MEXT Scholarship (Graduate Students) 2017

[kobayakawa]

My sensei asked me if it's OK with me to take Japanese language class, and I said yes ofc. Since I have 10% to almost zero knowledge of their language. And now I'm wondering if I'd have to take the language course simultaneously with my biotech courses, or do I get the chance to use my first year as a "research student" studying/focusing on Japanese language before I can start my M.S.degree.

I agree with madphysicist. Most likely you will be joining Handai as a graduate student already and not as a kenkyuusei. In which case, you will be taking Nihongo classes simultaneously with your biotech courses.

 

[kobayakawa]

Wooow, that's nice
in my country they take only 4 , no more
did they ask you what will you do if they won't select you for the scholarship ?

Hey Tagy! How was the interview? I was not asked that question. But if I were asked, I would definitely say that I have other options in mind. First is thru university recommendation since I have already established professional relationship with a professor who is working on the same field as mine. If this fails too, I would definitely apply next year until I am not qualified anymore because of the age limit. Haha.

 

[madphysicist]

My sensei asked me if it's OK with me to take Japanese language class, and I said yes ofc. Since I have 10% to almost zero knowledge of their language. And now I'm wondering if I'd have to take the language course simultaneously with my biotech courses, or do I get the chance to use my first year as a "research student" studying/focusing on Japanese language before I can start my M.S.degree.

Normally their acceptance letter for the master's would state a starting date for the course, but if it does not I think you would do better to ask your supervisor about this.

 

[DezireeAngel]

Normally their acceptance letter for the master's would state a starting date for the course, but if it does not I think you would do better to ask your supervisor about this.

Thank you for your help. I've read from the link you shared that if accepted as graduate student (M.S./Ph.D) I would be given 6 months for Japanese language. Anyway, I hope everything would be clear as soon as I landed at Osaka U.

 

[madphysicist]

Thank you for your help. I've read from the link you shared that if accepted as graduate student (M.S./Ph.D) I would be given 6 months for Japanese language. Anyway, I hope everything would be clear as soon as I landed at Osaka U.

I don't know as much about the university recommendation route, but generally the research student period is only for those who have not yet done the entrance exam or been accepted onto a degree course. Usually you can't put off starting the course once you've been accepted.

I really think you need to talk to your professor and make sure you understand what's going to happen BEFORE arriving in Japan.

 

[hxcpanda]

Never mind. Answered my own question and can't figure out how to delete the comment...

 

[Richard S H]

Hi everyone! It is very encouraging to similar people striving together to get the scholarship. I think the timing in Indonesia is rather slow. Currently, I am waiting for my interview, which is going to be around the end of July.
I am having a problem about contacting a professor and wondering if anyone has had a similar case. The thing is, I have contacted a professor in Todai I really want to study under since the beginning of June, and I have not received a reply. Ideally, I wish to receive a reply before I go to the interview to show that I already have a professor who is willing to supervise. What worries me the most, is that if the reply does not come, up to the point that I cannot receive a LoA from the university. Does anyone have a similar problem? If yes, how do you cope with the situation?

Thanks!

 

[kobayakawa]

Hi everyone! It is very encouraging to similar people striving together to get the scholarship. I think the timing in Indonesia is rather slow. Currently, I am waiting for my interview, which is going to be around the end of July.
I am having a problem about contacting a professor and wondering if anyone has had a similar case. The thing is, I have contacted a professor in Todai I really want to study under since the beginning of June, and I have not received a reply. Ideally, I wish to receive a reply before I go to the interview to show that I already have a professor who is willing to supervise. What worries me the most, is that if the reply does not come, up to the point that I cannot receive a LoA from the university. Does anyone have a similar problem? If yes, how do you cope with the situation?

Thanks!

Hello Richard, I think I saw in the earlier section of this thread or the 2015/2016 thread that most universities will entertain emails ONLY when an applicant has passed the primary (embassy) screening. Although of course if you know the professor personally and not just by acquaintance, then perhaps that professor might give you a courtesy reply. Otherwise, expect the professors to ignore you until the embassy screening results come out.

You can perhaps tell the panel that you are acquainted with a professor from the University of Tokyo who will most likely take you in his/her lab but you will only inform him/her when the embassy results are out.

 

[Tagy]

Hey Tagy! How was the interview? I was not asked that question. But if I were asked, I would definitely say that I have other options in mind. First is thru university recommendation since I have already established professional relationship with a professor who is working on the same field as mine. If this fails too, I would definitely apply next year until I am not qualified anymore because of the age limit. Haha.

Hello kobayakawa,
I did well alhmd llh,i passed the interview and i have been select for the scholarship,. Thank you and to every one here for their support and i wish you all the best.

 

[DezireeAngel]

Hello kobayakawa,
I did well alhmd llh,i passed the interview and i have been select for the scholarship,. Thank you and to every one here for their support and i wish you all the best.

Congratulations Tagy!!!!

 

[Frida]

I really thought the first screening process would be the most stressful one. I guess I was wrong. Getting the LOAs is driving me crazy >___<

All 3 universities have received my documents.
1. I have been trying to convince one of the professors to accept me first as a reasearch student and then let me take the entrance examination. I have explained to him in about 7 emails that the admission results for the program come out 10 days later that the deadline to submit LOAs, but he still says I should try T___T And this was my first option.
2. I will have an interview with one of the professors this Saturday.
3. Uni says they will not announce results via email, to just wait for the post. This is going to finally make me go crazy in anticipation XD

 

[Richard S H]

Hello Richard, I think I saw in the earlier section of this thread or the 2015/2016 thread that most universities will entertain emails ONLY when an applicant has passed the primary (embassy) screening. Although of course if you know the professor personally and not just by acquaintance, then perhaps that professor might give you a courtesy reply. Otherwise, expect the professors to ignore you until the embassy screening results come out.

You can perhaps tell the panel that you are acquainted with a professor from the University of Tokyo who will most likely take you in his/her lab but you will only inform him/her when the embassy results are out.

Thanks! will try that out later

 

[kobayakawa]

Hello kobayakawa,
I did well alhmd llh,i passed the interview and i have been select for the scholarship,. Thank you and to every one here for their support and i wish you all the best.

Wow! That's great! May I know your three universities of choice?

In case I pass the embassy screening as well, it would be awesome to meet you in person in Japan! Haha. *fingers crossed*

 

[nthuq]

Just got an email today notifying me that I passed the exam stage! My interview is on the 20th, and yet I'm stressing out so much! Just read through a bunch of websites and this whole thread trying to find info on the interview. I've noticed that different countries interview in different ways, so I've been trying to find any Aussies and how they went. Sadly, I'm yet to hear from any. I suppose not many apply here. There were only 2 undergrad applicants and 3 research student applicants when I did the exam, though since the exam room was tiny, others may have had their exam on different days.

So now that I've made a list of 7 links talking about the interview stage, I should put them together and come up with a mock interview.

 

[Tagy]

Wow! That's great! May I know your three universities of choice?

In case I pass the embassy screening as well, it would be awesome to meet you in person in Japan! Haha. *fingers crossed*

Hahahaha
i choose osaka, tokyo institute of technology and Waseda university
yeah it will be awesome. you will do it , just be relax

 

[zobel]

Hello kobayakawa,
I did well alhmd llh,i passed the interview and i have been select for the scholarship,. Thank you and to every one here for their support and i wish you all the best.

Congrats bro !

 

[Tagy]

Just got an email today notifying me that I passed the exam stage! My interview is on the 20th, and yet I'm stressing out so much! Just read through a bunch of websites and this whole thread trying to find info on the interview. I've noticed that different countries interview in different ways, so I've been trying to find any Aussies and how they went. Sadly, I'm yet to hear from any. I suppose not many apply here. There were only 2 undergrad applicants and 3 research student applicants when I did the exam, though since the exam room was tiny, others may have had their exam on different days.

So now that I've made a list of 7 links talking about the interview stage, I should put them together and come up with a mock interview.

Hi, it is nice to hear you passed the exam.
firstly don't be worry, just relax, you can do it.
the questions may differ from interviewer to another, in mine they didn't ask me any thing about japan, just why you wanna go there.
the other tow from my country ask me about my research proposal and how it will affect my country ...etc.
tell them you will come back home after finishing scholarship duration.
mine was peace of cake alhmdllh, but others said the interviewers ask them hard questions about the proposal. if you know what you are doing then every thing will be ok.
one more thing, try to dress in formal mode.
be active in the interview and look into their eyes when you are speaking.
speak with respect....etc
wish you all the best.

 

[Tagy]

Congrats bro !

thank you bro.
hope you did contact professor !

 

[zobel]

thank you bro.
hope you did contact professor !

I've not yet received the result of the interview. They said end of july

 

[madphysicist]

Hello Richard, I think I saw in the earlier section of this thread or the 2015/2016 thread that most universities will entertain emails ONLY when an applicant has passed the primary (embassy) screening. Although of course if you know the professor personally and not just by acquaintance, then perhaps that professor might give you a courtesy reply. Otherwise, expect the professors to ignore you until the embassy screening results come out.

If you are emailing the admissions department of the university they may not put you in contact with professors before their arbitrary deadline, that is true.

However if you identify and contact a particular professor, they should be keen to take you on, because if you get the scholarship that means free money for their group. (Of course this may depend on your ability to prove you have a good chance of receiving the scholarship, but let's assume you give them your CV that shows you're a good candidate.)

Personally I think if a professor does not bother to reply to my emails, that is evidence they will not be a good supervisor. I don't really want to work with them, never mind if they want to work with me.

I have said before and will say again it is a good idea to contact professors as soon as possible, because you don't want to be stuck working for years with someone you have only had a very brief email conversation with. I'm honestly surprised how few people look past getting the scholarship to what their actual experience in Japan will be like.

 

[nthuq]

Hi, it is nice to hear you passed the exam.
firstly don't be worry, just relax, you can do it.
the questions may differ from interviewer to another, in mine they didn't ask me any thing about japan, just why you wanna go there.
the other tow from my country ask me about my research proposal and how it will affect my country ...etc.
tell them you will come back home after finishing scholarship duration.
mine was peace of cake alhmdllh, but others said the interviewers ask them hard questions about the proposal. if you know what you are doing then every thing will be ok.
one more thing, try to dress in formal mode.
be active in the interview and look into their eyes when you are speaking.
speak with respect....etc
wish you all the best.

Thanks for the advice! I'll do what I can to prepare, and hope it goes well.

If you are emailing the admissions department of the university they may not put you in contact with professors before their arbitrary deadline, that is true.

However if you identify and contact a particular professor, they should be keen to take you on, because if you get the scholarship that means free money for their group. (Of course this may depend on your ability to prove you have a good chance of receiving the scholarship, but let's assume you give them your CV that shows you're a good candidate.)

Personally I think if a professor does not bother to reply to my emails, that is evidence they will not be a good supervisor. I don't really want to work with them, never mind if they want to work with me.

I have said before and will say again it is a good idea to contact professors as soon as possible, because you don't want to be stuck working for years with someone you have only had a very brief email conversation with. I'm honestly surprised how few people look past getting the scholarship to what their actual experience in Japan will be like.

I'll definitely try this. I emailed my number 1 choice several months ago, and he seemed positive about accepting me, so it'd definitely be worth speaking with him again. I'll also have to see if I can open communications with my second and third choices.

 

[hxcpanda]

Man, I sent out one of my applications yesterday (to Waseda) but I just realized I forgot to put in the blank Letter of Acceptance form... :banghead: What are the odds they reject me on that basis? Should I go ahead and send them another envelope with only that in it?

 

[Lawrence1]

Man, I sent out one of my applications yesterday (to Waseda) but I just realized I forgot to put in the blank Letter of Acceptance form... :banghead: What are the odds they reject me on that basis? Should I go ahead and send them another envelope with only that in it?

Email them first. Tell them you forgot to put it in. They may ask you to simply email it (since it is a just a blank form). Worst case they will tell you to mail it in. If you are not at the deadline, you should be fine sending it in but contact them first.

 

[indojindesu]

Hey guys! I had my Interview and exams yesterday. The English exam was pretty good. so were the first two sections of the Japanese paper, the third section was a bit scary. In the Interview they were asking about Japan, my knowledge about Japan, experience with Japanese people/food/culture, my University choices, my advisor choices. It was a pretty short Interview. No technical questions about my research proposal or field of study were asked. For future applicants/ppl who haven't had their Interview yet : Focus on why japan part.

 

[indojindesu]

Thanks! The embassy is sending me my entire application from my understanding, and it's in transit right now. To get the LOAs you should have to send copies of the materials to the schools you're applying to, so they send it back with official stamps on it.

So only ONE set of documents was sent to you by the Embassy? because in previous years, 3 sets were sent by the Embassy. Even we were told that if you get selected only one copy of documents will be sent to you, I was confused about.