Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Postgraduate!!

backwheelbates · 2 Mar 2008

I haven't heard anything about a send-off or orientation party for Canadians. It sounds like fun though!

Wenling, are you studying Japanese at the Kyoto Institute of Culture and Language as well? It's connected to the Art University. As for where I'll be staying, I have some family in Kyoto, so I will be staying with them. How about everyone else, has everyone found a place to live??

ochasuru · 2 Mar 2008

yauchildchew,
nothing much 'bout the statements in the PLEDGE letter,
i guess by now you've probably received the letter like arshana and wenling.

arshana,
thanks for the reminder. i just overlooked the due date for the send-off party
answer sheet. i guess i will just get everything done and pass by hand.
yeah, they put in bracket (within 2 persons) eh? kinda confusing...
will give them a call tomorrow and get the confirmation on this matter.

wenling,
am bringing both my ma and da along. are u bring both your parents with you?

backwheelbates,
haven't heard from you for quite some time. good for you as you've few family over there in Kyoto. i believe they will take good care of you. as for me, i emailed the university that i'll be attending and asked them if they can arrange a place for me to stay. i received a call from the embassy on 18 March and i checked the university's website on the dormitory application and stuff... and guess what, the due date for that application was on 12 March, it scared the hell outta me. because to find a place to live aside from dormitory in tokyo will cost you a bomb. but i had no other choice but to send an email to the 'student affair' of that university asking if there's any other way that they can recommend me. i got a reply the next day and they were telling me that everything will be arranged by them. they will send someone to pick me up from the airport to the university dormitory. and yesterday i received an email from the university and they're actually conducting 'online orientation'... they asked few simple questions to test my japanese language ability. the purpose is to categorize the foreign students according to their japanese language ability. i've already tried my best answering all the questions and sent my answer to them. gosh... i should've make this shorter but sorry... couldn't help it. ahaha~

nway, cheers and more to come for each of us...

yauchildchew · 2 Mar 2008

well, have not received yet le (==!!) anyway, wat worry me more is that I sent an email to my supervisor but so far i have not got any reply back yet....

so it seems everyone is at preparation ady.....i think i need to ask boss to let me go early.

Congrates to Arshana & WenLing!

N if I were you Ocha, I would just show them that my Jap is so bad so that they would provide more guide for me during learning Jap.....my Jap is inferior anyway

Well, lets prepare well

ochasuru · 2 Mar 2008

well yauchildchew, yours on your way yo, no worries.
as for the language, you just have to put on more effort in order to become better.
i hv no choice cos will be writing my thesis in that language,
so definitely need to absorb as much japanese as possible.
been learning it for about 5 years now but still... long long way to go.
language is an everyday learning process, so we'll be able to learn fast when we're there as that's the only language we'll get to listen and hear soon...

yauchildchew · 3 Mar 2008

ochasuru said:
... long long way to go.

haha, very interesting phase!
I presume u must be at JLPT Level 2 ady, am i rite?

So, a very serious question I have wanted it answered so long...;
is it correct that.......

1) we will enrol into the language preparatory course for 6 years, during then, will we begin our research?
2) after language course, is it the research waiting us to complete, is it to complete in another 6 months?
3) after the research, we need to apply to enroll into master's course, which will took another 2 years to complete.

So we will be there
either
at least 1 years to complete language & research only
or
at least 3 years to gain a jap master's degree,
which is it?

I believe I must have mistaken something in the sequence.
Please kindly correct me
Thanks for time and attention~!

wenling · 3 Mar 2008

hi backwheelbates!

I assume that should be the center for the language training...
Wow, having some relatives there sure safe a lot of potential problems and hassle... not to mention the cost for accomodation as well...

I was informed that the university would arrange for me to stay at an international student hostel (Mukaijima Gakusei Center) for the first year... however, till now i do not know the status of the hostel room yet... maybe if not successful, i need to find accomodation on my own...

hope to make your acquintance there...

hi ochasuru!

nice to hear that everything has been arranged by your university.
it should be smooth sailing for you once you touch down in japan...

yup, both my parents should be coming along too... finally they manage to find some time from work to attend the function...

wow, writing your thesis in japanese is indeed a great challenge... but i have confidence that you will pull it through...
for me, if i could speak japanese, that would already been an extraordinary feat for me...

hi yauchildchew!

thanks a lot but dont worry... your letter would definitely arrive this few days...
regarding your supervisor, i think he / she would reply soon enough... i still remember that my supervisor took 3 months to reply my email last year on some research questions... at least this shows that they will definitely reply but just a matter of sooner or later...

my japanese language is totally zero... got to start from scratch... hope all you guys & ladies who are advanced learners to guide me from time to time...

regarding your serious questions... i think you got it real accurate...

according to my master supervisor who was a monbusho scholar, first 6 months = language preparatory, next 6 months = research student (sit for uni entrance examination), second year start your dissertation work.

master degree takes up 2 years to complete
phd degree takes up 3 years to complete

overall, to fully complete master degree = 3 years, phd degree = 4 years (assuming everything goes successfull without any extension period)
basically, its a bit longer to do it in japan then other countries such as UK / Australia / USA...

thats what i was told... please correct me if i am wrong...

akita · 3 Mar 2008

Well, till now all they've ask from us was a copy after the passport. But the letter of acceptance we gave it long ago. I have no idea where I'll stay. i think in a room provide by the university.

We just need to wait for the Embassy to call us again and give other details about flight tickets and I suppose the place where we will live. I'll do the 6 month of language in the same university that I'll study so I guess this is good.

yauchildchew · 3 Mar 2008

thx wenling, u too not to worry about language as it will be taught there

let say our calculation are correct, does it mean that the transition from the status as a research student to a master's course student is to let us to obtain a master's degree at the end of our long long way? then i wonder why is it in the first place we must be a research student instead of just making everyone of us a postgrad student?

if so, during the 6 months as a research student, we do not need to attend any lecture?

after we become a student, only then we begin lectures and continue the research both together at one time?

this have been the most vague part of my application for this scholarship.

ochasuru · 3 Mar 2008

yauchildchew,
erm... yeah, i'm done and through with JLPT 2,
in fact took JLPT 1 twice and failed... frustrating eh?!
nway, will try again this year. just wish me luck ;p
regarding the break down of the period of being research student
and post-grad, well i have no idea too. japan is probably the only country
with this kinda system eh?!

wenling,
thank u for the explanation and encouraging words eh! surely appreciate it.
i personally think it's an interesting language, so hopefully you'll enjoy your japanese class k. but of course different people has got different kinda view rite?

akita,
no worries, i'm sure they are arranging it for you now.
at first i worried over the same thing too... but normally universities in japan
will arrange the accommodation for the foreign students (according to one of my japanese teachers) and eventually, it's like a 'tradition' for the school to do so.

yauchildchew · 3 Mar 2008

hehe, just got a call from home that they received my letter and express-posted to me ady

n Ocha, we all understanf how frustrating a failure is but anyway, keep on Fighto!

bachir · 3 Mar 2008

Pleaaaaase participate in my thread !

hello everyone
just wanted to ask you to participate in the thread i created a few days ago.
the: "which university are you heading to?" thread.
please, let everybody know at which university we'll be .
It takes only one minute maximum. and 4 or 5 words

thanks to all of you .

ochasuru · 3 Mar 2008

yauchildchew,

sankyu- sankyu- (thank you thank you)
to you too... keep on fuaito!!!

wenling · 5 Mar 2008

yauchildchew said:
thx wenling, u too not to worry about language as it will be taught there

let say our calculation are correct, does it mean that the transition from the status as a research student to a master's course student is to let us to obtain a master's degree at the end of our long long way? then i wonder why is it in the first place we must be a research student instead of just making everyone of us a postgrad student?

if so, during the 6 months as a research student, we do not need to attend any lecture?

after we become a student, only then we begin lectures and continue the research both together at one time?

this have been the most vague part of my application for this scholarship.

I do not know why the system works that way but probably because the programmes are conducted in foreign language and the ministry wants to gauge our performances before granting us the postgraduate student position.

I am not sure whether we need to attend any lecture during the period as a research student... maybe it all depends on the respective university guidelines or the discretion of your supervisor...

I think most candidates faced the same issue as I myself am not sure since there is no clear information on this part mentioned anywhere... let's hope they will clarify the issues during the briefing period...

Anyone out there knows whether we should bring along our original certificates to show our respective university during registration?

yauchildchew · 5 Mar 2008

Hoho! Received my letter from home today. Have a better idea of my future study in Jap. So, it will take 2 years to complete my study, but not sure if that would grant me a master's degree or not.

So, WenLing, here are my opinions to some of your queries;

1) for 6 month language course, we do not have to BUT are advised to attend some lectures especially those relevant to ur research and those lectured by ur supervisor. This is to strengthen the supervisor-student relationship and also let you know better ur supervisor's teaching style.

2) as for original certs, I will bring those that are utmost representative there and keep a copy at home country. original certs are essential when we want to apply for something later there.

and ya, so bad that my language and major will both be carried out in Tokyo U, I would prefer to have language course somewhere else

and for accommodation, according to the attachment come with the letter, i have been assigned to stay in dormitory.......seem everything is prepared well for me already.

I wonder.....
1) why we are advised to bring USD1500 instead of YEN? I plan to bring YEN.
2) when should we apply for the student VISA? we need to go to Jap Embassy to make one rite? So anyone going to make one during the orientation+send-off party? Anyway, I read from somewhere we need some documents to apply this visa.

Gonna make next friday my last working day

Rizaric · 5 Mar 2008

Just for the record... I don't think you should say 'Jap' cause it's kind of offensive.

As for the 1500 USD... I think its the value that they're stressing and not exactly the USD. Most people are probably more familiar with the USD than the Yen, I'm guessing.

I think, as for being a research student... it lets you (and your supervisor) feel things out before committing to the long haul (2 yrs. Masters, 4 yrs. PhD)....

akita · 5 Mar 2008

ochasuru said:
yauchildchew,

akita,
no worries, i'm sure they are arranging it for you now.
at first i worried over the same thing too... but normally universities in japan
will arrange the accommodation for the foreign students (according to one of my japanese teachers) and eventually, it's like a 'tradition' for the school to do so.

Thank you @ochasuru I guess when everything will be ready they will tell me. I 've waited till now I think a little more not gonna kill me.

I also wander if it's really necessary to bring dollars with me if I can take yens.
Because I'll loose money to change first in dollars then in yens. Also should i bring cash or should a put some on a credit card? I don't know if is true but I've heard there are some problem with foreign credit card in Japan sometimes they don't work well.

arshana · 5 Mar 2008

I'm bringing both my parents too. I hope the orientation would clear up a lot of our questions.

I spoke to a couple of my lecturers who did their postgrad in Japan. According to them, the entrance exam varies and depends on the supervisor. It could be an exam relating to your study, or they might ask you to translate Japanese into English and vice versa, or they might even ask you to present your research proposal.

dblbstrd · 5 Mar 2008

Akita, no need to bring US dollars with you.
What they mean is that you should bring roughly the equivalent of that amount (140,000 yen or so). But you may not really even need that much anyway.
All you really need is enough to get to your university, pay rent if you need to, and for whatever you need (food, other expenses) until the first stipend is dispersed.

I always use my ATM/Debit card with the postal savings ATMs to withdraw money, so I don't even really need to bring any cash with me, because they have such ATMs at Narita.

It might be good to bring some cash though, if you're not sure that your debit card (if you have one) will work at the ATM. I will probably take some traveler's checks anyway, just enough to get me to my university.

yauchildchew · 7 Mar 2008

Rizaric said:
Just for the record... I don't think you should say 'Jap' cause it's kind of offensive

OK, noted but used it with no offence

Anyway, after going thru all the attachment in the letter, I have got to know better.

So we are as the Research Student, aka Non-Degree student, will be granted 2 year scholarship from this april, to take part in 6mth language course, and the rest will be the research.

I believe that we wont be given any degree for carrying out this research. This research acts like a stepping stone for us to convert into Graduate Student; or more as a given time for us to prepare for the entrance exam for our Graduate Study in the 3rd year in Japan.

So, I will put it this way;
1) We study 6 mth language, then carry out 1.5 year research, end of MEXT scholarship, go back. TOTAL=2 years WITHOUT any degree.
2) ditto but instead of go back home country, we apply to extend the scholarship to enroll into Graduate school in the condition that we pass the University entrance exam. Then, Master takes 2 years, PHD 3years maybe. TOTAL=4 years to get a Master degree.

So, what do u guys think of my opinion?

n ya, its better to start applying for student visa even without an actual offer letter and a confirmed flight itinerary yet; according to Ms Goh from the Embassy.

wenling · 7 Mar 2008

yauchildchew said:
n ya, its better to start applying for student visa even without an actual offer letter and a confirmed flight itinerary yet; according to Ms Goh from the Embassy.

What are the requirements of the student visa? is there a deadline for the application?

i have checked the local embassy website on visa application but there is no mention of the things needed for student visa application... the only category there is for business, holiday & visiting relatives...

anyone knows what i need to submit or bring along for the visa application since i might be dropping by the embassy next monday... so might as well just apply it at the same time...

Rizaric · 7 Mar 2008

Quote:Originally Posted by Rizaric

Just for the record... I don't think you should say 'Jap' cause it's kind of offensive

OK, noted but used it with no offence

Yeah, I knew that... just wanted to let you know cause it might have caused you misunderstanding at a later date.

In my understanding, you don't necessarily have to go through the whole first 2 years as a research student if you don't want to. You probably need to discuss it with your supervisor, but depending on the date you take the "entrance exam", if you pass and are qualified, you won't have to spend so much time as a research student.

It won't let me add any URLs, but if you go to the official studyjapan website or wherever you got your original application guidelines, under section 3, Term of Scholarship, you'll be able to see- it says you may be able even to enter directly into your degree program.

So I guess may ask your supervisor about what they think is the best course for you to follow? It also depends on what you want to research-- if you have a concrete research plan in mind already which is approved by your supervisor, I think it'll be easier to jump directly into your degree program.

yauchildchew · 8 Mar 2008

Extracted from web:

Documents required :

1. Original visa application form
1 for each applicant with 1 passport size photo (must be taken within 6 months)
to complete every column including address and name of accommodation

2. Passport (without cover)
must reserve 1 full page for visa

3. Letter of guarantee from company/firm /organization
preferred typed on firm's letterhead consists of :
applicant's name, position, period of service, purpose of journey, length of stay, guarantee of expenses, name of person accompanying (if any), etc.

4. Invitation letter from counterpart in Japan
should be typed on firm's letterhead consists of :
i ) applicant's name, passport number, purpose of visit and duration of stay
ii) signature and name of person in-charge
iii) schedule

5. Confirmed flight itinerary from travel agent or airline

Note : documents required for Japanese Visa application might differ based on the purpose of visit.
For submission of documents :
a) Arrange all documents according to sequence as above. Documents submitted will not be returned
b) All photocopies of documents should be in A4 size paper
c) Embassy or Consulate-General of Japan has the right to request for any other documents apart from the above mentioned

Interview
as and when required

Processing period
it usually takes 3 working days to process the visa. In cases where documents are incomplete or applicants are under consideration, it will take delay the process.

Visa fee
For Malaysia passport holder is gratis.

dblbstrd · 8 Mar 2008

You probably will not actually need all that to apply for your student visa.

I think that as a MEXT scholar, your embassy will just take care of everything for you, and you only need to fill out and sign the application form and give them your passport and an extra photo.

kishimen · 9 Mar 2008

Agreed, dblbstrd.

yauchildchew, the one you've got here is a really general one, i think, and more for those going on business trips. For 'college student' status, the most important thing you'd probably need to supply is letter of acceptance from university/document confirming that you've been offered a place. Then again, the embassy knows you've got a place, right? Unless you're going to the consulate general in Penang. Again, for college students, interviews are generally not required. Unless things have changed since that I'm not aware of.

bachir · 10 Mar 2008

Relieeeef...relieeeef !

Yahooooo ! finally, (i must be the last one on earth to receive something from the ministry) . I AM RELIEVED now that i know who is my professor.
GREAT ! i even got the FAMOUS letter that everyone waited for, for soooo long
Even better, since everything seems to happen in the same week...i got my invitation to the residence of the ambassador on 17th.
So what else ah! yes the air plane ticket. I was told that it is on its way right at this moment :win:
Well then, thanks for everyone who supported and encouraged me until now.
And once again... CONGRATULAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATIONS to those who succeded !

Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Postgraduate!!

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High 'n' dry

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High 'n' dry

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