Need help with your Field of Study and Research Program Plan? How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan will walk you through choosing a field, developing a research question, and completing the final report to give you the best chance of success!
I’ll also send you a copy of my sample MEXT scholarship application forms.
Here are the questions:
Is a Field of Study and Research Program Plan required if I want to apply for a taught Master’s instead of a research Masters?
All Masters degrees in Japan require research (and most require coursework, as well), so, yes.
What applicants have to fill out a Field of Study and Research Program Plan?
All graduate-level applicants, regardless of whether you are applying to be a research student, Master’s student, or PhD student.
How long should the Field of Study and Research Program Plan be?
The form is two pages, so that’s a good target. I have a detailed template, including length requirements for each section available here!
If you have graphs, tables, diagrams, etc. that are absolutely necessary, then it can go a little longer, but I would still try to keep it within 3 pages.
Your list or references does not count toward the page limits mentioned above.
Should I write my Field of Study and Research Program Plan in English or Japanese?
You should write it in the language that you intend to write your thesis in.
What should the Field of Study and Research Program Plan include?
I have published a detailed Field of Study and Research Program Plan template in another article, so please review that for details!
Is the “Present Field of Study” (Embassy-Recommended Application Process) what I studied in my last degree, or what I hope to study in Japan?
It’s your subject from your last degree. Your field of study in Japan should build out of your past studies, so use this section of the form to connect the two.
Does the Research Program Plan need to include a timeline?
Yes.
How long of a time should my Research Program Plan timeline cover?
Two years for a Master’s, three years for a PhD, and the length of time you intend to stay in Japan as a research student if you’re applying for just that status (up to 1.5 years)
Even if your program has you doing coursework for the first year and focusing on your thesis research in your second year, your plan should cover two years. Of course, your plan should take that focus into account!
If I’m applying to be a research student for a year and then continue into a Master’s degree, should my research program plan cover two years or three?
It depends on why you want to apply to be a research student first.
If you want to research one subject as a research student then another as a Master’s student, then you would write your initial research plan for just the research student year.
If you are applying for research student status because you cannot enter the degree program directly at your chosen university (e.g. it starts in a different semester), then write your research plan for the entire intended duration of your studies.
If you’re applying for research student status because you’re not confident that you can go straight in as a Master’s student, I would recommend that you focus on preparing yourself and hold off on your application until you’re ready to apply for the degree. The MEXT scholarship is highly competitive and it’s going to be harder to get the scholarship than it is to get in to the degree program. Either go for it all or nothing.
How do I determine a Field of Study or Research Question?
Think about your past research on the same subject and what gaps you found in the field. Then decide how you could help fill those gaps with a specific, detailed project.
If you need help with your specific field or situation, I am available for limited paid consultation. Please contact me if you are interested.
Is it OK if my field of study is different from what I studied in my last degree?
The application guidelines state: “Applicants should apply for the field of study they majored in at university or its related field.” You do not necessarily have to be within the exact same field, but you should be able to explain clearly and concisely how the two are related.
Does my research specifically have to relate to the needs of Japan or my home country?
No, but it would be beneficial to your selection chances, especially for the Embassy-recommended application. You do need to be able to do your fieldwork in Japan for whatever your field is.
Is it possible to study (Insert Field Name Here) in Japan?
If you can find a university that teaches it, yes. (If you would like me to search for universities that teach for you, please contact me to ask about paid consulting services).
Note: If you are applying via the Embassy-recommended scholarship, the fields available to your country may be limited. Please consult with the Japanese embassy in your country for details.
Note: If you are applying via the University-recommended scholarship, not all fields may be available under the scholarship. Please refer to the application guidelines for your specific university.
Will (Insert Field Name Here) be received positively by the review committee?
Unfortunately, there is no way to know. Every committee is made up of different individuals with different perspectives and there are too many variables that go into the review to know what becomes the deciding factor.
If you are passionate about a particular field, go for it. Ultimately, all you can control is how well you write and present your Field of Study and Research Program Plan.
Is it OK to choose a Field of Study if I can’t find a university in Japan that teaches it?
No. One of the requirements of the scholarship is that you have to be able to complete your studies in Japan. Also, you would never be able to get a letter of acceptance if no university teaches that field.
I recommend that you consider alternative names for your field of study or a related general field when searching, then try to narrow down to your specific field. (If you would like me to search for universities that teach for you, please contact me to ask about paid consulting services).
Is it advisable to enter a specific university, course, or professor name in the Field of Study and Research Program Plan?
Yes, if you are applying for the University-recommended MEXT scholarship or you are applying for the Embassy-recommended MEXT scholarship and only writing one university in the Placement Preference Form.
Otherwise, no.
Can you send me a sample field of study and research program plan?
No, I don’t have any samples of successful plans at this time. I do have a template available with recommendations on how to write yours, though.
If you want to contribute a successful field of study and research program plan, please let me know!
For the Embassy-recommended MEXT scholarship application, we are supposed to select three universities. Should I write three separate Field of Study forms?
No, you should be targeting three programs/professors that are similar enough that you can write one Field of Study and Research Program Plan that would apply to all three.
Is it possible to submit one Field of Study and Research Program Plan to three professors in different fields?
No, you should be looking for three professors at different universities in the same field who can supervise the same research topic.
For the Embassy-Recommended MEXT application, can I revise my Field of Study and Research Program Plan after the primary screening?
No. You are required to submit the exact same documents to the university. In some cases, the documents will be stamped with the embassy’s seal to verify that they are unaltered.
You can add supporting material, but it may or may not be accepted.
Do you have questions about the Field of Study and Research Program Plan that I haven’t answered above?
Ask them in the comments below and I will update this page as soon as possible. (Please keep in mind that it may take some time for me to catch up).
I’d also recommend signing up for my mailing list, below, to get notified whenever I have updates to any of the FAQs or new articles about the MEXT scholarship!
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Hi Travis and thank you for your great efforts,
I have a bachelor’s degree and I want to apply for a master’s degree for MEXT.
When I write my research timetable, can I include the first year as a research student and 2 years for the master’s degree and 3 years after for the doctoral degree, so that makes them 6 years of researching for the same topic with multiple results OR you would not recommend that?
Thank you
Hi Abdulghany,
You should write your research plan for the first degree you intend to apply for and may include one semester as a research student, if you plan to start in that status. The plan should aim for only one research output.
If you start as a research student, MEXT expects you to move into the degree program as soon as possible, so at least planning to make the transition after 1 semester would be a good approach.
If you plan to extend to a PhD later, you will have to apply for a scholarship extension at the appropriate time and you will describe your research proposal for the PhD program then. You should not include it at the first application and you don’t have space to do so, anyway. There is a 2-page limit to the Field of Study and Research Program Plan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
In your book How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan you wrote that STEM students should write about what kind of research they want to pursue, instead of a specific plan. If I have a specific idea in STEM can I write about that idea, despite knowing it will change after being assigned an advisor (and I am OK with that), or will that put off potential supervisors, since I will be writing about something that I don’t know if it will be in the interest of the laboratory to do.
Thanks and best regards,
Marko
Hi Marko Medved,
I’m sorry if I made it sound like STEM students should never write about a specific question in the book. That was not what I meant to imply and I will address the wording in the revised edition that I will be working on soon.
It is fine to describe a specific research question, but I recommend that you indicate that you are willing to modify your research to fit into the needs of your advisor’s lab.
You should also research the advisor and their ongoing research in as much detail as possible to be as sure as you can that your proposed research would be of interest to them.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis
I have a couple of questions,
Is it ok if I send my research proposal to the professor i wanted to work with after passing the preliminary screening of the embassy? Do I need to submit the exact same two page research plan to the professor which I submitted to the embassy during the application process? Is it possible to change the research plan if the professor disagrees once i have passed the preliminary screening?
Please help me with this..
Hi Arya,
Once you submit the FSRPP to the embassy, you must submit the exact same document to the universities when you apply for the Letter of Provisional Acceptance.
That said, the FSRPP is only an application document. Of course you can change your research under your professors’s guidance once you start your degree! So, you could indicate in the FSRPP that you will consult with your professor at the beginning of your studies to finalize your research topic. If the professor asks you to change your research during the Letter of Provisional Acceptance application process, you can discuss it with them and agree to follow the professor’s guidance, even though you can’t change the form.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much!!
Dear Travis,
I wish to apply for MEXT Scholarship of 2025 session. I’m currently doing my masters degree in marine biology and my dissertation work is on bivalves and their depuration. But I wanted to work 9n microalgae for my PhD and I even talked with a professor from Tokyo University and he advised me to write my proposal based on biofuel production from marine microalgae. But my previous studies and the intended research proposal for not have a connection, but both of them are from the same field marine biology. Moreover I am not able to find any professors actively involved in research regarding bivalves and their depuration. So what should I do regarding my research plan? Please help if you are able to
Hi Arya,
I saw that you asked the same question on multiple articles, but it seemed most relevant to the article about the Field of Study and Research Program Plan, so I answered it there, first.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much Travis for replying to my query!!
Hello, Travis:
First and foremost, I want to express my genuine admiration for your work. The way you help people with their applications is truly commendable, especially considering the limited information available on this subject. Thank you so much!
I can imagine you receive this type of question quite frequently, and I apologize for adding to it. However, I’m seeking some reassurance and guidance. My degree is in Technical-Scientific English-Spanish Translation. However, I currently work as a Japanese translator at a publishing house in my country, and I’m planning to take the JLPT N1 this December.
I have a strong desire to pursue Japanese Linguistics for my Master’s degree through this scholarship, and I intend to leverage my current job to establish a connection between my degree and my desired field of study (besides the fact that translation is inherently linked to linguistics). Could you please let me know if you think this plan is solid? Do you think there is there a possibility of rejection due to my degree’s focus on English?
Thank you very much for your time and attention.
Agustín
Hi Augustin,
Thank you for your kind feedback! I am glad to hear that you have found the site useful.
Given that you have both a degree and working experience in translation, including Japanese translation, I do not see any problem with applying for a Master’s in linguistics, especially if you can get the N1. You should not face rejection because your previous degree focused on English.
But, of course, just choosing the field of study isn’t going to be enough. You will need a well-developed and impactful research proposal in the Field of Study and Research Program Plan to stand out from other applicants.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Greetings!I have a question. I completed my bachelor’s degree, but I studied in 2 universities. I got equivalence in 4 disciplines from the first school. So, do I have to send the academic transcript (there’s no score on the academic transcript of the last attended school-just a reference to equivalence) of the first school to the MEXT? Thank you for your time.
Hi Araujo,
You will have to submit transcripts for all universities that you attended and earned credits from that counted toward your graduation.
If the school that you graduated from only shows that they gave you credit for the previous courses, but does not show the original grades, then you will need the transcript from the first university to show those grades. At least when I was working with the scholarship, pre-transfer grades that were just given as “credit” after transfer weren’t counted for the GPA calculation for eligibility, but MEXT still required that we calculate them for reference and provide the transcripts.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for the clarification. I’ll do as you advised.
Hi Travis,
Thank you for your helpful posts. I have a question about Field of Study and Research Plan. I have done my bachelor degree in Architecture and currently I want to apply for Master’s degree in the same department (Architecture), so I assume it meets the requirements. But, is it okay if I choose different research topic than my previous research? For your information, I did research about architectural acoustic for my undergraduate thesis but now I want to do research about urban design. Do I have to connect the two? I decided to choose different topic since It was really hard to find Japanese universities that have research lab or professors related to architectural acoustic. Sorry if my question is a little bit confusing.
Thank you!
Hi Finka,
As long as your research is in the same field, the research topic does not need to be the same. You don’t need to make a connection between the research topics necessarily, but it would be helpful to mention how your past research studies inspired your interest in the research topic you are proposing in Japan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello, my name is Maja and I’m getting my Master’s in the Japanese Language in April 2023. I’m wondering If I can apply for a Master’s in Japan even though I have a Master’s already? Or must I apply directly for PhD in Japan? Thank you!
Hi Maja,
Yes, you can apply for a second master’s degree instead of a PhD. But be aware that you will be competing with applicants for both master’s degrees and PhDs, so you’ll need to justify in your application (and particularly in the FSRPP and interview later) why a second master’s is more appropriate for your future goals to serve society.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I am in my Undergraduate course final year and about to have my exams in around April 2023 and I will receive my degree certificate around July or August but I will lose the 2023-2024 deadline of MEXT. So can I apply without it through University recommendation as a research student.
Hi Sunidhi,
You can apply even if you have not graduated yet, as long as you will have graduated by the time you start your degree in Japan, so you would be eligible to apply for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship this year.
If you apply before graduation, you will submit your most recent academic transcripts and a Certificate of Expected Graduation.
(Since you are eligible to apply through the Embassy, you would also, of course, be eligible to apply through the University!)
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello and thank you for the explanation. I would like to know if I can fill in by hand-written the “Field of Study and Research Plan.pdf” document. My adobe does not allow me to edit the document. I am stuck.
Hi Fogang,
If you check out my article on how to fill out the Field of Study and Research Program Plan, I have a link to the word file that MEXT/JASSO provided last year, so you can use that. I do not recommend filling it out by hand if you can avoid it.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis.
My name is Rodrigo, I am from Mexico.
I want to thank you for the blog and especially for your books. They really help me.
I have a question, probably not a smart one, but I didn’t see it anywhere in the books or around here (I’m probably wrong).
In the field of study and research plan form, below the name and nationality blanks, there is a “box” with the title with 3 points with instructions etc. Should I delete that? “Box”? Make it smaller? Leave like it is.
Thanks
Hi Rodrigo,
That’s a good question. I’m not sure if anyone has asked on here before, but many of my coaching/review clients have asked in the past.
You should not delete or edit that box. So, when you have to get your Field of Study and Research Program Plan under two pages, it means two sheets of paper including the one with space taken up by the instructions box. That gives you even less space, but I have never seen a FSRPP that couldn’t be condensed to fit in that amount of space while still retaining all of the important parts. It’s just a little more challenging!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, I’m thankful for the work and time you put into this.
I want to ask,if my masters course doesn’t have any correlation with my undergraduate course,will it affect my chances of getting scholarship?, (I studied mass communication as an undergraduate,but now I want to study fashion design or management for masters).
Also,if it turns out that it doesn’t have any effect on me, what category should I choose when applying *MASTERS* or *SPECIAL TRAINING STUDENTS*?
I await your reply 😃, Thank you!!
Hi Emamanuella,
One of the requirements of the MEXT Scholarship for Research Students is that you have to apply in a field of study that you previously majored in at university or its related field. So, if you want to change from Mass Communication to Fashion Design or Management, then first, you need to choose not only your field, but your specific research topic that you want to explore. Then you need to be able to explain how that is related to your undergraduate studies.
The Master’s degree and Special Training Students are two very different scholarship categories. The fields and degrees are different, so you have to choose the one that is most appropriate for your goals. You’d also have to make sure you can find a university or specialized training school that offers your field of study!
I recommend that the first thing you need to do is determine what your goals are after you complete your studies, so that you can decide on what program is best for you. Once you know that, choose your field and, if you want to pursue a Master’s degree, then you also need to choose your specific research topic. From there, you would have to decide what school and program is best for your goals.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Trans
I am Niket
Your blogs have been of great help
I have a question regarding the research theme and plan. To make it general my gain goal is towards making a thing ‘x’ for which various types of approaches can be followed. I am interested in two of them ‘a’ and ‘b’, However, my top choice follows approach ‘a’ while the other two mainly focuses on ‘b’. Would it be better for me to write a general theme and mention both approaches or should I go in details with the one which is my top choice even though I can’t find any professor working with ‘b’ in my other preferences.
Hi Niket,
That was a little tricky to follow, but I think I have the idea. Are you in a STEM field, by chance, where you would be part of a lab? Usually, in that case, it makes sense to focus on the research topic, with the understanding that you will likely be working on a research project assigned by your advisor.
I do not think you have enough space in your Field of Study and Research Program Plan to cover two entirely different approaches in sufficient detail. So, I would recommend citing the outcome that you hope to achieve and describing one of the processes (‘a’, if that is your first choice). Mention that you are also willing to consider approach ‘b’ if your advisor recommends that you do so, but for the sake of your proposal you are focusing on only one approach.
That way, you can show your flexibility/willingness to respond to guidance, while also exhibiting a complete research plan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
what is the difference between a research student and a master’s student, in short, if someones get selected as a research student in MEXT what degree he or she will get after completing it.
Hi NIKHIL SINGH,
I have explained the meaning of “Research Student” in a few of my articles, including my recent article about How to Apply for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship in 2021/2022, so I recommend you check one of those for a detailed explanation.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
First, thank you so much for maintaining such a helpful website that provides information otherwise hard to be found. Below is my question:
I became the school candidate for MEXT and have a question for the Field of Study and Research Plan. From your blog, I understand that graduate field of study and research should be related to the college major. But, because the program I am going to do is MBA, which has a great emphasize on past working experience, even though I can connect my research plan to my past college study, the more persuasive connection can be made by mentioning my working background (I work in a field completely different from my college major). Should I mention my working experience to make the statement makes more sense ? Or should I focus on connecting my college major to my research plan as a safe bet?
Thanks a lot for your time!
Hi Cheryl,
Thank you for your kind words!
It is a requirement for the MEXT Scholarship that you apply for a degree in a field that you majored in at university or it’s related field, so the purpose of connecting your research in Japan to your past studies is in part to prove that you meet that requirement. That is why I recommend that you focus on the connection to your previous studies. Mentioning the connection to your work can be useful if your work provided the major motivation for your specific research topic in Japan, but otherwise isn’t required.
I do not know what your previous degree field was, but I would recommend trying to find a connection with those studies, no matter how tenuous. Is there some way that your MBA is connected to your major, or classes you took, or papers you wrote? Even something like covering the same subject matter would be a helpful connection.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hey Cheryl, are you still applying to do the applications, I have some questions, if you can help me, please let me know.
Hi Francheska,
I can’t speak for Cheryl, but if you have questions that I can answer, I would be happy to help.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Tranzenz, really appreciate your work, I am a 16-year-old student in his first year of college who will be hopefully applying for the 2022 MEXT Undergraduate Scholarship next year, as you know the school years in Japan and the UK are different, and by the time I get my results and turn 18 in 2022 the Japanese school year would’ve already started so I’ve decided to inquire as to whether I could potentially start during the autumn term (as I would’ve gotten my college results and would be 18 by then) of 2022 or if there is any other way to get around this?
and is manga art, comic art, or animation available for undergraduates?
Hi J,
Thank you for your kind words.
My area of expertise is the graduate scholarship, so I am less familiar with the requirements for the undergraduate scholarship, but as far as I know, for the undergraduate scholarship, you can only start in the fall semester if you apply via Direct Placement at a university, which means that you would need to already have the requisite language ability and I think you would need approval from the university in advance. It’s relatively rare, so I have not done any particular research into that process yet.
You can find more information in the application guidelines – including the list of available fields of study. I do not know of any universities where drawing manga art, etc., are undergraduate degree fields. Perhaps you might find something in a fine arts program, but that does not appear to be covered by the undergraduate MEXT Scholarship.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi TranSenz!
Your blogs are very useful and I really appreciate your efforts.
I am looking forward to pursue master’s degree from Japan starting in September 2021. I will be applying for the University Recommended MEXT scholarship.
My question is regarding the Research timeline. I have decided on my research theme and topic but I am confused on how detailed the timeline should be? As you have previously mentioned in your blogs that the research topic might change after admission and without contacting the advisor, how should I settle on a timeline if I have no idea how my research plan falls out later on?
I would really appreciate if you reply to this.
Thank you.
Hi Jatan,
Your research plan will change in almost all cases, and that’s not a problem. But for now, you should write the research timeline based on the research you have proposed and what it would look like if it didn’t change.
It does not have the be terribly detailed. It should just be a visual representation of the research process that you have already described in the text, so the level of detail should be whatever is necessary to clarify the text. Of course, that can vary depending on your field, but overall, you want to clarify your literature review, experiment/research design and approval, first experiment/fieldwork, follow-up analysis, second experiment/fieldwork, and final analysis and write-up, in general. As long as you have already described what each of those stages cover, you don’t need to get much more in-depth than that.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you Travis for your advice!
I Really appreciate your efforts.
Hello! Thanks so much for all the useful information! I’m just wondering if you happen to have any idea or advice on the content of the Research Plan in the case of reapplying? I managed to make it through up until the interview section last year, so I thought perhaps the problem was during the interview rather than the documentation or the test… In any case, do you think I can use my last year’s field of study and research plan for my reapplication, as I am still keen on doing the same research I submitted last year?
Hi Sofi,
It’s fine to use the same research topic when you reapply – I have heard of applicants passing that way, but I would recommend that you see if there is any way that you can make the plan stronger, such as with additional citations, clearer methods and outcomes, etc.
Even though you made it as far as the interview last time, the different stages of the process are not evaluated individually, in general. They are evaluated cumulatively, so improving your FSRPP will have an impact on your overall evaluation.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, can we connect, I need some advise as I intend on applying too.
Hi Chacha,
I don’t know if this comment was directed at me or Sofi, but I do not facilitate one-to-one connections on here because it would involve me sharing your contact information with one another, and I am not comfortable managing personal information like that.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Transenz,
Thanks a lot for your very insightful information which is helping me in the application. However I am having a problem, my department of interest is only found in school and that’s where I want to direct of study and research plan. Can I choose one university for three times?
Hi BenG,
I find it very difficult to believe that only one university in Japan could possibly support your research, and I think the reviewers may have a similar opinion. Do not get trapped into looking only at the names of departments or programs. The same research can fall under different department names at different universities. Look for the field of study, even if the terminology is different.
However, it is possible to put only one university on the list. In that case, you would fill it in only once, not three times, and would leave the other lines blank.
If you do that, you will almost certainly be asked why, though, and I would suggest that you have a well thought-out answer. For example, instead of saying that no other university in Japan could support your research, tell them about the next best options to the university that you have listed and why those options cannot be a solution for you.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello!
Thank you for all of this detailed info. I just couldn’t find the answer to one small question: is the research plan binding. In other words, if I started studying and my research interest changed, do I have to continue with the research plan I provided in this form, or will I be able to change it?
Thank you so much!
I just read the answer to this question in another article. disregard it lol
Hi Ana,
I’m afraid I replied to your previous comment before I saw this one. I’m glad you were able to find the info!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Ana,
No, you are not bound to this plan. In fact, it would be almost unheard-of for the plan not to change. (After all, in that case, why would you need an academic advisor?). The purpose for now is to prove that you can right a coherent and well-thought-out plan.
You won’t be able to make major changes, like changing majors or possibly even advisors, but your research can change.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi!!
I have a question about “Pleacement Research”. The item Name of graduate school, what it’s suppouse I write??
Thak u
Hi Fiorella Ortiz,
Every university is divided into different graduate schools focused on different subjects. For example: Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Economics, Graduate School of Medicine, etc. You need to write the name of the graduate school where your advisor is working.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis!
Your books and blog have been an amazing help for my application to the embassy recommended scholarship. I’m just having a hard time with my research question because the majority of your examples are non-STEM… As a STEM applicant should my research question be very specific? Or should I be general so I seem “flexible”? Should I target my first choice university or keep it general so it applies to all three universities?
Thank you so much for all your hard work and your help.
Fernanda
Hi Fernanda,
Thank you very much for your kind words!
I’m sorry that my examples are not in your area. I haven’t actually come across anyone who has openly shared a STEM FSRPP in the past, so I am limited as to what I can share there.
For STEM, I still recommend offering a specific research proposal that targets your first choice university. (Ideally, your second and third choice universities should be similar enough that it would not require much of a change to your proposal.) That proposal should show your area of interest and your knowledge of research methods in your area. I also recommend stating that you are willing to change your proposal in accordance with guidance from your advisor.
Ultimately, the FSRPP is something to prove that you can create a competent research plan. It is almost always going to change, regardless of whether you are in STEM or what my engineering friends call the “fuzzy” fields, so it’s OK to write a plan and know that it will likely be different from what your research in the end.
I realize that this reply is coming very late, but I hope that helps.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi
My name is Amjad Pervaz from Pakistan. I am preparing to apply for Mext Scholarship and working upon my study plan. Can you please clarify the difference between research theme and study plan.
i am waiting for your knowledgeable response.
Thank you,
truly,
Amjad
Hi Amjad,
I have an article about how I recommend filling in the Field of Study and Research Program Plan that explains exactly what I suggest to put in each section. Please refer to the recommendations there.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi,
Thank you for this amazing blog. I would like to know if it is absolutely necessary to mention a Professor’s name when filling out the form or will the University and School suffice. The reason I’m asking is because I observed some Universities do not have a list of Professors actively involved in any research mentioned in their Academics page.
Thanks
Hi Kiran,
Yes, it is necessary. Not filling in a professor’s name indicates that you haven’t done your research into the program.
It depends on your field, but in many areas, particularly STEM, it would not make sense to choose a degree program if you haven’t confirmed that there is a professor there who can supervise the research that you want to conduct.
I have never encountered a Japanese graduate school that did not list its faculty members and their interests somewhere. You might find that the list is only available in Japanese at some universities, but in that case, you should probably question how committed that university is to serving international students and consider a different university.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you for very helpful guide. I have just a question.
Can I take 6-month research student period and 6-month Japanese language course at the same time? So that I will be masters/PhD student already after 6 months if I pass entrance exam. Can I decide this or it will be the university’s decision?
Thank you very much.
Hi Qian Ling,
It is not necessarily required that you have a semester as a research student. If you are going to be in the language program during your first semester in Japan, it should be possible to take the entrance exam at your university during that semester so that you could start the degree program directly afterward, but that will ultimately be up to your university’s discretion and the schedule for their entrance exams and matriculation.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello TranSenz,
Thanks to your sharing about MEXT.
One thing I want to know is that in what time I need to submit my field of study and research program plan? Is it necessary to submit together with application form for Embassy Recommended Scholarship?
Best Regards,
Zwe Yan Aung
Hi Zwe Yan Aung,
You will have to submit your entire application to the Embassy or University that you are applying to at once.
The submission deadlines will be determined by each embassy or university separately, so I would encourage you to check their websites for more details. I am anticipating that the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship application guidelines and forms should be out within the next few weeks. (Around Mid-April is about average).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
First of all, thank you for all the hard work and I could say that I found answers to lots of my questions in your articles!
Although I found the questions I have answered but I just want to ensure
I’ve studied “English Language Studies” and that was general since we, aside from Literature and Translation had lots of subjects in different fields such as:
– Enterpunership (it’s a must for all faculties)
– Business in general (Marketing and such)
– professional writing that includes what’s for a company
I am aiming to go for marketing, yet I’m nervous and trying to re-consider about it since they are asking for the last two years GPA. We had these business courses (except professional writing) in the first two years. So, is it possible that I choose Marketing although I took it during my first two years or it would be not relatable?
Hi Arwa,
The name of your program/major is less important than what you studied. You need to be able to find a way to connect the specific research or coursework you have done with the research topic that you want to take in Japan. You should be able to show how your research in Japan evolved from your previous research.
So, if your field was English Language Studies, and you wrote a paper, for example, on English Ad Copy, you could easily connect that to research in marketing. (Though, you would also want to mention the specific business/marketing courses you took to prove that you have the prerequisite course qualifications, as well).
Try to find connections between what you actually researched in your previous degree and what you will research in Japan, not just between the program names.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you for all the details on MEXT! I am currently preparing documents for the interview selection. The problem is that when I first submitted my initial application form, I wrote a research proposal that was a continuation of my master’s topic. Now I have a totally different field in mind for PhD. My question is, I would want to approach the lecturers for this new different field (the only similarity between these 2 fields is that they are both molecular-based research), but can my research theme and research plan be different from the first research proposal that I submitted? Should I submit a different research theme and research plan for the interview if they were to send the documents to the universities I listed in the ‘Placement Preference Application Form’?
Regards,
ZH
Hi ZH,
If the embassy is willing to give you the chance to resubmit an updated FSRPP at this point, that is fine. But if they are not (and I have never heard of an embassy allowing it in the past), then you will have to stick with the original one, for the sake of the application process.
Unfortunately, once you submit your Field of Study and Research Program Plan to the embassy, you are committed to using that plan for the rest of the application. You have to submit the same documents to the universities to apply for your Letter of Provisional Acceptance as you did to the embassy.
That said, you are not obligated to actually pursue that exact research project when you enroll in the university. If you are already in touch with the faculty members that you want to supervise you, you can let them know that even though your research plan says one thing, you are really interested in working on the new idea.
By the way, the embassy does not send documents to the universities that you want to apply to, that is your responsibility.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello!
I’m interested in applying for MEXT (Embassy recommendation) to do a phd. The problem is not the field I want to study (International Relations; since I have studied a Master’s on that), but my research question is completely different to what I used to study. I always focused on Japan (so that’s ok) but I never focused on my homecountry (Spain), and the research question I want to carry out is about these two countries. Is it then impossible to carry out such a question?
Moreover, International Relation was not the last study I did, but for some reasons I did another Master’s not related at all. My phd won’t be based on this latter one but on the former. Again, is it possible?
Hi Raquel Navarro,
If you have studied Japan through the lens of International Relations in the past and now want to do a comparative study on Japan and Spain, that should not be a problem. You are still within the academic field that you have experience with, just approaching a new area within that field. It sounds well within the bounds of “related field” to me!
The MEXT guidelines say that you have to apply in a field that you previously majored in, but they do not require that it be the field that you most recently majored in, so you should be fine, even though you earned another degree in the meantime. (You might be asked why you went off into another field and came back, but it shouldn’t be a problem for your application.)
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello!
Concerning the placement preference form, i chose professors that match the theme of my research in general because i couldn’t find ones that had similar papers or research. Is that bad?
I noticed that you said in one of your posts that the applicants are asked about their choices and I am a bit scared since my choices are general.
Thank you :((
Hi Riri,
Depending on your particular research theme, it may be impossible to find an exact match. What matters is that the professors’ research is close enough to your own that they would be able to supervise you. If you can say that these were the closest professors you could find, then you shouldn’t have trouble in the interview phase.
Of course, in the end, you do need to get the professors to agree to supervise you when you ask for a Letter of Acceptance, and that’s what matters most!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you for this platform. Please how can i know the universities and courses they offer with the names of academic advisors? I have spent all day searching online but to no avail. Will be glad if you help me.
Hi Caroline,
I have an article filled with tips on how to search for universities and professors in Japan that I think may help you.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Please what should I write in “detailed field of study in Japan” of placement preference application form?
Thank you
Hi Muhammad Usman,
I would recommend that you write your proposed thesis research question, topic, or title.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Great
sir i want to apply for my master degree in Agriculture field, can i that?
Hi Naveedullah,
Yes, if you can find a university that teaches a degree in your field in English and a professor that can advise your specific research topic.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi dear i have some question
1-i want to apply for master degree but i don’t know which university i should select for master degree ,economic field?
2-do we need to wrote thsis in bachelor degree to put the title here if not we cant apply?
thanks in advance
Hi Kimya,
1. I have an article all about searching for universities and professors that teach your field in English and recommend you read that.
2. No, you do not need to have written a thesis – you can leave that part of the application form blank if you do not have one. But you should ask the embassy if they want you to submit an abstract for another major paper or project in place of the thesis abstract.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis,
I have completed my B.tech in computer science and done an internship in augmented reality. I want to do research in augmented reality. I am really confused about what to write in the Present Field of study 🙁 ??
Hi Somya,
Your Past and Present Field of Study should be a description of the focus of your previous degree, connected as much as possible to what you want to study in Japan.
I go into more detail in my newest article about the updated format of the Field of Study and Research Program Plan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I have been studying purchasing and supply chain, can you advise me which research topic to pick in relation to entrepreneurship and the betterment of the vulnerable in a society found in a developing country?
Hi Stanley Kaite,
My newest book, How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan, includes a step-by-step process to help you decide on your specific research topic, based on your past research experience in future goals.
While I do not have enough knowledge of your field to guide you directly, if you follow that process, I am sure you should be able to identify an appropriate topic (plus write an outstanding Field of Study and Research Program Plan!)
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis,
Good day! I am starting my MBA in Tokyo in September 2019 and am being nominated by the university for the University-recommended MEXT scholarship. The school emailed me the application requirements a few days ago, which include the Field of Study and Research Program Plan (FSRPP).
I’m not sure if it was a miscommunication with the school, but I was only given these few days to come up with my field of study and research plan! I have read from your blog how important this document was, which could make or break my application. Given the short notice, I relied a lot on your blog and helpful tips to fill up the FSRPP, so I am very grateful to you for that.
Since I have read that my research topic needs to be connected to my present field of study, I wrote the FSRPP along those lines. However, my academic background is quite technical and I am actually pursuing my MBA to broaden my business knowledge, so I am not sure if I will still be interested in pursuing this topic once I start my MBA studies. My question is, if I get accepted into the MEXT scholarship, will I be required to stick to this research plan later on to retain my scholarship? Or is it actually something I can deviate from?
Also, given that I am already being nominated by the University for this scholarship, just how important is what I write in the FSRPP for my application to be accepted by MEXT in the first place?
Thank you so much and look forward to your response.
Hi Jason,
Congratulations on being selected for nomination!
The most important role of the Field of Study and Research Program Plan, in most cases, is to get you to the point of being nominated for the scholarship. It sounds like you are already past that point, so your university decided to evaluate your application based on its own system instead. Given that situation, you do not need to worry about your FSRPP being submitted for a competitive review, so you don’t have to be quite so perfect with it as I recommend in my articles on this site.
As it sounds like you suspected, the FSRPP is not so important in your case. It just needs to meet the requirements of being organized and answering all of the questions. For this form, I would recommend that you connect it to your past studies – either drawing on past business courses that you might have taken, or focusing on business related to the technology that you previously studies. That way, it will meet MEXT’s expectations of being connected to your past studies.
Your FSRPP does not commit your to researching that exact topic when you get to Japan. Your research (or case studies, or whatever the final culminating project is for your MBA) is something you will develop with your adviser after you start your degree.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Traviz.
It was a great help from your wonderful article which help me to make my research proposal and with my preliminary application form for MEXT scholarship through Embassy Recommendation. Unfortunately I couldn’t clear the primary screening of documentation, though this didn’t let me lose hope trying again. I am not aware of the date for apply MEXT scholarship through University Recommendation and little bit depressed on the fact of not being selected. This is a humble request, that whether it is to late to apply for scholarship University recommendation. I again thank you for all your help and your article which guided me to take the very first initial step.
Thank you
Hi Gaurav Ghosh,
I am sorry to hear that you didn’t pass the document screening, but I admire your perseverance to try again.
The University Recommendation MEXT Scholarship application period does not start for a while, so you still have time to research universities and improve your application in the areas where you think it is lacking.
The problem with the University Recommendation MEXT scholarship is that the timeline and process can be quite different for each university, so I would recommend that you select one particular university and do some detailed research on how they do it!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello
Dose the research plan have to be a novel idea that haven’t been proposed before or published in an article?? can I take the same idea with adding a little more modifications ?
can i apply with more than one proposal?
Hi Hala al Takruri,
Your plan needs to include original research. So, if you are re-approaching a topic that has been covered before, it should be because you have identified a hole in the research that needs more information or because you are approaching a topic that is still contested and you want to add original research of a specific example that will contribute to the argument and body of knowledge.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis !!
Thanks for giving us your kind informations..
I want to know that publication of journals etc are needed for doing Master’s or not ???
Hi Mahabub Hossain Swaron,
No, it is not required to have published works, particularly if you are applying for the Master’s level. The vast majority of applicants I saw had none.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi!
I would ask a question about the present field of study. If the research I plan to conduct in japan has nothing to do with my last degree research, does it really matter? Is it ok if it is only a research I did for personal satisfaction but under a teacher’s monitoring.
Cordialy,
Ludi
Hi Ludi,
It is a requirement for the MEXT scholarship that you apply in a field that you majored in previously in university or one related to your previous major, so you will have to find a way to connect the fields.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi…I have tried alot to find out the my field related professor but I could not succeed kindly tell me what should i do?
Hi Bushra Tariq,
I recently wrote an article on how to find universities that teach your field of study and specific professors. I hope that helps with your search!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
This website has been an amazing resource in all things regarding the MEXT Scholarship application process. I wanted to ask a question related to the FAQ you answered about which level of study to apply for first (Non-regular, Master’s degree, Doctoral, or Professional graduate).
I intend on starting as a Master’s degree student and was thinking of applying for that, but some (not all) of the schools I am interested in say the 6 month Japanese language course is mandatory. I actually do prefer taking that course first to brush up on the language, but I don’t know how applying as a “Non-degree” student versus a “Master’s degree” student will affect my application.
What would you recommend in this case?
Thanks,
Ben
Hi Benjamin Lee,
Taking the Japanese language course or not is completely up to the discretion of the university. Even the ones that do not say it is mandatory may send you to the course unless you have sufficient ability in Japanese to get around in day-to-day life.
However, you do not need to account for that in your application. If you say that you want to start as a Master’s Degree student, that effectively means that you want to start directly in the Master’s Program after completing the Japanese language course (as a research student).
Applying as a non-degree student should not affect your application in a negative way – I think it is the more common approach – you just need to be able to explain why you made the choice.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I highly appreciate all your posts. They’re come in handy.
Now, i want to know that i have been accepted by a Japanese professor about my research proposal and i gonna applying to MEXT2019; so, i should enter name of professor, his university in which section of FIELD OF STUDY AND STUDY PLAN? “Present field of study” or “Study program in Japan” or Your research topic in Japan”? how should i attach this information in this form effectively?
Many thanks, Travis!
Hi Lam Xuan Dao,
You would write the professor’s name and university in the Placement Preference Form, not the Field of Study and Research Program Plan.
For the Embassy Recommendation application process, you will apply to up to three universities, and you have to send the same Field of Study form to all of them during your application for a Letter of Acceptance (after passing the Primary Screening), so you don’t want to limit yourself to just one university/professor there.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
For university recommendation – mext, under field of study, should i write about my past studies or the outline of course that i am going to study in the university in Japan?
Hi Sha,
I’ve written a couple of full-length articles on how to write your Field of Study and Research Program Plan that should help answer your question.
You should write about your individual research plan in Japan, but you do need to touch on your past research as well, as I explain in that article.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello bro,
Thank you for your support so far, it’s well appreciated.
Regarding the field for study form template, under Research topic in Japan, space provided is not enough to contain the sample u gave, and also going by the space provided for the 3rd question, Study Program in Japan, space provided is more than the content u suggested, kindly help me to clarify this.
Thank you.
Hi Zubair Yusuf Olalelakn,
If you haven’t done so already, I’d recommend reading my most recent article on the Field of Study and Research Program Plan. That article contains length recommendations and advice about adding extra sheets of paper to the form.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis
thank you for your very helpful commts. I would like to ask you a question, i wonder if is it compulsory to have a TOEFL OR TOIC certificate to apply ? In my case, I got a bachelor in English literature, and in Marketing-Management. If I want to apply Ambassy recommended Scholarship for Master courses in Management given only in English, can my bachelor in English literature stands for a suffient proof of English proficiency or should I get a TOEFL certificate?
Hi Jacques,
This isn’t really about the Field of Study and Research Program plan, but I haven’t gotten the “Eligibility” FAQ up yet.
If you’re applying through the Embassy, you do not need language proficiency test scores, though having them would probably be helpful. You will take an English and Japanese language proficiency test during the screening process at the embassy. (Don’t worry, you don’t have to get any points on the Japanese test unless you’re applying for programs taught in Japanese).
If you were to apply for the University-recommended MEXT scholarship, you would need the language proficiency scores.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello I have a question about research plan. My concern is that I never have conducted my own research in a lab, and since the plan needs to be detailed, wouldn’t I have to know what methods to use for my experiment? I don’t think I’m experienced enough to know how exactly to do the research but I believe I can come up with what I want to study and why.
Hi Zahra,
I would recommend that you consult with a professor in your field at your last university and ask for his or her advice.
Being able to conduct research is a fundamental requirement for being a graduate student. You would need to be able to get to the point of being able to write a quality research plan, including the method you intend to use to approach your research question, before you can think about applying for graduate school, much less the MEXT scholarship.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi TranSenz
My name is Ngoc.
First of all, I would like to thank you for your sharing very much.
At the present, I got a professor’s provisional acceptance. However, the professor is not on the list I sent to the Embassy. I hope you do not mind me asking you a question. Can I change the name of professor or university when I pass the first stage of process? I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks and Best Regards,
Ngoc
Hi Ngoc,
I’m sorry for taking so long to get back to you.
This is really something you need to ask the embassy. So far, in every case I have hear of, the embassy has allowed students to change the universities and professors on their list after receiving their LoAs, but you would need to check with them to get a certain answer.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz