When you’re just starting out, sometimes what you need most is just a little water and light.
If you want to know more about the differences in the application processes and application timeline, plus advice on creating an application strategy and adopting a successful applicant mindset, my ebook How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship has in-depth discussions and further advice!
I’ve addressed all of the questions I’ve received so far in a recent article on How to Get Started Applying for the MEXT Scholarship and in this FAQ, but if you think I’ve missed anything, please add your questions in the comments!
Note: This FAQ covers the graduate level scholarship, only. I will write a separate FAQ later about the undergraduate application.
A Word of Warning
If you’re at this stage of the application, you have a lot of preparation to go. The MEXT scholarship is not something you can simply make a half-hearted pass at and hope to to win. These basics will get you started, but you’ll get a lot farther by reading the in-depth guides I share in the “MEXT Scholarship” link in the header and on my mailing list.
Live Q&A?
Once TranSenz reaches $50 in monthly support, I will start a monthly live video Q&A. If you are interested in supporting this effort, or simply getting faster responses to your questions and access to articles ahead of everyone else, you can become a patron of TranSenz for as little as $2 per month!
How Can I Apply for the MEXT Scholarship?
There are two ways to apply for the Graduate Level scholarship: The Embassy-recommended MEXT Scholarship Application and the University-recommended MEXT Scholarship Application. You should choose one then contact either the Japanese Embassy/Consulate in your country or the university you want to apply to, depending on the system you choose.
I have more information on the difference between the types in my article on MEXT Scholarship Application Basics.
What do I do if there is no Japanese Embassy in my country?
Refer to the official list of Japanese Embassies and consulates. You should find an entry for your country, even if there is no physical embassy there. That should tell you how to get in touch with the official Japanese representative for your country. (It may be located in a neighboring country).
Do I have to apply to the embassy first, the university first, or both at once?
If you are applying for the Embassy-recommended MEXT scholarship, you apply to the Embassy first and once you pass the Primary Screening, to apply to universities for Letters of Acceptance. However, you should also initiate contact with your target universities well in advance to start building a relationship, even though you won’t start any official application paperwork until later.
If you apply for the University-recommended MEXT scholarship, then the embassy isn’t involved at all, except for your visa paperwork, of course.
Which universities can I apply to under the MEXT scholarship?
All Japanese universities are eligible to host MEXT scholars.
How many places are available for the MEXT scholarship?
This question isn’t really going to help you do anything other than stress yourself out unnecessarily. Pretend like there is only one and you have to do everything possible to get it.
You could look up old news articles to see how many MEXT scholars were selected from your country during the previous year (embassy-recommended MEXT scholarship), though there is no guarantee that will give you the complete picture. For the university-recommended scholarship, you can calculate the likely number of slots for the university, though the formula changes every year and isn’t announced usually until after the application deadline.
What you should do instead is spend that time making your Field of Study and Research Program Plan stronger, or trying to build a relationship with your target professor.
What are the chances of winning the MEXT Scholarship?
It all depends on how hard you work at the application and how you do relative to the competition, which is every other applicant. You have to be one of the very top applicants in order to get through.
Where can I get the MEXT Scholarship Application Form?
Get it from the Embassy or University where you plan to submit your application (get the other documents from them, too!).
When you sign up for my MEXT scholarship email list (below), I will send you a sample application form to help you fill it in, as well,
Where can I find the application instructions?
You will find them on the website of the Embassy or University where you plan to submit your application. Please note, however, that they may only be available during the application period, but you need to start preparing much earlier than that. Try to find the previous year’s guidelines on those websites to get started – they don’t change much from year to year.
If you can’t find old instructions on the Embassy website in your country or the university you want to apply for, try other Embassies and universities. Remember: Google is your friend! Seach for MEXT Scholarship Application Guidelines, or similar terms.
What else do I need to submit besides the application form?
Please refer to the application guidelines from the embassy or university where you will apply. The requirements may differ for each.
(I will cover questions about the specific documents in another FAQ article)
What is the application fee?
There is none. If anyone is charging you a fee, be wary of a scam. (Note: I charge a fee for application reviews, but that is not related to the application process itself, it is a coaching service to help improve your chances).
When is the application deadline?
It varies. Each Embassy (for the Embassy-recommended MEXT Scholarship Application) and University (for the University-recommended MEXT Scholarship Application) sets its own application period and deadline.
For the Embassies, application information is typically available around April and the deadlines are around late May or early June. (Note: your scholarship would not start until April or October of the following year).
For universities, application information usually becomes available between August and October with applications due any time between September and early December.
Be sure to constantly check the website of the embassy or university where you want to apply for updates and announcements!
How/where do I submit the application?
Please refer to the instructions from the embassy or university where you will apply.
Can I apply by email?
No.
Can you check my application for me?
Yes, but I charge a fee for application reviews. If you are interested, you can apply for application reviews or coaching services by completing the form at: http://www.transenzjapan.com/coaching-application/.
I want to study [insert field] in Japan. What should I do?
You need to find at least one university in Japan that offers a degree in your field (taught in English) and determine if they have a professor that can supervise your research. Then you need to apply the same way as anyone else!
It is mandatory to know Japanese before arriving?
It depends on your field of study. If you can find a university that offers the degree you want in English, then no, Japanese language ability is not required.
Of course, it is helpful to have some Japanese language ability before you come live here, and having language ability will make you stand out more as having serious interest in Japan.
How long is the degree program>
Two years for a master’s degree and three years for a PhD.
What happens if I missed the deadline? Is there another chance?
If you missed the embassy deadline, you should have enough time to apply for the University-recommended scholarship for the same year. Otherwise, you have no choice but to wait a year and try again.
Are there other full scholarships to study in Japan if I don’t get the MEXT scholarship?
There may be, in some specific cases, based on your nationality and field of study, but I do not have any information about them.
A Guide to the Basics of Applying for the MEXT Scholarship
I have written a separate article on How to Get Started Applying for the MEXT Scholarship, so I recommend you read through that, as well, for a more linear explanation of the process.
Want to know more?
My new ebook, How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship describes the scholarship in detail, including the purpose and coverage, the eligibility criteria, how to develop a successful applicant mindset, and how to craft your application strategy for the greatest chance of success!
More Questions Coming
The questions above represent the common themes from scores of emails I received over the summer. I’m sure there will be more in the future, so I will update this page again when I catch up on the other FAQs and have enough new questions to circle back.
If you have any questions about this article, please add them in the comments below! I will update this page with more questions and answers as soon as I can!
Ads by Google:
Hello! You are doing a great job. I want to ask that what medical certificates i need to attach with the health certificate. Also i don’t have any english language qualification, but i can speak good english. What do i do? Am i eligible?
Hi Ajwa Nadeem,
Thank you for your kind comments.
You do not need to attach any additional medical test reports with the Health Certificate, your doctor just needs to fill in all of the items listed there.
You also do not need to submit language proficiency scores for the Embassy application (unless your embassy tells you otherwise.) There will be a language test during the primary screening that will be used to evaluate your English language ability.
However, some universities may ask you to submit language proficiency tests when you apply for a Letter of Provisional Acceptance, so be sure to check the requirements for the universities that your are interested in in advance.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
I’m actually planning to pursue Computer Science in college however I couldn’t seem to find the course on the list of undergraduate courses. There’s Information Engineering, though, I’m planning to work as a programmer in the future.
Hi Kai,
Computer science would fall under the broad category of information engineering. Information engineering includes both the “hard” and “soft” side of computer systems, so programming would be included in that field.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello, I have a question.
Currently, I’m a first-year student at my university but I want to apply through the embassy route instead of the university route. Do you think I still qualify for the MEXT scholarship?
Thank you.
Hi Kat,
Being a first-year student at university should not affect your eligibility for either the Embassy route or the University route. I have an article about the eligibility criteria for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship (Research Students) from last year’s application, so I would recommend you check that to see if you meet the requirements. I will be updating it again when the guidelines come out for this year, too!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
You are doing a great job and sharing Information about Mext in detail. I have planned to apply for Mext in 2023 for Doctoral Program. I have understood the embassy track and University track also but there is something that is bothering me for a while. For Embassy track the embassy takes the exam and recommended the students to their intended Universities. For the Uni track like I am applying to the University of Tokyo as a Ph.D. For the student that wants to directly enroll in his program the question I want to ask is that ” Will every university conduct an entrance exam if an International Student wants to get enrolled in a Doctoral Program with Mext Scholarship via the University recommendation?”.
Hi Muhammad Hamza,
If you apply via the Embassy track, the only exam that you will take at the Embassy is a language proficiency exam. After that exam and passing the Primary Screening, you apply to universities for Letters of Acceptance. However, you are still going to have to take the university’s entrance exam, as well. It would either be prior to arrival or after you arrive in Japan (if you start as a non-degree student).
For the University track, there is going to be some kind of entrance exam or process, as well. It will usually be something specific to the MEXT Scholarship, but some universities also just choose to nominate the top students from their regular admissions/entrance exam process. It is all up to the university.
One thing to note, though, is that at the graduate level, an entrance “exam” does not necessarily always consist of a written test. It could be a review of submitted documents and a remote interview by Zoom, etc. Again, it all depends on the university and graduate school.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I’m currently thinking about applying for the MEXT Scholarship for the year 2024-2025. I apologize for being too early, I have been reading lots of informations about the scholarship that would definitely be helpful for me in the future, albeit unsure about the outcome. So, allow me to proceed to my concern. I am planning to pursue architecture and apply for the scholarship for the undergraduate. I have heard that if an applicant won the scholarship they would be given 5 years or 7 depending on which course they would take, including a one year preparatory course which basically means 1 year for the learning the language and 4 years or 6 being in a university. However, Architecture takes 5 years, as to what others have told me. Pardon me if ever the informations I have stated are wrong, please do correct me. Is it possible for me to complete 5 years of Architecture with MEXT Scholarship via extension?
Hi Hazuki,
It is never too early to start planning for the MEXT Scholarship application!
Have you looked up specific undergraduate architecture programs in Japan to see how long the curriculum is there? I checked after reading your message and saw that at the University of Tokyo and Waseda University, at least, an undergraduate degree in architecture is a 4-year program. If you have found a Japanese university with a 5-year program, please let me know and I can look into that to see what the degree structure is there.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
Just wondering if you have an idea on this. I am currently waiting on one last result because 1 university already rejected me, and the other one on my placement for, I wasn’t able to submit to because the professor informed me that our fields don’t match (his lab was already the closest to my field in that university, so the other labs were out of the question already).
Anyway, I feel like I’m in a bit of a pinch right now. Since the first rejection letter I received was already after the submission deadline, I only holding on to one more university. I already contacted our embassy, and they asked me to list (2) other universities in the form (removing the 1 rejection and the other I didn’t submit to), plus the one I am waiting on. I’m just wondering what those (2) universities are for since I cannot submit to them after the deadline anyway? My scholarship is probably holding onto 1 university’s acceptance right now, right? I just want to manage my expectations at this point.
You other blogs helped me tons in my application btw.
Thank you so much!
Hi Alex,
Thank you for your kind comments.
I am sorry to hear about the struggles you have had with obtaining a Letter of Acceptance. For what it’s worth, I have been hearing similar things from many applicants this year, so you are certainly not alone.
My understanding is that when you submit your Placement Preference Form again after the Letter of Acceptance application period, you can list up to three universities still. You cannot list any university that has rejected your application (like the one that said the labs don’t match), but you can list universities that have not yet replied or that you never even contacted in the first place. The information that you got from your embassy seems to be the same.
To fill in those remaining two universities, you can choose any university in Japan. However, I would recommend that you be very careful in your selection and make sure that you do your research carefully.
What will happen is that MEXT will try to place you in one of the universities on your list, even if you never contacted them to request an LoA. They will most likely start with the university that you got an LoA from (if you do get the one you are applying for). But even in the case that that university does not issue you an LoA, MEXT can then still try to place you at the other universities on your list.
The reason that you need to be careful in your research and selection is that MEXT will be the one to contact those universities on your behalf, so you want to make sure that there is a clear fit for your research there and a professor that can supervise you, as much as possible. You won’t be in a position to negotiate or suggest changes/alternatives.
I hope that helps. Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you very much for your response! That’s quite comforting to hear. I guess I’ll have to find another university, as I got a rejection letter from the last Uni as well (yikes!).
I’m also assuming it has something to do with me not having a JLPT certification yet, and most of these universities are mostly taught in Japanese. I am currently taking Japanese classes, but that doesn’t reflect on my application forms yet, so that might be a factor? There’s really very little choices I have right now, since I’m also geographically-limited in my choices to Tokyo & the nearby/surrounding areas because of ASCOJA.
Thanks so much for your help!
Hi Alex,
You should only be applying to programs taught in English unless you already have the minimum Japanese language proficiency for the Japanese programs, and can prove it (i.e. a passing certificate for the N1 or N2 JLPT). In my article about applying for Letters of Provisional Acceptance, I list “applying for a program where you don’t have the language ability” as one of the guaranteed ways to get rejected.
Even if you are taking classes now or plan to participate in the language training semester after arrival, that is not going to be enough for a university to consider you.
So, when you are considering other universities to put on your list, make sure their programs are taught in English!
I do not know what ASCOJA is or why that would limit the universities that you can apply to for MEXT, but maybe someone else with more knowledge about it can comment.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thanks for the article link. Very helpful information!
Since I have ample time before Placement Form deadline, I guess I will spend it to re-asses my university selections again.
ASCOJA members are usually required to attend events/cultural activities, hence why they require university selections to be in Tokyo or in nearby cities. But in general it isn’t much different from normal MEXT grantees apart from the extracurriculars!
Thank you so much for the tips!
Hi Alex,
Thank you for your reply and information about ASCOJA. I had not heard of that organization before, so that was useful to know for the future.
Good luck with your selections!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Sorry to ask again. I’ve finally filtered down my university choices into those that offer English programs/International programs to match my language ability. I’m now in the middle of finalizing my choices based on the professor’s field of study match. My question is, at this point, do you think I can still reach out to professors to confirm about the field of study? One of the universities on my list requires students to contact professors prior to application. However, per my last instruction, the embassy said not to contact these universities that I wasn’t able to submit a LoA request for. I’m just not very sure if they mean contacting the MEXT/International Affairs department, or that includes the professors as well?
Thank you!
Hi Alex,
Reaching out to contact the professors at this point can’t hurt you, at least as far as I can see.
The worst that I could see happening is that they might not answer or might tell you that the application period is over.
I do think that the Embassy’s directions refer to applying for a Letter of Acceptance. If you are reaching out to the professor to express a genuine interest in their research and the hope of working with them in the future, I do not see a problem with that. I would recommend, though, that you do as much research about that professor and their research as you can on your own, first. Remember that your goal here should be to establish a genuine relationship, not just check with them if they can supervise your research and be done with it.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
I’m trying to get a letter of acceptance from one university. One of their requirements is to contact a preferred supervisor first and secure an informal letter of supervision. Since we’re only given less than 14 days until deadline to submit the application for Letter of Acceptance, I was wondering if it is allowed to submit to more than (1) possible supervisor from the same Uni to get the informal supervision approval? I haven’t received a rejection email yet from the professor I emailed, though. But right now, I only exactly 9 days until deadline left.
Hope you have an insight on this!
Thank you.
Hi Alex,
I recommend that you do not contact more than one professor at the same university.
The professors will talk to one another and they are not likely to be happy that you have contacted someone else at the same time. From their perspective it would show that you are unfocused and not committed.
I do not know when you initially contacted the professor, but if a week has passed since that message or once you reach a week until the deadline, I would recommend sending a polite, and almost apologetic, email explaining your situation and timeline, apologizing for putting the professor under pressure to reply so quickly, but asking them to review your request and reply soon so that you can be sure to meet the deadline.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey!! I have a question. I recently did the interview and went very well, I think I did very good (my interview was by ZOOM so a friend of mine heard it as well and he is very experienced with this type of interviews and also agrees it was very good). However, it was supposed to be 20 minutes but was only 11 minutes. What do you think about this??
Hi Ines Costa,
Unfortunately, I have been behind on some of these answers and so I think you probably have the final results from the Embassy by now.
In my experience, a short interview is not necessarily a bad thing. I have seen interviews that were short because they went well and the interviewers were sure that they wanted the candidate (I have also seen cases where the opposite was true – but it sounds like yours went well).
I hope you have heard good news in the meantime!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello,
I think I have quite a unique case, with possibility of being rejected due it.
I had completed my 12th grade in 2015.
From 2016 to 2019 I completed my diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering. (Not a degree course).
And I am currently working as Graphic Designer because of lack of jobs in Aviation due to COVID.
I want to apply for MEXT scholarship for undergraduate next year. I will be eligible for it in terms of age, but I want to know how it would affect the selection process.
Hi Akshay,
My area of expertise is in the scholarship for graduate students, so I am not particularly familiar with what details go into the selection for undergraduate applicants. However, as long as you are eligible, I do not see any reason why you would be at a disadvantage in the application just because you completed a diploma program in the meantime.
If anything, you might be at a disadvantage during the tests, since it will be longer since you have been in school, but you can overcome that with studying. You should also anticipate and prepare for questions during the interview about the reasons why you are applying for a MEXT scholarship at this point.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
sir ,I have a question i am from India and my academic year starts from July till next year in may-June and academic year in japan starts from April to march. I am currently in my 3rd year of b.tech .I will in 2022 may. so when should i apply for mext and when to contact the professor ?Also there in mext we are given 3 uni reccomendations so what will happen if could’nt get admission in those three uni? Can i apply for other universities without losing scholarship?
Hi Avi,
If you will graduate in May 2022, then you can apply for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship in the 2021/2022 application cycle. The application should begin around April/May 2021 and you can choose to arrive in Japan in September/October 2022.
As for your university choices, I would recommend researching the universities and even networking with the potential professors in advance, if you can. That gives you a better chance to avoid the possibility of not getting accepted. In general, if you pass the Embassy’s Primary Screening, you should not have trouble getting a Letter of Acceptance from the universities, as long as you have researched the programs/professors well. But in case you cannot get a letter of acceptance from the universities on your list, you can contact other universities, as well, as long as you do so within the deadline.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Sir,
I’m currently doing my bachelor’s degree in computer application.I’m in my 2nd year.
I would like to know whether it is possible for me to apply for the graduate program in
Economics through mext schlolarship.?
Do university recomendation keep entrance exam?
And if suppose i want to attend university in the year 2022 when should i apply for mext scholarship?
Hi Swetha,
The MEXT Scholarship requires that you apply in the field of study that you majored in in university or its related field. If you can show how your degree in computer science relates to a master’s degree in economics then you could apply in that field, but it would be up to you to make a convincing case in your application and Field of Study and Research Program Plan. It might work, for example, if your computer science research focused on modeling algorithms using economic data so that there was a clear link in your studies.
For the university recommended MEXT Scholarship, typically there is no separate entrance exam. The entrance exam consists of the document submission and interview process to earn admission and nomination for the scholarship.
If you want to start your studies in 2022, then you would apply in 2021. I would recommend staring with the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship, which usually starts accepting applications in April or May of each year.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey ,
I want to study astronomy through MEXT in undergraduate so I wanted to know everything regarding MEXT and the universities with the subject. Can you give me tips for preparation of the Undergraduate selection processes?
I am from India.
I also wanted to know that if I didn’t get selected in the first time can I apply for mext again??
Thank you
Hi Rudra,
My area of expertise and the focus of most resources on this site is the scholarship for graduate students. However, some of the information should still be valuable to you. For example, my article on how to find universities and professors that teach in English could be useful (though you are not limited to English-language programs for the undergraduate scholarship).
I would also recommend that you read the undergraduate scholarship application guidelines on MEXT’s site (or the website of the Japanese embassy in India) to learn more about the application process.
Finally, the undergraduate scholarship includes subject tests and you can find past tests to practice/study on the official Study in Japan site.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello
I have a specific question that I don’t seem to find its answers by dear.
Your article was great so I thought I ask it in the comments.
I am an undergraduate MEXT student currently studying my second year of university (it’s been about 2.5 years from the 5-year period of the scholarship).
I am currently not married but I am in a relationship with someone back in my home country for 3 years and half. It’s been really hard for us living apart and it’s having a huge toll on my mental health.
We both hate the idea of traditional marriage but deciced that living apart is harder.
We’re considering getting a marriage certificate in my home country. If so since I will be changing my marriage status to married after getting the scholarship is it still possible to get a dependant visa for him? If so how long do you think it’ll take for us to complete the documentations of him moving to Japan?
It would mean a lot if you answer my question.
Hi Narcissa,
Regardless of how you feel about traditional marriage, being legally married is important when it comes to immigration law. I know it grates on some people, but if you put more value on being together, then it seems like the better choice.
Once you are legally married, you can apply for a Dependent Visa for your new spouse. You are still eligible to apply for the Dependent CoE even if you got married after arriving in Japan. (Please see the link above for my article about that application process) As a MEXT scholar, your scholarship stipend should be enough financial support for the two of you, though you will have to live rather frugally.
The application process for a Certificate of Eligibility takes up to three months to process once you submit it. From there, your spouses would have to apply for the visa, and processing time for that can vary from country to country. Between getting the documentation you need, international mail, and processing time, I would recommend planning on 4-6 months before your spouse would be able to join you in Japan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I was just hoping if, i can apply for the MEXT scholarship even though I don’t have any major subject in my bachelor’s degree.
Hi Ovi,
Are you saying that you earned a bachelor’s degree without having a major field of study? I’m not sure how that would work.
Even in that case, though, you would surely have had some area of studies where you focused more than others, right? If you can relate your studies in Japan to that field, you should be able to apply.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis
I applied for the 2020 mext undergraduate scholarship but am yet to get any reply about when we will be taking the primary screening exams
What do u think
Hi Chinenye,
Each embassy has its own timeline for the application process, when they release results, and when they inform applicants of their progress. I do not know what the timeline is for your country.
I would recommend that you check the embassy’s website to see if there is any information on when applicants will be called for tests or any other information about the application process timeline. If there isn’t, then you could contact them directly to ask when results will be available.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Sir,
I just want to ask if you think that MEXT Scholarship for Teacher Training Program 2020 will be delayed or cancelled due to COVID-19? I applied for it and passed the first screening in my country and still waiting for the result of the second screening from Tokyo. Thank you in advance
Hi Manal,
I do not know what is going to happen with the Teacher’s Training scholarship or any of the scholarships that were supposed to start this fall in Japan. As of writing this, Japan has banned all entry to the country from 111 countries and regions. There has been some talk about relaxing that restriction for student visa holders from some countries over the summer, but nothing concrete yet. I certainly hope they do let students into the country!
I am following this issue very closely, since I am in charge of student exchange at my university, and will share anything I learn here!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
That was really helpful Sir, Thank you so much and I will keep following the updates in your blog.
Hello Sir,
I just want to ask if you think that MEXT Scholarship for Teacher Training Program 2020 will be delayed or cancelled due to COVID-19? I applied for it and passed the first screening in my country and still waiting for the result of the second screening from Tokyo. Thank you in advance
Hi Manal,
At this time, Japan has banned immigration from 111 countries and regions due to COVID-19, so it is not possible for students from any of those countries to travel to Japan. There has been some talk about easing the ban for certain visa categories and countries over the summer, including students and I think discussions on that topic are supposed to start in June. If it is not possible for new MEXT scholarship recipients to arrive in Japan in time, MEXT will have to make other arrangements, but I do not know what they will do.
I hope that they will simply defer your arrival and scholarship until it becomes possible, but it is too early to tell. I am eagerly following this progress as well, since I am in charge of study abroad programs at my university, and will share anything new that I learn.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey, thanks for the helpful post!
I still don’t understand if I can apply both ways, first send the documents to the embassy and then the same year apply through a japanese university?
Would that disqualify me?
Thank you in advance,
Liz
Hi Liz,
You cannot have two active applications ongoing in the same year.
If you start with the embassy application, then you should know by late July, or August at the latest, since the process seems to have been delayed this year, whether or not you have passed the Primary Screening. If you do not pass the Primary Screening, then your application is over at that point and you would be free to apply through a Japanese university in the same year. On the other hand, if you do pass the Primary Screening, with the exception of last year, almost all applicants who pass that screening go on to earn the scholarship, so there would be no need to apply through a university in the same year. (In any case, having already passed the Primary Screening would give you as good a chance as possible at earning the scholarship, whereas applying from scratch for the university scholarship would be a much much lower chance).
I hope that helps.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello sir,
I made a mistake in my registration (2020), I added my middle name to my list of names, which does not reflect with my other important documents and I have already submitted the filled documents to the embassy, is there anyway I can make correction to this.
Thank you sir
Hi Umar Farouk,
In general, the name that you use in your application documents should match your full legal name in your passport. It is not critical if that name does not match all of your other documents, like your university records. As long as it is clear enough that all of the documents pertain to you, that should be fine.
However, if you are concerned, you can call the embassy and ask them if the inconsistency in your name will be a problem.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hello sir
I had one question. Is the scholarship process getting delayed this year because of Covid-19? Normally the Embassy of Japan in India notifies us by 3rd April , but there has been no update regarding it. Other websites are also not giving any new information
Hi Aurgho,
I see that MEXT has not released the guidelines yet, but usually I do not see them until the middle of the month.
It is possible that dealing with the COVID-19 situation is delaying them, but I can’t tell from where I am. I don’t have any insight on the process until the guidelines actually come out.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for the reply
hello sir
I am currently preparing for interview questions for research student. While finding the answers to these question I stumbled upon a problem. ” What is your plan if you do not get this scholarship?” or “Will you want to get admit to any University if you don’t get this scholarship?”.
Can I say that “I am currently focusing on ZZZZ professor because his research is very much similar to mine, so I will try by giving entrance exam for this university by applying for other scholarships”?
I am having difficulty in finding the correct answer to this question.
Hi Aurgho,
Realistically speaking, there are almost no other pre-enrollment scholarships available in Japan other than the MEXT scholarship. So, I cannot recommend saying that you will try to get into the university with other scholarships. If you want to answer that way, you would need to find a specific scholarship that you know is available there and that you can apply for. Otherwise, you would just be proving to the evaluators that you haven’t actually looked into other options.
It is perfectly safe to say that without scholarship support you will not be able to study in Japan. But in that case, your alternative should be something that does not involve studying in Japanese universities – such as finding specific work related to your research field and the goals that you want to achieve after completing the degree so that you can build experience in that area while you wait to try to apply again.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hello sir
Thank you for the reply. I had one more question. I know its a stupid question but I wanted to clear this doubt. Its a question “What do you want to study?”. I want to clarify whether its the name of the subject allowed by MEXT like “Information Technology” or its the title of my Research proposal?
Hi Aurgho,
My recommendation is to be as specific as possible about your research. If you answer the question that way, the general field name will be obvious to the reviewers.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hello sir
I am currently facing a problem right now with my research proposal. You see, I got reply from two professors. One of them has given me an informal approval to research under him. But you see, the second one is telling me to completely change my research proposal. From awareness program to engineering technique. Its a big change in research proposal. I am asking this because of COVID-19 most universities in Japan are closed and I am unable to get reply from other professors. Should I change my proposal? Or if I pass the interview, should I send the same research proposal?
Hi Aurgho,
Of the two professors and research themes, which one are you most interested in? I would suggest that you focus your research proposal on your first choice, politely decline the one that does not match your interests, then try to find other professors who will support your preferred theme.
Even if universities are closed to students, professors are still working and should still be reachable by email. The problem is that with many universities switching to distance education for the spring semester, professors are goine to be very busy redesigning their classes to meet the new format. So, be sure to make your emails short, easy to read and to reply to, and give your professors time to get back to you.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for the reply
Hello sir
I am planning to apply for MEXT scholarship for research student this April. Right now, I am facing some problem with recommendation letter.
1)You see, both principal and vice principal of my university have gone for a meeting and it will take some time for them to come back. Can a recommendation letter from the Head of Department is acceptable?
2) I know the recommendation letter is free format, but if there is a proper format for this scholarship, can you send me a reference?
Thanks
Hi Aurgho,
You’re applying for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship, right? In that case, you can submit a letter of recommendation from your academic advisor. The strict requirement that the letter be from the Dean of the Faculty or higher only applies to the University Recommended MEXT Scholarship.
For the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship, there used to be a format for the letter of recommendation, and MEXT often publishes that format along with the application guidelines as a reference. The guidelines and forms for this year have not been released yet, but here’s the link to the sample format from last year (word file download). You do not need to use this form – and you should ignore the part that says that it has to be submitted sealed, that no longer applies – but in general, this should give you guidance about what types of content MEXT is looking for.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for the information.
Hi Travis, I have one more question regarding the MEXT Scholarship in general. I knew that MEXT doesn’t provide research funds, my question, is that possible for MEXT scholarship students looking for/receive research funds/grants from their home country organization or the others while they’re a MEXT grantee?. Thanks a lot.
Hi Putri,
You are allowed to apply for/receive research grants as a MEXT scholar to support specific research activities (such as a field study or travel expenses to attend a conference, etc.), but you cannot accept any funds that match the categories of what MEXT is providing you. So, you could not apply for any funding that included a regular stipend (even a stipend to support your family) or that covered travel between your home country and Japan at the start and end of the scholarship.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Noted, thanks a lot. for the info.
hello sir
I had one question. I am having difficulty in finding professors. You see my branch is computer science but when I check list of faculty members, those with information security, they appear to be in different department which are close to computer science. Can I apply for masters in computer science even if my supervisor is from a different department? This is the biggest problem I am currently facing.
Hi Hironmoy Chakraborty,
Typically, your advisor would need to be from the same department that you are enrolled in. But if you’re interested in studying information security, and all the information security professors are in a different department than computer science, it seems to me that you should be in their department, not in computer science, yourself. You should be choosing your advisor and your department based on what you want to research, not the name of the department.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hello sir,
Can we change the name of professors after clearing the interview round of embassy recommended mext scholarship for research student?
Hi H Chakraborty,
Yes, you can change them. In many cases you’ll have to change the names and university names when you submit the Placement Preference Form for the second time after acquiring the Letters of Provisional Acceptance, since at that point, you will only be allowed to list universities and professors that have given you a Letter of Provisional Acceptance.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
sir
Thank you for the reply.
I had one more question. I know its a stupid question but under field of study its written information technology for research students but if the university has computer science field, can we apply under that university for computer science, I just don’t want to do some silly mistake.
Hi Hironmoy Chakraborty,
Yes, it’s fine to apply for a program in computer science program if you have written information technology as your field of study (though if you have not filled in the form yet, I would recommend being a little more specific with that field of study in the first place).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
thankyou sir
I have one more question. I checked many universities and even though i find professors that have similar interest in information security, I am having difficulty in either finding an english program for IT/Computer science or they are from other departments that are similar to IT but not same.
I asked this question to know whether i could apply as a research student and change university after getting selected, Obviously i will provide a new research proposal after completion of the previous one.
Hi Hironmoy Chakraborty,
In general, it is not permitted to change universities when moving from research student to degree-seeking student. It is technically possible, but generally only allowed in extreme situations, like when your advisor is retiring or leaving and you cannot find a replacement. The idea is that you should be applying as a research student at a university where you would be able to continue to the degree, so I would suggest you do a little more research.
I’m surprised you’re having trouble, since Computer Science is very commonly taught in English at the graduate level in Japan. In my article about how to find professors and universities that teach in English, I have a few links that could help you in your search.
I’m sure that if you keep searching, you’ll be able to find a Japanese professor interested in information security that teaches in an English-taught program.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Good greetings sir,
I have a plan to apply for mext scholarship next year (2020-2021)
I have two questions i need to ask you the first one is about my age limit i was born on [march 2000] so how many attempts can i give if i want to go for undergraduate courses.
and another question is….
I have seen a lot many times people writing that they have been asked [ this scholarship is for connecting a link between your country and japan ,so how would you make a difference after getting selected] i have no idea what to reply to this particular question.
I would be in your debt if you would help me.
Hi Hitesh Tanwani,
When I replied to your previous comment on here, I had thought you were applying for the MEXT scholarship for graduate students. My area of expertise is that scholarship. I am not particularly familiar with the requirements for the undergraduate scholarship, but you can find them on MEXT’s website, including the age requirements. (Keep in mind, though, that the date of birth requirement will of course change by one year each year).
You can keep applying until you are no longer eligible.
When you apply for this scholarship, you should have a goal in your mind for what, specifically, you will do after graduation to contribute to your home country and to its connection with Japan. I would recommend thinking hard about how your life and career will make that contribution. That is not something that I can decide for you.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you soo much for taking your precious time to rply me
Regards
Hitesh
Hi Legend!
I hope you’re doing well,
I appreciate your effort for creating this awesome blog. It’s really a huge help, I find it actually more detailed and easy to comprehend compared to other blogs or articles written about the process of apply for MEXT Scholarship. I have a question that in mind that I would like to get the answer from you. I also did my own research about MEXT Scholarship. I found out that both Embassy and University recommendation requires an entrance exam to pass before getting the scholarship program. I wonder what will happen to me if I failed the entrance exam. Well, obviously I won’t get the scholarship. However, I wonder if you knew someone who failed the entrance exam but still manage get this scholarship program. The reason I’m asking you this question is because I know that I have 40-50% chance of passing the exam ( I saw some samples of questionnaires and I no longer have any idea how to answer those). It’s been 3-4 years ago, The last time I attended school and took this kind of exam. I also don’t have any time to have my studies to prepare for the exams since I’m also working full-time. I hope you can help me answer my question.
Regards,
Ronaldo
Hi Ronaldo Jr. Cargando,
In Japan, any application process is called an “entrance exam”, even if it only means submitting the application documents by mail. So, whether or not there is an actual pen and paper exam depends on individual universities.
If you apply via the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship, you can start as a “Research Student,” which would be a non-degree student. You do not need to take an entrance exam to study as a research student. Many applicants start as a research student for one or more semesters and use those first semesters to prepare for the entrance exam so that they can matriculate to the degree program and extend their scholarship. If you are concerned about passing the entrance exam, then I would highly recommend that path.
Without passing the entrance exam, you cannot enroll in the degree program and therefore would not be able to get the scholarship for the degree. But you can still get the scholarship for a maximum of four semesters as a research student. I have known applicants who started as research students and failed the entrance exam once, but then stayed research students for an additional semester to try again.
I hope that helps.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi TranSenz i’m glade that i found your website it’s verry helpful , i have a question i hoppe you will have an answer to it, a dear friend of mine want to particepate in mext scholarship , but she took her master degree in 2018 , she didn’t inscript in doctorat .
Can she particepate in mext even thow she is not inscripted in doctorat cours.
Hi Bella,
If your friend is applying for the MEXT scholarship, she would have to be applying to start a new degree in Japan when she starts the scholarship. So, yes, based on what you told me, she can apply. (If she was already enrolled in a Doctorate, then she might not be able to apply at this point).
Good Luck (to her)!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey Travis! I wanted to ask about a serious concern of mine. So, I have applied for the undergraduate program of MEXT 2020 and I’ve sent all the documents except for a photograph which I somehow ended up overlooking. I actually had to submit the document on the day of the deadline because I was waiting for my certificate of enrollment to arrive from my university. I don’t know what to do. I have completed and sent pretty much every necessary document to the embassy but overlooked the photograph. The deadline has passed as well. I am devastated. What do I do?
Hi Loveeza Iqbal,
Have you called them? My best suggestion would be to contact them and let them know that you realized after sending it that the photo was missing, then ask them how you should submit it.
You don’t lose anything by contacting them to ask. One way or another, they’re going to notice!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Pls excuse me i wanted to ask you,
Since you have applied for ug course you had to undergo a test series related to your subject so if i going for science then what are the marks required in maths phy and chem to be sure that i will be able to clr 1st stage..
I would be happy to recieve a rply from you.
Hi Travis,
I just wanted to know the date when the notification of University Recommendation will come out. So that, with proper time in my hands, I can apply for it. Please let me know the time of notification for MEXT scholarship 2020 : University Recommendation.
Hi Priyadarshini Dwivedy,
It’s complicated. The MEXT guidelines often come out in December or January, but most universities will have already finished their application process by then. I would recommend that you start looking on universities’ websites for their guidelines beginning in the fall (or check to see if you can find out when your first-choice university released the guidelines on its site last year).
Each university has it’s own release and application timelines.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello your article was really helpful .I’m planning to apply next year for the research program, but i have some questions. i read the whole guideline for the applications and i saw that i need to have 2000$ for the first month of arrival. So does that mean that i have to pay for accomodation during that month? or do i just need money for basic living expenses. (i’m not that rich lol)
If i’m contacting a specific Graduate school where i want to study for loa what if there are no proffesors in that faculty who understand english, do i need to ask for loa elsewhere?
Thank you
i forgot i also have one other question as i have stated before i’m applying for the research program. With the research program i mean the masters and doctor programs. With this schollarship my goal is to obtain a masters degree but before enrolling into the masters you need to go to language school (if needed), take entrance exams and do a research in japan. What do they mean with research? Do i need to write a thesis during that one year or something else ?
Hi Nananani,
Being a “research student” before starting your Master’s degree program is just a “pre-graduate student” status. You would not be expected to complete a separate thesis during that time. As a research student, you would start taking some coursework (that you could later “transfer” to your degree), start working on your Master’s degree research under the supervision of your adviser, and study for/take the entrance exam to become a formal graduate student.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Nanani,
The $2000 is because you would need to pay for accommodation and all of your living expenses for the first month. That would include the up-front costs of starting a rental contract for an apartment in some cases.
The reason you need to have that money with you is because it takes a while to get your paperwork processed and get your bank account set up so that you can receive your first scholarship payment, so you need to cover your expenses until that arrives. You will get a scholarship stipend payment for that time, it will just be late. So, if you need to, you can borrow the money from someone and be confident that you will have it later once your scholarship starts paying.
For the LoA – if you are not fluent in Japanese, you would have to apply to a program that is taught in English and your adivser would have to be able to speak English to accept you, as well. If you are struggling to find programs taught in English, then I have an article about how to find professors and universities in Japan that may help.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Mr. Travis
I intend to apply for the research MEXT Scholarship through the university recommendation , but it seems that Japanese universities only recommend international students coming from their overseas partner institutes. Maybe I have get something wrong and the exchange agreement is just priority and the scholarship is based on merits.
However could you please help me regarding these questions? (I would like just further clarification)
1. Am I eligible to apply for research MEXT Scholarship via university recommendation as an Iranian applicant?
2. Is it necessary that my domestic university has an exchange agreement/ collaboration with Japanese Universities and if so, do they have an exchange agreement with “Allameh Tabataba’i University” in Iran?
I am just worried that I miss the deadline so maybe that is why I become too hasty.
Regarding the embassy recommendation MEXT scholarship, I cannot apply this year because the application period has been over (It is on early May in my country every year). Therefore, the university recommendation track is the only way for me now.
So it would be appreciated to help me and send more information.
I am looking forward to your reply.
Regards
Paria Fadaei
Hi Paria Fadaei,
I am working on the finishing touches of an article about how to prepare for the University Recommended MEXT scholarship that I think will help you answer your questions. If you are signed up to my mailing list, I will email you as soon as it is ready.
It will be ready soon, but I am afraid that in the meantime, I have to ask for your patience.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thanks for this fantastic resource. My question is regarding the age limit:
Does the 35 year age apply only to the initial MEXT acceptance or does it also affect extending from a research student into a masters program? For example: If someone turns 35 after the date (after April 1st as of the year of application), gets accepted, and starts their research year at the university, will being over 35 when it comes time to extend be an issue?
Thanks!
Hi Mark,
For the extension application process, there is no age eligibility requirement. So, if you turn 35 after arrival in Japan, you can still apply to extend from research to a Master’s degree or even from a Master’s to Doctoral program.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey Travis,
I have applied for the MEXT undergraduate scholarship now and I am waiting for their response can you tell me how long does it take for their screening and when will my tests take place?
Hi Hassan Ali,
It is different for every country and embassy, so I’m afraid I don’t know what it would be for your case.
I would suggest that you double-check the application guidelines at the embassy or consulate where you applied. They may show the specific timeline and notification dates/method.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, I would like to ask about age of applicants.
I have graduated japanese university in 2017 through JDS Program
Now I am 34 and I have obligation to work for my workplace more 2 years because of JDS Program requirement.
Is it possible to apply for MEXT scholarship after 35 in my case.
Thank you for your answer in anvance…
Hi Ilhom,
No, unfortunately, that would not be possible. There are only a few exceptions to the age eligibility requirement and that is not one of them.
I am sorry I do not have better news for you.
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello sir,
How we can get the application status that whether they accepted or not?
Hi Sinijadas.k,
I recommend that you check the website of the embassy, consulate, or university where you applied. In the application guidelines on that site, there should be information about how and when the results of the application will be announced!
It can vary by location, so I’m afraid there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
How will you know if you passed the first screening. In the first screening test what is the japanese test like
Hi Juliet,
The Embassy will contact you to let you know if you have passed each stage. Be sure to check the email address you provided to them on a daily basis!
You can find old language tests at: http://www.studyjapan.go.jp/en/toj/toj0302e-32.html#1
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I’ve read through all of your posts and they were very helpful. However, I didn’t find many resources for the undergraduate scholarships, therefore, I’m typing this comment. I have two questions. 1- This year they have increased the age limit for the undergraduate scholarships so I can apply once again. I’m 22, am I at a disadvantage when it comes to getting accepted due to barely meeting the age requirement? 2- In the application form, there is a section that asks for the name of the university if the applicant is enrolled in one. Again, is it a plus for a person to be enrolled in a university or not? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Hi Adam,
I do not have any expertise in the undergraduate scholarship, so I have not created any resources for that.
As far as I know, there is nothing in the official process that would make it an advantage or disadvantage to be older or to be currently enrolled in a university. So, it’s all about perception and how you present it. If you can explain why being older or having some university experience makes you a better candidate, then you need to do that to gain an advantage! You will also need to explain what you plan to do about your current university program.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thanks for the reply. If I may ask, how can I explain that it would make me a better candidate, in the remarks section of the form, the interview, or something else?
Hi Adam,
The interview is the best opportunity, but anywhere that you can bring up the activities you have participated in since completing high school and how they help prepare you for your studies in Japan is a chance, too.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
Thank you again for your help without you it will be really hard to complete this process.
I would like to ask you one question and If you can answer me I really appreciate.
According to my embassy’s application form, I should provide language tests results If I have. For TOEFL etc. I have no problem I have one eligible result ( taken 1 year ago,). My question is about JPLT. I have taken the exam 3 times starting from N5 to N3. I have passed the N5 and N4 but during postage of the results my N4 result got lost and asking for the second copy was expensive at the time I didn’t ask for it. For N3 I failed it, I got 61 from the exam.
The question is providing JPLT results important if yes what should I do? To be honest I don’t want to provide N3 result fearing that it will affect screening.
My second question is I will be applying for Comparative Literature and graduated from French Linguistic. Should I provide french language exam results ( it’s b1 level) even though lessons for the graduate I am applying will be given in english and japanese?
Thank you again for your help,
Erina
Hi Erina,
Thank you for your kind words.
The language proficiency test scores are not required for the Embassy Recommendation MEXT scholarship application, they just say to attach them if you have them.
For the TOEFL you can submit a copy of the form you have. For the JLPT, you can just write a note explaining that you lost the score report. (I don’t remember if you can look up past scores online, but if you can, then a printout of the website showing your name and score is fine).
Attaching your other language proficiency test scores can’t hurt.
If the course you are applying for is taught in English, then your Japanese language proficiency scores should not affect your screening in a negative way.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
Thank you for your answer. I am so relieved, the embassy explanation confused me because it says Toelf, IELTS and other languages tests. So I can just write the mark that I had got and if the result paper needed I will explain it accordingly.
By the way, a JPLT examinee cannot see the result online except the designated dates which is bad for some of us.
Thank you again for your help
Hi Erina,
Thank you for letting me know about the JLPT scores. That’s unfortunate. It has been several years since I last took it, and I was hoping they had caught up with more modern practices in the meantime!
Good Luck with your application!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello , Travis
I am having one question . I applied for MEXT 2018 university recommendation. Today I got yes from the university. Now they are sending the documents to MEXT office for final round. I wanted to know whether , the chances of getting the scholarship has increased or still their is uncertainty is their.
Some fact about the profile is as follows
Master Grades :- 2.5/3.0
Research paper :- 2 research papers of international standards during Master course.
Hi Shashank,
Once the university submits your nomination to MEXT, it is no longer a competitive evaluation. Your scholarship is all-but guaranteed.
The university knows how many awards it can receive and would not nominate more than that number. MEXT is only going to double-check to make sure the university did it’s evaluation right, that there are no legal problems with your coming to Japan (e.g. if you have been deported in the past, etc.), and confirm the number of awards once its annual budget is confirmed.
You should have nothing to worry about!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello , Travis
Thanks for the message. I contacted the Office of International affairs of University which has recommended for the MEXT University recommendation. They said that they donot know how the MEXT will judge the application and final judge is MEXT . The result is likely to annouce by end of June so , you have to keep patience.
Hi Shashank,
Yes, that is the only response the university will ever give you while they are waiting on MEXT’s final confirmation. Still, I have never seen anyone get rejected at this stage!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis ,
Thanks for the response. I just wanted to know that if in case a university has number of international students between 100-200. How many students it can recommend for Mext university recommendation.
Hi Shashank,
For the 2018 University Recommendation cycle, the base number of slots for a university with 101-200 international graduate students was 2, plus 2 additional slots if the university is willing to pay for those students’ travel expenses. Note that only graduate students count.
This number could also be modified, so it is only a base. Universities can gain or lost slots if they had a significant increase or decrease in enrolled graduate students over the previous year. It also does not factor in potential PGP programs or domestic selection slots if the university is a Top Global University project participant.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I have one question regarding recommendation letter . I am applying for Mext university recommendation . Question to you is : I have submitted a recommendation letter from the head of the department of my home university. Since in the university dean faculty doesn’t sign such letter nor the president of home university. They are saying that letter of recommendation could be only from the supervisor only. Do you thing is it a issue ?
I think the condition of recommendation letter is very weird.
I donot know what MEXT scholarship wanted to know . If the president or Dean faculty doesnot know your research potential why they will sign a letter for you ? This condition of MEXT is far beyond my understanding. My past university clearly said no that dean faculty will not sign it nor any higher authority only the professor or department head could sign it.
Regards
Shashank
Hi Shashank,
I explained the Letter of Recommendation system in more detail in this article. That might help you understand the logic behind it and a possible way to acquire one.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Shashank,
Yes, I do think that is an issue. The MEXT requirements are clear on the letter for the University-recommendation and there is no flexibility.
One thing you might consider is having the Dean or President countersign the letter by your department head. If they sign their name below the department head’s (and include their title/signature block), that should be good enough.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello, Travis
Thanks for the answering. I have asked my home university’s Dean again for the recommendation letter. However, when I contacted my host university supervisor in Japan he said recommendation letter works. The letter of the recommendation is from the Head of the department as I stated in my above message.
I don’t know to what extent it works since, the letter is not from the dean of the school. It is simply from the department head.
Do you think if the host university is saying that letter works , it will be fine enough to remain competition ?
Hi Shashank,
In general, I think it’s smart to follow the instructions from the university you are applying to. Even if they are giving you the wrong information by mistake, they will have to acknowledge that and give you time to correct it later.
There are also two reasons I can think of why the professor might be giving you that reply:
1) If there is a formal partnership between your universities, then the letter of recommendation requirements are different, as I covered in my recent article about the 2018 University-recommended MEXT scholarship. Or
2) The letter might be good enough for now and they will only ask you to get a higher level one if you are one of their final selected nominees.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis ,
I think your point no. (2) is right. Here is some points of the recommendation letter which is given to me by department head :-
(1) Recommendation letter says that the home university’s Engineering department rank number one in Europe .It’s engineering department rank 8th in the world.
(2) Recommendation letter also highlights some of my academic achievement like:- Managed to publish two research paper , got 100% score in his master thesis and project was nominated as best project of the year in the department.
I guess following above mentioned points managed the letter to works. I don’t know what exactly going in the host university’s mind. I am trying to get a recommendation letter from the dean, so far, no success . Seems that home university is rigid on the point that only head of department or professor is only person for recommendation. Any future update I will let you know.
Thanks Travis, for patiently handling my questions. You are doing a great work . Keep it up
Hi Shashank,
Another possibility that occurred to me is that the “Dean” requirement is based on Japanese university organization. A Dean is the head of a faculty (e.g. Engineering). If the head of the entire field of Engineering at your university is called a “Department Head” but the responsibilities are equivalent to a Japanese Dean, that might meet the requirements, as well.
I don’t know if that’s the case for you, but it might be for someone else reading here.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for your swift response, it is well appreciated. I am a bachelor’s degree holder in chemical engineering with cgpa of 4.44/5. I currently hold a master certificate in industrial engineering with distinction. I have not really explore the discipline satisfactory and also feel it might boost my chances of securing the mext scholarship, that’s why am applying for master course again. My undergraduate research topics are: Recovery of Silver from spent photographic solution via Chemical precipitation process (unpublished) ; A theoretical design of Methyl Ester Sulphonate from crude palm oil, an environmental benign surfactant which serves as replacement for linear alkyl benzene sulphonate (unpublished); Improving the Viscosity Index of Used Lubricating Oil by Solvent Extraction (published). My master thesis is process optimization and evaluation of resources of package water factory in Nigeria.
My prospective supervisor field is bio materials engineering particularly tissue engineering for medical applications.
Kindly help me find a way to link them together, waiting for your response.
Thank you.
Hi Zubair Yusuf Olalekn,
My degrees are in Japan studies. I do not have anywhere near the requisite understanding of your field of studies to be able to help with your research question. I would recommend that you ask your current academic advisor or another professor you are close with, in your field of studies, for help!
Good Luck
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you bro,
I had found another professor which I think my previous research study seem similar to his own own (Chemical System engineering). Going by my precious msila, How can i connect my precious research Study with his own?
Hi Zubair Yusuf Olalelakn,
I’m sorry I have not made this clear enough in past comments, but I do not have any academic expertise in your field. You need to connect the fields based on your own research into them and consultation with an academic in the right fields, such as your current advisor.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi bro,
Thank you very much for this info, it is well appreciated. I am a prospective master course student at Kyushu university, I am applying for MEXT scholarship university nomination, my prospective supervisor has requested for my documents but the issue is the field of study form because my undergraduate research field (Bio surfactants,) is entirely different from my prospective Supervisor field (Bio materials Engineering particularly “tissue engineering for medical applications) what should I do? Also, regarding the English test score, I don’t have any but I am a native of Nigeria and English language has been my mode of instructions for 20years now, so my university issue a certificate to attest to that, can I submit the certificate as an evidence of proficiency in Englis? More so, two recommendation letters are to be submitted, first one from a school Dean and second one is from who? Your response is needed urgently. Thank you
Hi Zubair Yusuf Olalelakn,
I’m afraid I don’t know enough about your research topic to be able to help with your field of study question. However, it sounds like your topics are close enough to be able to draw some kind of connection. (It’s not as if you’re from different fields!)
A certificate from your university attesting to the fact that your education was in English is most likely not going to be enough. I covered the reasons why in my article about supporting documents. An official test is the best solution. If it is physically impossible to take one, then I would recommend that you contact your prospective advisor or the appropriate office at Kyushu University to ask what alternatives they might accept (if any).
The Letter of Recommendation from your Dean is the primary requirement. You would also need to submit one from your employer if you are working full time, but otherwise just the one letter should be fine. If your university is demanding a second letter even if you’re not employed, that might be a local requirement, so I would recommend following up with them.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis Sensei!
Happy New Year!
Thanks for helping me a lot with your blogs. I requested for an sample application form for MEXT Undergraduate Scholarship and
I’ve got one but it’s for research student and what I needed was an Undergraduate Scholarship Sample form.
I know you can’t fulfill everyone’s request but I am giving a try. I am requesting you to please provide me a link of sample application form of Undergraduate MEXT Scholarship.
Thanks!
Hi Vishu,
My area of expertise is the scholarship for graduate students. I haven’t created any resources specifically for the undergraduate scholarship, including a sample application form.
The sample application forms for the graduate scholarship are ones that I created myself. I’m not aware of any existing samples for the undergraduate scholarship.
I’m sorry I wasn’t able to help, but I wish you good luck with your application!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello TarnSenz
I am Avinash and I am in Second year of Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.I have small doubt regarding my eligibility for Undergraduate Cousres. Although I am fluent in English but I don’t have any certificate like TOFEL for that. Is it important to have these certificates to be eligible for MEXT Undergraduate Scholarship?
Thank you!
Hi Avinash,
I would recommend that you read the application guidelines on MEXT’s site. According to that document, there is no requirement to know English and you are not required to submit TOEFL scores.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
My name is Leo and I am a third year engineering student in England.
I was thinking to apply for both Tokyo University and Tokyo Institute of Technology and was wondering if I can apply for MEXT via university recommendation from BOTH university? or could I only apply for one university in order to get nominated for MEXT?
Thank you very much for your help and hope to hear from you soon
Leo
Hi Leo,
For the University-recommended MEXT scholarship, you can only be nominated by one university, but in practice, most universities will not accept you if you are applying to more than one.
If more than one university nominates you, then you become ineligible and every other applicant nominated by both universities can also lose their scholarship.
Because universities tend to submit their nominations around the same time (MEXT’s deadline), you might not have enough time after getting the notification from one university to withdraw from the other.
In order to increase your own chances and avoid risking the scholarship for everyone else, I’d recommend that you choose just one.
Good Luck,
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much for your prompt reply, it was really helpful!
Just one more quick question: my situation now is that I have already completed my application for Tokyo University (online application, no professor consent needed), and have just received the consent from one of the professors in Tokyo Tech yesterday, asking me to send out all the required document asap. So in your opinion, is it better for me to turn down Tokyo Tech and focus on Tokyo University only? or is it too rude to turn Tokyo Tech down? what you think is the best way?
I was so puzzled about what to do at this stage, and it will be great if you could offer me some of your insight.
Thanks again,
Leo
Hi Leo,
I would recommend that you choose one or the other as soon as possible, as it’s only going to get harder to turn one down the further you get into the process.
I can’t really offer advice on which one to choose. It would depend on where you were able to find a professor who was best suited to supervise your particular research interest. The name of the school is ultimately less important than your relationship with your advisor.
Personally, I might lean toward Tokyo Tech if you already have a connection with a professor there, since that should give you a leg up through the application process, but in the end, the most important thing is your academic goals.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thanks again for your advice.
I think I might still go with Tokyo University – only because my tutor here in England somehow has a relatively strong connection with one professor in Tokyo University, and i want to apply for his lab. Tokyo Tech is good as well, but the chance is not as good as it is for UTokyo (I hope).
I will come back and let you know once I got any result.
btw, the website is very informative, so keep it up!
Leo
Hi Leo,
If you have the connection through your tutor, I agree, that probably gives you the strongest chance! Personal connections are a huge asset.
Please do let me know how it goes.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis
good job and keep it up.
please write MEXT Scholarship article for undergraduate level as early as possible.
My question to you is :
Is it necessary for undergraduate students to clear JLPT in order to be considered eligible for mext scholarship?
Hi Shazia,
I appreciate your enthusiasm, but please understand that I maintain this site out of my own pocket and only have so much time to spend working on it each day. So, it’s going to be a while before I can focus on the undergraduate scholarship.
You do not need to have a JLPT score to be eligible for the undergraduate scholarship. Knowing Japanese would help, of course, but it isn’t required. Undergraduates go through a longer intensive language training program that is supposed to help you get up to speed for academic Japanese.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis thank you for all your help.. I wanted to ask you one question When I asked Waseda Uni about the university recommended MEXT scholarship they replied this;
Regarding the university recommendation MEXT scholarship, we are sorry that it cannot be applied by prospective graduate students.
Instead, designated graduate schools will choose students with higher academic performance and recommend to the MEXT directly for now.
In addition, in our university, the following graduate schools are eligible to recommend MEXT students.
-Graduate school of Fundamental Science and Engineering
-Graduate school of Creative Science and Engineering
-Graduate school of Advanced Science and Engineering
-Graduate school of Information, Production and Systems
-Waseda Business School
Did you know about this?
Now what am I suppose to do?
So am I not able to try for this Uni through university recommendation?
Thank you.
Hi Praji,
Based on your email, it sounds like Waseda might not be conducting an open call for applications for the University-recommended MEXT scholarship this year.
I have no supporting evidence, so please don’t treat this as if it is confirmed fact. But it looks like they will just select the top privately-funded applicants from the regular admissions process to recommend for the scholarship and that they are limiting places to the particular graduate schools you listed above.
I will look for more information (if anyone reading this has anything else they know of, please share your experience!)
It you are determined to apply for university recommendation, I would suggest you try another university that is conducting an open call for applications!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
thank you very much for your reply. and all your articles here are very helpful thank you again.
hello travis,this namboko and i am ugandan.i tried applying for the mext scholarship(embassy) this year but i think unfortunately i was not eligible maybe because my secondary school results were not qualified since i diddnt get a reply from the embassy in uganda.so i am currently a first year undergraduate student of phamaceutical sciences in a university here(i just joined in august this year).i am now thinking of using my first year results of the university here to apply for an undergraduate program(i know they will be fine and good)..but i have a few questions in my mind that i think you could help me out with:
1:is what i am thinking of doing(using first year results to apply for an undergraduate programme next year) acceptable.
2:i am thinking of applying for a different course(medicine) from the one i am currently doing(phamaceutical sciences).is it also accepted because ireally dont want to waste time doing wrong things
3:and then how do i contact the embassy because i see no email that gets us to the embassy
again thank you so much for your assistance..
Hi Namboko,
You can’t assume that you were ineligible just because you didn’t get a reply. There could be other reasons as well, such as a missing document or not being among the top applicants. The problem with this process is that there’s no clear way to know.
I do not have any direct expertise with the undergraduate scholarship. I mean to study that process in more detail once I have finished the guides and advice I am working on for the graduate scholarship, but that will take quite a while. Unfortunately, in the meantime, I do not want to give you the wrong information, so I can’t answer your first two questions.
There is contact information for the embassy right on their homepage: http://www.ug.emb-japan.go.jp/02en/e01annai/annai.html
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
thank you so much
I have no any question right now.
But I will ask you a lot of questions in the future.
Thank you.