Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Postgraduate!!

menrui · 8 Mar 2009

I remember, there was a Malaysian person on this forum that said, during his/her interview the judging panel criticized the length of her/his research proposal by saying something like, "other applicants have 5 pages..." .

Of course, your proposal doesn't have to be 5pages long, but you should give enough details to show that:
1. you know about your research very well, because you could be questioned about it.
2. your research is important and perhaps important to be carried out in japan.
3. You will be able to carry out your research upon arrival
4. Your research will last a long time(not necessarily 2 years)
etc

qiyang · 8 Mar 2009

thanks for the informations guyz...so i have to think for a research title...
Cktey,i am from engineering background too. Maybe i should go for something i am acquainted with, like extending the research of my previous final year project. Anyone here done the samething as i do?

kouki · 8 Mar 2009

>qiyang
Of course you can extend your final year project. But please follow up the current trend in the field, because Japan is quite advanced in the engineering field, if compared to Malaysia. So you might want to consider what is your project significances, judging from the Japanese view point.
Well, I did almost the same thing as cktey has done. I am an engineering student too. Following those points would not get you less than two pages.

cktey · 8 Mar 2009

qiyang said:
thanks for the informations guyz...so i have to think for a research title...
Cktey,i am from engineering background too. Maybe i should go for something i am acquainted with, like extending the research of my previous final year project. Anyone here done the samething as i do?

Yeah, I proposed to extend my research of my FYP during degree. But the professor that accepted me said that he's not so into my topic recently, instead he proposed another topic for me and i accepted it.

As long as your topic sounds interesting, you can make it no worries ^^

athz · 8 Mar 2009

hi arap!!! ^^
sorry i haven't monitor this thread lately, i'm quite busy packing my stuffs and prepare things though i have resign from my current job now.

i think menrui and ooilingfan have given a very good answer for your questions. i try my best to answer your question, hope it will be useful:
1. GPA sure is very important, i don't mean to let u down. but i'm sure that wouldn't matter if you had prepare an excellent research topics & proposal that could impress the judge. i don't know about other countries, but in indonesia submitting a research proposal is a must.
2. i have two recommendation letter, one is sealed, the other is not. i think you don't have to worry too much about it. sealed or not, you still have to make 4 copies on each of it, right?? oh ya, you have to use the form given by the embassy (official form), so i think two recommendation is enough.
3. well, as what ooilingfan have said just try to make it as clear as possible. if think the judges prefer a simple but well written one. just don't make it too long.
4. don't quit your job ^_^ you know that the waiting part for the final result is really killing us... i might space out thinking about the result everyday if i we're not busied by my job. i even think that one of us got insomnia while waiting for the result, right ooilingfan??
you've gotta work harder for your thesis from now, use your spare time. it doesn't mean that you dig your own grave when you being unemployed. some of my friends who received the scholarship even haven't graduated by the time of the application.
5. it's a really good thing that you already have a prof who is willing to be your prospective supervisor in Japan. i bet it would strengthen your chance to get the scholarship. he would be a great help to make perfection for your thesis

just give it a try ok!! i also failed on the interview round for this scholarship when i was applying for diploma degree, who knows that i would managed to get this for my master degree... ganbatte!!

qiyang · 8 Mar 2009

Cktey,Kouki
I actually created a robotic hand for my FYP, the average is around 80 for the project. But in Japan, it seems like i am reinventing the wheel again. So cktey, ur initial proposed study program during the application is your extended FYP..u get to change it after u being accepted to MEXT oR Jap uni?

athz
So are u applying the MEXT scholarship 2010?

arap · 8 Mar 2009

@qiyang
Actually Athz already got her scholarship, if I'm not wrong it's in Nagoya Institute of tech

@athz
Thank you for your reply, glad to have you back in the forum.
Congratulation on getting the scholarship, btw one of my Professor is from NIT so Nagoya will become one of my prospective destination, although in my case I still have long way to go.

Btw Athz do you know how many people which got the 2009 scholarship in the end ?

athz · 8 Mar 2009

Hi qiyang,
yeah i already been confirmed a seat in the scholarship ^^
wishing the best for your application this year ^o^/

>arap
i think 47 people been selected for 2009 (postgraduate course), just wondering why i'm the only one posting in this forum hehe...

kawaiixsarang · 9 Mar 2009

Hello! I am a new member here, and I was wondering if any of you have information about the Undergraduate program for the MEXT Scholarship.

I am currently a Junior in High School and is supposed to graduate May 2010, but I am planning to graduate early (5 months earlier), and will be eligible to apply for the MEXT scholarship for 2010.

Here are a few of my questions:
How do I retrieve an application form?
How do I send it (post office, FAX?)
How will I know if my application got accepted/rejected?
If I get accepted, when will the testing period begin?
How will they notify me if I do not pass/or pass the exams?
How difficult are the exams?? What should I work on to get a better chance of passing?
Around what time of year will the interview be, if I do pass?
And from there... when will MEXT make the final decisions of who will get into the scholarship (around what time)??
How many Americans have been accepted as far as you guys know?

I am leaning forward on the "when" questions more, so I can plan out a back-up plan if I don't get it.

=) Thank you!

I hope you can help ^__^

cktey · 9 Mar 2009

qiyang said:
Cktey,Kouki
I actually created a robotic hand for my FYP, the average is around 80 for the project. But in Japan, it seems like i am reinventing the wheel again. So cktey, ur initial proposed study program during the application is your extended FYP..u get to change it after u being accepted to MEXT oR Jap uni?
athz
So are u applying the MEXT scholarship 2010?

hmm let me clarify... corresponding with the professor can be only done once you pass the interview stage. When I proposed my FYP extension topic to the professor, he explained that he's not specialized in that topic. Instead he asked me whether i'm interested in the topic that he is specialized in, and I accepted it gladly. After that he wrote the LOA and submitted to MEXT. The rest is the history ^^

menrui · 9 Mar 2009

kawaiixsarang,
I only applied to the "research student", but I will try to answer your questions.

First of all, are you applying in the US? If you are, please go to the website of the consulate nearest you to find more information about deadlines etc. You can also download application forms there. There is also a guideline you can download, that will help you alot.
How do I retrieve an application form?
- consulate website or ドメインパーキング

How do I send it (post office, FAX?)
-by post mail mail is fine. I think you can fax some items too.

How will I know if my application got accepted/rejected?
-they will either call you, or send you an email.

If I get accepted, when will the testing period begin?
-check your consulate. Its usually around the july~august.

How will they notify me if I do not pass/or pass the exams?
- phone call or email.

How difficult are the exams?? What should I work on to get a better chance of passing?
-according to the guidelines, there are 2 fields of study(social and humanity, or natural science), each will take certain exams. Please look at the guidelines for more info. Since it is also a competition, I'm just going to say that the exams are very hard. Your can look at sample exams at this website: ドメインパーキング

Around what time of year will the interview be, if I do pass?
-check your consulate.

And from there... when will MEXT make the final decisions of who will get into the scholarship (around what time)??
-tentative selection is usually around early January. Final selection is mid-february.

How many Americans have been accepted as far as you guys know?
-From what I heard, only 1~2 is selected from the US. The undergraduate scholarship is dedicated to "developing" countries, US is not one of them.

There is about 9 months between application date and final selection, and the acceptance rate seems very low... so I would strongly advise you to have a back up plan.

wkl · 11 Mar 2009

Hi all,

really nice to meet so many ppl here especially from Malaysia!

i am also going to apply MEXT this year and from engineering background as well!

from you all information, during the time in university, i have a chance to work as research assistant with my lecturer and with a professor from a japanese university.

recently, i have sent email to that professor and he has agreed to accept me to do master under his supervision.

hence, i would like to ask that do i have any advantages if i apply for MEXT scholarship?

Do i still need 2 sit for the exams which conducted by the embassay even though i had obtain the letter of acceptance?

Besides, regarding to the field of study and study program in Japan, can i ask professor there to send me a sample or i need to create a new topic by my own?

i now feel really headache abt it especially is the study program part, i really hope that somebody who had obtained the scholarship can give me a hint of it!!

Thanks!

sandippurane1 · 11 Mar 2009

Monbusho Scholarship

Hi all,

This is sandip from India, i am very new to this forum.
As like others, i am also a Monbukagakusho aspirant.

I have one query here, probably same like what wkl has mentioned.

I have been reffered as a candidate for Monbusho by one of the Japanese University this year.

i just wanted to know, whta are the chances of selection for monbusho?
i have been already accepted by that particular university as a candidate for Masters Course in Mechanical Engg. and reffered for Mnbusho. Out of 17 candidates university has named 8 candidates for Monbusho and my name appears in those luckiest 8 candidates.

just bit concerned about the selection for scholarship.
if anyone has any idea, share with me on this forum

thnaks in advance

sandip

clockworkorange · 11 Mar 2009

Hi everyone,

Its exciting how everyone is preparing for the trip. I don't think it'll be this "meriah" in october.

Neway, my main intent of posting is to thank kouki for answering my question on who to address the acceptance letter to. Sorry for the delay in expressing my gratitude - i get really busy at work and so I don't post much. and while i'm thanking kouki, i may as well say thanks to everyone else who's answered my questions at one point or another. For example, those who answered my question on sui to bak fot (correct ka?), thanks a lot.

To wkl, hello!! I'll try to answer your questions.

1) I think the advantages to the scholarship are pretty apparent. Japan is an expensive place to study in. Also, i really liked the fact that I get to study Japanese for 6 months 1st. I don't know though if you already know Japanese so this might not be such a big deal to you.

2) I think you do need to sit for the exams held by the embassy. Obtaining an acceptance letter indicates acceptance by the university. It has nothing to do with the nomination by the embassy. The embassy will nominate you based on the test results and the interview. While it is no doubt an advantage that you already have an acceptance letter, you still need to go through both the test and the interview.

3) Regarding the study plan, i think it depends. Did you not discuss a research topic with your professor when u asked him to be your supervisor? If you have not, then u should discuss it with your professor. For me, i proposed a topic which my professor accepted. I haven't really heard of anyone asking the professor for a topic although i have heard of some of the scholars here having their research topic put aside and having their professors suggest a topic. But in all cases that i know, the applicants have suggested the topics first. But since u know the professor and have worked with him, i do not see the harm in asking for his advice.

If you are asking on what to write for the study program, i can only tell you what i did. I don;t believe there is a set format though. what i did is include my objective, methodology of research and a timeline that outlines how long each step in my research should take. I also explained why my research is important and why japan would be the place to do it.

Hope it helps and all the best.

clockworkorange · 11 Mar 2009

Hi sandip,

I don't really know about india, but in malaysia the chances of being selected for the scholarship are pretty good. At least this is true for the embassy recommended candidates. This year, i think 29 of us were selected. I think last year the number was 33.

I don;t know anything about university recommendations but i think if the university is already recommending u, u stand a pretty good change.

Good luck!!

menrui · 11 Mar 2009

wkl,
Getting acceptance from a professor before application will give you an advantage(how much? I don't really know). There is a place for it in in the application and you can use it during the interview. I think it shows a little bit more determination.

you still have to sit for the exams. No one gets out of that.

You can use a research proposal from your professor... but I think there are some disadvantages. 1: it seems kind of rude to ask your professor to write out a whole research proposal for you 2: There might be some questions during the interview that you can't answer because you didn't write it yourself. Maybe you could ask your professor to give you suggestions, then you write the proposal yourself?

sanddip,
I'm not aware of how the university recommendation works, but if it is anything like the embassy recommendation, your chances are high. Should I dare say... greater than 95% ? For the embassy recommendations, each embassy is given a certain number of slots by MEXT. The embassy then only recommends the same amount of applicants as slots. So, applicants that receive the recommendation "usually" go on to receive the scholarship. Hopefully, your university recommendation is the same way. good luck

sandippurane1 · 11 Mar 2009

@clockworkorange

Dear Friend,
thanks a lot for your information.

I know, in India there are very less chances of selection through Embassy Reco.
hardly hundreads of students prefer to go to Japan from India, rest prefer to stay in US.

I was just little bit concerned about the unversity Reco. that's why posted my thread here to get teh answer.

I am sure if uni is recommending you, chances are much more.

Let's see what happens

keep updating and keep posting the latest things

bye for now

Regards,

sandip

qiyang · 12 Mar 2009

hi everyone, regarding the "Field of study SPECIALIZED (NOT list of subjects) in the PAST (be as detailed and concrete as possible)"

is it about my past research? recently concentrate on writing my study program proposal and have taken granted on that part.

sandippurane1 · 12 Mar 2009

@ menrui

Thanks a lot for information.

I have been selected in "nagaoka University of Technology, Niigata". It's a national University.
I think if they are recommending for Monbusho, then it should be almost confirmed.\
If anyone is going through the same condition, please share your views.

thanks.
sandip

menrui · 13 Mar 2009

qiyang,
I'm not 100% sure about how to answer that question either, but I will say what I did. First, I wrote what degree I graduated with. Then I wrote about what "subjects"(oops?) my degree mainly comprises of. Last, I wrote about the types of labs I experienced. All my labs were required within my major, I never had any outside research experience. Since you do have research experience, you should include that.

Hopefully someone else can give you their thoughts too. Anyways, keep focusing on your research proposal. I don't think that question is as important.

kouki · 13 Mar 2009

>qiyang

Please try confirming this again with person in charge in the embassy. Last year we are told to write something like this:

electrical engineering majoring in robotics

and that's all. I am not sure what is their specification this year.

menrui · 13 Mar 2009

wow, seems like I wrote too much haha.

qiyang · 13 Mar 2009

oh...thanks guyz...i will will confirm with embassy

wkl · 13 Mar 2009

qiyang said:
oh...thanks guyz...i will will confirm with embassy

To qiyang,

I also dunno how to write....
plz update any news when u get it from embassy later ya!!

Thanks!!

arap · 13 Mar 2009

Dear all,
Another question from me...right now I'm in the middle of preparing the research proposal so I wonder should we mention about the Lab/Universities that we are planning to apply in Japan ?
As I mentioned before, fortunately I have found Professor that agree to supervised me so is it okay to put on something like below in my research proposal :
" Prospective Labs which I wish to conduct my research are as below :
1. ...
2. ... "
So do you guys put something like that in your study plan ?

Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Postgraduate!!

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