MEXT Scholarship for Postgraduate 2009: Post Application

[clockworkorange]

First of all, to ooilingfan, thanks for setting this up. I'm really impressed you managed to gather that info on all of us.

Secondly, congratulations to all who have been confirmed to have received the scholarship. I've emailed Ms. Yin. but I haven received a reply so I can't really say for sure whether I've got it or not although things do look positive.

To kouki,
I did get into contact with one of the Malaysian students currently studying in Tokyo University and she said that RM2000-3000 would be sufficient. 100000 yen is approximately RM4000 correct? I think its better to bring more just in case but if you can't afford it then perhaps RM2000 - 3000 is sufficient. According to her, we'll most probably get into a university dorm which is quite cheap or one of the JASSO international houses which costs ard RM1200 per month including utility and internet costs. Also, for those going to the University of Tokyo, dorms are furnished i think and there is a storage area/room where you can get previous students' electronic appliances or furniture for free.

Once you arrive at the airport in Japan, apparently you receive some money.

I realise that a lot of you guys have friends already living in Japan and probably have contacted them and obtained information which is perhaps more relevant to your particular situation. Also charles and some others in the forum have already kinda outlined the sort of things we could be expecting i suppose. But just thought i'd share with you guys the little bit that I know.

Also to kouki,
I think once we have the official results we can contact our supervisors. In my case, I only had one LoA so contacting other professors isn;t really an issue for me. I think kimberly put it pretty well though. MEXT makes the final decision after all.

To noob,
I think kouki's right. 2 years could be as a research student then you have to apply again to MEXT to study as a PhD student. Unless you applied to do your PhD directly but i don't think that is allowed by MEXT?

Anyway, congratulations to all once again!!

 

[Vyen]

ya..nearly forget that I have to send the emails to the universities to inform them about the results.

Malaysians,
When is your departure date?
Mine one should be 1st of April. Wondering if someone will be going together with me....

 

[menrui]

kyodai students,
Don't forget about your friendly neighbors from osaka, we're only a 45min train ride away~. hey, we're cool too.

cookie,
hokkaido does seem really far... maybe we will visit one day. I would love to go there during winter time.

kouki,
i have to write back to 2 professors... I kept its simple: thank them, apologize, say it was MEXTs decision, compliment them, done and done.

I'm so excited!

 

[kouki]

>Malaysians

Just received an e-mail from Ms Yin.

1 The documents will be sent today.
2 Are you all going to the Send-Off Ceremony?

By the way, Ms Yin really got a great sense of humour, haha.
Check this:
Q: Miss Yin, you will be very free from now on right?
A: Do you remember when did you apply for the scholarship?? (March-April)

 

[athz]

ya..nearly forget that I have to send the emails to the universities to inform them about the results.

yeah writing 4 apologize letter has also been an issue for me
just like what you guys have said that simply told your prof. it's all beyond our control ~Mext has their final decision and consideration. try make it as sincere as possible... i feel miserable when composing the letter because all of the prof. are very kind to me.....*awkward*

still i don't expect them to reply my apologize letter haha... one uni had stopped replying my email since i told them i might be enrolled in other uni

 

[kimberleylhj]

kouki, i did told them which uni i'll be going to. and they replied wishing me all the best and should i need anything from them in the future, do no hesitate to contact. i guess i'm lucky in receiving such respond. but be it whether they understand our situation, or be upset about it.. i still feel we should do our part in informing.

clockworkorange, i got a feeling that one year ago, the exhange rate was at MYR 3,000 to JPY 100,000. or at an even lower rate 2 years back. so maybe that's why it seems more now, that we have to bring MYR4,000. i think that JPY 100,000 is a good head start. just in case of emengency.

menrui, yeap.. osaka is really nearby but not hokkaido . haha.. we can all gather and make a trip to hokkaido together??

 

[kshoo]

I remember reading somewhere that the scholarship money won't be given immediately upon our arrival, and that it would be prudent to prepare about 2 months of living expenses at the initial stage. JPY 100,000 sounds ok, but perhaps slightly more to give us more leeway? Remember that we will also need to put up the deposits etc. first to the dorms.

 

[yeelee]

Dear all,
i'm a new poster here but have been visiting here frequently to updates info. I'll be going to Nagoya U under Department of Multicultural Studies, Graduate Schools of Languagee and Culturals.
I'll be going on October. Just got the letter from Ms.Yin, and hope to see all Malaysians on 31 March during the Orientation and Sent-off ceromony.

 

[jim84]

Hi guys, I tried to edit my first post in order to add in some new members into our list. But i can't do so, perhaps the post is overdue for editting. Is there anyway i can update old posts? Kindly PM me. Thank you!

 

[jim84]

wow. I've only been away for half a day and it seems so busy around here.
First of all, thanks clockworkorange for sharing such valuable information.
And kimberlylhj has a good point, the exchange rate indeed is higher now.
Try negotiate for a good price with the local money changer since it's a big amount : 100,000yen. Maybe a few of us can go together, buy in bulk? haha =p

My fellow Malaysians,
I've been to the Embassy today.
Basically this is what i find inside the PACKAGE:
1. Pledge form : we need to sign and return it
2. Send-off ceremony reply slip : need to fill up and return
3. Official letter: Notice of Nomination Result / University Placement.
The letter states that we will leave by EARLY Arpil 2009, but didn't mention the exact date.
4. An attachment that states all the details of your university + supervisor
Period of stay is 2 years. Upon reaching there we need to apply for an alien registration card or something like that and get an extension of the Visa once passing the entrance exam. Same goes for extension to PhD.
But like some of you mentioned above, it IS possible to go straight into Master's/PhD, skipping the entrance exam. I met one of our forum members and he is one of the lucky ones who can skip it.
5. A map to the Ambassador's Residence - the place where the send-off ceremony will be held
6. A few sheets of very super duper damn complicated network of subways in the cities. We need to figure it out to get to our Universities, but no worries, your Uni website will teach you exactly how to go there from the airport
7. One (thick) Handbook entitled: Life and Study in Japan (For MEXT Scholars) - it will answer 99% of your questions, including what happens immediately after you touch down at the airport, budget for private housing, baggage related matters, healthcare, travelling there, immigration matters, homestay, blah blah blah, everything! Like a bible. So no worries ya. Everything will be fine.

So basically that's about it.
Since i was already there today, and i brought my passport along, I've done my VISA, in 20mins, the Embassy is super efficient.
According to Ms Yin, you may do your VISA on the spot on the 31st itself, just make sure you go there very early. But i wouldn't suggest that if you can make it earlier, why take the risk anyway. =)
It's so fast because ours are considered Pre-Approved VISAs, so what we need is to bring a passport sized photograph + passport and fill in a form on the spot. You may also download the form from the Embassy's website, which will speed up the process for like, 10 min? =p
I saw another 2 girls who went to collect their documents today, they were so excited and rushing that they didn't notice me. =.=" 2 girls who show up at the embassy at 3pm today, Identify yourselves if you're here! Haha.
Well, i guess everybody will be receiving the package within this week.
Once again, Congratulations!!
And i'll be the only one going to Osaka..........(from M'sia that is)....sien
Regarding air ticket: Ms Yin will inform us again once it's ready. There is a possibility that it'll be an E-Ticket, (like air asia) and she'll just email to us. So no worries, just prepare what we can while waiting.

and count me in for that Hokkaido Trip!!!! Kyodai turtles, don't you dare forget me (and menrui) !

Finally, a BIG BIG congrats to everyone. We should toast for we finally MADE IT to this moment. This is THE moment that changes our lives!
I was so damn excited when handed the package =)

I felt shy when Ms Yin asked me: Why you got so much time to update the forum so frequently one?
She has been watching us. Haha. Embarrased....... =p

 

[jim84]

welcome: Noob and yeelee

yeelee,
those departing in October will join the send-off ceremony on 31st as well? Cool!

 

[skfer]

Congratulations guys .... I am really happy for you , and thanks ooilingfan for this information ...
I am going to go to the university of electro-communication in Tokyo...
does anyone know anything about first month accommodaiton ? .. will it be arranged for us .. or we will have to arrange it ourselves ?

 

[yeelee]

welcome: Noob and yeelee
yeelee,
those departing in October will join the send-off ceremony on 31st as well? Cool!

ya...i received the send-off ceremony reply form as well.
I were there with my friends at around 3.15pm something, i dunno whether the two girls that you saw were me and my friends or not...because we were rushing back to office, so very kan cheong at that time...haha.

 

[jim84]

Congratulations guys .... I am really happy for you , and thanks ooilingfan for this information ...
I am going to go to the university of electro-communication in Tokyo...
does anyone know anything about first month accommodaiton ? .. will it be arranged for us .. or we will have to arrange it ourselves ?

usually, most of the time, the university will arrange accomodation for us for the first 6 months. If they can't find you any, you may arrange with JASSO in your area. So don't worry, especially if you're a scholar. I believe they're expecting you very earlier on, your enrolment was tentatively expected so many months back (since the issuance of LoA last year).

 

[jim84]

ya...i received the send-off ceremony reply form as well.
I were there with my friends at around 3.15pm something, i dunno whether the two girls that you saw were me and my friends or not...because we were rushing back to office, so very kan cheong at that time...haha.

Yea, it's definitely you then. Wow, you and your friend got it together, it must be great. Going to the same Uni?

 

[yeelee]

no la...i got it only. my friend just there to accompany me...ha.

 

[menrui]

so they ARE reading this forum! That's a real shocker. I wonder if my coordinator is reading this forum... Hello Mr. M! Thank you for taking care of me!

You guys get a party?! unfair. Well, I guess it would be weird to have a party for 2 here...

About the money thing, you cant really exchange in "bulk." They charge the same percent no matter the amount. And I would suggest that you guys exchange as little as possible and only when necessary, because the yen is pretty strong right now.

A trip to hokkaido would sound great~ Let's go during the winter and enjoy the snow at its fullest! make plans later...

Oh, and welcome to the forums yeelee and noob.
Ms. Yin sounds really cool by the way.

 

[jim84]

no la...i got it only. my friend just there to accompany me...ha.

she seems more kan cheong than you. =p

 

[jim84]

so they ARE reading this forum! That's a real shocker. I wonder if my coordinator is reading this forum... Hello Mr. M! Thank you for taking care of me!
You guys get a party?! unfair. Well, I guess it would be weird to have a party for 2 here...
About the money thing, you cant really exchange in "bulk." They charge the same percent no matter the amount. And I would suggest that you guys exchange as little as possible and only when necessary, because the yen is pretty strong right now.
A trip to hokkaido would sound great~ Let's go during the winter and enjoy the snow at its fullest! make plans later...
Oh, and welcome to the forums yeelee and noob.
Ms. Yin sounds really cool by the way.

Winter time at Hokkaido .........!!!
sounds really cold to me....i was thinking more of a summer retreat to avoid the heat

well, at least bring enough there. I'm afraid it'll be much more expensive if we exchange currency there.

 

[MakKuro]

@noob & @yeelee welcome ya guys!!
@athz lonesome no more. Yeelee is going to Nagoya too obviously. I have a friend living in Nagoya, so I will visit ya two for sure. ^^
Today I signed the pledge paper. I'm sending it to the embassy tomorrow. I swore myself not to mischief while being in Japan. ^^
We're having a party as well here in Bulgaria. It would be held in the Japanese embassy sometime in March. There we'll receive our tickets I think. And some of the applicants will have to make a speech. D'oh! I hope it won't be me! (hahHhahh)

kyodai students,
Don't forget about your friendly neighbors from osaka, we're only a 45min train ride away~. hey, we're cool too.

How could we! You are the reason for the Turtle squad to be born!

A trip to hokkaido would sound great~ Let's go during the winter and enjoy the snow at its fullest! make plans later...

You made my day! Let us start planning the trip! ^^

 

[kouki]

>Malaysians
How come some of you know your departure date?

As for the currency exchange:
Can we change Malaysian Ringgit in Japan? If we can't then we will be loosing money twice by doing MYR-USD-JPY... Maybe we can ask our family to deposit some money for us if we run out of them in Japan... The Japanese exchange students here are doing that... I think we can withdraw money using the ATM of the major banks in Japan, by ATM cards of banks such as Maybank, HSBC or others?

>ooilingfan
Yes, those leaving in October will attend the send-off ceremony as well.

BTW, Ms Yin has been asking us whether we know you... But thanks for sharing those valuale information to us. I appreciate them.

You mean we can apply for the visa on the 31st itself, but I thought the ceremony is at the ambassador residence or something? We have to apply the visa from the embassy right?

 

[jim84]

>Malaysians
How come some of you know your departure date?
As for the currency exchange:
Can we change Malaysian Ringgit in Japan? If we can't then we will be loosing money twice by doing MYR-USD-JPY... Maybe we can ask our family to deposit some money for us if we run out of them in Japan... The Japanese exchange students here are doing that... I think we can withdraw money using the ATM of the major banks in Japan, by ATM cards of banks such as Maybank, HSBC or others?
>ooilingfan
Yes, those leaving in October will attend the send-off ceremony as well.
BTW, Ms Yin has been asking us whether we know you... But thanks for sharing those valuale information to us. I appreciate them.
You mean we can apply for the visa on the 31st itself, but I thought the ceremony is at the ambassador residence or something? We have to apply the visa from the embassy right?

Well yes, we can exchange our currency there, but i think it'll be more expensive. It's better we change some here in M'sia. And i'm not sure whether we can use our ATM cards there. Credit cards yes. Perhaps you can get a credit card from citibank or HSBC, which is more international than maybank - you can make payment easier i suppose. With the credit limit we have in M'sia, after conversion to JPY, it's not much, but can be useful during emergencies.

MYR-USD-JPY? Do we need to go through the USD currency first when exchanging cash?

 

[kimberleylhj]

MYR-USD-JPY applies if we are in Japan. It's better to change your money here. The rate is really high now so just try to estimate how much you think is enough for emergency (i know it's difficult) in order to not feel the pain so much. Coz once we receive JPY there then it will be dollar for dollar so eventually don't need to worry so much about exchange rates.

 

[jim84]

I see. So there is not direct exchange from MYR to JPY in Japan.
No worries, we just bring enough, our allowance should be in within 30days. And i heard something about a settling in allowance of 10000-20000yen or so.

 

[Vyen]

IMO, I think we will need more than 100,000 yen since the stipend will be deposited into our account 1.5 - 2 months later. We need to spend for the dorm's deposit, food, medical fees(assume that we might get sick while adapting the new environment), text book (maybe), get a new handphone (or pay for skype), opening a bank account, transport fees, welcoming parties fees (don't know need us to pay or not), treat our prefessor, senior or coursemate (maybe), and etc. Hmmm...seems like a lot to me...

So, I will bring more to avoid the risk of cash shortage. hehe...