University Nomination - MEXT Scholarship

[FullM3taL]

The JASSO scholarship is one option. I think the Panasonic Scholarship screening begins a year in advance, much like the Embassy recommendation. Other options include various scholarships provided by regional governments and organizations. But you can only apply for them once you get to the University.

Living expenses can be high in Tokyo and Yokohama. I think I saw it on JASSO's website or maybe some other University's website, that the average monthly expenditure for a University student was 110,000 - 125,000 yen. That includes your monthly rent, your monthly expenditure on food, internet, basic amenities like electricity and water, etc. Of course, you can have a part-time job but don't bank on just that, because there are restrictions on working hours for those holding resident student visas.

 

[koustubh]

I just got a mail from Keio which says I have been nominated for special MEXT scholarship "GLOBAL 30". Does anyone have any information about it

 

[FullM3taL]

Congratz. Do you know the terms and conditions? I'm curious as to what is the difference.

 

[koustubh]

This scholarship differs from the other MEXT scholarship on the following points.
Read these "SPECIAL REMARKS" in addition to the application guidebook provided by MEXT carefully before
applying for this scholarship.

1. Period of scholarship and amount paid will be as follows:
Period: one (1) year (October 2012 – September 2013); monthly payment: ¥182,100 (Schedule).
※There is a possibility that your monthly payment may be changed.
※You need to arrive in early September in order to attend orientation and register for classes.
Applicants should be aware that whilst the scholarship will be granted from October 2012, all students
must arrive in Japan in September.

2. Unless you complete your degree and return to your country within the last-payment month of your scholarship,
traveling costs (transportation from Japan) will not be provided for under this MEXT scholarship.

3. It is not possible to extend the scholarship period mentioned in 1 above.

4. Both study abroad and a long stay overseas during the MEXT Scholarship period are not permitted.

[ Note ]
The grantee of a MEXT scholarship is not eligible to apply for another MEXT scholarship unless he/she has had at
least three years of research or teaching experience between the completion of the first scholarship and the
start of the second scholarship period. This general rule is applied to this scholarship without exception.

 

[FullM3taL]

Hmm, the terms look the same. The period is just 1 year though, or did I read it incorrectly? However, the monthly payment is greater.

 

[iken]

Hmm, the terms look the same. The period is just 1 year though, or did I read it incorrectly? However, the monthly payment is greater.

I was wondering about that too. maybe the larger amount compensates for the short duration of the scholarship? I applied for Hiroshima University and they're not part of the Global 30 so this is interesting for me.

 

[mozda]

congratz koustubh, you must be happy to hear that news after a bad news...
if i was you i would accept this, but the only thing that would bother me is the last note: you can't apply for another MEXT scholarship for the next three years...(if i understood right)...that means you can't apply some longer then 1 year program after that but still...i would accept it probably... congratz again!

 

[koustubh]

yeah, pretty happy with this even though it wont be possible to extend the MEXT scholarship, but i should be able to apply for other scholarships. How difficult is it to obtain other scholarships (heard about JASSO scholarship)

 

[mozda]

i've heard it's pretty hard to obtain other scholarships, with that i don't mean it's easy to obtain MEXT but it is very hard to get some private scholarships and it is pretty unsafe, it would be really frustrating to enter university and not succed in getting any scholarship realizing you must leave because you're not able to live there...take this and try to make some plan during that year, i'm sure you can figure out something...wish you all the best!!

 

[frna]

I thought getting jasso at least is fairly easy but obv I have no experience. Anyone in here who ever got that?

 

[AussieGuy]

Hey guys,

Does anyone have any idea how often the nominated students are given the final approval from MEXT? I was given the impression from my university that it is pretty much just an administrative task and nominated students are all approved, but reading in threads on here a few people were not approved by MEXT during the final stage. I am a bit worried, I just want to get the final approval already haha!

 

[mozda]

@frna: i don't know much about it personally but i've heard a lot of various things about what to do when you can't get the MEXT, i don't know but there are a lot, A LOT private scholarships so it's not hard to get them but MOST of them don't offer even close amount money as MEXT does, or amount of money reasonable to make a normal living in Japan, on the other side there ARE private scholarships offering almost the same amount of money as MEXT but those are very few and that's why hard to get them because probably every privately financed student in Japan is hoping for a scholarship...

@AussieGuy: you're right, i've heard that MEXT selection is probably just formal, they are just checking if the documents are fine, i've heard that MEXT refuse only in case of some serious fraudulent in documents but also those stuff we can't know, for example: countries advantage or disadvantage meaning they can't take 10 students from some small country and just 1 from some large country, balance is required i guess...those are just my guesses...also, the better University the less chance they will refuse you...it's a game of luck with everything...and it's completely out of your hands, wait and see what happens, but your chances are very very high if you're accepted in first stage...what you can do is to ask your professor if he/she knows some statistics from the Uni, how many students they recommended last year and how many of them were finally approved...wish you luck, ganbatte!!!

 

[iken]

I got an update already. My prof. informed me that I passed the first screening. Now the long, long wait for July begins. Good luck to everybody!

 

[younggirl]

I got an update already. My prof. informed me that I passed the first screening. Now the long, long wait for July begins. Good luck to everybody!

Congratulation Iken,,

same as me, i just got an update, i passed for university recommendation and now waiting for final result from MEXT. long way to wait. Ganbatte

 

[frna]

Which Universties? I'm still waiting for my definite OK (TiTech), Prof told me my chances are good though. Hope they'll get back to me soon, I'm dying here

 

[iken]

Congratulation Iken,,

same as me, i just got an update, i passed for university recommendation and now waiting for final result from MEXT. long way to wait. Ganbatte

Thanks for your greeting younggirl! Congratulations too! I'm still busy with getting a recommendation letter from my dean. I asked my professor about my chances but he said not too worry. I am still, though...I'm meeting him again this April (he's coming to my country for a visit!) and we might discuss how to prepare for my study, in case I get selected...


I wish you the very best!

 

[AussieGuy]

@mozda Thanks for the reply, I think I'm going to be on edge for the next 4-5 months but lets hope we all get over that final hurdle! Congratulations to everyone who has been nominated so far! ganbatte!!!

 

[iken]

How's everyone doing? Trying to get my mind off the scholarship but here I am checking the forum again. What? It's only April!?
3 more months to go. Congratulations to everyone who passed the first screening.

 

[FullM3taL]

I'm getting nervous too. I've been pretty much praying everyday that I get the scholarship. Things haven't been going that well at my place, and that's perhaps fueling my anxiety.

 

[iken]

Hey FullM3taL, I hope things will get better on your end.

Actually, I had a bit of a problem myself. After I learned that I passed the first screening, my professor asked if I should start reading some academic books. He gave me a reading list. So I started buying books as early as last month and I had to write a reaction paper for every chapter of the book. I had a bit of hesitation at first, because I still don't know if I will be able to go to Japan. I just didn't want to do the whole nine yards and just be useless in the end. But now, I've decided that, whether or I pass or not, whatever knowledge I get from the books I've been reading would be something beneficial for me. So then I stopped worrying and got my highlighter pens. Next month, my professor and I will see each other (he will be visiting my country). We will already talk about how I should prepare for the move. I am still a bit scared of doing all the preparations, but I'm just going with the flow. If things don't turn okay, I guess I would be better prepared the next time hehe. What do you guys think of this? Let me know your thoughts.

 

[nguyenledu]

Hey FullM3taL, I hope things will get better on your end.

Actually, I had a bit of a problem myself. After I learned that I passed the first screening, my professor asked if I should start reading some academic books. He gave me a reading list. So I started buying books as early as last month and I had to write a reaction paper for every chapter of the book. I had a bit of hesitation at first, because I still don't know if I will be able to go to Japan. I just didn't want to do the whole nine yards and just be useless in the end. But now, I've decided that, whether or I pass or not, whatever knowledge I get from the books I've been reading would be something beneficial for me. So then I stopped worrying and got my highlighter pens. Next month, my professor and I will see each other (he will be visiting my country). We will already talk about how I should prepare for the move. I am still a bit scared of doing all the preparations, but I'm just going with the flow. If things don't turn okay, I guess I would be better prepared the next time hehe. What do you guys think of this? Let me know your thoughts.

Dear Iken
I think you shouldn't nervous, instead that, you should buy some book and do everything your advisor required. I know that Japanese Professor quite cautious when they annoucement anything they not sure, so when prof required you, it means they surely that you are accepted.
good luck.

 

[iken]

Hello nguyenledu. Thank you very much for your kind words. This really made my day. Time to hit the books again!

 

[cloud9]

hi folks i am new here. have applied for three years doctorate programme with todai. The results should be out by first week of July latest said the Mail from FSO ... Keeping my fingers crossed . All the best everyone

 

[iken]

hey cloud9, welcome!

I checked the previous posts about the announcement of the results. So do you guys think it will be out by 2nd week of June?

 

[cloud9]

lets hope we do get it by second week of june or latest by july end