monbukagakusho scholarship - research student

[icedcoffee]

Hi, I'm a brand new user
I ended up on this forum while searching for additional info regarding this scholarship. Since to apply 16 years of education is needed, which for me means finishing my BSc Hons in Genetics, I've still a bit of time, (almost two years ) but from what I hear it's never too early to prepare. I contacted already my home country's embassy/consulate etc. but I wanted to ask you some more "practical" info...like:
-is the university you come from very important?
I mean, if you don't come from Cambridge&likes, nothing else
-the order you'd be supposed to follow should be Embassy first, then contact the professors, then the application?
-the examination really only concerns Japanese/English proficiency (=such as those examples on studyjapan.go.jp)?? Would be surprised.
Thank you guys for any help you can give me

 

[mitch2526]

With your first question, I do think the university matters, and I'm sure the people in your embassy (mostly from the UK in your case) would know which unis have good programs in Genetics.

But of course, no matter what your grades are or whatever your university is, if your research proposal is not clear and solid, it would be hard to get past the interview stage.

Anyway, this is just my opinion, since I'm in the running, but we haven't received the final answers yet.

The order of your application is of course correct but that's not the only way. Being in the academe myself, I understand why some profs don't reply immediately as we're all busy. It wouldn't hurt to contact professors 2 years in advance, at least if anyone replied, you're sure to know they're somehow nice.

But you're likely to get more replies after passing the primary screening, since with a nomination from the embassy, they will really take you seriously. You have 2 years, the best thing to do would be to find out who the best is out there in the program you wish to enter.

And yes, English and Japanese proficiency only and nothing else during the exams.

Basically, it's all about the research proposal. It took me a year writing mine.

 

[icedcoffee]

With your first question, I do think the university matters, and I'm sure the people in your embassy (mostly from the UK in your case) would know which unis have good programs in Genetics.
But of course, no matter what your grades are or whatever your university is, if your research proposal is not clear and solid, it would be hard to get past the interview stage.
Anyway, this is just my opinion, since I'm in the running, but we haven't received the final answers yet.
The order of your application is of course correct but that's not the only way. Being in the academe myself, I understand why some profs don't reply immediately as we're all busy. It wouldn't hurt to contact professors 2 years in advance, at least if anyone replied, you're sure to know they're somehow nice.
But you're likely to get more replies after passing the primary screening, since with a nomination from the embassy, they will really take you seriously. You have 2 years, the best thing to do would be to find out who the best is out there in the program you wish to enter.
And yes, English and Japanese proficiency only and nothing else during the exams.
Basically, it's all about the research proposal. It took me a year writing mine.

Wow, didn't expect such a detailed answer, couldn't thank you enough;-) I hope all the best for your answers
The reason for my first question was that even though I'm in London now, I am from Italy. As I always wanted to do Genetics, and in Italy such a course simply doesn't exist, I moved to London, but, partly because I was forced for family and personal reasons to apply after the January deadline, partly because I basically only studied Latin and Greek in High school, didn't have much of a choice at the moment of applying. I was wondering if it would be worth the trouble to transfer to another, better, University so I can take my BSc there in the end, or I would only seem volatile...
What would you say?
Hm, so you suggest to first research among the programs, then try to contact someone, keeping in mind that I won't probably get an answer till the screening stage?
I perfectly understand however. Can't be simple to distinguish between applicants, even more before embassy recommendation.
If I'm not asking too much, though...how specific must be the research proposal? Are there any "examples" or detailed guidelines somewhere? Come to think of it they aren't especially verbose explaining the whole process.