MEXT Scholarship (Graduate Students) 2017

[AruanM]

Study Japanese and study for the entrance exam in October. What about you?

I'm thinking whether I should attempt are other university classes that are eventually available, or if I should stick to Japanese/ entrance exam only... this will be my chance to really learn the essentials of the language, but I really wanted "regular" classes as well.

I have to admit, I'm anxious af. It's going to be hard to keep this feeling away until Jan/Feb.

 

[Yagami Kyo]

Hi there!

Physics grad here, with a prospective professor agreeing to include me in the lab. I am doing my Masters right now, and I'll apply next year to the scholarship. I am kinda worried about not getting ir, so I've researchered a little about university recommendation. Apparently chances are higher this way.

Any advice on if it's better to do It for southern/western Europe? Or os It worth going through the Embassy?

Congrats to everyone that passed the selection by the way!

 

[madphysicist]

For those of you who are going to enter as a research student: What are your plans for that six month period? Study Japanese only, start researching your final thesis, study for the entrance exam in October...?

Whatever my supervisor tells me to do lol. I hope he'll just let me take it easy for a while.

Physics grad here, with a prospective professor agreeing to include me in the lab. I am doing my Masters right now, and I'll apply next year to the scholarship. I am kinda worried about not getting ir, so I've researchered a little about university recommendation. Apparently chances are higher this way.

If you already have a professor backing you then I think university recommendation is usually easier and less stressful. Also if the university decides not to put you forward to MEXT then you can apply at the embassy in the same year. But the deadlines for uni recommendation are coming up very soon.

I don't know why but the PM function isn't working for me right now so I couldn't reply to your message. If you have questions for me about MEXT you can ask here.

 

[Kiraboshii]

My prof wants me to start with the Masters subjects while I study Japanese. She seems very keen in getting me past the 'research student' period ASAP, which I would prefer to be honest. I would like to take it a bit easier for the first six months though, so I can sort out accommodation that means I don't have to travel over an hour to get to campus haha.

 

[Yagami Kyo]

Well, I received a mail from the professor saying that, apparently, not every program has a chance for university recommendation, and there are few places so he is not allowed to do it. So I will have to go by embassy recommendation.

About your application: how technical were the questions in the interview? And how long was your project proposal?

 

[indojindesu]

Well, I received a mail from the professor saying that, apparently, not every program has a chance for university recommendation, and there are few places so he is not allowed to do it. So I will have to go by embassy recommendation.

About your application: how technical were the questions in the interview? And how long was your project proposal?

Look at the older posts on this thread you will find the information there.

 

[madphysicist]

I received an email about accommodation already today, my research group seems very efficient haha.

About your application: how technical were the questions in the interview? And how long was your project proposal?

They asked me to explain my proposal but neither of the interviewers were physicists so I didn't go into much technical detail. I did write as much detail as I could in the proposal. For scientific proposals I think it is best to try to write some concrete numbers e.g. "we aim to reduce the uncertainty of this measurement to +-1%". The majority of the questions were not related to the research plan.

My plan was 4 pages. One of those was a timetable. I did not cite sources, just put a couple of website links about the experiment.

 

[AruanM]

About your application: how technical were the questions in the interview? And how long was your project proposal?

I know you aimed this question to madphysicist, but if I may add, in my local consulate web page it was suggested that the proposal should be limited to 15 pages. I guess the idea is to show them that you have a worthy thesis without giving them tons of reading in order to reach such conclusion.

As to the interview, I was lucky that of the interviewers was a lawyer of exactly the same research area that I am (Intellectual Property), so I could deepen my explanation a little (which helped me in the overall score, as I've been told). The other interviewers, however, weren't lawyers, so they basically focused on whether or not I would be able to adjust to Japan (i.e., culture shock, family issues), if I had the interest of learning the language and customs, what was my purpose there, what I intended to obtain with my research, etc.

One tip I've been told and that certainly helped me is: go presentable. If you're a male, suit up. If you're a female, dress formally as well, and don't show any cleavage at any costs. Most people that were competing with me went there with jeans and t shirts, which I found out later not to be the best outfit for an interview with Japanese people.

 

[Kamiyan]

my proposal was only 3 pages hahahaha

 

[indojindesu]

my proposal was only 3 pages hahahaha

same lol

 

[hsark]

personally under 5 pages is great, i did mine in 3 pages cause honestly writing a 20 pages (for graduate research) at this stage just shows you don`t fully understand your material imo ....distilling information into a short format with a good structure is a skill worth developing
ps: ditto on the suit or wearing a smart shirt with a tie same applies for the ladies it honestly can kill your application

 

[kobayakawa]

Good evening guys. I am happy to share with you that yesterday, I received an email from the University of Tokyo Student Housing services regarding accommodation options.

Anyone who's planning to stay at Komaba International Lodge?

 

[AruanM]

Good evening guys. I am happy to share with you that yesterday, I received an email from the University of Tokyo Student Housing services regarding accommodation options.

Anyone who's planning to stay at Komaba International Lodge?

Ok, I have to admit that I'm a little envious of your position right now.

Jokes aside, congratulations! Dormitory is one of my main concerns, for budget issues. If it's OK to share with us, what have they said in the email?

 

[kobayakawa]

Ok, I have to admit that I'm a little envious of your position right now.

Jokes aside, congratulations! Dormitory is one of my main concerns, for budget issues. If it's OK to share with us, what have they said in the email?

Hello AruanM, here are some of the important information in the email:
1. Application for a dormitory slot will start on December 26.
2. Students who will be granted a slot can stay for a maximum of 1 year only.
3. The monthly rent ( inclusive of utilities and other fees) can go as high as Y64,660 for a 15sqm unit (Komaba International Lodge Main).

I envy my friends who are in Handai and Kyoudai. Their rents are no more than Y30,000.

Have you been contacted by the student services of Nagoya U re your accommodation options?

 

[indojindesu]

Good evening guys. I am happy to share with you that yesterday, I received an email from the University of Tokyo Student Housing services regarding accommodation options.

Anyone who's planning to stay at Komaba International Lodge?

Congratulations!
I hope I get the email from my university too. I have selected October so maybe they contact us late or something?

And wow the rent in tokyo is 60k??? I thought it will be around 40k..

 

[kobayakawa]

Congratulations!
I hope I get the email from my university too. I have selected October so maybe they contact us late or something?

And wow the rent in tokyo is 60k??? I thought it will be around 40k..

Hey indojinedesu! Ohisashiburi!

I was not expecting the email this month because my sempai told me it's gonna come out first week of January. So I was kinda surprised I got that email.

My other sempai told me he used to rent a really tiny place (4.5jo or roughly 6.8sqm) along Yamanote Line/Marunouchi line for 45k yen. But...I think that would be too small for someone like me. Haha.

I hope you get yours soon too!

 

[Sakuyahime]

Hi everyone,

I have been silently lurking in this thread for months now while waiting for the second prelims. While I am determined to wait for the Embassy's email, I'm a little anxious after Kobayakawa's post.

Good evening guys. I am happy to share with you that yesterday, I received an email from the University of Tokyo Student Housing services regarding accommodation options.

Anyone who's planning to stay at Komaba International Lodge?

From your profile, I'm assuming you're from PH (amirite?) Did the PH Embassy send emails yet? Or was it Todai who contacted you first? Thanks for the info!!!

I've submitted only one LoA from Kyodai Graduate School of Science. I was under the impression my sensei/dept/college did not disclose the results to potential students yet, though other colleges already have (from previous posts).

Hoping for good news soon! And btw, the threads have been truly helpful esp during these waiting times. I just wished I had known about this earlier during the app period.

Cheers!

 

[otokoloko]

Hi everyone,

I have been silently lurking in this thread for months now while waiting for the second prelims. While I am determined to wait for the Embassy's email, I'm a little anxious after Kobayakawa's post.

From your profile, I'm assuming you're from PH (amirite?) Did the PH Embassy send emails yet? Or was it Todai who contacted you first? Thanks for the info!!!

I've submitted only one LoA from Kyodai Graduate School of Science. I was under the impression my sensei/dept/college did not disclose the results to potential students yet, though other colleges already have (from previous posts).

Hoping for good news soon! And btw, the threads have been truly helpful esp during these waiting times. I just wished I had known about this earlier during the app period.

Cheers!

Hey Sakuyahime! Hai, Firipinjin desu!

No I have not received any email from the embassy yet. It was the Student Housing Services of UTokyo which sent me the email. In fact I was told by my sempai that I should not expect any communication from the embassy, my prospective adviser, MEXT or the university until January. So it was a surprise to have received that email the other day.

I was able to talk to one of the members of the panel of interviewers and he said most likely one will pass the MEXT screening even with just one LoA, unless the prospective adviser changes his or her mind on the last minute and withdraws your name. But that scenario is highly unlikely.

I guess your grad school strictly follows the rule. Don't worry, you will hear the good news soon!

By the way, I am sending you a private message. Kindly check your inbox.

Cheers!

 

[AruanM]

Hello AruanM, here are some of the important information in the email:
1. Application for a dormitory slot will start on December 26.
2. Students who will be granted a slot can stay for a maximum of 1 year only.
3. The monthly rent ( inclusive of utilities and other fees) can go as high as Y64,660 for a 15sqm unit (Komaba International Lodge Main).

I envy my friends who are in Handai and Kyoudai. Their rents are no more than Y30,000.

Have you been contacted by the student services of Nagoya U re your accommodation options?

Thank you for responding, kobayakawa.

I wish Nagoya University contacts me as well! Checking their website I saw that the dorms rent is floating around 20k, utilities included. Not sure if they've update that number, as it is a big difference from what you have mentioned. Also, they limit the stay to 6 months.

Hi everyone,

I have been silently lurking in this thread for months now while waiting for the second prelims. While I am determined to wait for the Embassy's email, I'm a little anxious after Kobayakawa's post.

Same here. Worried there might not be any dorms available by the time they contact me.

 

[Sakuyahime]

Hey Sakuyahime! Hai, Firipinjin desu!

No I have not received any email from the embassy yet. It was the Student Housing Services of UTokyo which sent me the email. In fact I was told by my sempai that I should not expect any communication from the embassy, my prospective adviser, MEXT or the university until January. So it was a surprise to have received that email the other day.

I was able to talk to one of the members of the panel of interviewers and he said most likely one will pass the MEXT screening even with just one LoA, unless the prospective adviser changes his or her mind on the last minute and withdraws your name. But that scenario is highly unlikely.

I guess your grad school strictly follows the rule. Don't worry, you will hear the good news soon!

By the way, I am sending you a private message. Kindly check your inbox.

Cheers!

Thanks, everyone. I'm quite relieved!
It's good, though that the dorms have contacted you this soon, Otokoloko.

I will also start updating you guys as soon as I have news available.

 

[indojindesu]

Hey indojinedesu! Ohisashiburi!

I was not expecting the email this month because my sempai told me it's gonna come out first week of January. So I was kinda surprised I got that email.

My other sempai told me he used to rent a really tiny place (4.5jo or roughly 6.8sqm) along Yamanote Line/Marunouchi line for 45k yen. But...I think that would be too small for someone like me. Haha.

I hope you get yours soon too!

お久しぶり! Fingers crossed! And lucky you have sempai's to guide you and stuff !

I was under the impression my sensei/dept/college did not disclose the results to potential students yet, though other colleges already have (from previous posts).

Hello! Welcome to the forum! Glad to have another fellow applicant join us
My University or professor hasn't contacted me yet too. Dont worry. Some unis/profs do follow this rule very strictly I think. I'm sure you will be fine!

 

[madphysicist]

I envy my friends who are in Handai and Kyoudai. Their rents are no more than Y30,000.

For Kyoudai they offered me two options which were Yoshida (about 38,000 + electricity) or Shuugakuin (about 18,000 + electricity) international houses. I guess they would have let me apply for one of the others if I'd requested but they are all too far from the main campus for my purposes. In fact the secretary is kindly handling the application for me so I don't have to do anything.

 

[hsark]

Great to hear a lucky fee are getting info, it sounds like they stagger the results in terms of releasing info, Knowing which train line your close to is really important.... I would recommend using Google maps to calculate possible transit fees and times.... As some lines also close earlier than others or you might require to use the bus..... Best option is to walk /rent a bike

 

[Giesel]

Hey Everyone !
I had been quietly reading this forum for some days and seems like many have started receiving the final confirmation indirectly.
I have also passed the secondary screening and waiting patiently for the final result in feb or jan. Hope we make through.
I have just one LOA

 

[AruanM]

Hey Everyone !
I had been quietly reading this forum for some days and seems like many have started receiving the final confirmation indirectly.
I have also passed the secondary screening and waiting patiently for the final result in feb or jan. Hope we make through.
I have just one LOA

Welcome to the anxiety group, Giesel! And I have just one LoA as well, let's hope that doesn't become a problem.