Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Postgraduate!!

miao · 13 Jul 2009

hi everyone, just found that this thread still in active!
I used to browse this thread and great to get lots of information here.

i'm applying for MEXT postgraduate scholarship too =)
Just went through the interview and now trying to get a professor (i not yet get any).
good luck everyone!

*there is another MEXT related thread >> "MEXT Scholarship for Postgraduate 2010: General Discussions"

northpig87 · 14 Jul 2009

thanks everyone for your valuable suggestions! Thanks Rica for the detailed structure of your proposal, it will be of great help when I get to the stage next year.

I don't know if people've done it this way, but one method I was thinking is that, since all successful candidate will end up in some prof's lab, which has a set of research topics. So wouldn't it be more effective to decide which lab you'd like to go to, and read upon the topics they are currently doing, do some background research, and read into what is the current state of such research in the world, and then construct a plan based on the lab's topics? Hopefully this won't be considered cheating,

menrui · 14 Jul 2009

^ I actually think that is a better idea.

clockworkorange · 14 Jul 2009

northpig87 said:
I don't know if people've done it this way, but one method I was thinking is that, since all successful candidate will end up in some prof's lab, which has a set of research topics. So wouldn't it be more effective to decide which lab you'd like to go to, and read upon the topics they are currently doing, do some background research, and read into what is the current state of such research in the world, and then construct a plan based on the lab's topics? Hopefully this won't be considered cheating,

I don't think it's considered cheating. actually i think a lot of applicants do it.

BlueCheese · 14 Jul 2009

northpig87 said:
thanks everyone for your valuable suggestions! Thanks Rica for the detailed structure of your proposal, it will be of great help when I get to the stage next year.
I don't know if people've done it this way, but one method I was thinking is that, since all successful candidate will end up in some prof's lab, which has a set of research topics. So wouldn't it be more effective to decide which lab you'd like to go to, and read upon the topics they are currently doing, do some background research, and read into what is the current state of such research in the world, and then construct a plan based on the lab's topics? Hopefully this won't be considered cheating,

I would warn you though that the lab you choose may not be taking any students.

Rica · 14 Jul 2009

northpig87 said:
I don't know if people've done it this way, but one method I was thinking is that, since all successful candidate will end up in some prof's lab, which has a set of research topics. So wouldn't it be more effective to decide which lab you'd like to go to, and read upon the topics they are currently doing, do some background research, and read into what is the current state of such research in the world, and then construct a plan based on the lab's topics? Hopefully this won't be considered cheating,

I absolutely agree that this is a great idea (and not cheating!) Even if you don't tailor your research specifically to the lab, it would make sense to choose a subject area that is currently being researched, especially if you have something new to add to the field. I mean, there's no point researching square watermelons if no one wants square watermelons, right?
I would say that it is still important to think about something you would be interested in researching, it would make for a boring couple of years if you were researching something you didn't like just to get into a lab.
I know what area I would like to research in, but part of my process of narrowing down my research proposal was to see what specific topics and objectives were receiving government and industry funding. I also read an independent report on the current research environment in Japan for my area, which suggested areas that needed more research.
I think you're on to a winner basically, it's a great idea to tailor your proposal this way, just make sure it's something you want to do!

gilmwa · 15 Jul 2009

Hie. I'm new to this thread and I think its very helpful. Have just passed the interviews and am trying to find a professor. Am a bit confused about what happens once in Japan though. Does one spend the first 6 months studying Japanese language only (I know very little Japanese) or do you attend classes. After passing the entrance exam to qualify as a masters student, can the scholarship be extended or are you required to finish the masters in 1and half years after writing the entrance exam (assuming you pass the exam 6 months after arriving in Japan). Please help me understand about the whole process.

menrui · 15 Jul 2009

it really depends, but most student(assuming they know very little japanese) attend Japanese language classes for the first semester.

After being accepted as a Masters course student, you are to extend your scholarship duration to the two years needed to complete the masters course

miao · 16 Jul 2009

menrui said:
After being accepted as a Masters course student, you are to extend your scholarship duration to the two years needed to complete the masters course

Hi menrui, will it be hard to get extend (MEXT scholarship) from research student to master, and then from masters to PhD? do you know the succeed percentage?

menrui · 16 Jul 2009

I really have no idea what the statistics are. From my experience, it seems like the professor has a lot over that matter. So be nice to him/her.

kellylen · 20 Jul 2009

Hi i just got news from the embassy that i have been nominated for the scholarships..now im given a month to secure the letter of acceptance..any advise on this..wht if i couldt get it in time..and wht r the chances of me not going after this..im happy but stil lthe same time quite worry

menrui · 20 Jul 2009

my advise, start as soon as possible. It takes a lot of time. If you can't get it in time, your chances are still high. They will find a prof/univ for you. In that case, you do not have the choice of prof/univ.

jim84 · 21 Jul 2009

northpig87 said:
thanks everyone for your valuable suggestions! Thanks Rica for the detailed structure of your proposal, it will be of great help when I get to the stage next year.
I don't know if people've done it this way, but one method I was thinking is that, since all successful candidate will end up in some prof's lab, which has a set of research topics. So wouldn't it be more effective to decide which lab you'd like to go to, and read upon the topics they are currently doing, do some background research, and read into what is the current state of such research in the world, and then construct a plan based on the lab's topics? Hopefully this won't be considered cheating,

Not cheating. I did just that and got in. But this is gonna be bad news for new applicants. Since so many people are doing this, those not doing it might lose out the head start. Which is kinda important. God bless them.

By the way. I heard the interview results in Malaysia has been announced!
A big congratulations to all who got the phone call/email !!! (from unknown source: about 32 odd applicants are successful this year)
Happy and proud of you guys.
See you guys in Japan next year. (But do work hard on your LoA now, it's also a critical stage).
For those who didn't make it, I'm sure you did your best. Try again next year, never lose hope. Japan is worth your effort.

kshoo · 21 Jul 2009

Congratulations to all who passed this year. So i guess we'll be seeing the new batches of people in no time...How time flies.

akaitsume1 · 21 Jul 2009

Hey all! I'm new to the forum, but I've already learned a lot from the previous mexters. I actually got the recommendation, and I just got my letter of acceptance from Keio University. I saw that someone went to that school last year on MEXT.

My supervisor has recommended that I not do the language training and start my research immediately, which is both a bit flattering and really nerve-wracking...I was hoping for the extra time to prepare for the level 1 exam. I can handle 2-kyuu, but I'm not nearly ready for 1-kyuu, and I read that for the Japanese language master's program there, you need an 1-kyuu. I'm basically going to spend this entire year studying.

Does anyone know if both the original recommendee and the alternate can end up going? It's slightly awkward because I think I found someone here who also applied to the same embassy, and I know that the embassy really liked her proposal...

jim84 · 21 Jul 2009

akaitsume1 said:
Hey all! I'm new to the forum, but I've already learned a lot from the previous mexters. I actually got the recommendation, and I just got my letter of acceptance from Keio University. I saw that someone went to that school last year on MEXT.

My supervisor has recommended that I not do the language training and start my research immediately, which is both a bit flattering and really nerve-wracking...I was hoping for the extra time to prepare for the level 1 exam. I can handle 2-kyuu, but I'm not nearly ready for 1-kyuu, and I read that for the Japanese language master's program there, you need an 1-kyuu. I'm basically going to spend this entire year studying.

Does anyone know if both the original recomendee and the alternate can end up going? It's slightly awkward because I think I found someone here who also applied to the same embassy, and I know that the embassy really liked her proposal...

You will do absolutely fine with 2kyuu. Those of us without even 4kyuu survived here.
The course is basically more important for students with little or no japanese proficiency.
You can study on your own for 1kyuu throughout your years in japan, the JLPT is totally optional.

Rica · 21 Jul 2009

Hey akaitsume1, congratulations! Which graduate school will you be in?
I am also applying to Keio, but my interview is not until the 3rd of August. May I ask if you contacted your potential supervisors before your interview, or after you got your preliminary acceptance? The Keio scholarship guidelines say I can't apply formally till after I've got preliminary acceptance, but I am wondering if it would be appropriate to at least contact supervisors now, since August is cutting it a bit fine. What do you think?

jim84 · 21 Jul 2009

Rica said:
Hey akaitsume1, congratulations! Which graduate school will you be in?
I am also applying to Keio, but my interview is not until the 3rd of August. May I ask if you contacted your potential supervisors before your interview, or after you got your preliminary acceptance? The Keio scholarship guidelines say I can't apply formally till after I've got preliminary acceptance, but I am wondering if it would be appropriate to at least contact supervisors now, since August is cutting it a bit fine. What do you think?

Yes you cannot apply without passing the preliminary selection. In this case they will only take you in under a scholarship.
However you can get an informal verbal consent via email from your potential supervisor.

kellylen · 21 Jul 2009

Hi another questions from me
I have contacted the university of my choice, and they have in fact replied to me..however, they are enquiring for me to submit on the matter below:

All documents submitted to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General (application form, certified academic records of the university attended, study program and so on. Confirmation seals of the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General need to be affixed)

How do i get the above documents. is the embassy going to send me those items above or i need to make a special request to them

jim84 · 21 Jul 2009

kellylen said:
Hi another questions from me
I have contacted the university of my choice, and they have in fact replied to me..however, they are enquiring for me to submit on the matter below:
All documents submitted to the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General (application form, certified academic records of the university attended, study program and so on. Confirmation seals of the Japanese Embassy / Consulate General need to be affixed)
How do i get the above documents. is the embassy going to send me those items above or i need to make a special request to them

the embassy will send you 3 copies of Passing Certificate (of Preliminary Selection) bearing the seal from the embassy. The other documents are those that you submitted during your interview (hopefully you kept a copy of those).
This is what i did. While i wait for the embassy's documents, i made PDF copies of all my documents, including scanning in my university transcripts everything. I sent all softcopies to my supervisor via email. When I receive the Passing Cert from the embassy, I sent the hardcopy together with hardcopies of certificates and documents. (Hence my professor got 2 sets - softcopy and hardcopy). The reason is that they can work on the LoA and assessment first while waiting for the hardcopy post (which will take about 10 days to reach).

akaitsume1 · 21 Jul 2009

Rica said:
Hey akaitsume1, congratulations! Which graduate school will you be in?
I am also applying to Keio, but my interview is not until the 3rd of August. May I ask if you contacted your potential supervisors before your interview, or after you got your preliminary acceptance? The Keio scholarship guidelines say I can't apply formally till after I've got preliminary acceptance, but I am wondering if it would be appropriate to at least contact supervisors now, since August is cutting it a bit fine. What do you think?

I actually started speaking to my supervisor in May, long before the test/interview. I found him through his research, which was similar to what I wanted to do, and we discussed everything back and forth. I highly recommend having contact with the professor you would like to study with before you ask for them to become your potential supervisor. It makes things a lot less presumptuous and awkward that way, in my opinion. The professor can also let you know now if there might be room for you, or suggest other professors that you might be able to work with. Summer break is also coming up, and I know some universities warned that professors might not be as available soon.

I'm going to work in the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies (I'm studying animal behavior), which for whatever impossible reason is a part of the Media and Governance Graduate School. Go figure. What are you planning to join?
Hope to see you there!

Rica · 21 Jul 2009

akaitsume1, thanks for the info!
I am applying for the Graduate School of Media Design. Their work is awesome!
Unfortunately since I left it late I guess I'll have to be presumptuous and jump straight to (politely) asking if they will consider me, at least I could have an email acceptance to show at the interview (if I'm lucky!)

Can anybody please tell me which of these is correct - Dear Professor So-and-So OR Dear So-and-So sensei? Which is the polite way to address a professor in English?

akaitsume1 · 21 Jul 2009

Tough call. With professors I already know, I did "So-and-so Sensei." With the ones I didn't, I used Dr. So-and-so when writing in English and sensei when writing in Japanese. I suppose any of those would technically be polite... At any rate, I doubt you'll offend anyone. Maybe one of the previous MEXTers would know...

Full steam ahead then, lol! Go get your potential supervisor!!

akaitsume1 · 22 Jul 2009

By the way, where did everyone get those stats mentioned before on how many students who get the recommendation end up with the scholarship? You'd think stats like that would be posted SOMEWHERE on the net, but I haven't been able to find anything.

menrui · 22 Jul 2009

They got those stats from me, and I am just guessing from experience.

Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Postgraduate!!

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