Questions of future MEXT Scholarship recipient

Tom_Prete said:

Hey there,
I've some important questions for those who have some "experience" as MEXT scholars!

1. Do we need to pay income taxes on the scholarship?

2. More out of curiosity: what happens if you you're enrolled as Master student but you don't manage to graduate because e.g. poor marks? Do you have to pay back the money you got from MEXT?
(I'm pretty sure research students don't have to...but what about degree/phd students?)

3. Is there any problem with staying in Japan after graduation? I wonder because I was told that recipients are supposed to go back to their country and need to register at the embassy after their return.

I guess not many current MEXT scholars are watching this forum... but help would be very appreciated!
Maybe someone also knows a better place to post these questions?

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thepie said:

1. Scholarship - no taxes. Fellowship (JSPS), yes.
2. No, you won't have to pay back. But you won't be able to extend the scholarship after finishing your degree
3. No, you don't have to. There is no obligation of going back to your homecountry or whatsoever.

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So even if somebody decides to abandon studying, he doesn't have to pay any money back?

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TheJoker said:

In my case (Tokyo Uni, MEXT scholarship through university recommendation, starting next month), they required a letter of recommendation from the dean of my former university (which was a pain to get). Part of the deal is that if I ever drop out, that same dean needs to write another letter to the University of Tokyo, explaining why I'm dropping out. If I were not able to get that letter, I'm not sure what would happen.

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