The Field of Study and Research Program Plan is the most important part of your MEXT Scholarship Application
Need help with your Field of Study and Research Program Plan? How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan will walk you through choosing a field, developing a research question, and completing the final report to give you the best chance of success!
Field of Study and Research Program Plan for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship
MEXT updated the format of the Field of Study and Research Program Plan for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship in April 2019. The University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship still uses the old form and I have a separate article about that format here. Both versions contain the same content, it’s just organized differently and there are different limitations in place regarding the form itself.
Why the Field of Study and Research Program Plan Matters
The Field of Study and Research Program Plan is the single-most important part of your MEXT Scholarship application at the graduate level. Whether you’re applying for a research student status, Master’s Degree, or PhD, this is the single most important element that you have any control over. So, it’s understandable that most applicants get more anxious about this form and what it should include than anything else in the application process.
Downloading the Form
First things first: If you don’t have the original form yet, the links below are direct to the files on MEXT’s website, so you can download it without having to puzzle through their Japanese website:
Purpose of the Field of Study and Research Program Plan
In Japan, the Field of Study and Research Program Plan (研究計画書 kenkyukeikakusho) is part of any graduate school application. It is not unique to the MEXT scholarship. There is a set format and elements that Japanese universities are looking for.
As a foreigner, you wouldn’t necessarily be expected to know all of the elements of the Field of Study and Research Program Plan, but if you do hit them (and I’m going to show you how, below), you’re going to stand out in a good way. This article comes from over eight months of research into Japanese professors’ websites, university websites, and talking with faculty members at the university where I work. It is the same model you will find in my book, How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan, although the book obviously goes into more detail and also helps you develop your research question and subject.
You can find my sources at the bottom of the article, but they’re all in Japanese.
Disclaimer: This is all only my own research and conclusions. It has not been formally vetted by any MEXT officials, Embassy staff, or grad school admissions committees. I did have an applicant in 2018 tell me that his local consulate had recommended a previous edition of this article to him, though!
Field of Study and Research Program Plan: Formatting Notes
As of the 2020 application, the format for the Embassy-recommended MEXT Scholarship application has changed dramatically. This article covers that new format. I do not know yet if the format will also change for the University-recommended MEXT Scholarship application for 2020, but you can find information about the old format in the previous version of this article.
Length: You are limited to no more than 2 pages for the entire form! This is the most significant change from past versions and means you are going to have to be concise and focused.
Font Size: The default font size in the Field of Study and Research Program Plan that you download from the MEXT website is 10 pt Times New Roman, which is small, but given your space limitations, I recommend keeping it at that size. If you have extra space to play with, you can increase it to TNR 12 pt.
Do not bother changing the font size of the instructions – up or down.
Titles and Formatting: As you will see below, I recommend adding a few subtitles within sections to make the text easier to read. I suggest making each of the titles bold and setting them apart on a line of their own. Leave one blank line above each title, if you can manage it. You can also center then.
While you may be tempted to forgo titles and blank lines because of the length limitations, I would suggest keeping them in. White space and organization make your Field of Study and Research Program Plan easier to read. Nobody likes a big old wall of text.
Tables, Graphs, and Diagrams: If they add to the document and are necessary to answer the questions below, you can include them, but I have almost never seen a case where they added any value. The one exception to this is adding your research timeline as a table, with individual steps listed, which I recommend including as an attachment (more below).
Attachments: I recommend two attachments: The research timeline above and a list of references. I’ll get into each section in more detail below. If your particular academic field demands large diagrams or other references that you want to include as attachments, that could be possible, but consider seriously whether they are necessary or not.
Completing the Field of Study and Research Program Plan
1. Past and Present Field of Study
Your past and present field of study refers to your academic majors in any past university degrees, not professional working experience. You can only refer to a field of study from work experience if you worked as a professional researcher and are using that experience to meet the eligibility criteria for your degree program.
Here is what the section should cover.
Research Background
Recommended Heading: None. Since you only have one sub-section in this question, there is no need to add titles.
Recommended Length: 2-3 sentences
Recommended Content: Describe what you have researched in the past that led to your interest in the topic you will pursue in Japan. Since MEXT requires that you study a topic that you majored in in the past, this is your opportunity to show the connection.
Make sure that you describe your interest in terms of what it will contribute to the field. This is not a personal statement. “I am interested in microfinance because my family was poor” is not a good explanation. “Based on my past research into microfinance in developing countries, I became interested in a systematic examination of the impact of microfinance-supported entrepreneurial ventures in former agricultural areas of developed countries has impacted population movements and rural revitalization is necessary to apply effective practices both in Japan and abroad” is better.
To strengthen the statement above, you could add a closing statement about why your research could benefit Japan and your home country and why Japan is the best place to pursue it.
Do not add extra lines to this section beyond what is given in the form. The most important part of your Field of Study and Research Program Plan is still to come in the next section, so you want to save your space for that.
2-1. Research Theme in Japan
In this section, you will cover the title of your intended research (or at least a narrow description of the field), as well as your research theme sentence.
Research Title
Recommended Heading: None. Simply center the text at the top of this section and make if bold.
Recommended Length: Title and Subtitle, like it would be on a completed thesis.
Recommended Content: This is your sales copy. It needs to grab attention so your reviewers read further.
The main title is your overall theme and the subtitle is how exactly you plan to study it. For example:
The Contribution of ‘Outsider’ Expertise to Rural Revitalization Projects: An Exploration of the Yuzu Industry in Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture
(JAIST)
You are not locked into using this title. Like almost everything else in your Field of Study and Research Program Plan, it will probably change once you begin your research under your advisor. But it’s still important to have a solid idea at this stage.
Research Theme
Recommended Heading: None. Leave one blank line under the title.
Recommended Length: One-two sentences
Recommended Content: This should take a format like “I intend to research [RESEARCH QUESTION] by examining [SPECIFIC EXAMPLE] from [APPROACH] perspective in order to [OUTCOME].” It does not need to be exact, but it does need to cover those elements.
It is important to include the intended outcome of your research. Research itself is not the goal – you should have something you intend to accomplish through it. Returning to JAIST’s example from the previous section:
This study will elucidate how specialist knowledge held by outsiders to rural revitalization projects can contribute to those projects, by examining the example of Yuzu farmers in Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture’s contributions to local efforts by way of surveys and interviews, in order to advance the effectiveness of rural revitalization projects across Japan.
(JAIST)
Yes, the original Japanese is also a horrible run-on sentence.
Unlike the title, you should format this section in paragraph format, left or full justification (not centered) and not bold.
This article is only about how to format your form for submission and assumes that you have already developed your research question, example, and methods fully. If you have not done that yet, I recommend my book, How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan, which goes into detail on the process of choosing your field of study, developing and refining your questions, and also discusses formatting in much more detail.
2-2. Research Plan
In this section, you will go into more detail on the academic background of your research and how it fits into the field, as well as exactly how you plan to pursue it. This is the core of your plan and should take up the most space – all of the space that you are given on the first page as well as an entire second sheet of paper, or close to it.
Here are the subsections to include. Unlike previous questions, I recommend that you do include the titles for each sub-section. This section is long and having titles on their own lines, preferably centered, will break it up and make it easier for your reviewers to read.
Research Goals
Recommended Heading: Research Goals
Recommended Length: One to two paragraphs
Recommended Content: This is where you describe the academic value of your research and is perhaps the most important section of the entire form.
Your first paragraph should cover the research question you intend to answer and how – an expansion of your detailed research theme. The second paragraph should outline the possible academic and practical benefits of your research.
Remember that not everyone is an expert in your field, so try to keep the jargon to a minimum. You want your research to have value outside of your narrow field, so you have to be able to describe that to non-experts. At the very least, I recommend opening each paragraph with a strong topic sentence that is jargon-free and understandable to any reader. You can then go into technical detail in the body of the paragraphs.
When discussing the benefits, it would be beneficial to mention specifically how they apply to Japan, your home country, and/or bringing the two closer together.
Existing Research
Recommended Heading: Existing Research
Recommended Length: Two-four sentences
Recommended Content: In this section, you want to give a very brief introduction to the state of your field to show how your research fits into and contributes to it.
Your first sentence should describe the state of the field, particularly the most relevant studies to your own research. For example, if your field is still developing, you would state where current research stands and how you will add to it. If your research is targeting a gap in your field, then you would describe the state around that gap.
Your second sentence should explain how your research will extend knowledge in the field (e.g. by using a new method or approach, examining a different data set, contribute to resolving a conflict or gap, etc.)
Research Methodology
Recommended Heading: Research Methodology
Recommended Length: 1-2 paragraphs
Recommended Content: Describe your research methodology (quantitative, qualitative, hybrid), specific methods, and why you chose them. In the second, optional paragraph, describe the limitations of your research and how you will account for them.
At the end of the Existing Research section, you explained why your research would add to the field. In this section, you will explain how. You should describe why the methods you chose are the most appropriate to accomplish the research goals you set and contribute to the field.
Optional: Hypothesis
Recommended Heading: Hypothesis
Recommended Length: 2-3 sentences
Recommended Content: Present the hypothesis that you intend to test through your research.
This section will not be possible for all applicants, but if it is applicable, I recommend including it.
A hypothesis is your proposed answer to your research question that you will test. It is not a certain, final answer and in most cases, should not be correct. Professor Tajima from Keio University wrote in a blog article that if your hypothesis turns out to be accurate, then your research could be considered a 99% failure. (Keio) After all, if you already know the answer before you have even started your graduate program, then there really wasn’t any point in your research.
Specific Research Plan
Recommended Heading: Research Plan
Recommended Length: One full and one partial paragraph
Recommended Content: Description of the research steps that you intend to pursue, from literature review through publication and dissemination of your research, with references to your research timeline that you will include as attachment.
In the past, I recommended including your full research timeline in this section, but that was before MEXT limited the overall form length to two pages. Now, I recommend moving the timeline to an attachment, but you should still include a brief description here with references to more details in the timeline.
The first, full paragraph should describe your research steps in order, as well as the intended timeline for completion. For example, you could say that in your first semester, you intend to complete your literature review, experiment design, and experiment approval. Then you would go on to describe your field research plans and analysis of data. Conclude the paragraph with your goals for how you will disseminate your research, such as publication, conference presentations, and sharing through informal networks, blogging, etc. If you have specific journals or conferences in your field that you want to target, that is great!
There is no need to describe the steps involved in writing and editing your thesis in detail. That is self-explanatory.
The second, partial paragraph should describe how you intend to interact with the community during the course of your studies, such as cultural exchanges with schools and becoming involved with community groups related to your research topic or other interests.
That’s It – Sort Of
The sections mentioned above should complete the two-page form and should stand on their own to present your entire research.
Obviously, your first draft is going to need work. I recommend revising it yourself then getting it reviewed by an academic expert in your field as well as a language expert.
I do offer paid reviewing services where I go through the formatting and presentation to assess if you have presented your proposal well, incorporating all of the elements above. I cannot, however, offer an academic review, so I am probably not an expert in your field!
For more information on my reviewing services, check out the coaching link at the top of this page.
Attachments
I recommend adding two attachments to your FSRPP: Your specific research timeline mentioned above and your list of sources. Each should be its own page and they should be in that order.
Attachments should not be critical to understanding your research plan. They are a place to put space-consuming references that can be understood via a quick scan. They have value in showing your preparedness, but the value is not commensurate with the space that they consume.
Research Timeline
Recommended Heading: Research Timeline
Recommended Length: Table/timeline long enough to cover the content below
Recommended Content: Detailed explanations of the steps you will go through in your research program (2 years for Masters, 3 for PhD).
The level of detail that you go into here depends on your field of study. For example, if you are doing social sciences research and your field research includes two phases of questionnaires and interviews, you can explain that rather quickly.
However, if you are in a STEM field and your research includes a long series of experimental processes or data analysis steps, then you would want to list each of those.
This is also a good place to mention specific coursework you want to take (and why), especially if you have your goal narrowed down to a single university or there are similar courses at each of your target universities.
You should have already described your primary research activities in the form proper, such as what kind of data you will collect and how, but here is where you slot it in to the schedule.
One Keio professor mentioned in his blog that he expects his advisees to do field research twice during their degree. For example, students would do a survey study first then return later for interviews to go into more detail, or do field studies in two places for comparison purposes.
Selected References
Recommended Heading: Selected Sources
Recommended Length: No more than 1/2 page or so
Recommended Content: Bibliographical references for all sources you mentioned in the text of your Field of Study and Research Program Plan (particularly in the existing research section) plus key sources you used in your literature reviews when creating your plan.
List your references in alphabetical order, using the format most common to your field of study.
My Sources
This article is based on Chapter 7 of my book, How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan. The book includes more details on each of the sections above that would be too much for a web article, plus other chapters on how to develop your research idea from scratch, all the way through a completed product!
How to Research and Craft a Research Plan
http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/nifongo/keikaku/index.html
KALS Graduate School Application Prep School application advice article
http://www.kals.jp/graduate-sch/pln/
Keio University Professor’s Blog
http://cce-cmkt-tpro.sfc.keio.ac.jp/tajima_lab/inframe/sonota/01.htm
JAIST (Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) Application Advice Page
http://www.jaist.ac.jp/~as-asami/exam_research_plan/exam_research_plan.html
Study Channel Research Plan Writing Guide
http://www.study-channel.com/2015/07/research-plan.html
Five Steps to Writing a Lousy Research Plan (University of Tokyo Professor’s Blog)
http://www.nakahara-lab.net/2013/05/post_2004.html
Questions?
Before asking any questions in the comments, below, I recommend reading through the Field of Study and Research Program Plan FAQ. 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, below, to get notified whenever I have updates to any of the FAQs or new articles about the MEXT scholarship!
Ads by Google:
Do I send the Field of Study and Research Plan in the form they sent me? Or should I just write everything in a blank doc file?
Adding to my question… how should I attach these extra documents? Should I just add a third and fourth page to my Form, or should I use separate documents?
Hi Patrick Selau Menoti,
If you are attaching documents, like a research timeline or a list of references, you should include them as additional pages, but clearly title each one “Attachment”
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Patrick Selau Menoti,
You have to use the official form.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you very much for this timely information. I have a question,if you don’t mind. As a person applying as a non-regular research student, who would like to extend the MEXT scholarship for a Master’s degree, would it be advisable to fill in the FSRPP form as a master’s student? If not, how would you recommend filling it? Thank you very much.
Hi Boluwatife,
If you are applying as a non-degree student and plan to enter the Master’s Program as soon as possible (e.g. after one semester), then you would likely spend your entire time working on a single research project that spans your research and degree student time. In that case, I recommend that you write one proposal for that overall research, including both the non-degree and degree time.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
This question might sound a little bit obvious but since the pages are just 2 this is necessary.
does the 2 pages include the part:
“≪Guide for Creating a Field of Study and Research Plan Sheet/作成要領≫
(1) As this sheet is one of the most important references for selection and university placement, outline your field of study and specify your research theme and plan in line with the following items 1 and 2. If plagiarism or fraud is discovered after selection, the selection will be cancelled retroactively.
本様式は選考及び大学配置の重要な参考となるので、下記の項目1及び2に沿って専攻分野の概要及び研究計画の詳細を具体的に記入すること。なお、採用後に不正、盗用等が判明した場合は遡って採用を取り消す。
(2) This sheet must be typewritten or written in block letters. If possible, please write in Japanese.
記入はタイプ又は楷書によるものとする。相当の日本語能力を有する者は日本語により記入すること。
(3) This sheet must be created within two pages. Additional materials may be attached if necessary. Both a single-side and dual-side printing will be acceptable.
本様式は２ページ以内で作成すること。ただし必要な場合は別紙を付してもよい。印刷は片面印刷、両面印刷のどちらも可。”
or does the lenght of 2 pages doesn’t include the part from the government explanation?
Hi Francisco Medina,
The 2 pages does include the instruction section. Unless your embassy tells you otherwise, you need to leave those instructions in place and still fit the whole FSRPP within two sheets of paper.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Trans, I can’t thank you enough for posting this. I had trouble writing my research proposal due to the 2 page limit. This question is unrelated to the research plan, but I can’t find any appropriate place to ask you in your blog.
With the health certificate, the nearest one in our city has most of the exams or tests needed for the health certificate (xray, urinalysis, occult blood, etc.) except for one test (ESR). is it fine to leave this test blank as long as the overall results of the medical certificate is okay and that the physician approves? Thank you very much if you could answer this question
Hi Dennis,
My understanding is that you need all of the tests done. So, if the clinic does not conduct one of the necessary tests, you can see if they can assign it to another clinic, or perhaps get the remaining test done somewhere else and bring the proof of the results to the clinic filling out the Health Certificate so they can fill in all of the details.
If you want to continue to follow up to see if an exception would be possible, I recommend contacting the embassy directly.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Trans, thanks for your help.
I am a fresh graduate with BSc in Chemical Engineering. I want to pursue a field related to bioprocess engineering. How do I put together my research theme if it has to take the form as you stated?
Hi Joseph,
This article is just about how to format your research proposal for the MEXT Scholarship application. It assumes that you already have developed a research question.
I cover the process of developing a research question in my book How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan but I haven’t written an article here yet about that.
Until I can get that article written, I suggest that you consult with your current academic advisor about developing a research topic for your particular field of study.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello!
First, I would like to thank for all this useful information. I have a question please. you included the research questions in the Research Goals section while in other formats, I’ve noticed that research questions and research goals are two separated sections, so I’m not sure which way to follow.
Another question please, should we put research questions in question forms, I mean like this “Does so and so affect so and so?” or should we write them this way “this study will examine to what extent so and so will affect so and so. ”
One last thing, If I don’t have a middle name, should I put my father’s name instead or should I leave it blank?
Thanks a lot!
Hi Lily,
There is no one “right way” to write the research proposal. If you have another template you want to use (grouping sections differently), that is not a problem, as long as you include all of the aspects I highlight here.
I think you should not phrase your research question as a question, but instead use the format, “This study will examine . . .” That allows for a lot more detail in the description and fits better in a paragraph.
If you do not have a middle name (referring to your passport or birth certificate), then you should leave that blank. Your name must match your legal name from your passport.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
This is Andrea, I have a question regarding the PAST AND PRESENT FIELD OF STUDY. You say that this refers to my academic majors in any past university degrees and not to any work experience. However, I did major in translation (by taking extra classes on this topic) but haven’t carried out any type of research before. All my work experience is in translation and education of English Language and I want them to take that into consideration. since my research would be on Bilingual Education. Can I still mention my work experience at some point?
Hi Andrea,
Past and Present Field of Study does not have to be limited to research, you can also describe the coursework and the projects/papers for those courses that you have completed.
It is fine to mention your work experience in one sentence to describe how it motivated you to further your research, but it should only be a brief mention. Stay focused on the academic side of your research and particularly what you want to research in Japan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis,
I am planning to apply for MEXT through embassy for master.
I was wondering concerning the recommendation letter if I could give it from any of my professors or it has to be my adviser? (I would prefer having it from one of my professors).
Also, concerning the research plan , in the timeline I would like to include the potential courses that I will take, however I am not sure how to do that, since the three universities do not have the same courses, should I just include the courses that are similar between the three, or include random courses from the three universities, or choose one university and include all the courses?
Thank you very much!
Hi Mariam,
The letter should be from your academic advisor, or from the Dean or someone higher in your university. The idea is that they want to hear from someone who has overseen your entire course of studies and knows you better than a professor who only had you in a class or two.
For the research plan, including the courses isn’t necessary or all that significant, so you can leave it out. Your focus should be on the research. However, if you want to mention courses related to your research, then you can mention them briefly in your research timeline. In that case, try to describe them in a way that applies to each of the universities on your list.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Trans,
Thanks for all of your blogs they have been of great help. I have a question regarding attachments.
In the extra note provided by the embassy of my country they have mentioned “do not insert
or attach any unnecessary record other than the Research Proposal.”
Should I take it as to strictly adhere to two page limit and not include timeline and references.
Hi Mike,
Personally, I think the list of references would still be necessary if you cite any in your proposal (to avoid plagiarism), so you should be able to get away with including those as a separate page. But most other attachments I have seen in all of my time reviewing applications (timelines, graphs, etc.) are unnecessary and do not add to understanding the plan.
If you have no citations, then you should not need any attachments.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Mr. Transenz,
Thanks for the explanation. However, i still have something that bugs my mind about the “past and present field of study” part. Can I state my achievements (i.e. winning a national competition) and experience (i.e. becoming a teaching assistant under my professor in my previous university back then)? And is there any difference in applicants limit between Japanese entry MEXT with English entry?
Thank you
Hi Akmal,
Your Field of Study and Research Program Plan should be focused on the research that you want to complete in Japan and when you mention your Past and Present Field of Study, it should be related to your future research proposal. If you won an award for research that was related to your field in Japan, then go ahead and mention it. But if it was for something unrelated, then I do not think putting it in this document would help. (Instead, ask your recommender to mention it in their letter of recommendation!)
Being a TA also should only be mentioned here if you were teaching a field related to your research proposal and that experience gave you new skills or motivated you to pursue your particular research.
There is no separate quote for scholars studying in English and those studying in Japanese, as far as I know.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
do you have a sample research plan document I can look at?
Thank you for all your help!
Noor
Hi Noor,
Unfortunately, I do not. I reference a few plans that other people have posted publicly in my book, How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan, but most of them use an older format for the FSRPP. Here is the link to one of them.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much for this information, Trans!
I am so excited about this application form, however, due to the pandemic especially when “India” is concerned, I thought the chances for MEXT to release the form will be delayed. Due to which I didn’t get the chance to make a good network with professors with the specific research plan. I feel a bit hesitant towards even starting the process as the application process has already been started and now doesn’t seem like the best time to contact professors. What should I even do in this situation, should I start contacting now? Is it too late?
Hi Nikita Sharma,
You do not necessarily need to contact professors to write your Field of Study and Research Program Plan or to before submitting your application. It’s a good thing for networking, but not essential to your application. If you have the time now to be able to write a Field of Study and Research Program Plan, I think you should still give the application a shot this year!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis,
Hello,
For my proposal, I would like to include the potential courses I will take for my master in my timeline. However, I am not sure wheteher I should copy aste the course list of my first choice university along with my timeline, or I should just put the similar courses that are in my three universities (thus not list all the courses) and write below that these are the similar courses in the 3 universities however for sure I am expecetd to take more courses.
Also please, concerning the letter of recommendation to apply through embassy, should it be from my advisor, or is it possible to be just from a professor that I had a class with? (I would prefere to get it from my professor)
Hi Meru,
Your letter should be from your Academic Advisor, since that is the requirement in the guidelines and also the person who should know your overall academic performance throughout your degree the best.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Meru,
When including your coursework plans in your Field of Study and Research Program Plan, I recommend that you stick to mentioning just a few of the key courses that relate to your research. For example: “Coursework including . . .” and fill in the fields after that. In a situation like yours where the course titles differ between the universities, then I would recommend listing the course subjects, not the exact titles.
I hope that helps.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
I couldn’t thank you enough for all the useful information and advice you have posted on this site. I don’t understand one thing, though. In the 2022 research plan form it says the same about it being two pages, but does the timetable and the references also count in that or are do they count as attachments? Because my plan is 2 pages long but it gets to 4 with the timetable and reference.
Again thank you, thank you!
Hi Mary-Anne,
Attachments to the Field of Study and Research Program Plan do not count toward the 2-page limit, but they should be clearly marked as attachments and also should not be essential to understanding the content of the plan. For example, you cannot leave the explanation of your research progress to just the timeline, you also need to cover the process in general within the two pages of the plan, then use the timeline to add detail.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, hope you’re well. First off, Thank you so much for your informative posts!
Secondly, I too have a few queries I needed help with. What should one mention for their current field of study if for instance the applicant is not working in research. Is this only meant for PhD applicants or should I add the current chosen or desired field of study? I am a bit confused!
Another question; so I’m pursuing a masters that is slightly different from my undergrad major (chemical-mechanical eng) but the particular research I’m pursuing is usually a common theme in both departments with mech departments having more of a focus in it. Would that be a problem for me? I mean I intend to fully justify my interest and link them to my education and perhaps my experience?! Also could I use my current professional work experience as an engineer to make my case stronger? As in I was thinking of mentioning how undergrad introduced me to the specific subject and my current work experience further matured my interest for the field, or something like that? What do you think?
Sorry for so many queries in a single comment.
Hi Wajdan Khan,
Your “current field of study” should be your major and your specific focus within that major during your most recent degree. If you have already graduated and are working, you would still refer to the last university degree that you earned. This applies to both Master’s and PhD applicants.
If you can show how your past field of study is related to the field/subject that you want to research in Japan, then it should be fine to change fields. The situation you described, where both fields study the same theme, sounds like it should not be a problem.
You can refer to your current work experience briefly in the Past and Present Field of Study, but it should not be more than a sentence to show how it relates to your research interest. The approach you described of describing how your undergraduate work and professional experience led to your research interest sounds good, but don’t spend too much time/spaced focused on the past. The most important part of this document is to propose the research that you want to complete in the future.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Can you use Times New Roman font size 9 if possible. would your application get rejected if you use that size?
Best Regards,
Nauman
Hi Nauman,
I have not heard of an application being rejected just because of the font size. But on the other hand, I think it is a better idea to try to shorten your research proposal by cutting out unnecessary parts rather than try to fit more words in by shrinking the font size. Part of the point of the page limit here is to force applicants to present their research in a short, succinct manner to make it easier for reviewers to go through it.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi
The reason i want to use Times New Roman 9 is the space between headings and paragraph takes a lot of space. if use 9 everything fits perfectly and if i use 10 it goes slightly into the 3rd page.
I mean i doubt they will reject my application between between font size 9 and 10 because for UK nationals you have to merge 1 application documents with research plan and abstract theses into a single pdf for email submission.
[Notes for email submission]
Application files (1), (3), (8) and (9) if applicable should be saved in the order of the numbers specified in the Application Guidelines (see 9. Application Documents) in a PDF file, except (2) Placement Preference Application Form and (7) Medical Certificate (or Self-Assessment Medical Report) separately.
Your referee should email a signed recommendation letter (6) / (10), preferably in headed letter form, directly to the Embassy.
Authorised transcripts (4) and degree certificates or letters of prospective graduation (5) can be directly emailed to the Embassy from your university.
Please specify the programme you are applying for in the title of the email (eg. “2022 Postgraduate Scholarship”).
The size of each email should not exceed 10MB otherwise it cannot be received.
Due to high volume of emails we receive, we are not able to send an acknowledgement of receipt to each application. If you wish to check the receipt, it is recommended that you set up an option of “Request a Delivery Receipt” in your email account before emailing your application.
Best Regards,
Nauman
Hi Nauman,
If that is how you want to submit it, I do not think your application would be rejected for the font size alone.
I think there are better ways to handle the length issue, but it’s up to you.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Trans, I would like to know if it would be feasible to get MEXT for a master’s field in intercultural communications, japanese linguistics or anything along the lines of social studies? The problem is I’ve graduated from an IT background which I’ve stopped having interest in so I it would be hard to come up with a research proposal I can base off of, unless I do a lot of research on the program that the universities deal with (my graduation paper gives a brief abstract and introduction for why students study abroad in southeast asia and the problem of finding information for them, but the main paper itself is just about the development of decision support software to answer that problem statement) so I don’t believe I can make it stand out besides trying to reach for some off-hand connections. The only other connection I can make as of now is that I’m currently studying at a specialized training school for english-japanese translation.
Hi Faisal,
The scholarship guidelines state that applicants “should apply for the field of study they majored in at university or its related field.” It is up to you to convince reviewers that your fields are “related” when you are not applying in the same major. Applying for intercultural linguistics when your previous degree was in IT sounds like it might be a challenge, but if you can think of a way to relate it, you can still apply. You should certainly do a lot of research on the programs that universities offer, in any case!
Please note that the statement I quoted above is specific to degree programs at universities, so unfortunately your studies at the specialized training school wouldn’t count as a “major at university”.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Trans,
Thank you so much for all the information and advice.
I just need more information about your paid review
thanks again.
Hi Hala,
I have more information about my paid review service at the coaching link at the top of the page. You can also find a form there to send an inquiry and I will follow up with you directly by email.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I’ve been reading a lot of your blog posts recently so I would like to say thank you for your amazing blog! Further, I have questions regarding the field of study and research program.
I have been accepted in a university in Japan, and they said that I am nominated as a MEXT scholar. They asked me to fill a form and the research plan sheet. The sheet is kinda different from the embassy one, mine has no specific section provided. My first question, is the research plan still an important consideration aspect to MEXT at this point given that I practically have been accepted and nominated by my university?
I actually not really confident with my current research plan, so if this is still an important aspect for consideration I think I should do more work to improve it. Lastly, do you recommend me to set the research plan section and content like the embassy one?
Thank you in advance.
Hi SM,
Thank you very much for your kind feedback.
Congratulations on your acceptance and nomination as a MEXT Scholar!
Based on the timing, I would assume that you are being nominated under the Top Global University MEXT Scholarship category. In that case, there should be no further competitive screening of your application after the university has selected you for nomination.
It is still important to put effort into creating a well thought out application, but if you already wrote a research proposal and were accepted based on that, then your proposal should be fine as is and just needs to be placed into the format for MEXT’s sheet. I would not worry about refining the contents too much at this point.
Unfortunately, I do not know what the form looks like for your application process. If it resembles the Field of Study and Research Program Plan form for the University Recommended MEXT Scholarship, I have a guide for that format as well. Otherwise, I would recommend you use your best judgement for how to put the different sections into MEXT’s format to ensure your plan is coherent.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for your response! I have one more question, but this is regarding transcript. I was studying abroad for my Bachelor’s degree. I asked them to send me certified copy of my transcript but due wfh policy they can’t send physical document right now. So I printed the scanned document that they gave and sent them to the university. But I didn’t say anything about it to the university in japan. Now i have been accepted and nominated for the MEXT SGU. They asked me to provide transcript again for applying to mext.
My question is:
Is it gonna be fine if i still send the printed scanned transcript for the mext screening given that i practically have been accepted by the university.
Thank you in advance Travis. Please stay safe and healthy.
Hi SM,
I think you should ask the university directly what they will accept in your case. There is no specific exception for your situation that I know of, so it is going to be a case-by-case decision. If you let them know that your university cannot send a hardcopy transcript due to the pandemic, the Japanese university might be able to offer a suggestion. (Such as having your previous university email them a scan, directly, or something like that.
Good Luck and Stay Healthy!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis:
While doing my research proposal I had some doubts about the methodological aspects that should be included. I want to do some interviews with key actors of the policy that I aim to analyze (it would be a pretty big part of the project). The problem is that my Japanese level is still pretty basic (N4) but I hope to improve it really fast in case I win the scholarship (I would have a year to prepare).
If I add to the research proposal that I want to do these interviews as one of the methodological tools, would it be detrimental to me as a candidate since I’m not fluent in Japanese? Would it be better to left it out?
PS: I’m applying to study a Master in Political Science
Hi Isla,
It’s not uncommon for me to see applicants proposing interviews as part of their research methodology despite having little or no Japanese language ability, so I do not think this is a problem. Working on improving your Japanese ability is great, but if your language is not up to task when you come to the interviews, they you would have to find a workaround, like getting assistance from an interpreter, etc. I think as long as you are prepared with ideas about how to overcome the language barrier, then I think you should be fine.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis,
Concerning the literature review of the proposal, how many articles and sources would you suggest for the references? (I am a Management student).
Thank you,
Hi Meru,
I cannot give you a specific number, but the best answer I can offer is “enough sources to cover the field related to your research question.” It is really going to vary based on how narrow your research field is already and how diverse the theories and sources are in your particular field.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Trans, im a student in Masters in Cameroon and i wsih to apply for the MEXT scholarship. Well i have a question: Is it possible for me to start studies in another domain than the one I learned? Because, what I studied and got graduated at my Bachelor was Computer Sciences and now i wish to apply for studies in Arts (Graphic Arts). Is it possible for me please?
Best regards!
Hi Nyama,
One of the requirements for the scholarship for Graduate Studies is that you have to apply in the field of study that you majored in previously at university or its related field. There is no clear definition of “related field” so if you can show (in the past and present field of study portion of your Field of Study and Research Program Plan) how your proposed research field in Japan is related to research that you completed in your undergraduate program, then you can apply.
It is up to you to show how they are related though.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
My Masters thesis isn’t directly related to anything I studied in my BA but the courses are related. I studied history and want to study International Relations.
Do you think I will still have a chance even though my thesis isn’t related to any piece of work I did at university?
Thanks,
Billy
Hi Billy,
MEXT requires that you apply in a field that you majored in, or its related field, but there is no requirement that your field in Japan be related to your bachelor’s thesis (if you had one) or one specific piece of research/paper.
History and International Relations are close enough in my experience, and I have no doubt that you can show how your research into a particular topic led to an interest in international relations.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
You mentioned that the Field of Study and Research Plan has to be 2 pages long. Does that include double sides would it be 4 pages on Word or 2 pages.
Best Regards,
Nauman
Hi Nauman,
2 pages means 2 pages in Word. So, it would be two single-sided pages when printed.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Do you know of any examples of winning Field of Study and Research Program Plans relating to psychology or biology?
Thank you!
Ryan
Hi Ryan,
I have worked with coaching clients who wrote plans related to biology (mostly related to medical applications), so I have seen successful plans in that field, but unfortunately, I do not have permission to share them.
I have not seen any research plans related to psychology yet. That doesn’t mean they’re not out there, just that nobody in that field has hired me as a coach!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I want to apply for MEXT2021-2022 through the embassy. Thus, I was wondering if this updated version of research plan is the one I should use now.
Thank you very much.
Hi Meru,
Yes, as far as I know, this is the form that you will use if you are applying through the embassy. The embassy recommended MEXT Scholarship switched over to this form two years ago, though the University Recommended MEXT Scholarship still uses the old form.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Transenz, is it possible to apply for a taught masters rather than a research masters. If it is possible, does that mean I don’t need a research plan? Thanks
Hi Samuel Olatunbosun,
In general, masters degrees in Japan meet the definition of “taught masters” as far as I understand the definition of that term. Most of your degree consists of taking courses, but you will need to complete a culminating thesis or capstone project. So, you will always need a Field of Study and Research Program Plan (for that thesis/capstone) for your application.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey Travis,
Nice job deleting my comment that included a mild but valid criticism about how your advice about writing a research proposal does not apply to every field. I thought the purpose of this blog was to help others. What if you’re misleading some people in fields you have no idea about? I guess you don’t care, otherwise you would have at least addressed that comment instead of censoring it. Can’t believe I actually wanted to pay you to help me with this stuff. Now I know better. Also, you may be able to censor comments here but you can be sure that I will discuss this in other MEXT scholarship forums and prevent others from wasting their money on your services.
Hi Ana,
Thank you for your feedback.
I did not delete your comment, I just simply had not reviewed and approved it yet by the time you posted this second one. I get a lot of spam on here (there are a surprising number of witch-doctors that want to advertise their services in my comments. I’m not even kidding.), so I review each comment one by one before approving them – and usually try to take the time to write a reply at the same time. That means that it takes some time before your comments will show up.
I appreciate feedback and criticism. It’s the only way I can get better and make this site more helpful. This site started with my own personal experience, but it has grown as people like you have shared how their experience was different, which gave me the opportunity to learn a new perspective, do more research, and add more resources here. Your point about how some of my content was more focused on science and engineering than arts (now posted!) was a good one and made me think about the language I use in the posts.
Please do discuss any differences of opinion about the scholarship process here or elsewhere. But I would ask you to consider that I did not delete your comment and have not censored any comment on this blog (other than obvious spam), ever.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis,
I feel like your advice is mostly applicable to those in the sciences rather than humanities. This sentence about how “if you already know the answer before you have even started your graduate program, then there really wasn’t any point in your research” is not always accurate. In philosophy, we often pick a stance to argue for at the beginning, so we already know what the answer is going to be. We even have to have some idea of how we intend to get to that answer. But the challenge is to find enough evidence and to take the necessary logical steps to get to that answer successfully. Also, a lot of research in fields such as arts and literature is not really about finding out an answer but to simply demonstrate something. Do you really think people in such fields need to follow this advice?
Hi Ana,
Thank you for your feedback. Certainly some of the terminology in the posts here refer to science fields, but I think if you think about it more broadly, it still applies in other fields, too, but you just have to translate the terms to make sense for you. If I borrow your philosophy example, then you might have chosen a stance and a final answer, but until you have enough of the evidence and have made the logical steps in order to be able to make a persuasive case, then you don’t “know” the answer, at least for the purpose of your research. In fields where you choose a stance and try to establish its validity, I think you can think of the “answer” not as the result, but as being the steps that you will take to get there.
I will try to make my language a little more accommodating to other fields/approaches in future posts.
I should also add that the comment you referred to was in the optional hypothesis section, which is something I see far more often in science and engineering papers, as well as social sciences. You might not need a hypothesis in your research proposal in the arts and literature fields you are referring to.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, thank you for the writing guide!
I noticed that you wrote maximum of 2 pages for this document. But I saw from Ritsumeikan University application documents cheklist, they stated no page limit on Field of Study and Research Plan (please see the picture I attached as link). https://imgur.com/JnrNrmq
Hi Naufal,
It looks like Ritsumeikan (and possibly all universities) are using the older version of the Field of Study and Research Program Plan. I have a separate article about that version of the form.
When this new version was introduced for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship two years ago, I had expected it to be adopted for the University, too, but it seems that hasn’t happened yet.
Even though there is no official limit in this version, 2-3 pages, plus attachments, if necessary, is still a good target. You only have the professors’ attention for so long and I’ve honestly never seen a plan that required longer than that to get the point across.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Exactly my research plan length. I followed your previous recommendation and just found this updated recommendation after I finished writing. It got positive review from my senior who received MEXT. Thank you so much!
Hi Naufal,
I’m glad to hear it! Best of luck with your application!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis!
1 – So, I’m working on gathering my documents for the University-recommended scholarship, and I’m a bit in doubt about how to send the recommendation letters. Do you think it’s okay to send a colored copy of a recommendation letter? Or is it recommended to send originals only? Is that also true for other documents?
2 – In another subject: I was not called for the interview during the selection for the embassy recommended scholarship. In their e-mail stating this, the embassy made a recommendation that I try again next year, and to pursue certification of Japanese language proficiency before doing so. As it was, the embassy’s selection did not include the language proficiency exam so, although I could present my TOEFL score (with C1 proficiency), in terms of Japanese I couldn’t present anything that stated that I do have an intermediary level. Since I met all prerequisites, as I read them in your blog, and since my research plan was read by multiple PhDs that are experts on my field that found it to be good, do you think the Japanese level might have indeed been the main reason for my refusal? By the way, my field of study is Neuroscience.
As always, thank you for reading through my rambling, and thank you for the thoroughly helpful articles. Stay safe!
Hi João Pedro,
1. Typically, all of the documents must be submitted as originals by post, unless the university has specifically provided other instructions. I would recommend that you make arrangements now to be able to send everything by post, in case that is what will be required. Do not send copies unless it is specifically allowed in the application instructions from the university.
2. Without seeing all of your application documents together, I’m not sure what could have been the issue with your last Embassy application. The Japanese language proficiency could have been an issue, particularly if the programs you were interested were taught in Japanese or you were going for a medical doctorate program.
Another potential concern is, even if PhDs read your FSRPP, they would likely have been reading for the academic merit of the proposal. The embassy is also looking for the social outcomes and how your research would contribute to the relationship between Japan and your home country. They are less likely to have academic experts reviewing your proposal on a solely academic basis. Sometimes it can help to get a review by someone who is not an expert in your field.
On the other hand, the University Recommended MEXT Scholarship doesn’t go through the same embassy review phase, so a more academic-oriented plan has a better chance of success there, I think.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Yeah, well, they did ask me specificaly for my general field and specific field, which I replied, respectively, with Medicine and Neuroscience. Indeed, that might have made it more necessary to have some form of proof of a basic level of Japanese, since they didn’t conduct the exams.
In another subject: I’m currently rewriting my 4-page research plan to fit into the 2-page University-recommended form. My prospective supervisor sent me the form he received this month from the uni admin, which contains the three question structure from the “old” form. I’m reading your book (which is awesome) for the plan and trying to adapt your advice for the first draft into this old form – along with reading your article with advice for the older form. As it is, my only doubt is about including the Research Goals subsection in the Research Theme in Japan (question 2) rather than in question 3 (Study Program in Japan), because question 3 says “(…) particularly corcerning the ultimate goal of your research.”. Do you think its best to leave the Research goals in question 2?
Hi Joao Pedro,
Thank you for the feedback on the book. I am glad that you have found it helpful!
But it is indeed written for the format currently used in the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship. That format changed right as I was publishing the book, and I have expected the university format to be updated to match ever since.
Regarding your question, if you want to move the research goals to the 3rd question, I do not think that would be a problem. The way I looked at the questions, I kept the research goals (as in, what you hope to contribute to the field) in question in 2, and in question 3, my approach would be to show the process that clearly indicates how you can achieve those goals. For example, what data you will collect and how you will analyze it. Question 3 should also include how you you disseminate those findings.
But I do not think that either way is wrong, so write it however it makes the most sense for your plan. MEXT is not going to look at your FSRPP and say, “Oh, he answered this portion in question 2 when it should have been in question 3, so we have to reject the application.” I think they are always going to look at it as a whole.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I am working on my MEXT Master’s research plan, and I want to confirm some things about formatting. Is it appropriate to open the university’s MEXT application form as a Microsoft Word document and type directly onto it? This seems to be the most straightforward way to me. I am hoping that as long as I do not alter other parts of the application form and stay within the bounds of the space given for the research plan it will be ok.
Also, Osaka University’s MEXT form is in 10pnt font. Would it suffice to type out my plan in this font as well? It would give me more room for content, especially since Osaka U only provides one page (with included instructions on the top) for the research plan. Thanks in advance!
Hi Jimmy C.,
MEXT’s official guidelines for the 2020-2021 University Recommended MEXT Scholarship application are not out yet and I have not seen any specific instructions from Osaka U, either, so I don’t have anything concrete to refer to, but I’ll try to answer as best I can. If you can point in the direction of the specific instructions from Osaka, that might help.
In the meantime, yes, you should be able to edit the Field of Study and Research Program Plan as a word document (what format is the version you found in? I’ve almost always seen it in word in the past). Depending on whether Osaka is using the FSRPP format that I described in this article or the format that the University Recommended MEXT Scholarship used last year (see my older article on that format) you should be able to add pages to the document. Whether you are limited to just one page or can add as many as you want (I still don’t recommend adding more than one) depends on the version of the form and the local instructions.
10pt font is a little small, but if that’s what the form is naturally in, it’s fine to use. For the sake of your reviewers’ eyes though, if you can make it a little larger and still fit in the allotted space, I would recommend it.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
I realized there are actually two pages (the form did not seem to load properly the first time) so I believe space is no longer an issue.
I have a somewhat unrelated question about something that may or may not affect my MEXT application. There is a possibility that my current major will change, due to some scheduling choices in my undergraduate career. The major change will only affect one class I take later on, and the degree I end up receiving will not be any less relevant to the proposed MEXT Master’s program than my current one is. How would this affect my application chances? There is a slight chance that my undergraduate major change would be approved before the MEXT deadline, but I would like to know what precautions I need to take regarding this, and whether or not to contact the MEXT office at Osaka U in advance. Once again thank you so much for the advice.
Hi Jimmy C.,
I took a look at the form and it says that you can go up to 2000 words, so the page count should not be an issue.
I cannot think of any way that your change of major would affect your MEXT application, since it only concerns changing one class and you would be within the same field. It might affect your graduation thesis that you submit the abstract for, but without any other details, I do not see an issue.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis!
Here we have deadline in the middle of October, i’m polisihing my research plan right now and i have one question. Since now we are limited to 2 pages of Word, even though ”Guide for Creating a Field of Study and Research Plan Sheet” takes around half a page, it means we need to squeeze research plan into 1 and half pages right? To overall, including everything, not go beyond 2 pages? It was a bit difficult to put everything in just 1 and half pages. But i think i managed.
Also, thank you very much for this post, it’s incredibly helpful!
Hi Tina,
Thank you very much for your kind feedback!
Yes, the instructions section count toward your two-page limit, unfortunately. I’m glad to hear that you were able to fit everything in! Once you get to the interview stage, you’ll have an opportunity to expand on what you’ve written, as well, in response to the questions.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis. Thank you so much for the great post. Lately I was having a lot of questions about the MEXT 2020 application form and you are the only who is able to answers them)
I have on more question that I would like to ask. When it comes to Research theme and plan, should they be related to Japan in any way? For example, my research title is something about Artificial Intelligence and its reliability. Should I modify it to something like Japanese AI and it reliability and so on. Because initially I wanted research on something that is global topic and mention that Japan would be a great place for that research since it is a technology oriented country. Now I am wondering maybe I should change the whole plan and relate it to something totally Japan themed. Like the example you gave in the post. Hope I was clear with my explanation. Thanks in advance)
Hi Vasi,
Your research subject does not necessarily have to be directly related to Japan, so you do not need to focus it only on AI in Japan. Since yours is a global topic, you just need to be able to explain why Japan is the best place for the research, which should be relatively easy. You should also be able to show how your research will benefit Japan and your home country, but since AI is an active research field here, and advances in it should have a benefit for Japan, so I do not see a problem there, either. You should be able to justify any topic.
You also need to conduct your primary research in Japan, in general, since under the MEXT Scholarship, you cannot participate in extended research or internships outside of Japan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi! Thank you for your information!
My name is Aziza, I am from Kyrgyzstan. I study Journalism and Mass Communications.
I have a question regarding the exam. I’ve passed the first screening and now I’m waiting for the exam. However, my senpai from Kyrgyzstan, who was selected two years ago, told me that I need at least N3 in order to pass the second round, but my Japanese level is N5 or maybe lower. I thought I could handle it without N3. I’m worried now. I still do hope that there is a chance to win without perfect Japanese, cause I’m eager to learn. But still, I want to know your opinion on this. Thank you in advance!
Hi Aziza,
MEXT does not have any specific requirement for applicants to have JLPT scores and universities will only require JLPT scores if you are applying to a program taught in Japanese.
However, embassies are permitted to establish their own requirements. I do not have any insight as to what those might be, so it is possible that the information from your senpai is correct.
I do know that in the language exams you do have to try to fill it out to the best of your ability and not leave it blank. Some applicants were rejected during the secondary screening last year for leaving the Japanese language test blank.
The best thing that you can do at this point is to do your best on the parts of the application that are under your control and not spend time worrying about what you cannot affect.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much!
Hello 🙂
Thank you very much for writing about this, it helped so much. I do have one question, is there a way to see an example of already written research plan? I feel like i know exactly what to write but i fear to make a mistake 😮
Hi Tina,
Unfortunately, I do not have any samples of a research plan using the current format that I have permission to share.
There are a few samples that past applicants have shared online based on old formats of the plan that may or may not be relevant. The most well-known is Lars Martinson, but he applied well over a decade ago in the field of art.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I see. thank you very much ^^
One more question, if possible.
So we leave everything as it is? For example the form has ”Guide for Creating a Field of Study and Research Plan Sheet”. we don’t need to erase it right? 😮
Just fill Past and present field of study and Research theme and plan in Japan
Hi Tina,
Right, you should not delete any parts of the form or its instructions. You are free to add space to the various questions as needed, though, so long as you do not go over the two page limit.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
There is a small space left at the end of my research plan, do you recommend me to fill it and write more or it won’t be a problem ?
Thank you 🙂
Hi Ela,
It is not a problem to have a little white space as long as you have clearly covered everything the plan is meant to convey!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi again, Travis. Thanks for answering my previous question! So, I’m now wondering about the level of specificity that I should go into when writing my research plan for research in neuroscience. At the moment, I’ve stabilished enough knowledge of my research area: to write an introducion with the current state of the art on the theme; define what would my experimental subjects be (mice); what is the precise neurological and behavioral phenomena that I’ll do research on; what are the key neural pathways and brain structures of interest; a short list of two or three likely experimental instruments/interventions; and what are the questions that I want to answer with my research.
What that said, I’m still not decided concerning specificities like exact experimental procedures, for example. Do you think that level specificity should be included in this type of plan? I know for a fact that, during a master’s course, we are supposed to read piles of books and attend to hundreds of hours of lectures, and that our exact methods will be decided alongside PhDs that are experts on the area, along with other research colleagues from the lab that will co-author or final paper. So, I’m inclined to think that I don’t have to relate absolutely everything. What are your thoughts on that? Thanks in advance.
Hi João Pedro,
While I am not an expert in your field, it sounds to me like you have enough specificity included already. For the experimental procedures, you could list one or two as examples that you might use, but also mention that you will determine the final procedures in consultation with your advisor, like you suggested. That would be perfectly reasonable!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis ,
Firstly ,Thank you for your effort , you make the process much easier for me .
I’d like to ask if I should be an expert on the research topic I choose , I’m a computer science fresh graduate and I’d like to publish a paper on Artificial intelligent, I took some basic courses in this field, would my lack of expertise be a problem ? 🙁
Thank you in advance .
Hi Ela,
You’re not expected to be an expert in your field before starting a Master’s Degree, but you will be expected to have a clear idea of what you want to research in the field and to perform the necessary background research and literature reviews to develop your research question and approach.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Again, thanks so much for the great guides and answering my other question on GPA.
My research goals are highly theoretical (topological quantum computing) which means essentailly my entire research plan is to study topological insulators, study quantum computing, then combine the two. Should I be including all sub-areas of those topics in my research plan? I am afraid I have included too much jargon in my plan, but if I use less jargon, my research plan won’t be as detailed. What do you suggest?
Jimmy
Hi Jimmy,
Since your research plan is limited to only two pages, I would consider that to be guidance that you do not need to go into too much detail. In general, I recommend stating the objective of your research and the steps you will take to get there in the minimum amount of detail necessary to get the point across. (Pardon my lack of understanding of your field) If you were to say “I plan to study issue X in quantum computing by testing the application of different topological insulators, to maximize energy efficiency. To test the topological insulators, I will [examples of specific research steps]. . .” That type of phrase would introduce the point of your research for non-experts and then, by giving an example or two, show that you know what you’re talking about to experts.
I hope that helps, but without understanding the field, I’m afraid my examples may not be that relevant.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello, Travis! I hope you’ve doing well lately, despite current circumstances. Anyways, I’m currently working very hard to secure a scolarship, and I’m glad to have wandered into your page. Concerning the initial screening for the Embassy-Recommended Scolarship: my country’s Japanese embassy’s instructions page asks for a four-pages-max research project/plan, which should countain a Title, Abstract, Introduction, “Main-body”, Methods (optionally) and References. There’s also some deviance from these instructions as presented by the consulate, which also conducts the selection for the Scholarship separately from the Embassy. That leads me to believe that there’s plenty of difference from what is to be expected from the plan I’ll be presenting to the one as per the form you made available here. What would be your recommendations for preparing to write this specific “type” of plan?
Hi João Pedro,
The plan and format that I have presented here are the format required by MEXT, per their guidelines, so I would assume that you will need to complete it eventually.
However, many countries also include their own separate requirements or conduct pre-screenings, which seems to be the case for you.
Unfortunately, I cannot keep up with all of the country-specific requirements. However, it looks like the contents of the plan required by your consulate contains many of the same sections. Since you have more space, you would simply expand on the level of detail, and perhaps add more citations and references. I’m afraid that is the best suggestion that I can offer.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis.
Firstly I really want to thank you for advising us on this wonderful journey. There are several pages on the web that manage how to applied effectively and definitively this is the most accurate that I have found.
Travis, I have a simple question: ¿What is the difference between the benefits that you specify on the Research Background section and Research Goals section?
I’m kindly asking you this because the fact that the relations of both countries are strengthened due to research is a way of benefit isn’t ? for that reason it could be filled in both sections that kind of benefit?
Again, どうもありがとうございました。greetings from Colombia!!!
Hi Andres,
Thank you very much for your kind feedback.
The primary difference in the description of benefits between the two sections is the level of detail. Also, it is not strictly necessary to include that content in both sections, so you could choose only one, if it makes sense for your plan.
In the “Research Background”, my suggestion is to describe in a single sentence or less how your research topic could benefit Japan and your home county. For example, if you were researching ultralight alloys, in the Research Background, you could say something like “developing lighter alloys without losing strength could benefit automobile manufacturers in both countries. By the time you get to the Research Goals, you will have described your specific research in more detail – for example, maybe you want to experiment with creating new aluminium-based high entropy alloys. So, in that case, you would be more specific about how your specific research will contribute to the field of developing new alloys, then tie that back to the original practical goal.
Does that make sense?
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Very glad for your answer.
Thank you Travis
Dear Readers,
can you share with me a format of research plan? or how best can we choose a research theme?
Hi Sylion Muramira,
This article is an example format for the FSRPP.
I do not have an article yet about how to choose a research theme, though I cover it in detail in my book, How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan.” However, if you don’t want to buy the book, then I would recommend talking to an academic advisor at your current university in your field to ask for their help.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi!
I still have not clear if I should send this document with my initial application? or only after I have passed the first screening.
Thank you for your help.
Hi Lorena,
It all depends on your country and their rules. In most countries, you need to send this and all of the application documents at the same time for the initial submission, but other countries only ask for a smaller set of documents as a preliminary screening. Please refer to the Japanese embassy where you will apply for the specific instructions in your case.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, good day.
First of all, thank you for your all your efforts in this blog.
I’d like to ask some advice regarding the Research Background. You mentioned that it should only be 2-3 sentences ideally and should consume no more space than what the blank template allotted. I’m having trouble meeting this criteria since my field is science & engineering, and it takes a lot of words to connect my past research to the goal of that research field and then eventually why I wish to pursue graduate studies (in Japan). Do you think it would be advisable to maintain the ideal length and make the thought of the section a bit incomplete? I was thinking that this is the first thing the reviewer would see in my FSRPP. Or do reviewers usually just skim through the first section and really focus on the 2nd question?
Any insights you may have is valued and highly appreciated. Thanks again for your kind patience and assistance.
Hi Marc,
I am sorry this reply is coming so late!
In my opinion, what you intend to research in Japan is far far more important than what you have done in the past. Your Research Background should only go into as much detail as is required to show that you have the appropriate background and motivation to pursue the research in Japan that you will describe in the next sections.
Your goal connection does not have to be elaborate and really isn’t that significant of a factor, so I would recommend conserving space there to use in more valuable sections. It is more important to make the goal of what you want to accomplish through your research in Japan clear.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello! Thank you so much Sir for the informative article! I have 2 questions
Is it necessary to add research timeline in research plan question?? As there is a limitation of two pages so i find it difficult because one page is for research theme question and i also have to briefly explain my research plan in just 1 page so it is difficult for me
What happen if our research plan exceed than 2 pages?
Kindly help me in this regard thanks!!
Hi Haroon,
No, the research timeline is not a requirement. In many cases, it is a convenient way to express your exact research steps clearly, but if you can do that in the context of the paragraph, then you do not need the timeline.
The research timeline should also never be essential to understanding your Field of Study and Research Program Plan. Ultimately, it is an attachment, only. It can be used to add detail, but your plan should be comprehensible without it.
Yes, there is a limitation of two pages. If your plan is longer than two pages, you will need to condense it by focusing on what it is that you need this document to convey. I have reviewed dozens of research plans since the two-page limit was imposed and have never seen a FSRPP that actually needed more than two pages to make its point!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for your excellent Travis!
Is it necessary to add timeline section? I almost reached 2 pages in research theme section!!
Hi Haroon,
No, the timeline is not necessary, but I find that it is often an easy way to display your research process.
If you cover the content of your research process in the text, then you can also include the timeline as an additional attachment (not counting toward your two pages), but that only really works if it is a visual representation of what you have already discussed. If you use the timeline as an attachment, then there shouldn’t be anything in there that is original and critical to understanding your research proposal.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Trans, my school is refusing to give me another original copy for submission, they are charging me my final year school fee before releasing another copy will be be signed and stamped. The figure is extremely high, so am planning on submitting a scanned copy to the embassy. I hope it will fly
Hi Bogema,
I think you will have already turned in your application for now, so I hope your solution worked out.
Since your school fee is something that you would have to pay, anyway, to proceed with your education and graduate (and thereby qualify for the MEXT Scholarship), I would have recommended paying it and getting the official form, but if your solution worked, that’s great.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz