Your Resource for Expat Living in Japan
Recent Comments
Welcome to TranSenz! My name is Travis and I am a bilingual American expat living in Japan. I’ve been an exchange student here and been stationed here with the US military in the past. Now, I’ve moved back permanently and live and work within the constraints of Japanese society. This blog is my place to share my experiences to help other expats integrate into their host community, or at least make the most out of their time in Japan!
In the blog posts, below, you can find all manner of experiences in Japan, but I’ve also collected some of the most relevant and important contact into a series of guides, linked from the pages below. If there’s something about Japan that you want to know but can’t find here, please leave a note in the comments below and I will be happy to add it to the list.
Enjoy!
Hello Travis, how are you?
I am applying to MA again after being rejected last year, right after the interview, i didn’t pass the first secerning
I have 3 questions for now, and I hope to find the answers here
1- I don’t have English proficiency scores as TOEFL / IELTS, should I obtain them? Is it essential?
2- My answers to every question in the Application form is similar to last year’s answers, i don’t have any other answers, and I can’t make up something different because the reasons or answers are facts. Will this affect my application negatively if i wrote down the same answers?
3- The first course to study in Japan, i read your application form explanation, but i didn’t understand the difference between non-regular and Master’s degree programs, which one is better to choose?
Hi Sidra,
I am sorry to hear that your application last year was not successful. The MEXT Scholarship application is a competitive zero-sum game, with a limited number of slots available in any country, so an application that didn’t pass in one year might be selected in another, based on the strength of the competition.
I have moved all of my guides for the MEXT Scholarship application to a new website focused exclusively on that topic, so the links in my answers below will connect you to mymextscholarship.com.
1. The embassy does not require language proficiency test scores. Some universities might ask for them when you apply for Letters of Provisional Acceptance (you would need to check the requirements for each university individually to be sure), but since your obstacle last year was passing the Primary Screening at the embassy, I don’t think that was a factor.
2. I don’t think the application form answers make a significant difference in your selection (although the essay questions may sway reviewers slightly in one direction or another). Your grades and especially the Field of Study and Research Program Plan are the most important factors in your selection! So, I don’t think having the same answers in the application form will hurt you for being the same. If there is room for improvement, especially in the essays, that might be worth your attention, but there is no need to change the answers just for the sake of change.
3. I don’t know how else to describe the difference between non-regular and master’s students (and reasons for choosing either one) than I already have in my article about How to Complete the MEXT Scholarship Application Form. Which one to choose depends on your situation and priorities, but if there is something particular about the explanation that you find confusing, please let me know and I will try to address that.
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hi Travis,
Thank you so much for all that you have shared with us, it’s truly invaluable. I’ve purchased your Guide and it’s been very helpful in refining my essays. I’ve applied for the current MEXT application cycle thanks to your guide but will be reapplying next year if I’m not successful.
I’d like to ask how much weightage do they place on our career goals under MEXT -. I think I was able to prove why the research is valuable and impactful, but not really in how it enhances my professional goals since there’s no ‘Personal Statement’ or motivations-related questions as part of the application. I didn’t clarify that in my research plans as it looked out of place plus due to space constraints.
Additionally, do you provide coaching services for university applications? If not, what are your thoughts on reapplying to universities in Japan (Waseda in particular) if they have rejected us in the past, would every application be assessed on merit or would they consider the Personal Statement repetitive (even after revisions/updates)? Thank you so much in advance for your thoughts!
Hi Hani,
Thank you for your kind feedback!
I do not think the career goals are particularly significant in comparison with your research goals. The best place to describe them is in the application form essay question about how you will contribute to Japan and your home country–in that question you can describe how your studies in Japan will prepare you to serve society (which is the career goal that they want to see!)
I agree with you that it in most cases, it is not appropriate to mention career goals in the Field of Study and Research Program Plan. You can mention the issue in society that your research will contribute to solving, but the focus should be on the actual research process and academic results/deliverable.
My coaching services are application reviews and research proposal reviews. Unfortunately, I had to give up live coaching because of scheduling challenges. So, I’m afraid that probably doesn’t meet what you’re looking for.
I think that applying to the same university that rejected your application in the past can be fine, depending on the context (application type and reasons for rejection), but of course you should have an improved application this time! I also encourage you to think about applying to (or at least appealing to) a specific professor, not just the university as a whole.
By the way, I have moved all of my MEXT scholarship-related resources to a new website: https://mymextscholarship.com, so you can find more information there!
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hi Travis !
My university said I will be recommended to MEXT. What are the chances that I get the scholarship ?
Also, what might be some reason’s that I may not get the scholarship.
Thank You !
Hi Flame,
I have moved all of my articles and content about the MEXT Scholarship to a new website. So if you are looking for more information, please check there.
Congratulation! If your university nominated you for the MEXT Scholarship, you are almost certain to receive it! Universities know how many scholarship places they have available and only nominate students within that number. The only time I have heard of university-nominated applicants not earning the scholarship was one year when MEXT experienced a severe budget cut and had to reduce the scholarship slots across the board. That year, scholarship slots were cut in half. But they have remained at the low number since and I do not expect further cuts. So, there should be no reason to worry.
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hi Travis,
Thank you for the information ! That gives me a little more hope hehe ðŸ˜
Thank you very much !!
I also appreciate the update, I had this site bookmarked since a long time so I came here.
I will make sure to refer to the new website from now on. I will also refer everyone to the new website as I have been refering this one so far.
Thank You.
Best,
Flame
Hi Flame,
Thank you for your kind feedback and for sharing the website with others 🙂
All of the article links from this website should automatically redirect to the new one, it’s just the top page and a few others that don’t.
I have also created a shorter link to make it easy to share, so you can just direct them to mymext.com if that is easier.
It can be a frustratingly long wait until you get the final MEXT Scholarship results in June or July, but there should be no reason to worry about the outcome!
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hy Transenz. Thank you for this blog. Please I want to ask. How can I fill my undergraduate application form. What are the dos and donts . I want to apply and I want to be very careful with the filling
Hi Felicia Sanuara,
My area of expertise is the MEXT Scholarship for Graduate students, so I do not have specific resources about filling in the undergraduate form. But many section of it are similar to the graduate application form so you can refer to that article for tips:
https://mymext.com/umextapp
(Note: I have moved all of my MEXT Scholarship resources to a new website.)
You can also find the application guidelines and more information at the official Study in Japan Website.
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hi Travis!
I want to apply for undergraduate MEXT scholarship through university recommended because they only offer postgraduate scholarship through embassy in my country😢. So I’ve been looking for universities that offer procurement and supply program but it’s hard to find them! How can I find them?…. By the way, I’ll apply next year, thank you
Hi Mich,
For the undergraduate University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, you can only apply to Priority Graduate Programs (PGP).
I have links to where you can find the eligible programs in my article about How to Apply for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship.
The link will take you directly to the list of programs, but if you scroll up a bit, you can find the explanation of what PGP programs are. In each of the lists, the last page (only) shows the selected undergraduate programs (there are very few), so you would need to go to the website for each of those programs to find out if they offer the field of study you want. Since you will apply next year, ignore the 2022 list, since those programs will not be valid anymore.
Since you can only apply to programs that have been selected as PGP, it wouldn’t do you any good to search for other universities that offer degrees in your field, but if you wanted to research them to consider applying as a self-financed scholar, I have an article about How to Choose your Undergraduate University in Japan that might help.
Good Luck!
– Travis
Hi, Travis!
First of all, I would like to thank you and your website for its advice on receiving the MEXT Scholarship because I was a successful recipient last 2023 and now I am pursuing a Master’s Degree here in Japan.
This does not have to do with the application process so it’s a long shot, but I was wondering if you know anything about the 2.3/3.0 GPA that MEXT Scholars supposedly need to maintain while receiving the scholarship. I’d heard many things, mainly that this requirement is for university-recommended students, but I’m not sure how true that is. I’d seen a few universities like Saitama University and Tokyo University mention it on their websites. Tokyo University in particular states that this requirement is for university-recommended students only. For what it’s worth, my school is a private university, and they have never mentioned such a requirement to us in the 1+ year we’ve been here, to the point that anyone I ask about is surprised to hear that it is a thing.
Hoping that you’d have some information about this in your years of experience. Thank you in advance and again, thank you for your initial assistance in receiving the MEXT Scholarship!
Hi IL,
Thank you for your kind words!
Yes, I am aware of this requirement. I mentioned it in my article about How to Apply for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship. (Note: I have moved all of my MEXT Scholarship articles to a new website that focuses only on the scholarship.)
This condition only applies to students in PGP programs, not all University-Recommended MEXT Scholars. So, if you are a General Category scholar, it would not apply to you. Only universities that have PGP programs would have seen the guidelines that mention this requirement. So that is probably why some mention it and some are not aware at all.
Good Luck!
– Travis
HI, I HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED FOR mext scholarship
i am asking about the eligibility of my spouse to apply for the MEXT scholarship in the upcoming academic year while I am already a recipient of the same scholarship.
Hi Mohammed,
I am not aware of any rule preventing spouses of MEXT scholars from applying, as long as they meet all other eligibility requirements.
(For the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, though, anyone residing in Japan at the time of application is ineligible to apply for the general category scholarship.)
Of course, eligibility rules are subject to change, so please be sure to check again when the guidelines are out for the specific scholarship application your wife wishes to pursue.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis !
Thank you very much always for your informative explanations.
I have a concern about owning a business in my own country will it interfere with the acceptance of the scholarship?
And do I need to close the business or not starting it in the first place before moving to Japan?
Thank you very much.
Hi K.N,
Running a business while being outside of the country sounds like a pretty significant challenge to me, but I have no expertise in the area and can’t offer any practical legal or financial advice. Consider that your studies will likely occupy most of your time and you certainly will not have time to participate in managing/operating your business on a regular basis and will not be able to return to your home country on short notice should the business situation demand it. If the business can operate entirely without your interaction (even in an emergency), then it should not be a problem.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis!
I am back to this blog again after 2 years, you might not remember me, but I asked a few questions 2 years ago under my nickname Takeshi 🙂
Introducing myself, I am a Malaysian student that just graduated from SPM, the High school certificate of Malaysia at the age of 18.
Now I am in the application for 2024/25 KOSEN scholarship as my academic results did not get me a chance to go for the Undergraduate scholarship.
Fortunately, I was able to pass the initial screening and the qualifying exam and now prepairing for the interview phase.
I have lots of questions regarding the fill up of the application form, especially on academic records and answering the questions like my trigger for having an interest in Japan and the contributions I could make to Japan and my home country through my experience of studying in Japan.
But another fact the puzzled me would be the Official format of application form (as introduced in the blog) is given after the qualifying exam here in Malaysia, the Initial form given did not include so much details, is this normal throughout the world or is it just special for the embassy here?
Plus, I would like to know more about the things to take notes for the interview or any questions for me to practice for?
That’s all from me and please do tell me if you prefer emailing instead of commenting here as I may have follow up questions regarding this matter
Thank you very much for your support in advance and I hope to get your reply as soon as possible as my interview will be in 2 weeks time.
Sincerely,
Hong Yi
Hi Hong Yi,
I wouldn’t have remembered you if you didn’t tell me about the name change, but now it rings a bell.
In my experience, Malaysia has a somewhat different approach to the MEXT Scholarship. I don’t know if it’s universal to all types of the scholarship, but I have seen it with the scholarship for graduate students, too. There is basically a pre-screening stage before the official application process and I think the pre-screening has a lot of input from the local Malaysian government before the Japanese government takes over for the official screening. So, that could explain why the official form came later for you. (There are only a couple of countries I can think of that have this system.)
As for the interview, if you’ve read my article on preparing for the Embassy Interview, that has everything I know about preparing for it and all of the questions that past applicants have shared with me.
If you have other questions, please ask them in the comments of the appropriate article. I do not respond to queries by email, since I want the answers to be where other people who have the same question can find them.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis!
I just recieved an email from the embassy stating that I am nominated to the Japanese government for further selection. I am a little curious about the acceptance rate after being nominated and do they compare applicants from around the world?
Hi Hong Yi,
I’m not as familiar with the Kosen application process as I am with the graduate (or even undergrad) applications, so I can’t say for sure. But I think that for Kosen (also Senshu and Teacher’s Training) the Secondary Screening is competitive and you will be compared to applicants from other countries. That is not the case for graduate and undergraduate applicants, but the other programs are relatively small in number, so I don’t think there are specific numbers of slots pre-allotted to each country. I hope your application goes through! Please let me know when you hear the final results.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
I hope you are doing well. Thank you helping for every doubts. I have a another doubt about final screening, If we passed first screening for MEXT (College Of Technology) document screening, exam and interview. what about the final screening will I able to pass final screening and what should I do to pass the final screening for College Of Technology. As I am from India, They select only 12 member from College of Technology.
Hi Franklin John Paul,
For the Colleges of Technology, after the document screening, exam, and interview, there is nothing left that you can do. You have no more active involvement in the application. All you can do is wait for the final results, expected in January 2025.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Possibilities to Change PhD Supervisor
Hi Travis! I’m going to Join a Japanese University on MEXT-University Track in Fall 2024. But I’m hesitant to join there because of Prospective Supervisor. Initially he was good to me but before university admission exam he just keep adding slides to my ppt and then in next revision he removed those slides which he asked to add. It happened almost 9 to 10 times. Then just 18 hours before exam he changed my topic and kept adding and removing slides (which he asked to add) until half hour before exam (interview). Obviously, Interview didn’t went that well and after the interview he put all this on me and said you were not prepared well. Now he asked me to quit my job now to prepare proposal which I need to submit in December if I join. I cannot quit my job because I’ll join in in October. There are few other things too. I was wondering what should I do? I should join there or not? Is there any possibility to change PhD Supervisor on MEXT Scholarship-University track? If yes, should I do it before joining or after joining? What is the possible procedure?
Looking for your kind response
Hi Atlaf,
It sounds like there is a significant gap in expectations between you and your advisor. I don’t know the details of the situation, obviously, but the professor may have been adding slides and changing your presentation because he thought it wasn’t good enough to pass otherwise and was trying to help you. The comment about you not being prepared could have meant that your presentation should have been in a condition that he didn’t have to make any changes. As your advisor under the MEXT Scholarship application, he has a lot of pride riding on your success, too, since he would have had to be the one to advocate for you during the review process.
I only say this, because I have never heard any other stories about professors stepping in to that degree before in an entrance exam and you said that he was good to you before. For a professor to put that much effort into an applicant’s presentation is usually a sign of them really caring about the outcome and wanting to ensure success. If the professor was making the changes because he cared and considered himself to be working hard for your sake, then if you try to change advisors, it could lead to a significant conflict between you and burn bridges.
So, before you make any decisions like trying to change advisors (that is a university process, not a MEXT one, so you’d have to ask the university when you get there), I recommend you try to find out why he made those changes. Because of the damage it could do to your relationship with that professor, only look into changing advisors if you are willing to quit the scholarship and degree entirely if the change is not successful.
In the meantime, you should also explain that you can’t quite your job yet, and try to work out another solution for how you will put in the necessary time to prepare for the presentation.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, hope you’re doing well ,
I’m a political science student applying for masters in International relations but, the problem is I feel lost…at the beginning I choose a topic about a comparative analysis in disability “A Comparative Analysis of Disability Care Policies in Japan and Lebanon: Lessons and Opportunities” but the thing is some people told me that this topic is not related to IR and I should writes about two state relations directly.
what do you think? any tips?
Hi Layla Khansa,
I agree that this topic does not sound like it fits in political science/IR. That field would focus more on the structure of government or relationships between states.
Maybe in law? Public policy? Healthcare? Perhaps even cultural studies.
My advice would be to find researchers working on a similar research theme in Japan (you would have to do this anyway, to fill out the Placement Preference Form), then find out what graduate school and department they are affiliated with at their universities. That should help you figure out what the best major would be to study your research topic.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis
This article is helpful and it pointed out a-lot of flows in my plan, and i am not sure if i will pass when i submit my doc.
My major is Translation and i wrote a topic about Movies impacts on cultures and finding ways to solve the cultural misunderstandings.. i didn’t know my research should be related to the field i studied even the graduate school that i picked is related to Humanities
I should not be complaining but i am hopeless somehow..
Tell me is there a way to work on it? I have less than Two weeks for the final submission
Hi Sidra,
I’m afraid I don’t understand what your question is.
The name of your major or graduate school is not the important thing, it is the specific topic you want to study. It seems to me that it should be easy to connect translation with something to do with interpreting culture in movies in translations, but I don’t know enough about your specific topic to be any more detailed.
If you have a specific question that is bothering you, please leave a reply and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi transenz, I hope you’re doing well!
I had some questions last time when I just discovered this scholarship program, and now I’m actually applying for it as I type. It’s a bit urgent but I hope you can answer quickly
1) In the application form, language form, the area where you have to fill in your points (JLPT, TOEFL, IELTS, etc…), I unfortunately have no official scores from any language proficiency tests, and I don’t know what to do with the blank space. I’m aware the certificate isn’t necessary
2) In the essay section I’m not sure on how to approach writing it as it’s my first time filling in an application. I’m choosing humanities, so is there any advice you can give on what I could write about in the majors and letter of motivation section?
I read your recent guide for the graduates program and how I should basically be writing about how my country and Japan would benefit from me, I just don’t know how to approach writing it. Just some information, I’m choosing either Law, Political Science and the like as majors.
Hi Zara,
1. If you have no official language test scores, then complete the self-rating question, but leave the scores blank or fill in “none”
2. Please see my article about how to fill in the application form which contains advice specifically about how to answer the essay questions. It sounds like you might be applying for the undergraduate application? In that case, the questions will be different, but your approach should basically be the same: Focus on what you will do/how you will contribute to society based on the degree you earn with the MEXT scholarship.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis, I hope you are doing well. I am in my third year of my PhD studies of MEXT university recommended scholarship. I will graduate in March 2025. Can I change my scholarship this year before graduation from MEXT to other scholarship like JSPS and others, for extensions one or more years of my PhD studies. I really need one year time to concrete more my PhD achievements Or could you kindly show me any postdoctoral scholarship options in order to continue my research. My current Japanese professor told me find any opportune I can support you and can write for you forms and etc.? I want to mention that I have two papers as first author and 3 papers where I am co-author?
Hi Naveedullah,
Unfortunately, I am only familiar with the MEXT Scholarship, so I do not know of any others that you could use to extend your PhD studies.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis , I liked your article very much. I am a political science student [Department of International Relations]. I want to study a master’s degree in Japan via a mext scholarship, and my research topic is somewhat similar to your research topic (Methods of developing Libyan society – benefiting from the Japanese method).
Can Japanese development methods be applied to Libyan society? ) But it is not the final because I have not graduated from my bachelor’s degree yet, but I am preparing myself and collecting information about the scholarship and the university and also about my research itself. What do you think, can it be accepted and are there any errors in it? I would like some feedback from you please
Hi Fatima,
Thank you for your kind feedback.
I think your question is too broad. You need a specific research question/problem and specific research steps that you will take to answer that question during the span of your Master’s Degree. Looking at “Japanese development methods” encompasses far too much and it would be impossible to research within a two-year period.
While I cover it in my book about writing a Field of Study and Research Program Plan, I’m afraid that I do not have an article yet about how to develop a specific research question, but since you are still enrolled in your bachelor’s degree, I suggest that you ask a trusted professor there for help in developing an appropriate research question for a Master’s degree thesis in your field.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello, I think I misunderstood something with the application process.
We should provide a packet of original and copies but it’s also written that documents won’t be returned. So, I have to get the “1certified copy instead of real originals and other photocopies non-certified?
English is not my mother language so translation is needed, but translation for what? Original? Copies? Or have I to add to it ( originals and copies) a translation? And does the translation also need to be translated?
I’m applying for undergraduate scholarship.
Hi Geremie,
A certified copy is considered to be equivalent to an original. The two copies do not need to be certified. For documents that you cannot replace, such as a diploma, be sure to submit a certified copy, not an original.
If your documents are in a language other than English or Japanese, you need to submit one original/certified copy in the original language (and two copies) plus a certified translation into English or Japanese (plus two copies of the certified translation).
You cannot be the translator for official documents, such as transcripts. It would have to be done by a professional who can certify its accuracy, or by the issuing university.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi
I was recommended by my university for phD. The authorities only let me know, the final acceptance email may come later.
But the thing is, I got accepted in one of the top 50 universities of USA and I really want to go to USA.
My sensei was really impressed and he told me if I had plans to go anywhere else I should not go ahead with MEXT but I wan’t confident about USA ,so I applied. Now I really want to go to USA for my degree.
Can you kindly tell me how to cancel mext? Will there be any consequences? Do I need to do any more paperworks? I am really scared.
Hi Gwen Stacy,
I’m afraid I don’t know much about the paperwork for cancelling the MEXT Scholarship. I’m more focused on applying.
I think the first step would be to contact the university or embassy office that has been your point of contact for the application (depending on whether you applied for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship or Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship) and tell them that you wish to withdraw. You should also inform the sensei.
There should not be any monetary penalties, etc., but of course the university/embassy and sensei will be displeased. Assuming you applied for the scholarship to start this fall, it is too late for them to replace you with another nominee, so they will have lost a scholarship slot, plus all of the work they put into your application. You should assume that you will not have another chance to apply to that university or for the MEXT Scholarship, but that’s about it for consequences, as far as I know.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I am planning to pursue MBA , but I dont have any work experience. Could you please mention the universities that doesn’t require work experience in Japan. So that I could apply for MEXT scholarship.
Hi Vandhana,
I don’t know whether individual universities require work experience or not for admission to their MBA programs. I have never heard of that being a requirement, but you’ll have to check for yourself.
I have another article about how to find universities that teach your degree field in English, so you can use that to find master’s level programs in English, then search those universities’ websites for details about their requirements.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi!
Firstly, thank you for sharing and assisting as much as you do, you are a gem!! Secondly I have a question/ concern that perhaps your knowledge can help me better understand. I applied for my masters at Waseda Business School through MEXT. Thankfully I was accepted, but as a non-regular student. I will have to re-apply with the university again as a regular student for this master’s course, and my scholarship only stipulates funding for a non-regular student duration. The application deadline is closing soon and I wanted to know that is it possible that they won’t accept me into their master’s programme? If they do, what happens with regards to the scholarship? I’m stressing like crazy!
Thank you.
Hi Ammaarah,
Thank you for your kind feedback.
Can I assume that you applied via the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship and that you are not yet in Japan?
If you are accepted as a non-regular student, then you have up to two years of scholarship in that status if you arrive in Japan in April or up to 18 months if you arrive in the fall. (That includes the semester you spend in the Japanese language program, if applicable.)
During that time, you need to apply for admission to the degree program and also apply to extend your MEXT Scholarship. You need to pass both applications, then you would be admitted to the degree program and your scholarship period would be extended until the end of your Master’s degree.
If you do not pass the university’s entrance exam, then you can continue in the non-regular student status and try again for the next admissions exam. This is rarely necessary, though. In the meantime, you would need to make sure that you apply each time for both the admissions exam and the scholarship extension.
If you find that you cannot pass the Waseda admission exam and you are an Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholar, you are allowed to apply to up to two universities for the degree program when you apply for the scholarship extension, so you could choose one more to apply to and try to get in there, too.
The international office (or office that handles your scholarship at Waseda) should be able to give you more specific information about the required application processes.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
You are correct with your assumptions and thank you for that breakdown. I have a better understanding now, much appreciated!! Is there a certain period when one can apply for the extension, and do you apply through your university or you country’s embassy?
Kind regards,
Hi Ammaarah,
Yes, there is a specific period for the extension application and you apply through your university. The university should let you know when the extension application period opens. In general, it starts in December each year, but there is one additional extension application period in the late spring that is only for applicants who have just arrived in Japan in April and will extend beginning in the fall of that same year.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi,
I plan to study in Japan thanks to MEXT scholarship for undergraduate students but there are things I still don’t understand.
First, if I take the MEXT exam, should I also take the EJU, JPLT or the TOEFL ( admitting that english is not my first language) ?
Second, it’s written that we don’t need to know how to speak japanese but amongst the topics that we are going to pass, there’s “Japanese”.
Thanks for responding,
Hi Mathieu,
You do not need to take the EJU, TOEFL, or JPLT for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship application for undergraduate students. If you have TOEFL or JLPT scores, by all means submit them, though!
During the Primary Screening, you will take the Embassy’s English and Japanese language proficiency tests, along with other subject tests, based on the field that you want to apply for. There is not a “passing” score, but you should try to do as well as possible, if you know any of the language. You won’t be disqualified for low Japanese ability, but having Japanese ability should be an advantage.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for your clear answer.
But I have another question : is there any registered physician/doctor to get the certificate of health or may I go to whoever?
Hi Mathieu MATONGO,
Ideally, the physician who completes the form should be someone who has cared for you in the past and knows your medical history, but there is no particular list, so any practicing physician should be acceptable.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you for all the help your blog has provided me throughout the application process.
I wanted to ask a few things:
1) I was asked to fill a similar questionnaire by MEXT. In the next couple of days, my professor asked me to change a few things in my research plan highlighting that some people were nervous about my research plan as I had mentioned a name of company that was funded by a military organization.
I changed my research plan and excluded any information regarding it because I had no intention of causing any misunderstandings. I mentioned something about Boston Dynamics in my previous research plan. Now, my result has been delayed. I contacted my embassy since all of the embassy recommended candidates have received their confirmations, they informed MEXT hasn’t contacted them yet with the result of my secondary screening. The embassy has suggested me to wait.
Do you know about such a case? I am stuck in a limbo, not knowing if I’ll be able to clear this final hurdle. I’d welcome any suggestions and information.
Thanks!!
Hi Dio,
I am sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately, I have never heard of another applicant in a similar situation before, so I don’t have any concrete references.
I assume the pledge form request came from the embassy then the request to change your FSRPP phrasing came from the university?
The changes are going to take time to get through the system for a final decision. There are probably several layers of bureaucracy at the university and MEXT level before a final decision is made. I cannot say for certain what that decision will be, but it is encouraging that they asked you to make the change, rather than rejecting your application outright. I don’t think they would have bothered to ask if there was no chance of your passing the screening in the end.
This probably isn’t what you want to here, but at this point, I think all you can do is to wait. I hope you hear the result soon! Please let me know how it goes.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for your reply Travis. I think the questionnaire was sent by MEXT to the embassy, which was then forwarded to me. My country’s embassy told me that only my result wasn’t out yet. I don’t know what FSRPP is Travis, but yeah, first the embassy sent me the questionnaire and after couple of days the professor who granted me the LoPA contacted and instructed me to make changes to my research plan. I sent him the updated research plan, he mentioned it looks good, and that was the last contact I had with him. This was in December 2023.
Plus, I am supposed to join the university in Oct/Sept intake, maybe that’s another reason it’s getting delayed?
Hi Dio,
I’m sorry for the confusing shorthand. FSRPP is your Field of Study and Research Program Plan (or research proposal, in simple terms).
I had assumed that both the questionnaire and contact from your professor were more recent. If both were back in December, that seems like rather a long time.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any experience with a similar situation, so I do not know what to expect, but I hope you get an answer soon.
Typically, they should let both the spring arrival students and fall arrival students know their results at the same time, but it might be that they aren’t rushing your review because they have more time until your fall departure date. Still, I hope they don’t make you wait too long!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
A quick update. I just got the confirmation that I have passed the secondary screening. I can’t thank you enough for the materials you have provided on this blog relating to MEXT scholarship, your blog has been the most impactful resource in securing it.
Thank you again for timely replying to my queries, I hope all the blessings find their way to you and your family,
Thanks Travis for helping me, I am eternally grateful.
Hi Dio,
Thank you for your update!
I am relieved to hear that you got your final results and earned the scholarship.
Good Luck with your studies in Japan!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
I talked with a representative from my local embassy yesterday and she told me that there was no longer an option to use the scholarship to be a research student in Japan starting this year. Will you update your books since this no longer applies?
Also, I saw, some years ago, when I was reading your first book on MEXT, that you initially intended to publish a book specifically about the “University Recommended Application”. I know that it is still not out yet, but, is the information in your first book sufficient to prepare ourselves if we want to take that option?
Best regards,
Francis
Hi Francis,
I was aware that there was no longer an option to apply for “just” a research student scholarship since last year, but I have not seen anything official saying that research student status will become forbidden completely. (That would introduce a lot of complications, since not all degree programs accept new students in both semesters, and research student status can be a holding pattern while you wait for the semester when you’re allowed to start.)
I’m actually in the process of revising Book 1 now (with the others to follow) and I was going to include the update about no “Research Student Only” scholarships, but if there are further changes coming, perhaps I should wait until I can confirm. Did the representative say that the Research Student status would be eliminated entirely? Or just that all applicants had to intend to move on to a degree program in Japan? Any further details or references would be very helpful, if she shared them!
When I initially started the series, I intended to publish seven books in it, including one each on the University and Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship application processes. But those processes change too much in the minor details each year, so I have decided not to cancel those books. Instead, I will keep updating the articles on this site each year with the necessary information for the application process details. In the meantime, the information in Book 1 is enough to get you started on planning how to approach the application in order to maximize your chances for success, particularly in combination with the articles here. Books 2 and 3 are also helpful for specific parts of the application, but if you do not need help with those sections, then Book 1 and the articles should be enough.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
Thank you for your answer.
I recall clearly that the representative told me that I could not use the scholarship to do semesters in Japan to complete a degree that I would have started in my own country. I am not confident that she said that “research student” is no longer a category. We had a dicussion over the phone so I may have misinterpreted the details, but like I said I am sure she said that I must use the scholarship to acquire a diploma in Japan.
Thank you for the updates about your books. I will do my best to prepare.
Hi Francis,
Thank you for sharing those details. That is consistent with what the rules are this year and is one of the changes that I have already made to the revised book draft!
I still have a little bit of work to do on it, but I will get the second edition out as soon as possible.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis. I hope you’re doing well.
I have a question about Mext scholars who want to proceed further study after the Mext scholarship period is over. definitely one option would be extending the scholarship, But assuming the worst case scenario, would it Be possible to move to next level of study self financially ? Is there any particular eligibility for that ?
Hi P,
As part of the scholarship extension process, you have to apply to the degree programs that you want to enter by following their application guidelines for fee-paying students. If they accept you, then even if your scholarship extension is not approved in the worst case, you would still be able to enroll in those degrees on your own funding.
The only thing to be aware of as far as MEXT is concerned is that if you continue on to a higher degree in Japan on your own funding after the MEXT Scholarship, MEXT will not pay for your flight ticket back to your home country. Otherwise, there are no restrictions.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
So you’re saying I need to apply for scholarship extension. If I get accepted by the university, I will be able to enroll. even if my request for scholarship extension is denied I can still pay for myself.
And for the record I though it might be helpful to mention this:
Under the “SUSPENTION OF SCHOLARSHIP” part in the guidelines for all couses, it is said that if you violate the following procedures, your scholarship will be cancelled and you have to pay all or part of it back.
The eighth number of these prosedures is this: “A grantee proceeds to a more advanced level of education without receiving approval for an extension of the period of the scholarship.”
Just checking if it’s still the same as what you said.
Hi P,
In my opinion, it is always worth applying for the scholarship extension (unless you are a University-Recommended MEXT Scholar and are opposed to staying at your current university.)
Separately to the scholarship extension, you have to apply for admission to the programs that you want to enroll in. Since the extension application and admission application are completely separate, even if you don’t pass the scholarship extension (unlikely), it should not affect the admissions decision.
As for the “Suspension of Scholarship” condition you listed, that only applies during your scholarship award period. In your case, you would be enrolling in the next level of degree after your scholarship payment period ends, so that condition does not apply.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Could you please tell me about the expected result announcement date for second screening ?
(Ug,Cot)
Hi Rela Dua,
From the application guidelines: “Applicants will be informed of the final selection results by the Japanese diplomatic mission in the applicant’s country by the end of January 2024.” (It’s the same for UG and CoT).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I hope you’re fine , there are a lot of blogs on mext but only yours has specific information and , even though I am in high school reading your blog articles had sparked an interest about pursuing my studies in japan, further below I have written my queries:
What are the things taught during 1 yr language preparatory course (.pc) after a mext scholar is selected.
What level of jlpt n1-n5 would make up for the 1 yr (lpc) considering I want a direct admission.
In my neighborhood there aren’t any japanese classes or language schools which I can attend in-person although I have purchased rosetta stone japanese software for learning japanese , it has only 3 levels , would the software learning be sufficient for passing n1 test if not then What more ?
Hi Altamash,
Thank you for your kind feedback. It’s never too early to start preparing, especially if you want to become fluent in Japanese.
The one year language course is only for undergraduate-level scholars. For graduate level, it is a maximum of one semester.
I actually don’t know the precise curriculum, but I know there are readers of this blog who have gone through the program, so maybe they can chime in if they see this comment! But for undergraduate programs taught in Japanese, you can assume that you would need N1-level Japanese, so the program would be designed to get you there. (The one-semester program for graduate students, on the other hand, assumes that scholars will be studying in English, so that program is based on learning enough Japanese for daily life).
To find out the level required for direct admission, you should check the admissions requirements of the university that you want to apply to, since it will ultimately be their decision. In general, you need a higher language ability for undergraduate work than graduate. I would expect it to be N1 for most programs, especially humanities, social sciences, medicine, etc. It might be as low as N2 for some math and science programs.
Unfortunately, I’m really not a good resource for how to learn Japanese. I learned by immersion, first as a high school exchange student (who arrived with practically zero knowledge) then later built my fluency up through working here. So, I don’t have any experience with structured courses. You can probably find some other websites or blogs that are more focused on Japanese language learning and would be a better resource than I am!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Can I still apply for the undergrad program if my result is not announced by the deadline?
If so then how do I write it in the marks form?
Hi Abdullah,
Yes, it is possible to apply before you graduate, as long as you will graduate and complete your degree before the start of your MEXT Scholarship. (So, if you apply in 2024 for the scholarship to start in 2025, you could apply as long as you will graduate and your final results would be available before the end of March 2025.)
I’m afraid that the “marks form” is not an official MEXT form and I am not familiar with it. I have heard of something like that being used in certain countries by the local embassy. If you would like me to look at it, please send me a link to the webpage with the form and instructions.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello TranSenz, should I apply for an undergrad degree in the mext university recommendation. On study in Japan website, It was written that undergrad students can also apply for university recommendation
Hi Manal,
Undergraduate-level University-Recommended MEXT Scholarships are only available through the PGP programs.
You can find the lists of current PGP programs (programs selected in 2021, 2022, and 2023) in my recent article about how to apply for the university-recommended MEXT Scholarship. The undergraduate programs are generally listed on the last page of each of those documents.
If one of those programs meets your field of interest, then you can apply.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis 👋, i hope you are doing well.
I’m here to ask few questions (idk I someone asked them before) regarding master’s degree program.
1. For instance, if my major is lifescience, so do I need to contact a professor in the same department or any will be good as long I have similar research interest?
& if I get a LOA from a professor from department of chemistry then do I have to do my masters in chemistry only?
2. I have 3 year bachelors degree, so will it affect my chances of selection for master’s program (as it is mentioned that 16 years of education or a bachelor degree is required for master’s)?
Thank you so much in advance for your time and consideration.
Hi Denji,
1. The name of the major/department is less important than the contents of the curriculum and the compatibility of your research proposal with your advisor’s field. Two universities could use different names for the exact same course of studies (especially if they are in different countries). So, you do not need to limit yourself to contacting professors in Life Sciences, but you do need to make sure the professor’s research topic is similar enough that they are going to be interested in supervising you.
You will also need to choose your major from the program that your advisor is affiliated with. So, if your advisor is in the department of chemistry, you would need to choose a major that department offers. Check their curriculum carefully to make sure it is compatible with your interests.
2. If you completed a 3-year bachelor’s degree in a country where that is the standard length of study, then you are eligible to apply for a Master’s degree in Japan. There will be no disadvantage compared to someone who completed a 4-year bachelor’s in a country where that (and 16 years of study) is the norm.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much for your valuable response.
However, I got one more questions which I didn’t found anywhere,
Is there any Japanese University which offers Direct PhD/Doctoral program?
Hi Denji,
I’m afraid I’m not sure I understand the question. Could you explain what you mean by a “Direct” PhD/Doctoral program?
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hii Travis
I want to apply for MEXT undergraduate next year in Natual science B (Nursing ) so i have some doubts about primary screening .I want to know that with application form which documents should submit to embassy . Or what should i write on application form when they asked ,What was the triggered having interest in Japan? Or what thing i contribute to my home country and Japan.
Can you please help me out of this confusion
Hi Yashvi,
For the documents to submit to the embassy, I recommend that you check the application guidelines as well as the instructions on the embassy’s website when they are released. That will likely not be until April, though, so in the meantime, you can check the guidelines from this year.
The question about the trigger for your interest in Japan and what you can do to contribute to your country and Japan are both very personal questions, particular to you, so I can’t tell you what to say. But I do have some advice for how to say it in my article about how to fill out the application form for the graduate-level scholarship (since those question are in that form, too).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, I have received two letters of acceptance and hopefully will be able to go to Japan! I want to research properly about life in Japan now, and one thing that comes to mind is health insurance. I have a set of questions:
1) Does the scholarship cover it?
2) And is the medical system in Japan good, as to receiving immediate treatment if required, regular tests?
3) Is is easy to find doctors speaking in English?
Hi Ava,
Congratulations on receiving the two LoPAs! You should have no problems securing the scholarship, now.
The healthcare system in Japan is great and one of the top reasons that my wife and I chose to live/raise our family here instead of my home country (the US).
1) You will be enrolled in the National Health Insurance (It is mandatory for anyone residing in Japan more than 3 months). I think you have to pay the premium each month out of your scholarship stipend amount, but it is very affordable. It does vary slightly depending on where you live in Japan, but I think that when I last worked with MEXT scholars, it was only around 1500-2000 yen per month.
Current MEXT Scholars: I would appreciate any comments replies about what your insurance cost is and how you pay it!
National Health Insurance covers 70% of any bill for treatment or prescriptions (other than optional/cosmetic surgery type things). You could choose to get additional, private insurance on top of that, but I really don’t think it’s necessary. Healthcare costs here are quite low. I remember once going to the hospital and getting an x-ray, blood tests, and a few others and still only paying about 5000 yen out of pocket.
2) Very good, in my opinion. I have never had any trouble getting seen when I needed to, even in emergencies.
3) This is the only problem. . . It depends on where you live. In a big city, it might be easier (and your university international office should have some information about what hospitals/clinics have English-speaking doctors). But in rural areas, medical care available in English is limited. This is particularly true for mental health care.
That said, I live in a fairly rural area and even hospitals where they do not advertise that they have English-speaking doctors, a few doctors have tried to speak with me in English.
If you find yourself in an area with limited English health care available and you are comfortable doing so, I recommend asking a Japanese friend to accompany you so that they can translate/assist.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello travis. First of all, thanks a ton for all the help. I have cleared the primary screening from CoT category. I big credit for this goes to all the help I got from your blogs and question you directly answered. So, thanks one more again.
So, I had a doubt that’s been bugging me for quite a while. I read you book and it says profession like puclic servant and professor has high rate of success. So, I followed your advice and mentioned that I want to return to my country and join civil services, since I really don’t have a idea what I want to do in future. But now my peers are telling me that I shouldn’t have mentioned this because japan is in a population decline and hence they would like to take applicants who want to stay. Is this true and if yes then does this affect my chances of clearing the second screening.
Hi Rs,
Congratulations on passing the primary screening! That should be the most significant part of the application and screening process.
I do not know where your peers got that idea, but I have not heard anything of the sort.
Yes, Japan is in a population decline, but the country as a whole seems highly resistant to immigration in order to solve that issue. The job market in general is not very receptive to hiring foreign nationals unless they are fluent in Japanese or the job is a highly technical one where the supervisors could be expected to speak some English (programming, computer science fields, etc, come to mind). Even in that case, there isn’t much possibility of making a lifelong career here (again, unless you become fluent in Japanese), so it seems entirely reasonable to want to return to your home country in the future, even if you spend a few years working in Japan, first.
I do not think the goal you stated will hurt you in any way.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi can I sent the mext application form along with other documents via email or via post in research field
Hi Vandhana,
The website of the Japanese embassy where you will apply should have all of their submission requirements. It can vary from embassy to embassy, so you’ll have to check with them directly.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi
Thanks for what you done for us,my question is about arrival in Japan , can I choose to arrive in Japan either in April or September?
Eg: as I applied this year 2023 can I choose to arrive in Japan in September 2024(for que September section)
Hi EzeAuSahel,
Assuming that you are applying for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship for Research Students, then in the application form, you can submit your preference for whether you would rather arrive in April or September 2024. Ultimately, though, it is up to the university and they will put your arrival semester when they complete the Letter of Provisional Acceptance.
(If you applied for the undergraduate scholarship, you must arrive in April and if you apply for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship you must arrive in Fall, so there is no choice in those cases.)
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thanks very much,