Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Postgraduate!!
- Thread starter Wingmaker
- Start date
Do we have to apply for extension like 1 semester before our graduation for the phd?? The extension process will be a fast one or slow like what we are experiencing now?? I hope that the success rate will not be low as I feel that graduating with masters in my field is a little useless.. Its either degree or phd.. If i am to choose between graduating with a masters I think i will rather start working and not go for the scholarship..Its better for my career path..
well, it's pretty hard to foresee what is the outcome after our Master's.
And to decide base on that is quite risky.
Anyway, from the info i gathered, in order to extend the scholarship, first you need to secure a project or supervisor before graduating, confirm that there's a slot for you.
After that, you can only apply for the scholarship somewhere in March. Whether it's in the form of 'extension' or 'fresh application' i'm not sure, so are the procedures. But i guess it would be slightly different from those who applied the PhD FRESH from their home countries, perhaps slightly easier, assuming that you can skip the exam, sourcing of supervisor and interview with the embassy phase. So what you do is get a supervisor (final sem), apply (somewhere March), and wait for MEXT's approval. Thus the process won't take one whole year like what we're going through now, instead, if successful, there will be no gap and you can start your PhD immediately in the same year you graduate, that is, April. (Again, i'm not sure whether there's a separate entrance exam for PhD)
thanks ooilingfan... your comments sounds positive..:
Scholarship discussion aisde, what can someone who have a masters in lifescience do? u cant be a lecturer and other jobs seems too low for your qualification where u will feel a waste if u applied for a job that only needs degree and u got a masters hence your slary = degree salary..sad..
Scholarship discussion aisde, what can someone who have a masters in lifescience do? u cant be a lecturer and other jobs seems too low for your qualification where u will feel a waste if u applied for a job that only needs degree and u got a masters hence your slary = degree salary..sad..
kawabanga
先輩
- 1 Nov 2008
- 42
- 0
Master degree holders are absolutely qualified to be an undergraduate lecturer, at least in Malaysia. What can you do with a Master degree in lifescience? The more sensible question is what do you want to do?
Putting personal interest aside, international companies, especially those in the pharmaceutical industry are always in the hunt for people with postgraduate qualification (at least a Master degree) to join their R&D team. You can also choose to become a researcher in research institutes. In fact, some renowned research institutes in Malaysia take in Bachelor's degree holders as research officers.
Alternatively, if your passion does not lie in scientific research (but for some reason you decide to pursue a research-based postgraduate degree), you can always opt for the corporate ladder. Corporate companies are also always on the look out for individuals with a postgraduate qualification in science for these individuals are trained to be analytical, observant and have the technical expertise in areas which a non-science graduate could hardly pick-up just from work.
Regarding "Master degree salary = Bachelor's degree salary", I have never come across any reputable companies or institutions in the lifescience industry hiring individuals strictly with JUST a Bachelor's degree, definitely not for technical positions, but possible for sales. It is always the case of 'at least'. I find it unbelievable that a company would pay its Master degree employee a Bachelor's degree's salary. If that is truly the case, this company is probably not intending to develop and expand any further.
My advice is, be sure of what you want to do in the many years to come. Never pursue a Master degree or PhD just for the sake of it. They are just qualifications, important only for the initial recognition, but never for long. What makes a PhD holder stands out from the rest is his passion and sense of direction. I hope this does help you in certain ways.
Putting personal interest aside, international companies, especially those in the pharmaceutical industry are always in the hunt for people with postgraduate qualification (at least a Master degree) to join their R&D team. You can also choose to become a researcher in research institutes. In fact, some renowned research institutes in Malaysia take in Bachelor's degree holders as research officers.
Alternatively, if your passion does not lie in scientific research (but for some reason you decide to pursue a research-based postgraduate degree), you can always opt for the corporate ladder. Corporate companies are also always on the look out for individuals with a postgraduate qualification in science for these individuals are trained to be analytical, observant and have the technical expertise in areas which a non-science graduate could hardly pick-up just from work.
Regarding "Master degree salary = Bachelor's degree salary", I have never come across any reputable companies or institutions in the lifescience industry hiring individuals strictly with JUST a Bachelor's degree, definitely not for technical positions, but possible for sales. It is always the case of 'at least'. I find it unbelievable that a company would pay its Master degree employee a Bachelor's degree's salary. If that is truly the case, this company is probably not intending to develop and expand any further.
My advice is, be sure of what you want to do in the many years to come. Never pursue a Master degree or PhD just for the sake of it. They are just qualifications, important only for the initial recognition, but never for long. What makes a PhD holder stands out from the rest is his passion and sense of direction. I hope this does help you in certain ways.
Kawabanga,
While your comments sounds positive and good, but it is merely theoretical and does not apply in Malaysia. Sure if you are working in SIngapore or other country which have a higher research profile. Companies in Malaysia usually focus on sales for their products and research are carried out in other countries. Our research industry is usually done in the government sector or Universities which do not pay much. For lecturer, I think they need phd as a lecturer now. Few months ago when I checked they still recruit masters but in later years I dont think it will be so. Are you doing lifesciences as well? We can exchange opinion
While your comments sounds positive and good, but it is merely theoretical and does not apply in Malaysia. Sure if you are working in SIngapore or other country which have a higher research profile. Companies in Malaysia usually focus on sales for their products and research are carried out in other countries. Our research industry is usually done in the government sector or Universities which do not pay much. For lecturer, I think they need phd as a lecturer now. Few months ago when I checked they still recruit masters but in later years I dont think it will be so. Are you doing lifesciences as well? We can exchange opinion
pilarika
後輩
- 19 Sep 2008
- 16
- 0
Hi everyone!
Though the topic was some posts ago I thought I would share what my experience with the preselection and selection has been. I think it varies a bit from country to country and embassy to embassy. I guess they have different ways of selecting people, some might send more candidates than actual scholarship spots and wait for MEXT to choose, while other send just the exact number and assume MEXT will approve them all.
For instance, unlike Nall-Ohki, I was selected by the embassy here in my country as a substitute last year and I was told so by them all the way back in june 2007. They sent my papers to MEXT (save LoA, because I was a substitute I was not required to get one) all the time labeled as such, and sure enough by late December 2007 I was told by the embassy MEXT had confirmed as a subtitute. Back then the lady who handles the scholarship at the embassy told me they had selected the exact number of alocated spots for my country plus two subtitutes. The selected ones all got accepted and the other substitute and myself applied again this year.
This year I did get (pre)selected by the embassy as actual grantee, and was told by the same lady that since she has been working on the selection for the scholarship, MEXT has never objected to the selection done by them. I imagine something similar might happen in Jordan, that is why silverPenciled felt so assured by the embassy there that she was getting the scholarship.
Anyways, clearly there's still another selection to go, but if things are as I was told at the embassy I should feel pretty certain (though I am not, hehe), especially since things did work as they said last year. Still my guess is we won't know for sure until late December and January, so the only thing is wait and really hope for the best.
Good luck to all !!!
Though the topic was some posts ago I thought I would share what my experience with the preselection and selection has been. I think it varies a bit from country to country and embassy to embassy. I guess they have different ways of selecting people, some might send more candidates than actual scholarship spots and wait for MEXT to choose, while other send just the exact number and assume MEXT will approve them all.
For instance, unlike Nall-Ohki, I was selected by the embassy here in my country as a substitute last year and I was told so by them all the way back in june 2007. They sent my papers to MEXT (save LoA, because I was a substitute I was not required to get one) all the time labeled as such, and sure enough by late December 2007 I was told by the embassy MEXT had confirmed as a subtitute. Back then the lady who handles the scholarship at the embassy told me they had selected the exact number of alocated spots for my country plus two subtitutes. The selected ones all got accepted and the other substitute and myself applied again this year.
This year I did get (pre)selected by the embassy as actual grantee, and was told by the same lady that since she has been working on the selection for the scholarship, MEXT has never objected to the selection done by them. I imagine something similar might happen in Jordan, that is why silverPenciled felt so assured by the embassy there that she was getting the scholarship.
Anyways, clearly there's still another selection to go, but if things are as I was told at the embassy I should feel pretty certain (though I am not, hehe), especially since things did work as they said last year. Still my guess is we won't know for sure until late December and January, so the only thing is wait and really hope for the best.
Good luck to all !!!
- 2 Jun 2008
- 38
- 0
Heyy Pilarika! Am so glad you got selected for the scholarship, That's awesome news! Congrats! 
Did you get to select an art university for your major ? (am sorry I couldn't get back to you with that list! ) , you really did give me hope with that post of yours, I really hope what you are saying is true. My case is that I wasn't told about the MEXT selection until I actually asked the Embassy which was a week ago !
Like you mentioned each country differs from the others with their procedures. For instance they told me I shall be informed for sure in March!
I hope I get informed earlier , This is really killing me!
Anyhow I hope we both get it ! And hope everyone else does as well !
Did you get to select an art university for your major ? (am sorry I couldn't get back to you with that list! ) , you really did give me hope with that post of yours, I really hope what you are saying is true. My case is that I wasn't told about the MEXT selection until I actually asked the Embassy which was a week ago !
Like you mentioned each country differs from the others with their procedures. For instance they told me I shall be informed for sure in March!
I hope I get informed earlier , This is really killing me! Anyhow I hope we both get it ! And hope everyone else does as well !
Thanks, Pilarika! Though none of us know exactly what is happening behind closed doors, your information gives some insight into the process. Are you going for art? If so, can you tell me what and where you are hoping for? So far it seems like most everyone is in the sciences.
Also, are you from Bogota? Because I am planning a holiday trip to Colombia (in part to escape the New York winter, but also to get my mind off the upcoming results!) and am trying to find someone who can give me some info on what to do and where to go. anyway, thanks again!
Also, are you from Bogota? Because I am planning a holiday trip to Colombia (in part to escape the New York winter, but also to get my mind off the upcoming results!) and am trying to find someone who can give me some info on what to do and where to go. anyway, thanks again!
menrui
先輩
- 24 May 2008
- 428
- 0
thanks for the information pilarika! my MEXT coordination only gave me the "you'll be fine" insurance. nothing concrete or statistical. he also said they were "hoping" to get results in Oct/Nov. but that doesnt seem likely. he also said results could be as late at feb, or even a week before departure.
the woman at the embassy told me i'd hear at the end of this year or early next year if the ministry of higher education in japan had found me a spot, because i was unable to get a LoA
just this morning i recieved an email from a professor at kyoto university telling me i had been placed in his group and my paperwork is being processed for april 09
so results are out as early as now, but she did say that early next year was a possibility, so i guess it just means where on the list you are
oh does anyone know if the scholarship includes medical insurance or something like that? i can't remember??
oh also, does anyone know what happens if you say you wanna do you PhD then decide during your masters that you don't want to anymore...can it be postponed?
just this morning i recieved an email from a professor at kyoto university telling me i had been placed in his group and my paperwork is being processed for april 09
so results are out as early as now, but she did say that early next year was a possibility, so i guess it just means where on the list you are
oh does anyone know if the scholarship includes medical insurance or something like that? i can't remember??
oh also, does anyone know what happens if you say you wanna do you PhD then decide during your masters that you don't want to anymore...can it be postponed?
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cookie,
For academic positions, it differs when you're talking about Private and Public. For public yes, 90% and above of lecturer positions now requires minimum PhD.
For most private colleges/universities, you are allowed to teach pre-university courses, foundation programs and some diploma subjects if you can prove yourself with a Bacelor's degree.
With a master's degree you can go for tertiary level teaching, and will be qualified to take up administrative positions such as deputy programme director, course development manager etc.
Reason being in public Uni, research is a must, academic and new discoveries come first. Whereas in private, not so much. Research is 'encouraged' usually. Hence PhD isn't as critical, unless you wish to go up to the top (head of programme etc). But i expect the industry to be more competitive over time.
For non-academic, especially for Sales, Business Development, Marketing, whatever you call them, it doesn't matter to them. They don't care, as long as you bring in the business. Hence degree and master's qualification doesn't bring much difference, people who join this part of the world should be well aware. Unless the sales job requires a lot of technical knowledge which can only be aquired via a higher degree like MSc., then perhaps it'll be different. If not, a degree holder is as competent as a master's holder.
There are degree holders who work side by side with a master's holder, and earning more pay. And of course the cliche that many successful busines owners don't even have a college degree.
Bottomline, your degree cannot choose your job or career for you. If you want a job that matches your degree, be it BSc, MSc or PhD, you have to hunt for one.
So like kawabanga said, it all depends on what you want to do. Knowing your own capabilities, potential and goals will open up unlimited opportunities. Whereas living blur won't take a person far, even if he/she owns a Post-Doctoral degree.
Pilarika,
Thanks for the new info.
Seems like different policies adopted by different embassies will affect the final outcome.
This forum is really useful in gathering all the bits and pieces from all over the world and paint a clearer picture of how this whole MEXT scholarship is done.
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menrui
先輩
- 24 May 2008
- 428
- 0
abeeyo,
wow, im very surprised. my theory was, if you didnt get a LoA, MEXT would try to save time and money by putting you in a univ that wasnt so popular. but they managed to place you in kyoto univ... MEXT is awesome~! (>9k)
moving on, were you informed by your prof but not but MEXT themselves? hmm, it seems like MEXT works on placing us somewhere one at a time, then releases all official news at the same time.
wow, im very surprised. my theory was, if you didnt get a LoA, MEXT would try to save time and money by putting you in a univ that wasnt so popular. but they managed to place you in kyoto univ... MEXT is awesome~! (>9k)
moving on, were you informed by your prof but not but MEXT themselves? hmm, it seems like MEXT works on placing us somewhere one at a time, then releases all official news at the same time.
Japan Education Fair
Hi..For Malaysian...
All of you are welcome to Japanese Education Fair 2008 at PWTC on 6 & 7 Dec. Goh san (Jagam), Fukabori san (Japan Embassy) and Janette san (Jasso) had gv a briefing of the fair on press release yesterday in Japanese Club of KL and we are very welcome the people who are interested in the Mext scholarship to visit the fair. And I am sure that Jagam, Jasso, and Japan Embassy (Education) will give you a 1st hand help on Japan Mext scholarship. Other than that, 22 Japan Unis and 5 Japanese language schools will have a counter to serve all of you who need the education information. The profesors from Japan will be invited to give a talk on 7 of Dec. Please do kindly check the website of Facon Education Fair or check out the website of Japan Education Fair 2008 by Jasso.
**You can bring out any questions as you guys discussed in this forum. No worries..
See You!!
Cheers..!!
Hi..For Malaysian...
All of you are welcome to Japanese Education Fair 2008 at PWTC on 6 & 7 Dec. Goh san (Jagam), Fukabori san (Japan Embassy) and Janette san (Jasso) had gv a briefing of the fair on press release yesterday in Japanese Club of KL and we are very welcome the people who are interested in the Mext scholarship to visit the fair. And I am sure that Jagam, Jasso, and Japan Embassy (Education) will give you a 1st hand help on Japan Mext scholarship. Other than that, 22 Japan Unis and 5 Japanese language schools will have a counter to serve all of you who need the education information. The profesors from Japan will be invited to give a talk on 7 of Dec. Please do kindly check the website of Facon Education Fair or check out the website of Japan Education Fair 2008 by Jasso.
**You can bring out any questions as you guys discussed in this forum. No worries..
See You!!
Cheers..!!
pilarika
後輩
- 19 Sep 2008
- 16
- 0
I am glad my post was of some help. It is really good to be able to share with others who are on the same situation. And like I said I hope we all receive good news soon.
Like menrui, I also believe things are happening, only we don't know exactly what, and probably MEXT is waiting to have most people placed an stuff before releasing anything officially. Sadly this means we have to keep on waiting.
silverPenciled,
Last year I wasn't aware either that there was a MEXT selection either. I was quite surprised when I got the call from the embassy on December, but since I already knew I was a substitute I wasn't a disappointment at all or much of bad news.
As for the uni, I too gave up on Tokyo Geidai, I couldn't get them to answer my mails again, plus at the embassy they told me you basically had to personally know someone there to even be considered. Besides soon after I received an e-mail from the School of Design in Kyushu University, saying they would issue me a LoA. I am actually a graphic designer, so now I am hoping to enter the Design Strategy master course, which seems really interesting.
wes,
I live in Bogota, so if you'd like any info just ask. There are plenty of cool places to visit and cool things to do. And although I have to work all throughout December maybe we could meet at some point, just let me know.
Like menrui, I also believe things are happening, only we don't know exactly what, and probably MEXT is waiting to have most people placed an stuff before releasing anything officially. Sadly this means we have to keep on waiting.
silverPenciled,
Last year I wasn't aware either that there was a MEXT selection either. I was quite surprised when I got the call from the embassy on December, but since I already knew I was a substitute I wasn't a disappointment at all or much of bad news.
As for the uni, I too gave up on Tokyo Geidai, I couldn't get them to answer my mails again, plus at the embassy they told me you basically had to personally know someone there to even be considered. Besides soon after I received an e-mail from the School of Design in Kyushu University, saying they would issue me a LoA. I am actually a graphic designer, so now I am hoping to enter the Design Strategy master course, which seems really interesting.
wes,
I live in Bogota, so if you'd like any info just ask. There are plenty of cool places to visit and cool things to do. And although I have to work all throughout December maybe we could meet at some point, just let me know.
Hi All,
There is indeed a plan for japan to recruit more scholars from all around the world. They plan to bring 300,000 scholars until year 2020....This is the good news from Fukabori san (Malaysia_Japan Embassy) and Jannette san (Jasso) on press release at Japanese Club of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday. So, you guys are stepping into the road to Japan. No worries..
Pilarika,
WoW!!! what a nice paradise...BOGOTA...that's a well planned city and car free city...I hope I can be there some day..!! I am learning urban planning, Bogota is the ideal city nowadays.
There is indeed a plan for japan to recruit more scholars from all around the world. They plan to bring 300,000 scholars until year 2020....This is the good news from Fukabori san (Malaysia_Japan Embassy) and Jannette san (Jasso) on press release at Japanese Club of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday. So, you guys are stepping into the road to Japan. No worries..
Pilarika,
WoW!!! what a nice paradise...BOGOTA...that's a well planned city and car free city...I hope I can be there some day..!! I am learning urban planning, Bogota is the ideal city nowadays.
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yeah it wasn't an official acceptance, like embassy still hasn't emailed me or anything about. i guess their waiting for all the paperwork to be done...but official or unofficial i feel like huge weight was lifted off of me.
i totally agree with the LoA theory, i was so sure i was gonna end up in some lil private uni with a horrible bio department...but then i think maybe the reason i ended up in kyoudai was because of the specifics of my major...iu'm guessing molecular and celluar bio isn't very common
i don't know if me getting in has anything ti do with my country either, i remmeber reading somehwere that someone had said MEXT tends to prefer poorer countries, Kuwait is def not poor...so i don't know
There are all sorts of clubs and activities on campus. You can do sports, music, dancing, cultural things, you name it. Whatever you like, there's probably a club for it. With most clubs you can just show up whenever you like or whenever you have time, and the kids will be pretty friendly, it's a very good way to make friends. The clubs also do nomikai (drinking parties) once in a while, and maybe even overnight or weekend trips to onsen resorts and things like that.
Medical insurance is not included, but you will basically be required to sign up for Japanese national health insurance. Since you're a student and the scholarship doesn't really count as "income," you can get the cheapest rates on it, and the rates kind of depend on what city you live in, but I pay a little less than 2000 yen a month for that.
Your school might also require you to pay for some kind of accident insurance or something, but the one I had to pay for was only like 2000 yen one time.
I've never used the national health insurance before, but I've heard that the system is not too bad.
YES I'M GOING TO THE SCHOOL OF BIOSTUDIES!! yaaay a schoolmate!!
i was placed in takeyasu kunio sensei's lab
Hi..For Malaysian...
All of you are welcome to Japanese Education Fair 2008 at PWTC on 6 & 7 Dec. Goh san (Jagam), Fukabori san (Japan Embassy) and Janette san (Jasso) had gv a briefing of the fair on press release yesterday in Japanese Club of KL and we are very welcome the people who are interested in the Mext scholarship to visit the fair. And I am sure that Jagam, Jasso, and Japan Embassy (Education) will give you a 1st hand help on Japan Mext scholarship. Other than that, 22 Japan Unis and 5 Japanese language schools will have a counter to serve all of you who need the education information. The profesors from Japan will be invited to give a talk on 7 of Dec. Please do kindly check the website of Facon Education Fair or check out the website of Japan Education Fair 2008 by Jasso.
**You can bring out any questions as you guys discussed in this forum. No worries..
See You!!
Cheers..!!
Anyone going to the fair?
Hope to meet up with you guys but I can't make it as i'm working that whole weekend till late evening...
Wow that is certainly super good news...Hopefully your source is true then it means it will be easier for us to get the phd scholarship..
C0ok1e,
Of course that's true..I am at the scene that time..
About the number of the Malaysian Mext scholars for every year, they won't cut off the number of scholar obviously and the figure will be around that (30+ for postgraduate and 6-8 for undergraduate). This is because the total number of international students in Japan decreased gradually every year (from Goh san, Jagam). That's why Japan Gov (Education) came out with the indeed plan of bringing more students and target at 300,000 international students when year 2020.
The education fair in PWTC sure will helps alot. The professors from Japan will be there too.
oolingfan,
The fair only operate from 12pm to 6pm. Knowing that you need to work till late evening but hope you can visit there if you are available in the time. Please don't miss the chance.
**There are no counter set up by Japan Unis or scholarship organization at Penang Education Fair on 14 & 15 Dec. Please take note for those who wish to go to Penang Education Fair.
Cheers!!
Of course that's true..I am at the scene that time..
About the number of the Malaysian Mext scholars for every year, they won't cut off the number of scholar obviously and the figure will be around that (30+ for postgraduate and 6-8 for undergraduate). This is because the total number of international students in Japan decreased gradually every year (from Goh san, Jagam). That's why Japan Gov (Education) came out with the indeed plan of bringing more students and target at 300,000 international students when year 2020.
The education fair in PWTC sure will helps alot. The professors from Japan will be there too.
oolingfan,
The fair only operate from 12pm to 6pm. Knowing that you need to work till late evening but hope you can visit there if you are available in the time. Please don't miss the chance.
**There are no counter set up by Japan Unis or scholarship organization at Penang Education Fair on 14 & 15 Dec. Please take note for those who wish to go to Penang Education Fair.
Cheers!!
The Fair in KL features mainly Private Institutions...
for more info:
http://www.studyinjapan.org.my/11_JEF/index-jef2.html
for more info:
http://www.studyinjapan.org.my/11_JEF/index-jef2.html
