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MEXT Scholarship for Postgraduate 2011: General Discussions.


It is like the year before with 2 reading passages at the end. You actually can find more information at the previous threads of this post.
 

Well, from conversations with my academics, Japanese is not core to a chemistry programme as most of the world apparently does it in english for simplicity. I think I may have a chance in this respect.

As for the detailed proposal, all I have is this: I wish to study the light absorption properties and potential modifications of lanthanoid and transition metal complexes in the UV-vis region to improve their action as photovoltaic cells. I hope to further this field and step closer towards solving the energy crisis.

It isn't much and as much as it may sound good to any lamen, there are plenty of people working on this right now - I haven't found a particular niche in the field.
 
I won the Embassy nomination !
Thanks to everyone here, your comments and input from what is happening elsewhere in the world regarding the Embassy nomination process was great! I read every single one of the comments on this thread.
Now I have to find professors that would accept me, next week I have to get an official letter from the Embassy regarding this.
I don't know about other countries, but in case it helps anyone, in my country it was more or less like this:
1. You had to deliver all application related documents by the end of may. Around 100 people applied.
2. Out of those 100, the Embassy pre-selected 9.
3. The pre-selected 9 then did the English and Japanese tests (this last one was only done by 3 people out of the 9, including myself)
4. Out of the 9, 5 were selected for interviews.
5. After the interview, three were selected to be nominated for the Scholarship.
Good luck everyone!!!!!
Ganbare!!!!!
 
@Alveric

Congratulations for winning the nomination,
I'm selected for the interview after the exams!!!

Do you mind sharing your experience for the interview?

May i know what questions did they ask?

Sorry for the queries, I'm really hyped up for this interview and hope to acquire the scholarship.

Hope to know info about the interview so I could prepare mentally

Thanks in advance!!
 
hello

hello every one
i'm gonna take the written exams and i'm really worried about the tests especially physics
i looked at the previous exams that was put in the official website and i found that there's a lot of things that i didn't study . so i'm asking this stupid question is it the same exams for all countries or each country has its own tests ?
 

Unfortunately, the tests are prepared by the Japanese government and are the same in all countries. I passed the tests on thursday and I found them a bit hard especially physics! So you have to revise something of which You haven't studied to do well in the exams :S
 

euhh and the problem is the exam contains 99% of things that i didn't study it's not just 1 or 2 things .. : (
 
hi Cha!

have u receive anything from the Japanes embassy in UK yet? i'm panicking now.. last time they notify me on the friday (two days after the deadlin) for missing doc. so I was participating they will contact me last friday for the test.

I'm a musician and wanting to study the classical pop genre in Japan, and the way how International publishing companies work in Japan. Do you know that Hayley Westenra's album 'Hayley sings Japanese songs' is actually recorded in London?
 


Well, I don't know about art-related fields, but in Engineering field (which I'm applying for) it seems quite logical to me. When I was doing my thesis project for my B.Sc degree, I had to show a plan and a detailed time distribution for that which I thought at that time was really annoying. But, my supervisor just forced me! anyway, so, I was not surprised when I saw it on this book. but, now after you said this, I'm a bit confused, because I also put a time table on my research proposal.:?
 
Can somebody please tell me

What should we write in

６．Field of specialization studied in the past (Do we have to write the name of the subject we have studied or just overall name of the field)(e.g. in my case shall I have to write the overall general name of my field JAPANESE LANGUAGE or the name of all the subjects which I have studied e.g Japanese language, translation, japanese literature etc.)

a field to be filled in main application form. and in Field of Study and Study Program form

１ Present field of study (What should we write in this field)
2. Your research theme after arrival in Japan: Clearly explain the research you wish to carry out in Japan.
３ Study program in Japan: (Describe this in detail and concretely—particularly about the ultimate goal of your research in Japan) (DO we have to rewrite our research proposal here again)
 
@kouun9:
6. Field of specializaton studied in the past: That is your bachelor's degree title only. In your case, given that you are a Japanese Language major, write in Japanese.
About the Field of Study and Study Program, this is probably THE MOST IMPORTANT part your application, as I'm sure you're aware...
1. Present field of study is just that, what have you been up to (research-wise o academically) up to this point and what is your research theme. In this part I would suggest particularly strong arguments on the importance of your research topic for your country. You don't have to write one thousand pages, just one page but very strong should do it.
2. Your research theme after arrival in Japan, well that's self-explanatory.
3. Study program in Japan. NO, you don't have to repeat your research theme again.
You must write a phase by phase, step by step program of how you would go about your research.
For example,
step one: Japanese language course (and then some short comments).
step two: literature review (and then some comments)
step three: admission to graduate course (and then some comments AND THE SUBJECTS you're interested in, a list of ten would do).
And finally: you're ultimate goal, get poetic with this one. At least I did xD. This part is about your final objective, something lofty and from the heart, to help your country.
Again, this is my understanding of this, I'm sure other people have done completely different applications but mine worked, I just won the Embassy nomination so I can only talk about my experience.
By the way, your major is Japanese, so write in Japanese! xD
If you know someone from your country who won the scholarship ask him/her. Local insight on what the local/regional Embassy is looking for is the best.
I hope this helps. Good luck! Ganbare!
 
Hi everyone,

Seems like others are also trying to fill up the application form like I do =D.

I have a question I would like to ask. On the application guideline, I come across this part that says:

--------------------
1. If Grantee comes to Japan in April 2011, his/her scholarhip will be payable for 24 months from April 2011 through March 2013;

2. If Grantee comes to Japan in October 2011, his/her scholarship will be payable for 18 months from October 2011 through March 2013
-----------------------------------------

So, does this means that if I choose to go Japan in October, I will only study there for 18 months? Won't this be a lose, considering that I still need to go for Japanese Language training and such?
 
@Alveric - Thankyou very much Alveric for your quick response, your comments are indeed helpful.

@ Seacrac - You can choose to go either in April or in October, it is up to you. Yes you will be studying only 18 months if you go in Oct, it is a type of loss, but in my case I will also chose to go in Oct. because I decide to complete my postgraduation in which i am enrolled and then go for research if I am selected. If I chose to go in April I will not qualify for my degree so it will be a loss of 2 years. So losing 6 months is better then losing 2 years in my case.

You can choose a course which is offered in English, but learning Japanese language will enble you to go around in Japan.
 

Not exactly. The scholarship will be payable for 18 months/2 years, the research is not necessarily that long. For example, the research program in Todai is only 6 months (with possibilites of extensions in case of need, of course, but they can as well refuse to extend it). So you can complete your research and return much earlier.
 

In my case, if I will be granted the MEXT scholarship, the classes will start this October. However, as stated in the MEXT Guidelines sent to me by Todai, the scholarship is for 24 months (October 2010 to Sept 2012).

I know that is quite different from the usual stipulation in the MEXT Guidelines. I guess there is some sort of an special arrangement with the Japanese universities.
 
Just got news that I will be sitting in for the exams here in Indonesia. Im nervous/excited hehe
 


I've just checked the book again and actually it doesn't literally mentioned it is a MUST (mandatory). It says it is a RECOMMENDATION based on analyzing failed applications. The lack-of a time-table was defined in the eBook as a common mistake because it decreases the applicant's credibility in terms of being able to successfully undertake research activities and offer benefit outcomes from it.So, I think putting a well planned time table could be a great idea.

I hope you would read the whole e-Book and not give an opinion biased to one paragraph/page of the whole material. I still think this book is a great resource for the Monbukagakusho Scholarship.

Good Luck
 

I've just checked the book again and actually it doesn't literally mentioned it is a MUST (mandatory). It says it is a RECOMMENDATION based on analyzing failed applications. The lack-of a time-table was defined in the eBook as a common mistake because it decreases the applicant's credibility in terms of being able to successfully undertake research activities and offer benefit outcomes from it.So, I think putting a well planned time table could be a great idea.

I hope you would read the whole e-Book and not give an opinion biased to one paragraph/page of the whole material. I still think this book is a great resource for the Monbukagakusho Scholarship.

Good Luck
 
Dude, I wish the book were free. I'm interested to have a look but it cost much.
 
PoopyPants said:
Just got news that I will be sitting in for the exams here in Indonesia. Im nervous/excited hehe
Click to expand...

Nice ! Good luck with the exam, it's totally normal with the nervous/excited things just keep focusing on the excited part and you will be fine
 
Hey, guys. After so many days of striving together with you, I just got the call from the Embassy, after waiting for 3 days with どきどき, that I will be recommended to the scholarship. I will go to the Embassy tomorrow to retrieve materials from them.
I hope you all will do well.
頑張って！bluecheryl, ykk and others!
I guess, the most important thing is that I have done a great job in the interview part. The main interviewer was actually quite surprised and said you did so good at the end of the interview, which is one week ago.
I will maybe tonight, put a summary of the interview questions here, mostly from the Malaysian Embassy as I've read every thread of the MEXT scholarship on this site. I hope you all do well, again!
 


well done!!! congrats~~
I hope i were u.. I havent started to prepare for the interview yet >///<
 

Congrats! =) you must have impressed the interviewers very much!
 
Thanks a lot, Prettybunny and Clipvain. I hope you also will do very well in the interview and get the scholarship.
Here, for my interview, the first question is in Japanese, to ask me to make a brief introduction. And the second question, initially they asked me in Japanese and expect me to explain in Japanese, but I told them I would be more confident in English, so changed to English. Because I'm studying biology, and they don't understand my plan, so they asked me to introduce my study plan to them. Then, they asked me how important my plan is, like what benefits my plan would make, and because the study plan I wrote is a bit different from my previous major, although in the same field of biological science, they asked me why I changed my study focus and what common aspects are my current field with the field that I proposed in the study plan. And after some quite trivial and small questions, they asked me what I plan to do in the future finally. And then, that's the end of the interview. Takes around 20 min for me.
Thanks to the others who have posted and talked about the interviews last years, I have prepared for all the questions in the interview well before-hand.
Here's the summary of the questions that might appear in the interview. It's a summary after I have read all the posts on this forum on the MEXT scholarship interviews in the embassies of different countries, most of the info were from Malaysian Embassy in the last years. Althought I cannot be sure, I can say if you can prepare for all the following answers well, it's likely that you will do well in the interview.

Questions:
1. Brief introduction in Japanese / Present yourself. 自己紹介をしてください！
2. Why do you want to study in Japan? / Why are you interested in Japan?
3. Why studying Japanese?
4. What do you know about Japanese Culture?
5. Why is your research important? / How will your project benefit to Japan, your country or to the world?
6. Why is it important for you to conduct your research in Japan? / Why did you choose Japan to study this topic? / Which Japanese schools you want to go to? / Why did you choose this professor?
7. Have you contacted any professors / universities?
8. Previous experience with Japan
9. Explain the research theme you submitted, why this theme? / What do you want to study? / Explain research proposal
10. Studying in Japan involves a lot of stress and pressure, do you feel you can handle it and how will you go about once there? / What kind of challenges might exist for you in Japan and how will you tackle them?
11. How you are going to improve the diplomatic/cultural/scientific relationship between Japan and your own country?
12. What do you intend to do after returning to your country / What's your future plan?
13. What are you currently working at/ studying?
14. How are your current research/study related with your proposed research?
15. How did you come up with your research proposal? / Why are you interested in studying it?
16. What did you know about the city/ university choosen?
17. What do you know about the available associations, clubs, events that promote Japan in your country? have you joined any of them?

The other things that I suggest is to look at youtube to try to mimic the Japanese in the interview, liking bowing right after entering the room and just before leaving the rooms, saying something in Japanese like 始めまして。私はどこのだれと申します。本日はよろしくお願いいたします。at the beginning. Try to demonstrate your ability in Japanese by making a self introduction in Japanese first, and then change back to English if you want by saying あの、実は私は日本語より英語のほうが自信がありますので、この後は英語で答えさせてください。よろしくお願いいたします。and finally 今日はお忙しいなか、私のために貴重な時間を頂ありがとうございました。at the end.
I give a website in the following for the reference of interview manner in Japan
http://www.rku.ac.jp/shushoku/examination.html
In addition, there might be detailed questions on the research plan especially when there is one or two experts on the interview commitee, so be prepared about that, as the research plan is the most important thing. I think, it might matter not whether you can explain the research plan in a layman speech to let all the interviewees understand about it, but you have to tell them how important your research plan is, try to focus it and press the impression on the commitee that your research is really, really important.

The other additional thing that I want to add is that try to think some ways that you can help improve the relationship between Japan and your home country. Even if the interviewees don't ask you at the end, bring this out, because I think it's one of the important things for granding the scholarship. They don't give you the scholarship for nothing, they want something from you as well. In my case, I told them as one of my future plans that I want to do this and that to strenghen the friendship between Japan and my country.

last but not least, hope you all do well!
 
Last edited:
Congratulations Flidar san!!! and thanks for the post.
 
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