? I only have to be accepted by one of professors from the chosen faculty in final?
if I put the mentor's names and at last another professor (from the same school) accepts me, will I be disqualified?

2. I circled A Research Student option.
I noticed those in science field mostly start as a non-degree research student first. I'm in business administration field, I wonder if there's higher probability that students in this field can enroll for a Master's without going through non-degree research student phase?

 

[AmiciaRai]

Thank you for your detailed reply!

I talked to that professor again, unfortunately he said he cannot accept me if I enroll in his last semester before retiring. so, I have to give up on that one. now I'm contacting other professors from the same school.

now here please help me with this questions;
1. I will send the application on this wednesday.
if I put only faculty name and leave the mentor's name empty, is it ok? I only have to be accepted by one of professors from the chosen faculty in final?
if I put the mentor's names and at last another professor (from the same school) accepts me, will I be disqualified?

2. I circled A Research Student option.
I noticed those in science field mostly start as a non-degree research student first. I'm in business administration field, I wonder if there's higher probability that students in this field can enroll for a Master's without going through non-degree research student phase?

Oh you didn't even send the application yet! I think that that makes things much easier!

So,

You gave up on that professor. Good! Let's move on!

If you only put the faculty name and leave the professor's name empty that is ok, I mean it is allowed. I did that last year. I didn't get the scholarship last year, but I think that the reason why i didn't get it is because they didn't really like my thesis. When I went to the interview, they asked me where I was with finding a professor and I said that I was waiting for a reply. I have to say that they did not look pleased with my answer.

I think that the best way to do about this since you have to send the application soon is to write the name of a university on the left, and then write an explanation on the right that says something like "I have contacted a professor from this university and I am currently waiting for the final confirmation" And then when you go to the interview you will probably already have a reply from a professor, so you will be able to tell them the names of professors. And not like me say that you still have no answer.... XD

As for your second question, I can honestly say from my previous experience with MEXT that THERE ARE NO RULES. Literally, no rules that suit everyone in every country. There is a lot of human involvement in the final choice of MEXT applicant, and you can't change the way your committee will think. I think that, if you want to go for a Master's degree you should circle Master's. If the university needs you to go through a research process first, then they can easily change your placement to a researcher one.

I hope I helped a little! Feel free to ask more questions if you have them! ^_^

I have the written exam tomorrow! Wish me luck!

 

[mesolithic]

My opinion is that having a professor's name will be very helpful. When I did my interview 3 years back, they asked me why I chose the 2 profs and how my research is relevant to theirs, etc... I actually knew one of the profs (cos my master's supervisor did a project with him) and also did quite a fair bit of background reading up on the other prof's research. When asked the questions above, I explained everything in detail and also mentioned our email correspondences on my potential research topics. I basically gave the interviewers the impression that I was assured of a place no matter what happens.

The problem with enrolling directly into a Master's programme is that MEXT normally sends you to Japan either in April or October and it would be too late to take the entrance exams by then. So you will have to wait about 4 months for the next entrance exam, and eventually enter as a student after 1 semester as a research student. Unless the course you are attending has some exceptions.

 

[maggie19]

[MENTION=62907]mesolithic[/MENTION] ah thank you for that. I forgot that I'll have to take the entrance exam first. the professor I talked to (that he'll be retiring) he sounded like he would accept me as a master's degree student so I was like 'huh? but as a non-degree student?' but it's all over now, he cannot accept me under his advise by that time.


[MENTION=59225]AmiciaRai[/MENTION] thanks again for your advice, that helped a lot! and GOOD LUCK!

 

[Frida]

Hi again all, I finally got a possitive reply from one of the professors I contacted. Yay! ﾃｱ_ﾃｱ

However from another one, he said the university will not be accepting students next year because they're going to restructure the University.
I have already sent my documents and I had put this university as an option, which now is not.

ﾂｿYou think this might be a problem? Since in the application it says not to put any university which has already said no

 

[AmiciaRai]

Hi again all, I finally got a positive reply from one of the professors I contacted. Yay! あ

However from another one, he said the university will not be accepting students next year because they're going to restructure the University.
I have already sent my documents and I had put this university as an option, which now is not.

ﾂｿYou think this might be a problem? Since in the application it says not to put any university which has already said no

Don't worry about it! It says not to mention any universities that you have already been rejected from, but you weren't rejected from this university when you sent the documents so that doesn't count. Plus, many things can happen to all of us once the documents have already been sent to the embassy. You got a positive reply from one of the professors which is great! So if you are nominated for the scholarship, just make sure that the professor with the positive reply sends you a letter of acceptance when the time comes for it.

 

[Frida]

thanks AmiciaRai ﾃｱ_ﾃｱ it's true, things can change from one day to another, I suppose they know that =)

 

[kokwai4869]

Has anyone from Malaysia receive an email for an interview?

 

[ksgy]

Has anyone from Malaysia receive an email for an interview?

Just received mine like 5 minutes ago lol. Mine is scheduled on the 24th.

 

[kokwai4869]

Just received mine like 5 minutes ago lol. Mine is scheduled on the 24th.

Yeap, i have received mine as well. ^_^. All the best to all of us. Mine scheduled on the 26th at 10.00a.m.

 

[P Yk Chong]

Yeap, i have received mine as well. ^_^. All the best to all of us. Mine scheduled on the 26th at 10.00a.m.

Mine as well! =D i thought my examination have failed me though. =P 24 june, same as ksgy

Just wonder my japanese examination got help me or not, because i just answered first session. =P

 

[kokwai4869]

Mine as well! =D i thought my examination have failed me though. =P 24 june, same as ksgy

Just wonder my japanese examination got help me or not, because i just answered first session. =P

Wow, it means that mine was so much later than you all. Hmmm, if i'm not mistaken one of the invigilators has told us that those who have taken the test will be called for the interview and she did not mention anything about "only passing the test will be called". Just my guess, they will only review our marks on that day itself. Any senior can correct me if i'm wrong?

 

[P Yk Chong]

Hi,

What kind of questions will be asked in the interview session? Please share some experiences and suggestions ya. thank

 

[P Yk Chong]

Wow, it means that mine was so much later than you all. Hmmm, if i'm not mistaken one of the invigilators has told us that those who have taken the test will be called for the interview and she did not mention anything about "only passing the test will be called". Just my guess, they will only review our marks on that day itself. Any senior can correct me if i'm wrong?

Well, on that day, I actually h asked her for the arrangement for interview date. Because 25 june onward i will be away from malaysia about two months time. now the time have fixed so well to me, i kind of really appreciated her help.

 

[kokwai4869]

Well, on that day, I actually h asked her for the arrangement for interview date. Because 25 june onward i will be away from malaysia about two months time. now the time have fixed so well to me, i kind of really appreciated her help.

It was great that the scheduled date in favour of you. Wish you the best and hope that you can share a little about the interview after your session. ^_^

 

[kokwai4869]

My opinion is that having a professor's name will be very helpful. When I did my interview 3 years back, they asked me why I chose the 2 profs and how my research is relevant to theirs, etc... I actually knew one of the profs (cos my master's supervisor did a project with him) and also did quite a fair bit of background reading up on the other prof's research. When asked the questions above, I explained everything in detail and also mentioned our email correspondences on my potential research topics. I basically gave the interviewers the impression that I was assured of a place no matter what happens.

The problem with enrolling directly into a Master's programme is that MEXT normally sends you to Japan either in April or October and it would be too late to take the entrance exams by then. So you will have to wait about 4 months for the next entrance exam, and eventually enter as a student after 1 semester as a research student. Unless the course you are attending has some exceptions.

Hi Mesolithic,

I would like to ask about the interview questions and the expectations from the interviewers. Let's say if we were to be asked about our plan after Master's degree, should we answer that we are going to stay there permanently or returning back to our respective country? This was always one of the closing questions and i really do not hope to bomb this up either(honestly, i hope i can answer it with my heart and not to force an undesirable answer in order to look perfect). Your kind reply is very much appreciated and thank you in advance.

 

[zdonald]

Hi,

What kind of questions will be asked in the interview session? Please share some experiences and suggestions ya. thank

Hi everybody,

The deadline was last week in my country. So the embassy says that we will take the examination by the end of this week. I hope they call me.... I was preparing this since last year so I am stressing ..

How was the exam this year?

About the interview, I heard they will ask questions like :
1. Past research experience
2. Future research Plan
3. Why must it be that field
4. Why Japan
5. What do you like about Japan

 

[dreamsky999]

Hi guys, I'd like to enquire something about the study plan.

I've heard information from MEXT graduates that the initial study plan proposed during early of application submission until embassy recommendation will somehow be different of that later on in Japan Universities.

Could anyone shed some light on this?

 

[ksgy]

Hi guys, I'd like to enquire something about the study plan.

I've heard information from MEXT graduates that the initial study plan proposed during early of application submission until embassy recommendation will somehow be different of that later on in Japan Universities.

Could anyone shed some light on this?

I think what they meant is that your professor in Japan might improvise your proposal. Then again, they know what's best for you and your project. Minor change shouldn't be affected. Unless it's a 100% change. Which is why you should send a copy of your proposal to your potential supervisors just so they agree on working this for you.

 

[Frida]

Has anyone from Mexico gotten the confirmation from Foreign Relations about the tests?

 

[guzor]

Sanos, I'm also from Mexico, haven't received any reply from SRE... nerve racking!

 

[Frida]

Well, at least I'm not so alone in this wait anymore

Good to know we're on the same boat

 

[Naiviv]

Hello Sanos and Guzor! I am from Mexico too, and I haven't received any confirmation.

 

[Naiviv]

Greetings

But I've heard that sometimes the SRE announces the results 4 days prior to the test D:. I wish you the best of luck!