Monbusho Scholorship Through Embassy Reccomendation?

[Nall-ohki]

Hey everyone. I've been asking for a lot of help lately, and this thread is no exception.

I've been researching the monbusho graduate school scholarship online as well as on this forum.

The thing that sticks out to me is this: nobody seems to have gotten a scholarship through an embassy (or at least has not specified that they have). Additionally, there is no information on the actual Japanese exam that seems to be required for the scholarship (at least in the U.S.).

Has anyone here gotten the monbusho scholarship through the embassy and/or has taken the Japanese exam that seems to be required in the US?

 

[Alma]

Hello Nall-ohki

I did got scholarship through embassy. I think Monbukagakusho scholarship can be done only through embassy. But maybe not.
As far as I know, this scholarship does not request any previous knowledge of Japanese language. Although, it is is positive, of course, but not obligatory. Anyway, when I applied and got on list of candidates, I had English and Japanese test. Even, I do not know Japanese so good. Here, we do not have regular school for Japanese, nor have it it any school. Only way I could have learned is from free courses Japanese embassy provided. But still, my Japanese was (and still is) on really low level. Other applicants did not have Japanese test, only English. Well, there was one girl who finished Japanese at university in Belgrade, I believe, but she did not got scholarship.

I do not know what also do you want to know. Feel free to ask.

 

[Nall-ohki]

Alma,

Thank you for your response!

I'm more interested in your personal experience, specifically with the tests. People have said they are similar to the GRE tests that people in the USA take to attend graduate school. The Japanese tests I have seen snapshots of, but I'm still unsure.

Additionally, I'd like to hear about your experience trying to apply to the school of your choice after getting through the first pass. Finding a professor seems to be a big problem.

Also, one last thing - the scholarship also covers your tuition expenses, right?

 

[quobobo]

Man, I do not envy you. I applied for the undergrad scholarship last year and received it, thank god, but the lack of information available anywhere nearly drove me insane. Good luck!

Here's past Japanese exams (the undergraduate and graduate Japanese exams are the same): www . studyjapan . go . jp/en/toj/toj0307e.html#3

Try checking this thread for more info or ask a question in it: www . crisscross . com /forum/m_407493/mpage_5/key_monbusho/tm.htm

Sorry for the messed up links, the forum won't let me post external links until I've made 15 posts. Just remove the spaces.

 

[Nall-ohki]

Hmmm...
Hmmm... ...
Hmmm... ... ...
Hmmm... ... ... ...

Lots of information.

Thanks a bunch for what you've provided.

I talked to the consulate near me yesterday by phone, and they gave me some good information.

The problem I have now is... I have two possible plans... one involves going to a language school in the fall... and I'm worried that doing so may jeprodise my scholarship plan... <sigh>

... so many unknowns.

 

[Alma]

Alma,
Thank you for your response!
I'm more interested in your personal experience, specifically with the tests. People have said they are similar to the GRE tests that people in the USA take to attend graduate school. The Japanese tests I have seen snapshots of, but I'm still unsure.
Additionally, I'd like to hear about your experience trying to apply to the school of your choice after getting through the first pass. Finding a professor seems to be a big problem.

well, now you saw how tests look like. I have to admit, even my Japanese was very poor, I did most of test number one, half of other and just a small part of third. but, I do not know how good I done that.
Anyway, about finding right school. It is quite hard to find it, and professors too. they are some universities that provides you list of professors and there e-mail addresses, but i got no answer from such. Then, some universities have contact mail especially for this kind of students. then.. what I've faced:
1. they send you huge list of documents I cannot possibly provide ( so, they declined me automatically)
2. one university asked me when can I come to take entrance test... (!?) I explained I need letter of acceptance as soon as they can send it to me, but then answer was they do not do such thing.
3. one university asked for original documents with which applied at embassy. I send them over, and latter got negative answer. Other university asked for documents send my e-mail, and after consulting, they send me letter of acceptance. yea!
4. also, there are bunch of universities that just do not have some proper contact. it is better t not consider them as option, i believe, because most probably they will not answer, or at end send you negative response.
also, if you see on web site they have a lot of (or any) foreign students, that is good sign, I believe. Good luck!

Also, one last thing - the scholarship also covers your tuition expenses, right?

Oh, of course! it covers all your costs too, as far as I know. still searching info about health insurance :/

 

[Nall-ohki]

well, now you saw how tests look like. I have to admit, even my Japanese was very poor, I did most of test number one, half of other and just a small part of third. but, I do not know how good I done that.

Yeah. With my experience in Japanese, I think the tests will be reasonably easy to pass with a bit of review.

1. they send you huge list of documents I cannot possibly provide ( so, they declined me automatically)

Hmmm... will watch out for that.

2. one university asked me when can I come to take entrance test... (!?) I explained I need letter of acceptance as soon as they can send it to me, but then answer was they do not do such thing.

Yeah, the whole process seems to rely on them not giving you an entrance examination - you have a deadline for getting the letter of acceptance.

3. one university asked for original documents with which applied at embassy. I send them over, and latter got negative answer. Other university asked for documents send my e-mail, and after consulting, they send me letter of acceptance. yea!

Hmmm... I'd like to hear of the universities you applied to, especially the one you were accepted at. If you could give me a list (or Private Message me a list if you're uncomfortable having that information public), I would be most happy!

4. also, there are bunch of universities that just do not have some proper contact. it is better t not consider them as option, i believe, because most probably they will not answer, or at end send you negative response.

Thank you so much for all your information so far. I am getting ready to apply for the scholarship through my consulate soon, and it's great to have an idea of what is ahead of me.

 

[Alma]

I'd like to hear of the universities you applied to, especially the one you were accepted at. If you could give me a list (or Private Message me a list if you're uncomfortable having that information public), I would be most happy!

I am studying architecture, so I searched for all universities with architecture department. but, I've got same info from other girl in my country that got scholarship (and she is major in something about movies), she had even more negative experiences then me. anyways, if you are into art and architecture, I'll give you whole list, and also if not, I'll try to find bigger universities I contacted, (with different departments).. I do keep all e-mails


p.s. I got accepted to Musashino art university in Tokyo

 

[Alma]

Yeah, the whole process seems to rely on them not giving you an entrance examination - you have a deadline for getting the letter of acceptance.

actually, you will one day get to the exam. first step is to get through preliminary selection by embassy. then, with that paper, you are looking for right university and professor. maybe you'll get letter of acceptance, maybe not. anyway, with all that you will apply for scholarship through embassy. since you already got approval from embassy, this is only paper work. so, once you get it, it is matter of letter of acc. and MEXT to see which university you will attend. then, you are going as ''research student''.. first 6 months intensive language learning, then six months of research (on specified topic, with monitoring form academic advisor). after that, you are going to entrance exam for master. but, since you've got this far, this is (i hope) just another ''formality thing''.

 

[Alma]

another thing I remembered - try to look out for universities already, so you could write in ''study program'' what kind of university would be good for you, which one does have what you are looking for. this way, you will show interest, and that is the most important - so show serious interest and that way to prove you are really deserve scholarship. (keep in mind those are money from Japanese people - you'll gonna life for years on their taxes!)

 

[Nall-ohki]

another thing I remembered - try to look out for universities already, so you could write in ''study program'' what kind of university would be good for you, which one does have what you are looking for. this way, you will show interest, and that is the most important - so show serious interest and that way to prove you are really deserve scholarship. (keep in mind those are money from Japanese people - you'll gonna life for years on their taxes!)

Yes, I have been looking at several programs at different universities for this purpose. I'm glad to hear that I'm on the right track!

I have a lot of work to do to get this all done, and according to the consulate, MEXT is late in getting the consulate their information on the scholarship this year, so I can't even start on the actual paperwork

Anyway, I'm starting to collect the things I will be needing.

 

[CurlyFrye]

Hi!

I found this forum looking for information about MEXT, because I'm thinking about applying here as well. The comments and replies so far have been very helpful! I thought I might be able to interject some further questions...

So, just to clarify- the MEXT people have their own language assesment? And they recommend this to the universities (I ask because many of the universities stipulate JLPT1 as their requirement.)

Is it typical to enter as a "research student" first and then move up to an actual masters after one year? Or is it possible to enter as a masters straight out?

How tight are they about your proposed thesis? How detailed do you have to be?

What, exactly, is the deadline? Based on last year it looks to be some time in May...?

I'm looking at going for either aesthetics (Keio, Kyoto U, Waseda, etc.) or film (???) as I'm currently a Japanese major at UCLA but I have a strong background in animation. I heard that a lot of Japanese art schools include aesthetics in their curriculum (which is awesome!) but I don't think masters in animation/film are so prevelant...

Thanks in advance, this thread is great!

- Eliza

 

[Alma]

So, just to clarify- the MEXT people have their own language assesment? And they recommend this to the universities (I ask because many of the universities stipulate JLPT1 as their requirement.)

yes. You do not need any knowledge in Japanese to get scholarship. you will learn it intensively for first six months in Japan.

Is it typical to enter as a "research student" first and then move up to an actual masters after one year? Or is it possible to enter as a masters straight out?

Only way is to start as research student. But, basically, you need that research for your master, so it is convenient also, I guess.

How tight are they about your proposed thesis? How detailed do you have to be?

I guess it is better to be detailed, but I wasn't so detailed. In fact, I wrote it so generally, that University couldn't agree about my mentor. I'll have interview when I get there to see who my mentor will be. so, seems you should be detailed, but again, not too much. I believe, if you are too strict about thesis, maybe your faculty will not have proper professor for you. so, you should search as much as you can.

What, exactly, is the deadline? Based on last year it looks to be some time in May...?

deadline for entry? I remember last year was May, 19th. I actually applied last day.

hope this helps! good luck!

 

[CorDarei]

Is it typical to enter as a "research student" first and then move up to an actual masters after one year? Or is it possible to enter as a masters straight out?

Only way is to start as research student. But, basically, you need that research for your master, so it is convenient also, I guess.

The information I've read from my consulate (http://www.atlanta.us.emb-japan.go.jp/monbusho.html) says that it is possible to enter straight into a Master's program, if you're accepted. On the other hand, they want an acceptance letter by August, and the exams for universities that I've looked at take place in September at the earliest. I guess maybe you get a letter of acceptance as a research student and then apply for regular admission? I'm not sure - it would be awesome if someone who knows could clear it up.

I guess it is better to be detailed, but I wasn't so detailed. In fact, I wrote it so generally, that University couldn't agree about my mentor. I'll have interview when I get there to see who my mentor will be. so, seems you should be detailed, but again, not too much. I believe, if you are too strict about thesis, maybe your faculty will not have proper professor for you.

 

[bachir]

research or master student ?

hello alma,i've been accepted after the interviex .now our documents are sent to japan to be analysed or something like that.
i applied as a resarch student but don't really know if i took the best decision.
all i would like to know is the following:
is it possible for a research student there in to carry on phd(doctoral)or is he obliged to be as a master student ?
thanks in advance .

 

[Alma]

hello alma,i've been accepted after the interviex .now our documents are sent to japan to be analysed or something like that.
i applied as a resarch student but don't really know if i took the best decision.
all i would like to know is the following:
is it possible for a research student there in to carry on phd(doctoral)or is he obliged to be as a master student ?
thanks in advance .

first of all, congratulation

second, i believe you have to have MA (master) in order to carry on on PhD. cannot skip master, or maybe you've finished it already somewhere else. if you haven't then, I believe you have to do your master. situation is like that all over the world, doesn't matter Japan or wherever.

sorry, I know it wasn't answer you wanted to hear.

good luck!

 

[bachir]

hmm i see !

thanks for your reply.
then i believe all i have to do when arriving in japan is to change my status from research to master student ,what do you think ?
well first i have to wait the answer from MEXT in japan,then start writing to some universities (although i have never done such a thing before in english ;i did it many times but in french to french universities).anyway,i received a summon from the embassy to make things clear.then again,i shall have the opportunity to ask them anything i want
by the way,are you currently studying in japan ALMA-san ?

 

[dorikura]

Hey I wanna study in Japan too!Well I'll start in october on architecture studies but can I get schoolarship right now even if I'm not some expert for japanese language!?
And Alma...I never went to japanese embassy but I did contact them and they said that they don't do free courses anymore...and I wanted to go so badly...but I have some japanese friends who helped me learning it...(with books and CD's mostly, and they tried to learn me on their own) and I did some tests I found on the internet and got best marks and I also learnd kanji...I already write some simple words...and do the conversation with my japanese friends.But if I have to wait for a year or two I can do that but I would like to continue my studies there not like do the graduation here and then to improve my architecture knowledge in japan!?

 

[Alma]

dorikura, you don't need any previous knowlegde of japanese language to get scholarship! and, keep in touch with embassy, maybe they will start with course again one day. best wishes!