Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Postgraduate!!

[menrui]

After reading koukis' post, I did some searching and I found the following statement in some older guidelines(2006 and before)

*** The applicant whose spouse has already won a Japanese government (MEXT) scholarship will not be selected as a grantee, and likewise in the case of a couple applying at the same time.

If this concerns you, you should ask you embassy about this before you apply.

Okay, for your next question, keep in mind that you have to receive your embassies' recommendation before the university can accept you. The professor can accept you whenever. From what I know, after you receive the embassy recommendation, your chances of receiving the scholarship is very high... but I do know of 1 person(and only 1 person) that was rejected after receiving the embassy rec, univ acceptance, and prof acceptance. I think it was because he has received a gov scholarship before, though we are not exactly sure.

 

[jim84]

Yo... thats also freaked me after listening this.
thats mean need to have a good result for the test...
i dun have any confidence at all...
can advice how to improve myself before the test?
will they look at the japanese language test? i am also in beginner level
is it possible for someone who get a bad result in English test but score in Japanese test still can get the scholarship?

Shaun,
Sorry for the late reply.
Well, to be honest, I went there unprepared last year. I received the letter late as I was on a long business trip. I've only got 1 week left when I knew I'm going for the exam.
Like others have shared, the English test is of utmost importance in Malaysia. Though some country's embassy may place japanese language test above english. But here in M'sia, it's definitely English.
I would not advise you to sit for the japanese language paper unless you have at least JLPT 3 or 2.
But i guess there are some (who doesn't have sufficient proficiency) who wish to try their luck and sat for that paper last year. Also there are some who stared at the paper, and decided to give up. (It doesn't affect their overall results as long as they pass the english paper).
I remembered vaguely that the passing mark was 80%. (English test)
as for GPA, I also remembered vaguely that i read somewhere, that we need at least 1st class or 2nd class upper (CGPA 3.5 and above) to apply.
Of course you can always try your luck even if you don't have 3.5. No harm trying.
Submission deadline is less than 10 days away. All the best to this year's applicants!
Regarding the spouse question, menrui,
I still don't understand one point about the clause "....and likewise in the case of a couple applying at the same time"
Does it mean both will not get it, regardless of how good they are, or they will only consider one of them?
So it's to say that a couple applying will be penalised (both of them), because they acted too greedy and wish to get 2 scholarships at the same time?
What if one gets it, and the other apply the following year? Will the latter be penalised? I remembered in the form we're required to declare whether we/or any family members has received the scholarship.
(btw, i'm not married, just curious)

 

[menrui]

I almost certain that means that only 1 spouse will receive the scholarship, in the case that both are accepted. And in the case that your spouse has already received the scholarship, you will not be able to receive it in any following years.

 

[oula]

emmmm then what i have to do is to stay single right now XD....
ok so another question???....
well i'm asking cause there is a chance that i get married after 2 years XD.... so if i applied for the scholarship as single, and my friend (the one i want to marry i mean) applied as single, and then we went to japan, is it bad to marry when we are in japan???? i mean, like that i'm not lying on anyone, and we had a separate scholarship, so is there any harm if we get married after going there???...

sorry for the bothering.... and i'd like to ask the embassy in syria, but actually i'm not in my country right now XD

 

[jim84]

i think changing your status from single to married AFTER both of you secured the scholarship should be fine.
I'm sure there are MEXT scholars out there who met each other during their studies and got married. So they shouldn't penalise you on that.

 

[menrui]

Um, I can't answer that question because I really don't know. It seems like it would be fine... but again, I really don't know.

This might sound a bit insensitive... but can't you guys just wait!? Like, get engaged first, and hold off the wedding? It's like you are asking for trouble haha.

there is a chance that i get married after 2 years XD

There is a chance? That's a bit odd to say... :?

 

[oula]

i think changing your status from single to married AFTER both of you secured the scholarship should be fine.
I'm sure there are MEXT scholars out there who met each other during their studies and got married. So they shouldn't penalise you on that.

yeah i think it would be fine too, but as menrui said, we really don't know....

This might sound a bit insensitive... but can't you guys just wait!? Like, get engaged first, and hold off the wedding? It's like you are asking for trouble haha.

i'd like to, but my parents won't accept that i go alone to japan T0T
and well if we're engaged aren't we like a couple too???

There is a chance? That's a bit odd to say...

LOL yeah well..... cause actually it depends on him if he graduated at time, cause i only have one year to finish, but he has 2 years XD.... so you know....

thanks again for the help guys

 

[kouki]

>Malaysians

Updates from the send-off ceremony:

Last year there were 500 applicants for the postgraduate scholarship.

From what I gathered in last year's information, 170 were called for the written test. About 70 were called for the interview and 31 got the recommendation from the embassy. However, two of them rejected, which left with 29 of us now.

 

[Fiveonefive]

Pfft

Anyone have a good example or tips for a good research proposal relating to an MBA program?

I'm still not quite sure how exactly to approach writing one up when I am interested in studying for an MBA. It's not exactly the same type of research.

 

[Shaun]

>Malaysians
Updates from the send-off ceremony:
Last year there were 500 applicants for the postgraduate scholarship.
From what I gathered in last year's information, 170 were called for the written test. About 70 were called for the interview and 31 got the recommendation from the embassy. However, two of them rejected, which left with 29 of us now.

500? aikz...
the chances very slim..

anyone can open 2006 exam paper?
i can open it but its not readable at all...
anyone can send me? arigatou gozaimasu.

 

[kouki]

500? aikz...
the chances very slim..
QUOTE]

It is not as slim as the undergraduate:

5 chosen as receipient out of 1500 applicants...

 

[arap]

It's been a long time since I checked this thread and here I am..getting surprised again, mostly because of the below comment

as for GPA, I also remembered vaguely that i read somewhere, that we need at least 1st class or 2nd class upper (CGPA 3.5 and above) to apply.
Of course you can always try your luck even if you don't have 3.5. No harm trying.

So....all the 29 successful applicants from Malaysia got their CGPA >= 3,5 ?
Man...if that's true then it will be a hard fight for me.
Here in Indonesia we got GPA > 3,0 requirement (at least from last year information) and my GPA is 3,1, yeah I understand it's barely fulfill the requirement and that's why I spent a lot of time in my research plan but if GPA plays bigger role than I expected than I guess I have a hard & long road in front of me.

 

[jim84]

It's been a long time since I checked this thread and here I am..getting surprised again, mostly because of the below comment
So....all the 29 successful applicants from Malaysia got their CGPA >= 3,5 ?
Man...if that's true then it will be a hard fight for me.
Here in Indonesia we got GPA > 3,0 requirement (at least from last year information) and my GPA is 3,1, yeah I understand it's barely fulfill the requirement and that's why I spent a lot of time in my research plan but if GPA plays bigger role than I expected than I guess I have a hard & long road in front of me.

sorry for alarming you
You don't have to worry about this as different embassy has different way of screening their applicants. My comments are based on Malaysia applications. And like i said,i wasn't 100% sure.
Please check with your embassy on their selection criteria to see whether you meet the requirements.

Goodluck.

 

[clockworkorange]

Hi arap,

Don't be discouraged. I know that in Malaysia, even those with a GPA lower than 3.0 got called for the test. So while good results help, they don't determine everything. You're right to focus on your research plan. If your research plan is solid and ppl see you're determined to do it, it'll be hard to dismiss you.

Good luck!!

Shaun, you can't open the exam from the website itself? Its the english exam?

 

[yipiyaya8]

my CGPA only 3.15 and my proposal only one page!really hope can get the chance....my field is aerospace propulsion....really not easy to find reference to write a precise and detail proposal cz aerospace is a very sensitive field....

 

[clockworkorange]

Hey yipiyaya8,

I dun really think how solid your proposal is is measured by how many pages you have. But i do think you must be clear on what you want to do. This is my opinion but even if you don't have any references, it would be good if you have a clear methodology on how you are going to perform your research. I understand the deadline for this year has already passed so you must have submitted your proposal already. So don't worry too much. Just prepare for the exam and maybe fine tune your proposal when you get called for the interview. i think that they call quite a large percentage for the test. at least in Malaysia. So good luck!!

 

[yipiyaya8]

Hi clockworkorange,
Thanks for your reply....
I did told them clearly in essay format what i wan to do and how important my research field to the global and also the professor i wanted to follow.But i did not mention at all the methodolody.
I wont worry too much and will prepare for the exam from now...

 

[Shaun]

Hi arap,

Shaun, you can't open the exam from the website itself? Its the english exam?

Hi Clockworkorange
Not only english exam, i cant open all exam paper for 2006
u know wats the prob?

 

[rihoko]

my CGPA only 3.15 and my proposal only one page!really hope can get the chance....my field is aerospace propulsion....really not easy to find reference to write a precise and detail proposal cz aerospace is a very sensitive field....

Just out of the blue, is japan a good place to study this field? ☝

 

[yipiyaya8]

Just out of the blue, is japan a good place to study this field? ☝

YES

 

[clockworkorange]

Hi Clockworkorange
Not only english exam, i cant open all exam paper for 2006
u know wats the prob?

Hi Shaun,

No i don't know exactly what the problem is but i used to not be able to open it because i did not have the correct version of Adobe reader.

If u want, i can try to download it for you and email it to you. if you would like that, pls pass me your email add and also where to download the papers from. Are you applying for the postgrad or undergrad scholarship?

If u've already solved the problem (because I know this is a rather late response, sorry about that), then just ignore this message. I wish u guys the best of luck!

 

[conanf]

Hello guys, I don't see many Canadians/Americans here

I graduated last year with a B.Sc in Computer Science and a certificate of Japanese Studies. This year, I am applying for the monbusho as a post-graduate research student. I have already completed my proposal (around 3000 words, well documented; with an a brief timetable to what I am going to do..etc). I also have a joint paper that I did last year with one of my profs; I am planning to present that as a "past work" to show my academic research capabilities. So good so far. Now here is my current (and probably everyone's dilemma):

-Whats the best way to approach university professors? For those of you who have already secured a LoA, did you have to email in very formal/polite Japanese? How "strong" was your proposal when you email them? What did you have to do to secure a LoA? What did you write (or should write) in the email?

I am bit confused to what I should say since the instructions in the scholarship are a bit ambiguous. Any help would be appreciated! Good luck to all!

 

[kouki]

-Whats the best way to approach university professors? For those of you who have already secured a LoA, did you have to email in very formal/polite Japanese? How "strong" was your proposal when you email them? What did you have to do to secure a LoA? What did you write (or should write) in the email?

>conanf
You can send in e-mails in English. General speaking, most Japanese professors are well-versed in English.

You can just send in your proposal you have submitted for your MEXT scholarship to the professors, telling them that you are applying for the scholarship at the moment.

However, take note that not every e-mails comes with reply. Do read back the posts in the previous years in this forum. You should be able to find posts talking about their proposal being turned down by the professors, or even received no reply from the professors. For your information, they have just began their academic year, and you should do it fast. Early May would be the Golden Week, it a one-week-long holiday to the Japanese, so they might be not free to answer your e-mails at that time.

You can also call directly to the professors, but it sounds a bit difficult... Just take any action you think suitable.

I think you should contact menrui, he's from Texas. Perhaps he can help you more with that. There are a number of Americans around, and I believe they will come appearing when you call them.

 

[clockworkorange]

Hi conanf,

You've actually made some really good preparations. Erm, i don't really have much to add to kouki's suggestions. But in case it might interest you, I'll just share what i did.

I emailed the professors in English as I don't know any Japanese. I don't really think English is a problem. I attached my CV, research proposal, scanned copy of my degree cert and a scanned copy of my academic transcripts with my 1st email to the professor.
In the email itself, i just said i was applying for the scholarship, that i passed the interview, i named the research i was interested in and why i thought this research was relevant to what the professor's area of research was.

Finally, i asked him if he was willing to be my supervisor. and his reply to me was a two-sentence email which was: Thank you for your interest in my lab. Yes, I am willing.

I realise that i was very lucky to get a positive reply so fast but my back-up plan if the professor did not reply was to contact the International Student Office instead.

Most university websites provide an outline on how to contact professors as part of applying for the Monbukagakusho scholarship. The outline lets you know what u must include in the email and the documents that you must attach with the email. In the case of Todai, the International Student Office also assists you in contacting professors too. Its probably the same with other universities.

Good luck and hope that helped.

 

[conanf]

Hello clockworkorange and kouki!

Thank you for your responses. The information that you gave me was very helpful. I realize that this thread has lots of information, but given its size; its taking me time to read through all these posts. Perhaps someone could volunteer to make a quick FAQ or a summary for new applicants.

Now that being said, I totally forgot about Golden Week. This makes it more imperative to contact the professors right now! My application deadline is still a month away, but getting things done now would be better. I have a question regarding the study plan. It seems like coming up with an academic timetable of some sort (ie: taking courses A,B, C at semester 1, then course D, E,F at semester 2...etc) is important. Now how do you decide which courses should you be taking? Shouldn't that be after speaking with your potential supervisor? Or can that be done based on your research topic and what you feel is necessary to compliment your understanding and execution of your research plan...?

Or maybe I am just thinking too hard...?