Here’s how to complete the 2019 MEXT Scholarship Application Form (Embassy Recommendation)
Updated Version Available (2021/2022 Application Cycle
I released an updated version of this article in September 2021 for the 2021/2022 application cycle, so please refer to that article in the future!
Previous Article Continues
If you want to keep reading the old version for some reason, please carry on below.
The 2020 University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship application form is almost identical to the 2019 Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship Application Form. This article was originally written about the Embassy form, but it well help you for the university form, as well!
If you’re signed up to my mailing list, I’ve already sent you a sample copy of this year’s form. If not, then you can get your sample copy by signing up here. I’ll also write you as soon as I have any new articles or resources about the MEXT scholarship available.
In general, the form is much cleaner and easier to use this year, but there are still a few confusing areas, so here’s a step-by-step walkthrough on how to complete it!
By the way, you can download the fillable application form in Microsoft Excel format from MEXT’s website at:
http://www.mext.go.jp/component/a_menu/education/detail/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2018/04/13/1403811_03.xlsx
This article is about the application form for the Graduate-Level Scholarship Application. I have not reviewed the form for undergraduate scholarship applicants, but you can download it here if you are looking for it.
Instructions: Key Points
- You should type the form using Excel, if at all possible. Not only is it easier for evaluators to read, it makes it easier for you to make corrections, if you have to. If you are going to write by hand, use black pen and write in all capital letters.
Another option is to edit the form directly as a pdf. I use GIMP (a free, open source Photoshop clone) and pdftk, both free, to edit and compile pdfs.
- The instructions say to use Arabic numerals, which means “1, 2, 3” etc. Do not write out numbers (e.g. “one”) in the application form, even if it would be grammatically appropriate to do so. You should also use numbers, not words, when writing out months. (e.g. “05”, not “May”)
- Writing year numbers: Be sure to write all numbers in the CE or AD calendar used in most of the world. Do not use the Japanese, Buddhist, Islamic, or Coptic Christian system of counting years.
- You have to write out proper nouns, including cities, states, countries, etc. Do not abbreviate. (e.g. Write “United States of America”, not “USA”)
- Even if you are filling out the form in Japanese, write all non-Japanese proper nouns (such as names, places, school names, etc.) in English letters. Do not try to write them in Katakana and do not translate terms into English. (For example, if your language uses words that mean “city” or “district” in addresses, write the original word in your language, in English letters, do not translate it to the English word).
A note about check marks: In the sample form, I used a special character that looks like a checked box. This is from the font Segoe UI Symbol, which is standard with Excel. You can insert it using the “Insert symbol” command in excel. For more information, check out this article.
Page 1: Basic Information
Click here to download a sample completed application form.
You can insert a digital image directly into the form (insert photo) before printing or attach a physical photo afterward. If you decide to attach a physical photo, it must be printed on photo paper and you should attach it with paste or a glue stick. DO NOT use staples, as that will damage your photo and make it useless.
1. Name: Your name (especially in the “alphabet” line) has to match your passport, exactly. You do need to fill in both lines (to be safe), even it they are identical. In general, the “Native language” line should match what is written in the top half of your passport, near the photo. If your country uses a language other than English, or uses English with special characters, use the appropriate characters from your language in this box.
The “Alphabet” line should match the computerized text at the bottom of your passport, as follows:
To find your “alphabet” name and the right order, refer to the bottom two lines of your passport. On the second-to-bottom line, you should see a three-digit country code along with your name. For example:
P<USATRANSENZ<<TARO<FITZGERALD<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Everything between the Country Code (USA in the exampe) and the “<<” is your surname. Everything after the “<<” is your given and middle name, in that order. It is your choice whether to list all of your given and middle names in the “given name” box or to split them between given and middle name, but you must include everything and cannot change the order, even if that’s not what you use in daily life.
If you do not have a “<<” because you do not have a legal surname or have only one legal name, then you should leave the surname block blank.
You cannot enter any special characters, such as accented letters, in the “Alphabet” line. Those should go only in the “Native Language” line.
Yes, that’s a lot of instructions for a “name” line, but I’ve seen a shocking number of mistakes with this one in the past.
2. Gender: This refers to your biological gender, not your gender identity. Do not expect special treatment or even official acknowledgement of alternate gender identities in Japan. Individual people might by understanding, but institutions are not likely to be.
3. Marital Status: This one is pretty straightforward!
4. Nationality: Write the name of the country that issued your passport. (In Japan, your “nationality” is a noun, not an adjective. For example, you would write “Japan” not “Japanese.”) If you have multiple nationalities, choose only one. If you are applying for the Embassy-recommended scholarship, you must write the nationality of the country you plan to apply in.
5. Japanese Nationality: Japanese nationals are not eligible to apply for the scholarship, but if you have multiple nationalities and choose to give up your Japanese citizenship to apply, they you would be eligible.
Most applicants will check “No” and leave the rest of the line blank, but if you do have Japanese nationality, then you would have to check “yes” and complete the line.
6. Date of Birth: The tricky part of this line is filling in your age. You need to enter how old you will be as of April 1, 2019. In the downloadable example, you will see that the fake applicant has a birthday of Jan 1. That means that he is 22 when he’s filling in the form but will pass his birthday before April 2019, so he needs to enter “23.”
Note: In Japan, your age goes up on your birthday. It does not automatically go up on January 1 or on the lunar new year as it does in some other countries. Your age at birth in Japan is “0”. I am aware that in other countries, newborn babies are considered to be “1” at birth, but use the Japanese system for this form.
7.(1). Current Address: Your address as of the day you submit the form. If you will move between when you submit the form and when you travel to Japan to start the scholarship (for example, if you will graduate from college and move home), you will fill in your address after the move in 7.(2). In the downloadable example, the applicant is studying abroad in Japan when he applies for the scholarship. (And, based on his address, he lives at MEXT headquarters). You would also use this line if you were living in a college dorm, etc.
If your current address in is Japan, you need to fill out your current visa status (residence status), too. This is important for confirming how you conform to the eligibility criteria.
In line (2), you want to check the box saying that your current address is your permanent address or fill your permanent address (e.g. Your parents’ address, etc.), if you plan to move between when you submit the application and when you come to Japan. That way, MEXT and the embassy has a mailing address where they can reach you even after you leave the place you’re living now.
You also need to acknowledge that you will not receive a plane ticket to Japan paid by MEXT if your permanent address (7.(2) or 7.(1) if you checked same as above) is not in your country of nationality.
For your phone number and email address, I recommend putting contact information that can be used to reach you at any time. If you’re living abroad, as in the example, put a phone number in your home country. You’ll be going back there to apply, anyway, for the Embassy-recommended MEXT application.
Be sure to include the country code for your phone number!
Page 2: Scholarship Records
Click here to download a sample completed application form.
If you check “No”, you can skip to question 9. If you answered “Yes”, you have to fill out 8.(2) and 8.(3)
In 8.(2) fill in the start and end dates of your scholarship award and the name of the university in Japan. Then check the scholarship program in the section below.
If you checked scholarship types 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 in 8.(2), then you need to complete 8.(3) as well. If you checked scholarship types 5, 7, or 8, then you can skip to question 9. Your past scholarship award is not in conflict with receiving another award.
In 8.(3), if required, you would need to fill in your research and education experience since the end of your last MEXT scholarship award. Typically, you would have to show that you have spent 36 total months enrolled in degree programs since your last scholarship award. Experience as a professional researcher should also be accepted. The “year” field in each of these lines is three cells wide, while years clearly have four digits. Feel free to combine the cells so that you can insert the answer correctly.
For the purpose of this table, count the actual years and months you spent in the program or employed, not the “standard years of study” as we will discuss for the Academic Record, below.
9. Applying for Other MEXT Scholarship for 2019: During the application period for the Embassy Recommendation MEXT Scholarship, there should not be any other application processes ongoing for the MEXT scholarship for 2019, so there should be no reason for your answer to be “Yes”. If you are applying for the University Recommendation MEXT Scholarship that would begin in fiscal year 2018 (fall 2018), that wound not count. (But if you’re still taking part in that application process, your scholarship receipt is practically guaranteed at this point, so why are you applying for the 2019 Embassy?)
10.(1) Overlapping receipt of other scholarships: MEXT does not allow concurrent receipt of other scholarships, so you verify that you are not receiving other scholarships that will cover the same period as the MEXT scholarship or that you will withdraw from any others upon receipt of MEXT.
If you are receiving a scholarship for your current degree, etc., that will end before your MEXT scholarship begins, you do not need to fill in that information here.
While receiving the MEXT scholarship, you are eligible to apply for and receive one-time grants that do not overlap with MEXT payments. For example, you could apply for a grant to pay the cost of travel to a conference, or for a specific research activity.
10.(2) Other Scholarship If you do have a scholarship offer for your time in Japan already, fill in that information here. If you checked “No” in 10.(1), you can leave this blank or write “none.”
Page 3: Academic Record
Click here to download a sample completed application form.
- 3. University Entrance Qualification Examinations: This refers to an exam taken instead of graduating high school. Usually, it is for home-schooled students, students who dropped out, etc. It will not apply to most MEXT applicants.
- 5. Attended Multiple Schools: As you can see in the “Primary Education” line of the example, I have included multiple schools for the sample applicant. You can fill it out the same way for your situation. If there is not enough space, you would write “See attached” in the Name line and explain the details in an attached sheet.
If you are attaching an extra sheet, you should still write the start and end dates on the application form!
- 6. Attaching an Additional Sheet: If you attach an additional sheet because you attended multiple schools and cannot fit them in in the same column, then the additional sheet should include a full duplicate of the column you are replacing, with all fields. In that case, still include the overall start date, overall end date, and total years of study in the form, itself.
- Total number of years studied: When calculating total number of school years, you should include extended vacations as part of the year!
The simplest way to think about it is that you are counting “school years” not “calendar years.” If your school year goes from September to June, that is 1 full year (even though it is only 10 calendar months). You should only use the months field if you attended less than a full year at some point.
Primary Education: Typically, this would be your first 6 years of education. Do not include Kindergarten. If you attended a single school that covered elementary and middle school or elementary all through high school, be sure to separate it into the appropriate lines.
Lower Secondary Education: Typically 2 or 3 years. As with elementary school, above, if you attended the same school from Middle School through high school, be sure to separate it into the two lines.
Upper Secondary Education: This includes high school and any college prep school you might have attended, if that took place between high school and college. Do not count community college or polytech experience here, as those would be considered Tertiary education and should be in the next column.
Tertiary Education: Enter college or university undergraduate education in the first line and graduate in the second and third (if applicable). As in the example, indicate any study abroad in here, as well.
Location: Only the city and state is required. You don’t need the full address. As you see in the example I have separated the two cities with a slash in the Elementary column.
Remember, do not abbreviate proper nouns, this includes cities, states, provinces, etc.
Dates and Duration: As you’ll see in the example, I counted full school years, not calendar years. If you are still in school, be sure to count the full amount of time that you will attend, not just the time attended so far!
Status (*As of Arrival in Japan): This entry appears for the tertiary education only. Check the appropriate box. If you have not yet graduated, you should check “Expected to complete” and fill in the expected graduation date for your graduation date and the total years you will have completed upon graduation.
Degree: Fill in the name of the degree you have earned.
Total Years of Education: This should be the total years as of the time you arrive in Japan. If you still have 6 months left in your degree, you would count those as if they were finished.
Page 4: Academic Background (Continued)
Click here to download a sample completed application form.
For example, if you got a BA in History you wouldn’t write simply “History.” You would write something like:
Majored in Japanese history, with a focus on Bakumatsu-era industrial reform. (Department of Asian History, Faculty of History, College of Arts and Sciences)
Note: There is a similar question on the Embassy version of the Field of Study and Research Program Plan form and you will want to go into more detail there.
13. Have you ever written a thesis? This question refers to a graduation thesis at the bachelor’s or master’s level, not to shorter term papers.
14. Publications: If you have any publications, including articles or conference proceedings, or any works that have been accepted for publication but not yet published, write them here. Graduation theses do not need to be listed if they have not been published, but if your university publishes all theses online or binds them and makes them available in the university library, then you would want to list that.
Don’t worry if you don’t have anything to list. Most applicants, particularly those applying for Master’s degrees, do not at this point.
Don’t forget to attach abstracts of all papers you list here.
Page 4: Your MEXT Scholarship Plans
15. The first course you plan to take in Japan: Where do you want to start your studies? (Note: you might not always get what you want. It depends on the university that accepts you).
- “Non-regular (Non-degree) course” is sometimes called “Research student” by universities. In this status, you are not working toward a degree, but you should be able to upgrade to a degree-seeking status. There are three primary reasons you might choose research student:
1. You want/need to spend a semester taking preparatory classes before starting your degree.
2. You are arriving in the “wrong” semester and have to wait a semester before starting your degree program.
3. You are currently enrolled in a degree program outside of Japan and only want to come to Japan to complete research.
- Master’s Degree Course: This would include MA, MS, MSc, etc. In Japan, it is a two-year course and, as a MEXT scholar, you would need to finish in two years or you would lose the scholarship. If you think you need more time, go for a semester or two as a Non-regular student, first.
- Doctoral Course: PhD program. In Japan, this is a 3-year program. The same time condition as Master’s Degree applies.
- Professional Graduate Course: This covers all non-academic graduate degrees, such as MBA, MFA, JD, MD, and programs such as Teacher Training programs. These programs can be at the Master’s or Doctoral level.
16. Preferred Month of Arrival: You should base this both on your own situation as well as the program you wish to enroll in. Obviously, if you haven’t finished your previous degree, you would have to arrive in Japan after that is over.
You’ll also want to see when the semester starts for your preferred program(s) in Japan and what semesters it is possible to start your degree. If you don’t speak Japanese yet, keep in mind that you may be placed in a semester-long survival Japanese course for your first semester after arrival. Account for that semester in your plans when deciding if it is best to arrive in the spring or fall. You can also leave the choice up to the universities, if you do not have a strong need to choose one semester or the other.
17. Term you wish to study in Japan: This question does not guarantee that you’ll get the whole term you ask for – you’ll have to apply for each extension separately later. (More about that in a separate article) It does tell the Embassy and the Universities what your long-term plans are, though, so they have a better idea of your situation.
It is possible to start as a Non-regular student (in 15 above) at the Master’s degree level and select Doctoral degree here.
Page 4: Employment Records:
Fill in this information accurate as to the date that you submit your application. Focus on full-time, paid employment throughout this section.
If you have are still a student and have no employment history, that will not be counted against you, so don’t worry about it.
18. Do you currently have a job? You should only fill in yes if you are working full-time. A part-time student job is not relevant.
Part of the intent behind this question is for the Embassy to determine if you will be able to leave your current job to go to Japan if you are accepted. (If you’re working part-time, it’s assumed you can quit whenever you want).
19. Employment Record: List your most recent two full-time positions here. The most recent position should be in the top line.
Page 5: Language Ability
Click here to download a sample completed application form.
21. Japanese language qualifications: The question in Japanese specifically asks for your certifications. If you have passed the JLPT, fill in the level in the first block (N1-N5). If you have another official Japanese language proficiency test score, such as one conducted by your country’s foreign service office, you can list that in “other.”
If you’ve taken Japanese classes in undergrad, etc., but had no official test score, that would not count as a certification, but you can list it anyway (e.g. “8 semesters of Japanese language education”).
Attach a copy of your test results to the application, if available.
22. English language qualifications: Similar to the question above, fill in your test scores for any official TOEFL (be sure to note the type) or IELTS test. You will probably be asked to produce the certificates from these tests when you apply to university. “Other” can include CEFR ratings, O levels, TOEIC, and country-specific tests like GEPT, but understand that those may not be accepted by all universities, so the universities may ask you to submit formal test results when you apply for a Letter of Acceptance.
Attach a copy of your test results to the application.
Page 5: Family
23. Accompanying Dependents: MEXT (and universities) discourages bringing your dependents with you when you first come to Japan. (In fact, in terms of visa requirements, you may find it impossible to do so.) Neither MEXT nor the universities will take any responsibility for your dependents or provide any support for them.
If you do plan to bring dependents with you, list their names and relationship to you in this table. (Relationship should be from your perspective, so a son would be “son”, not “father-son relationship”).
In any case, you’ll have to come to Japan first then apply for a Dependent Certificate of Eligibility for each family member you want to bring.
24. Emergency Contact in home country: To put it bluntly, if you were to die in Japan, who should the university call to pick up your body and bring it home to your country?
I know that sounds morbid, but MEXT wants a point of contact that is that close to you.
The person should also meet the following criteria:
- Must not be listed in the accompanying dependents question (23) above
- Must have an email address and access to a phone
- Should, if at all possible, have English or Japanese language ability
- Be an immediate family member if possible
When I was reviewing these applications, any time an applicant wrote “friend,” “boyfriend/girlfriend,” “supervisor,” or anything other than a close family member, we would encourage applicants to choose someone closer.
You must complete every item in this section (although you can leave out the fax number).
Remember to include the country in the address, the country code in the phone number, and use no abbreviations in the address.
Page 5: Past Visits to Japan
25. Past visits or stays in Japan: List your two most recent trips to Japan. In the “purpose” section, the purpose of your visa is sufficient. You do not need to go into too much detail.
Page 5: Signature Block
You want to sign by hand. A typed signature is never acceptable.
Hooray! You’re finished!
Special Thanks
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Questions?
Before asking any questions in the comments below, please read through the MEXT Scholarship Application FAQ top page and specific FAQ pages to see what I’ve answered already and to find tips about how to get your questions answered faster.
You can ask your questions in the comments here, on the FAQ page, or by email and I will answer them by updating the FAQ and letting you know when the answers are available.
I’d also recommend signing up for my mailing list to get notified whenever I have updates to any of the FAQs or new articles about the MEXT scholarship!
You can also find dozens of questions and answers in the comments of the original article and the article I wrote about the 2018 Embassy Recommended Application Form.
Interested in Learning How to Maximize Your MEXT Scholarship Chances?
My ebook, How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship, is designed to help you understand the scholarship and its purpose from the reviewers’ perspective, master the successful applicant mindset, and develop an application strategy that will give your application focus and give you the highest chances of success. For more details and a list of ebok retailers that carry the book, click the image to the right!
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i want to ask what should I write in Bachelor’s degree’s percentage (marks) column as i haven’t received my final mark sheet, however I have the record of my grades and I don’t have much time before the deadline which is May 15, 2022. hope you’ll reply me soon. Thanks.
Hi Shefali,
It sounds like you might be filling out a form that is a local requirement for your country, since there is no MEXT document that requires you to fill in your marks. Since this is a local requirement, it is not one I am familiar with. If you could send me a link to the document or instructions, I might be able to help interpret it.
In general, MEXT asks for your grades/marks up to the most recent semester available at the time of the application deadline. I would assume it will be the same for this document, but I can’t be sure without seeing the specific instructions.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi! I want to apply for mext scholarship. I have a few questions. If i didn’t enter any college or university, can i leave the application in tertiary education blank? And i want to enter fashion in Specialized Training College but, i never see people talking about senshu. Do you have any reference for senshu? Do i need to contact the course that i want to enter? Do MEXT scholarship willing to give me scholarship to some course like BUNKA fashion?
Oh yeah, if i use computer to fill my form, Do i need to fill the form with capital letter? Thanks
Hi Mizu,
No, if you fill in the form with a computer, there is no need to use all capital letters. That is just for handwriting.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
is it mandatory to fill page number 9 of mext master scholarship where it says
1 (What was the trigger for having an interest in Japan?)
2 (Why do you choose Japan as a destination to study graduate-level education?)
3 (What kinds of things do you think you can contribute to Japan and your home country through your experience of studying in Japan?)
if u leave them blank will this impact on selection and if we fill this section can u give an idea of how many lines should I write and also give me a clue about what should I write
Hi Chuchel,
Yes, those questions are most certainly mandatory. I would think that leaving them blank would result in your application being rejected.
I think the questions are rather self-explanatory, but my suggestion is that your answers should all relate to shat you want to study and the difference you want to make in the world.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Mizu,
Yes, if you have never studied at the university level in the past, you would not need to complete the “Tertiary” row, but I recommend that you write “n/a” instead of leaving it blank.
I’m afraid that my area of expertise is in the scholarship for graduate students. If you are referring to the same “senshu” I think you are, that is just the Japanese word for Specialized Training College. I am not directly familiar with the application process for specialized training scholarships. I would recommend that you read the application guidelines on MEXT’s website. That should describe the application process that you need to complete as well as the available fields.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
Thanks for all you do. Filling a section of the form requires inputting 3choice universities in preferential order, I will want to know if it is necessary to apply to the Universities in advance before the MEXT beneficiary are listed, or should I leave out applying to my choice universities “hoping” MEXT will take care of that?
Hi Dada Blessing,
You do not need to apply to the universities before listing them on your Placement Preference Form, but after passing the Primary Screening, you will need to contact them to request a Letter of Acceptance. MEXT is not going to do that for you.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello,
I am applying for the master’s program in biology. Could you tell me how to write, or what to put in the recommendation letter? dedicate, social relationship? I do know what should I ask my recommender to write. Please help me. Really appreciated. Thank you.
Please,
Alina
Hi Alina,
MEXT offers a sample letter of recommendation form that is a perfect reference for what you are asking. You don’t need to use that format, but take a look at the questions, because that is the kind of material that MEXT wants your reviewers to cover.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey Travis, thanks for the good work.
Please i have some couple of questions
1.) I finished upper secondary school in 2014 although am eligible via age, can I apply for the scholarship?.
2.) Can i use the MEXT letter of recommendation (sample) downloaded from their site as the letter of recommendation which am going to submit along with other documents?
3.) The part where they asked of academic records, since i haven’t been admitted into a university in my country, is it safe to just leave the space provided for tertiary/university just blank?
4.) They said we should insert our recommendation letter into the provided envelope marked “confidential” , please how and where can i get the confidential envelope?, From the embassy? Or can i just use any envelope for it?
Am looking forward for your replies, thanks alot.
Hi Richie,
I saw your question on another post and answered it there, first.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi!
I’m Rankine Nutormue from Liberia.
I received your email regarding the MEXT application form, but all the forms are filled in.
What’s the mean of getting a plain form to fill in myself?
Thanks.
Rankine Nutormue
Hi Rankine Nutormue,
In the emails, I explained that you need to get the blank form to fill in from the Embassy or University where you intend to apply. The reason for that is to make sure that you have the most up-to-date form to go with each application process and also that you check to see what their application submission instructions are, etc.
Right now, there are no open application processes (this year’s Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship has been delayed), so the forms are not available. As soon as I find out that the process has opened, I will email everyone on my mailing list to let you know, so that you can get this year’s forms from the Japanese Embassy then. It also doesn’t hurt to check the embassy’s website on a daily basis, as well.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi! Thank you for all the help you have given me.
I am currently filling out the MEXT form for 2020, and I wanted to ask for clarification regarding Lower Secondary Education and Upper Secondary Education.
Sorry I pressed enter before I finished.
During my period of the secondary education, we did not have K12, so we only had a four year period for the highschool level. May I know what I should write in the section of the application form? Thank you.
Hi Timothy Joshua Chua,
Upper secondary education should be the last level of schooling that you attended before university. In many countries, it is called high school. Lower secondary education, on the other hand, is middle school, or sometimes the last few years of elementary school in a system that doesn’t distinguish between elementary and middle school.
If you search for “Education in [your country name]” on wikipedia, there’s usually a decent explanation there.
In the second half of your comment, you mentioned that you only had a 4-year high school. That would be upper secondary school. So, the question is going to be where you divide primary education and lower secondary education in your chart.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Transenz! Thank you for your informative reply. However Wikipedia says this
“The former system of basic education in the Philippines consists of one-year preschool education, six-year elementary education and four-year high school education”
This is the system I was adopted into. So the question is, how will I divide it between Primary Education and Lower Secondary Education.
As of the moment I put in 6(Primary Education) -> 0(Lower Secondary) -> 4(Upper Secondary)
I am concerned if MEXT will find that disagreeable and reject my application outright. Please advise. Thank you.
Hi Timothy Joshua Chua,
Thank you for clarifying. In your case, I would recommend that you fill in only the primary (6 years) and upper secondary (4 years) blocks, like you said, and put n/a in the lower secondary. There is no need to artificially separate it and it will not hurt you, since that is the actual system and you are just reporting the facts.
If you are applying for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship, the Japanese embassy officials in the Philippines are going to understand how the education system works and immediately understand. Even if you’re applying for the University Recommended MEXT Scholarship, most of the scholarship officers will be familiar with previous applicants from the Philippines or will look up the system and understand.
There is no reason to think this would hurt your application at all.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Oh, that’s great to hear!
Thank you very much for all the information you have given me!
Hello, I have an issue, the field that I intend to study in is only offered by one university , that is library and information studies, I also majored in sociology, in the field of study can I write that I intent to study information studies and sociology and can I enter the different universities offering these courses.
Hi Chacha,
For this scholarship, you need to focus on one particular research proposal. That research might fall under a different graduate school or department in different universities, but that is find, as long as your proposal doesn’t change. For example, if the specific research that you want to do falls under library and information studies at one university but under sociology in another university, that is fine.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
This information is very useful. I am trying to get the undergraduate scholarship 2020 but I ended up messing up my application on my first time applying for the scholarship. There was so much I did wrong that I could have corrected but I went to two schools in elementary school which I got very confused on that part. Also, with my nationality I’m Mexican-American will that be a problem for the university and embassy who will be looking at my application?
Thank you
Hi Lucia,
I’m glad to hear that I was able to help.
Your “nationality” is the name of the country that issued your passport. If you are a dual national, with citizenship in Mexico and America, then you would have to choose which nationality to use for your application. (It should be the country that you are living in and the country where you will submit the application). The other nationality won’t matter and won’t even be mentioned in the application at all.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello! I apologize if the question that I would like to ask may not directly related but it is still a MEXT-related.
I am filling in a form, and they ask “The nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate from your residence in your home country” to those who intend to apply for the MEXT scholarship.
What should I answer here? Place of the nearest Embassy or Consulate? or should I answer “Japanese Embassy” or “Japanese Consulate” instead?
Please help me. Thank you!
Hi Mach.,
You would answer with the name of the city where the closest Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your home country is located.
If there is only an embassy in your country, then you would list “Japanese Embassy in _______ ” (fill in city name, probably the capital of your country). But if there are multiple Japanese consulates, such as in the US, China, or Russia for example, you would give the name of the nearest one. You should be able to find the answer by looking up the embassy’s website and seeing if there are any affiliated consulates. Each one will tell you which area it is responsible for.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hello travis, when it comes to naming our ‘school” in the academic record, in the tertiary(higher) education, should i name my department or my university? especially since my field has other universities on their own in the same city, i’m wondering how i should specify it, thanks
Hi Link,
The name of your “school” is the name of your university. There is also a field to describe your “Field of Study Specialized in the Past” and that is where you will include the information on your department, major, and individual research topic.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis,
I want to ask about the Lower Secondary Education and Upper Secondary Education part.
I attended the same school from middle to high school, but I went to a different school for preparatory school to university.
Do I actually write both the names of the high school and the prep school that I attended under the “Upper Secondary Education” part (while indicating in the remarks section that the former is my senior high school and the latter is for my prep school)?
Hi Joanne,
The most important thing is to fill out the form accurately. So, if you attended one school for middle and high school, that would need to be in both the lower and upper secondary blocks. Since you also attended a prep school, that would also be in the upper secondary block. I explained in the article above how to list multiple schools in the same block, so please refer to that section. (Search the article for “Attended Multiple Schools” to find the paragraph in question).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis ! first of all thank u so much for this interesting helpful web site and for ur efforts.
I acually have some questions concerning the recom letter:
1- how many recom letters should I provide (knowing that I’ll be applying for a graduate degree) ?
2- is it okay if the signature is scanned from my professor cuz he’s out of my reach these days?
3- does it have to be sealed and stemped from the departement ? or the prof signature is enough ?
4- Can I use different and other free formate of recom letters ?
waiting for ur kind response. Thank U so much in advance
Hi Imen,
Thank you for your kind words!
1- You only need one Letter of Recommendation, but if you’re applying for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship, you need to submit the original letter plus two photocopies of it.
2- No. The signature must be genuine on the original letter. Fortunately, you are starting well in advance, so you should have plenty of time to overcome the logistical challenges.
3- The professor’s signature is enough, it does not need a seal.
4- Yes! Freeform letters are fine. The template given for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship is just to suggest what content they find useful in the letter.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I have recommendation letters from university that I studied there but as direction it should be in envelope with seal And it will take time to send that there we have just ten days to apply
Hi Mahdi Nabizada,
Your letter of recommendation does not need to be sealed – that is an outdated instruction (though it is still present in the sample letter of recommendation). You can ignore that and just submit the letter as-is (with two photocopies, of course).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi dear sir/madam
I want information about preference placement and advisors we have to find out universities by our own and from each university a advisor please give me a detail information
Thanks
Hi Mahdi Nabizada,
That’s correct, you need to identify universities that offer your program in English and potential advisors there who have research interests similar to your own. I have not yet written an article about the Placement Preference Form, but I do have an article about how to find universities and professors in Japan that should help with your search!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Im applying for undergraduate students section and I want to know some tips on the questions asked on interview ..
and I want to know what courses does the undergraduate scholarship offer?
Hi Monica,
My focus on this site is on the scholarship for graduate students, so I have very few articles that specifically discuss the undergraduate scholarship. There is some crossover, so my article on the Embassy Interview would probably be helpful for you.
In terms of the courses available, I would recommend that you check with the Japanese embassy in your country for their guidelines as sometimes the available courses are lmited based on your county. They would be the best source of information!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis,
I sent you an email 8 days ago but I have not received your reply yet. Thus I think this comment would come to you easier than my email. This year, the announcement of Embassy Recommendation in my country has many things that make me confused so much as follows:
1/ In the eligible criteria, they write that: “Candidate has an N2”. I do not know this is an unclear way of writing or this is truly the official requirement from MEXT this year.
2/ In the Placement preference application form, they mention that “Do not fill in the name of any universities you have been already rejected”. Does that mean I cannot apply for Kyoto University again because I was not nominated for the University Recommendation? If so, my professor also works in RIKEN, is RIKEN one of the places I can apply for MEXT?
3/ Does the Letter of Provisional Acceptance include in the application documents?
I hope that you can help me to clarify those questions soon. Thank you so much for your enthusiastic supports.
Hi Mani,
I am afraid that I cannot reply to individual emailed questions. I get dozens or hundreds every day and cannot keep up, so I only answer questions on here where they can help everyone. Emailed questions get archived for addition to FAQ articles later.
1. The official eligibility guidelines from MEXT do not have any language ability requirements except to say that you must have sufficient ability to pursue your degree. If you are planning to enroll in a degree program taught in Japanese, than an N2 would probably be the minimum required by the university (some may require N1). If you are going to enroll in a program taught in English, then there should be no Japanese language requirement.
2. You can fill in Kyoto University. This statement does not refer to rejection in the past or under other scholarship application processes. You cannot fill in the name of a university that has refused to provide you with a Letter of Acceptance for the 2020 Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship. That is the only restriction.
As far as I know, RIKEN is not a university and does not award degrees, so you would not be able to apply there. If your professor is also affiliated with a university, then you could apply to that university.
3. The Letter of Acceptance/Provisional Acceptance is something you will acquire from the universities on your Placement Preference Form after passing the primary screening. You do not need to worry about it now.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey,
I have one question please. Regarding the Checklist,should it be filled by Typing or hand? and if by hand, should I write it all in capital letters?
Thank you.
Hi Nada,
I’m afraid I’m not familiar with that document. It is not one of the MEXT application forms, but it might be something generated by your embassy.
In general, my recommendation would be to fill out any document you can by typing. Only write by hand if there is no other choice. If you do have to handwrite, then yes, use all capitals.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Someone at the embassy has told all the attendants to not only calculate all school years as full, But also fill the “From/To months” section like “From: September/ To: September”. Is this a good idea? I’m asking since I actually can’t really find anything like this on the Internet.
Oh and btw, Hi Travis.
Thank you! Hello to you, too, Fred.
Hi Fred,
Yes, of course you should fill in all of the “from” and “to” dates. I didn’t bother writing that in the article because I didn’t think there would be any question about it, but I will include it in the next update.
I would recommend using numbers to designate months, not names, though. (so “09” not “September”)
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you so much for your help.
Please how do I get the 2020 application form in Microsoft Excel format?
Hi Bernard,
For 2020, the application form is now in an editable pdf format, so there is no excel version available. You would get the application form form the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your country (along with all other required documents and forms).
I need to update this article to address the new format. It is on my to do list, as soon as I finish updating the articles about the eligibility criteria and “how to apply”!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis, Thanks for the great article. Am applying for the MEXT scholarship and i have a question with regards to the university choices, do i have to contact the professors first before filling the three universities in my application form?
Hi Christine Wairimu,
You do not need to contact them first – but you will need to contact them after passing the Primary Screening and before submitting the final version of the Placement Preference Form along with your Letters of Acceptance.
Of course, if you can get in touch with the professors in advance and start building a relationship with them, that would be helpful for your LoA application later, but it is not required.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Please how can i submit my application form after filling to the Japanese board
Hi Gabriel,
I recommend that you look at the application instructions on the website of the Japanese embassy or university where you will be submitting your application. You should find the details there.
For more information on how to get started with the application, I recommend my introductory article about the scholarship!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
How can i submit my application form after filling to the Japanese
Hi Gabriel,
I recommend you read my article introducing the basics of the MEXT Scholarship. That should get you started with the application process and where to find further information on how to submit it.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi dear Travis,
Thank you for being here and always helping us.
I am applying to MEXT embassy track 2020.
In my country, Iran, there are two types of universities one type has a nationwide examination and one type accepts students based on their high school grades. I sat the examination and then got accepted. do I need to mention this in my remark column?
and should I mention my academic achievements in the remarks column as well?
I have written something like this, can you tell me if it is relevant?
“my middle and high school were under the national organization for the development of exceptional talents (SAMPAD), I was accepted at XXX University through participation in the nationwide entrance examination and was recognized as a talented student after graduation (ranked 4th among 44 in GPA)”
Hi Arti,
Thank you for your kind words.
Are you applying for the graduate scholarship (research students)? If so, then how you got into undergraduate doesn’t really matter much at this point and I would not expect it to have much bearing on the outcome of your application. You can mention it in the educational background section saying something like “Accepted through nationwide entrance exam” in the comments section of your undergrad entry.
Your GPA will be calculated directly, but if you want to mention your order of merit at graduation, perhaps the best place to fit that in would be the recommendation letter, if possible. If your recommender is not willing to add it, then you could write, “GPA ranked 4th of 44” in the undergraduate education notes (instead of the entrance exam info).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello dear Travis,
Thank you for your kind response.
Yes, I am applying for research student program. The application form for 2020 has changed and there is only one remarks section.
there is also an additional page asking 3 questions about our motivations for applying to MEXT. I am looking forward to your advice on that part as well.
Best regards,
Arti
Hi Arti,
I know the form changed this year, and I am working on updating my articles to reflect that, but I started with the changes to the Field of Study and Research Program Plan form, since those were the most significant, in my opinion. Once I finish updating that article (you’ll get a notification if you’re on my email list), then I will turn my attention to the other changes in the application process and form.
I will let you know as each new/updated article is available.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
How are you Sir/Madam.
My name is Phillip Muzembe from Zimbabwe and I want to apply for undergraduate scholarship I’m interested in business administration. Please help me with the information. Do you have any agents here in Zimbabwe. You can contact me on WhatsApp Or email.
Thank you so much.
Hi Phillip Muzembe,
I do not have any agents, I am just me, writing this blog with as much helpful information about the scholarship as I can find and put together.
I hope you will be able to find the information you need in the dozens of articles and guides that I have already posted. I do offer a limited, paid, one-on-one coaching service for additional assistance, but you will get more out of that experience if you already have a baseline understanding of the process and what you want to do.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
thank you for this detail procedure.
I have another question regarding MEXT Mark sheet form.
its written in form as such:
(Please fill out and enclose this comprehensive mark sheet listing all your grades in your Bachelors. Masters and/or higher degrees (i.e. M.Phil, PhD) if you have any. If your grades are in percentages, ensure there is a listing for the actual score received as well (i.e. 250/500) is included on the sheet. If you have a CGPA mark, please ensure you include a marks sheet issued by your institution enumerating what your CGPA means in terms of percentages. Example: 3.63/4.0 CGPA =90-100%. Without this information your application will be considered invalid. *(please check the Higher Education Commission Pakistan website for the confirm formula of conversion of GPA into % Marks))
how can i list all my grades in such a small form. shouldn’t i only attach my DMC (detail mark sheet)/ transcript) just?
my institution only issue certificate indicating your FINAL CGPA converted to percentage as per their criteria. Is that enough?
Hi Muhammad Azhar,
I saw that you had asked the same questions in a separate comment and answered them there first.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Your articles are extremely helpful. Thanks for uploading them.
I am going to apply for MEXT embassy recommendation research scholarship. I have a question regarding (MEXT mark sheet form). its written in form as following:
(Please fill out and enclose this comprehensive mark sheet listing all your grades in
your Bachelors. Masters and/or higher degrees (i.e. M.Phil, PhD) if you have any. If
your grades are in percentages, ensure there is a listing for the actual score received as
well (i.e. 250/500) is included on the sheet. If you have a CGPA mark, please ensure
you include a marks sheet issued by your institution enumerating what your CGPA
means in terms of percentages. Example: 3.63/4.0 CGPA =90-100%. Without this
information your application will be considered invalid. *(please check the Higher
Education Commission Pakistan website for the confirm formula of conversion of
GPA into % Marks)
1. my bachelors transcript/detail mark sheet has above 35 subject and how can i list all my grades?
2. my university only issue a certificate in which they only show the final CGPA converted to percentage. Is it good enough?
3. Should i just attach my detail mark sheet certificate/ transcript along with cgpa certificate
Hi Azhar,
Thank you very much for your kind comments!
The guidance you referred to appears to be specific to your country – it is not something I have seen in MEXT’s documentation before, but I was able to find a copy on the Japanese Embassy in Pakistan’s website.
1. It appears that you are only required to list your overall marks/GPA/percentage for each earned degree on this sheet, not your course-by-course grades.
2. According to the requirements on this sheet, that is exactly what they are asking for. However, you may later need to submit documentation showing your grades for each course taken (unless Pakistan has a special process for the evaluation).
3. You have to complete this form and also separately submit attested copies of your transcript and degree earned at your most recent university. I would recommend including both the detailed mark sheet and the CGPA certificate.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Many thanks for your reply.
Hi Travis from TranSenz,
Thanks for your effort and patience in keeping up this wonderful website.
I am applying for a University-recommended MEXT scholarship under Professional Graduate Program (MBA), and my undergraduate degree was in Electrical & Electronics Engineering. Does this count as a “related field”? I have 6+ years of work experience. Under “Field of specialization studied in the past”, is it mandatory that I write about my undergraduate program, or can I write about my work which ties very closely with the field I am studying in Japan?
Thanks for all you have done, Travis from TranSenz 🙂
Hi Sai,
It depends on what kind of research you did as an Electrical Engineer and what exactly you plan to focus on in your MBA program. The relationships between the fields is not the relationship between the degree names, but rather what you, personally, plan to research. If you can find a way to link your MBA focus to the field of electrical and electronics engineering, or if you had a business focus in your previous degree, both of those would work.
In the Field of specialization studied in the past, you are required to write about your degree program, not your work. If you took any business courses or did any work related to business applications during your degree, then I would recommend emphasizing that!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thanks Travis! This provides a lot more clarity to the question.
Hello!
I´m applying for the Japanese Studies scholarship and haven’t been ably to find a lot of information on how to fill out the forms, so I was hoping you might be able to help me. I also have to hand in my application tomorrow so I´m probably too late to get an answer by then, but I´ll try anyway!
When applying for the Japanese Studies scholarship, you can choose either the (a) course which focuses on culture or the (b) course which focuses on language by checking one of two boxes. However, I would like to choose by university rather than course. Do you have any idea if it´s okay to check both boxes?
Hi Sara,
I don’t know if this will be in time, but I hope it can help.
I do not have any expertise with that particular scholarship application process, but in general, it is never valid to prioritize the university over the courses. (If you are prioritizing a university, it should only ever be because the courses/instruction/research available there are better – which is essentially prioritizing the courses, anyway.)
I would recommend that you look at the courses offered at your first-choice university, determine which category they fit into, and select that category.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
Your blog has been exceptional and extremely helpful. I am about buying your book, but before that, I desire to ask some questions:
1) My school issued me a statement of result when I graduated but plans to issue a certificate when she holds her convocation later in the year (graduation certificates can only be issued during convocations). Question is: Can I use the statement of result when applying for the scholarship? Or is it a must to use the graduation certificate when applying (which means I might miss this year’s application process)?
2) Regarding the application, it’s stated that we should submit our original documents and they will not be returned. In my country (Nigeria), students are only issued a single copy of each credential. As a result, submitting original documents to MEXT is tantamount to letting go of one’s credentials. As a result, I intend submitting coloured photocopies of these documents. Am I safe?
3) A successful scholar from my country stapled his documents together (attached/supporting documents) ditto his passport. However, you made mention of never stapling the passport and instead use glue. Please, with your experiences, which do you recommend (including attachment of supporting documents)? Additionally, how will the embassy’s officials ditto MEXT know if my details are written at the back of the passport if I glue it (passport) to the document?
4) Regarding contacting advisors, is it appropriate to build-up a relationship with them before the application process commences and make no mention of applying for the scholarship? That’s, I intend communicating with academic supervisors before the application process is open so I could confidently choose three supervisors on the placement form and contact them for LOA after passing the primary screening (hopefully)?
Once again, I’m sincerely grateful for your writeups regarding this scholarship program.
Regards.
Hi Gerrard59,
Thank you very much for your kind words! I will try to answer your questions as best as possible below:
1) If the statement of results is an official document from your university and confirms that you have completed all requirements for graduation, that should be fine. You do not need the actual diploma.
2) You should submit certified copies. A simple color photocopy would not be accepted, but if the copy is certified as being accurate by a university official such as the registrar (preferably) or by a notary (if your school is not willing to do it), that would be considered acceptable as an original.
3) Avoiding staples is not a “must” just a highly recommend (trust me, university admins and other staff hate staples). However, you must not have any staple holes in your photo, because that would make it useless. I recommend using paperclips to keep documents together, and never attaching two different documents to one another. Only the photograph should be glued to the application form.
The point in having your details on the back of the photo is that if the glue weakens and it falls off, they will know which application it belonged to. This happens a lot! If the photo doesn’t fall off, then they aren’t going to check if your details are written on the back or not (unless you submit an extra photo, as I recommend).
4) I absolutely recommend building a relationship with professors in advance. You do not have to keep it secret from them that you plan to apply for the MEXT scholarship, but I recommend that you do not bring it up until after you have established somewhat of a relationship. I would certainly suggest telling the professor around the time that you apply – or before, if you are close enough that you feel comfortable asking them to review your Field of Study and Research Program Plan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
Thank you very much for such a detailed post about application form!
Now I am applying for MEXT by University Recommendation method and the university provided me with excel format. I had 2 questions during the filling of this document:
1) Since first we need to send the documents by e-mail, in which format is it better to send the application form? Excel or print out and then the scanned version? Or maybe pdf?
2) I did not understand how to add an extra sheet since all of the free areas in grey color and I cannot get rid of it 🙁 Also, if I will add the part of Upper Secondary Education as an extra sheet, I will still have the same row height in Name line or I can change the height in this case?
3) Should I indicate in the Remarks that I successfully passed the entrance exam to enter the university (undergraduate) and got state scholarship?
Hi Botagoz,
You’re welcome! I hope it helps!
1) There is a signature block on the last page that would have to be signed by hand, so you would have to print, sign, scan as pdf and send it. You might want to include an excel version, too, with your scanned signature pasted in, if you can do that.
2) You would have to create an extra sheet in a separate word or excel file. Design something yourself that matches the table format from the MEXT application (or make a copy of it, if you can). If you are adding an extra sheet, the format does not have to be exactly the same (row height, etc.), as long as it is obvious what you are trying to do.
3) I would recommend that you mention the state scholarship in the remarks, that sounds like a mark in your favor. About the entrance exam, isn’t that something everyone would need to pass? If it distinguishes you somehow, go ahead and include it.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey Travis,
Thank you for your precious blog. I have a question though. Should we fill out the form in red text?
Hi Kudi,
No, you should not fill it out in red – I did that in the sample form just to make it clear what parts were my own sample entries and what parts were part of the original form. Sorry for the confusion!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I am going to apply for MEXT UG in April 2019 and I will complete my diploma in Mechanical Engineering in JULY 2019.
What should I submit as Graduation certificate?
Hi Avinash Kumar Mishra,
I’m afraid I do not know enough about your education system (or indeed, which country your are from), so I cannot give you a precise answer, but you should submit a certificate that proves that you have completed Secondary School. (Typically an 11- or 12-year education). If your Diploma in Mechanical Engineering is something you completed on top of secondary school, then I would recommend submitting your completion certificates for both.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I have completed my 12 year education in 2015. And I enrolled in Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (which is equivalent to 12th standard) in 2016( 1 year gap for preparation purpose).
According to application guidelines one has to submit graduation certificate during submission of application form. But what should I submit as my diploma certificate if I am going to complete my diploma in Jul2019( After Apr 2019 and before Apr 2020)?
Can’t I submit a letter writing by my teacher that I will complete my diploma before arrival to Japan?
And I am from India( you said you don’t know)
Thank you for confirming! The system you described sounded like India’s but I couldn’t be complete sure!
Hi Avinash Kumar Mishra,
I’m not as familiar with the undergraduate scholarship as I am with the graduate scholarship, but I know for the latter one, you would submit exactly what you suggested. Typically, the letter would be from the school registrar or whatever office it is that has authority over your course progression and graduation date.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey transenz ! I’m worried nd little confused in filling mi application form on excel according to ur given sample paper !as far as concerned of application form you gave a link of excel .and what about other forms like as mark sheet ,placement preference form and research plan ? Is it fill with hand written form ? Plzz reply fast . Have shoratge of time in deadline .thanx in advance for your help nd apology if i’d say something wrong etc .
If someone read mi comment first from blog before transenz brother nd knew the answer . Please help me with rply !
Sorry Vickyy, your comment does not become visible to anyone else until after I have had the chance to review it, so nobody could see it until now.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Vickyy,
The placement preference form is also an excel form and the field of study and research program plan is a word document. You should be able to get the original forms from the embassy website and fill those in digitally.
Documents like the Marks sheet are official documents issued by your last university.
I hope that helps!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis.
I am applying for Undergraduate MEXT and have a question about “Period required for graduation” form in Tertiary Education section. Trouble is that my degree program requires an odd number of semesters during study at university, what in total is 5 full years and a half. Also, as of arrival in Japan I will have finish 2 full years and a half of my university program what in total is 13.5 years of education. So how am I supposed to fill those “Period required for graduation” and “Total years of education you will complete as of arrival in Japan” forms? Is it fine to fill forms with fractions like 5.5 or 13.5?
And another question. Should I fill “Degree” form if I am going to withdraw from university to before finishing my degree?
Thank you.
Hi Artem,
In this year’s form, the question does not ask how many years you took to complete the program, it asks how many years the program normally takes to complete. So, if it is normal to complete the program in 5 years, but it took you 5.5, then you would write “5” for the period required for graduation and explain the difference in your situation in the remarks. If the program normally takes 5.5 years, then write that.
If you are planning to withdraw from your degree, then I would recommend that you do not fill in the degree section and explain the withdrawal in the remarks.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hi ! sir my name is mehdi zaman and i have not a passport so w
hat i write in the name section of surname given name and middle name
Hi Medhi Zaman,
In that case, you should write your name as it appears on your birth certificate or another official government document. I would also recommend that you start applying for your passport, too!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Travis,
I’m writing for clarification on a few questions, and to also express my thanks for your detailed explanations on this site. All of your pages here have been incredibly helpful.
1), I attended a junior college before attending a University, and I also participated in a study abroad. Should I try to list all of that information in one section, or should I just fill out a new section?
2) I’m fairly positive that the university I’m applying to has the 6-month language acquisition program, and I know my Japanese will definitely need it. Would this affect the section for MEXT scholarship plans, and should I select the “research student” instead of “master’s degree’?
Thank you again, I greatly appreciate your time and hope to hear back from you soon.
Regards.
Hi Rochelle,
Thank you for your kind words!
1) You would have to list your junior college and bachelor’s degree information both in the first tertiary education block. It should work to use the same method I suggested for listing multiple schools for moving, etc.: Fit it in the block if you can or add an additional sheet if you cannot. For your study abroad, that could go in the remarks section.
2) The six-month language program is available regardless of the university you attend. Ultimately, it is the university’s discretion whether or not to place you in it, not something that you deliberately apply for. The university will likely place you in that program unless you are fairly fluent in Japanese, but you do not need to change your application to account for that – it’s still fine to say that you want to apply for the Master’s program, if that is your preference. Ultimately, it will be the university that decides whether to place you in the degree program directly or start you as a research student. (Typically, I recommend starting as a research student, unless you have some particular region why you need to finish your studies faster).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I’m applying through embassy in my country. I have everything completed except for the form where I have to indicate my supervisor and 3 choices of colleges. I reached out to 3 and 2 didn’t accept, one said he’s retiring next year and won’t be able to supervise fully. What do I do?
Hi Ibrahim Dodo,
I recommend you search for new professors. I recently wrote an article about how to find universities and professors who teach in your field in Japan that should help.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello. Please!! I need help with 7(1) the question that starts with “if currently reside in outside your home country” and also with 10(1) “if yes, do you understand you must cancel” should I tick yes or no, knowing that I live in my home country and I haven’t applied for any other scholarship. Thank you for this amazing blog. Keep up the good work.
Hi Onizuka,
Thank you for your kind words!
You should not need to fill out an answer to either of those questions, since they do not apply to you.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hey Travis!
In the MEXT scholarship application for Indian students, i have filled the “course applied for as: Masters” and not research…..does that mean I will have to give univ exam as soon as I reach there or can I take my time ????
Hi Aishwarya,
If you apply directly for the Master’s degree they you would most likely have to take the entrance exam before arriving. In some cases, the exam may just be a document screening, though.
If you want to take the entrance exam after arriving, then you should apply as a Research Student.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Wow!
While reading this I had a similar question:
How do I increase my chances?
And I guess for the embassy I would like to become a Japanese translator or interpreter.
One major question that I’ve been wondering is where do I take the test and when?
Also, what is it like because I have seen the past test and they look a little daunting especially the math, because I don’t remember exponentials and trig.?
HELP!
P.S. I have already sent out my application 🙂
Hi Naia,
I will be writing an article in the near future about creating an application strategy that will help you improve your chances, and there is also a lengthy chapter on exactly that subject in my book, How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship. (The book is focused on the scholarship for graduate students, as are all of my articles, but the strategy section should still be helpful).
If you are subscribed to my mailing list, I will let you know when the article is ready.
The tests come after the document screening, before the interview. The past test should be a good indicator of what you will have to pass, if you are applying for the undergraduate scholarship. For the graduate scholarship, you will only take the Japanese and English language exams.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey transenz ! What if i’ve got homeschooling of elementary school untill middle school . So i’ve no certificate tho ! Can yew please briefly clear to me either it is affected to mi application or not nd in that case what should i do while i’ve no certificate at all . Waiting for ur rply .
Hi Vicky,
In most cases, there is no such thing as a certificate for elementary or middle school, so missing that should not be a problem. As long as you have the certificate from high school and college, there should be no problem. Just explain in the appropriate section that you were homeschooled for those years and write the number of years.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis.
I’m almost done filling up the form but I have a question on point 11. If I cursed one year of my university abroad as an exchange student but my grades were all given by my home university, do I have to also write the name of the school where I cursed that year or is it enough to put the university from which I graduated from? If I have to add the other university too, would I write the years separated or count my 4.5 years of bachelor as a whole for both schools?
Thank you.
Hi Martha,
I would recommend that you write the name and country of the school where you studied abroad in the remarks section and fill in the total years required for graduation. If your graduation took longer because of the study abroad year, mention that in the remarks, too.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hello. i love your website, it really help me very much. i have two question about the application, my deadline for applying is may 29th so i hope you will answer soon!
1.i’m in my second year at university and i want to apply for undergraduate mext. so what timeline should i fill in the in section ” tertiary education- academic record” . i feel confused about two blank “from? ->to? ” and ” period required for graduation”
2. at the end, the section ” date of application “, is it must be the day that i send that to embassy? or whatever day?
i’m sorry because my english is not good.
thank you!
Hi Linh,
I’m sorry I could not get to your question earlier. I answer all of these in the order they arrive.
Unfortunately, the undergraduate scholarship is not my area of expertise, so I can’t be completely certain.
1 – I would recommend filling in the program with the end date and period required for graduation as if you were planning to complete the whole thing, then write in the remarks that you plan to leave your degree there to come to Japan. You will need a good explanation why you plan to give up on a degree that you have already half-finished.
2 – It does not have to be the date that you submit the application to the embassy. It can be, or it can simply be the day you finish filling in the form.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thanks travis for putting this together. But i want to ask concerning the English Language qualification for those who do not have TOEFL and the likes. Will we be considered for the scholarship even though English is our offical Language?. Thanks.
Hi Daniel,
Language proficiency tests are not required for the Embassy Recommended MEXT scholarship application. You will take a language test at the Embassy later in the application process.
However, some universities may want to see TOEFL scores, etc., when you apply for the Letter of Acceptance. In that case, they may not accept “English as an Official Language” as proof of your language ability. For the University Recommended MEXT scholarship, I know it would not be enough.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much for this! I had started filling out my application yesterday and this post came at the right time! I have a question though. In the “Field of specialization”, do I write only my thesis title? Should I elaborate on it? Also, where it asks about have you ever written a thesis…I’m currently writing one so I’m not sure what to choose! Do I say yes and mention below that it’s not published but I’m writing it or do I say no?
Hi Kii,
For the field of specialization, I would recommend mentioning your thesis, but you also want to make sure that you write that entry so that it relates to the field of study that you want to pursue in Japan.
One requirement for the MEXT scholarship is that you have to study a field that you have majored in in a degree program in the past or a related field. This question is where you want to make to make it clear that you have experience in a related field, if you are not pursuing the same field of study.
When it asks if you have ever written a thesis, I would recommend saying yes, but being clear that it is in progress and mention the expected completion date.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much, Travis! I was really unsure about these section so this helps a lot! You’re a life saver.