What does a successful Field of Study and Research Program Plan look like? Check out this example!
Want to see what a successful MEXT Scholarship Field of Study and Research Program Plan looks like? James Chabin has generously agreed to share the story of his application and his complete Field of Study and Research Program Plan that won him the scholarship in the 2021-2022 application cycle!
You can find his story below, followed by his Field of Study and Research Program Plan. I have also included my own section-by-section commentary on the FSRPP. Thank you James!
Creating the Field of Study and Research Program Plan: James’ Story
Introduction
I am a 2021-2022 MEXT scholarship recipient from the United States currently attending Nagoya University’s Graduate School of International Development. This article includes my Field of Study and Research Program Plan (FSRPP) and my advice for future applicants.
Most of the advice below is in Travis’ books and website, which I relied on during the application process. Hopefully, my FSRPP can be a practical example of a successful application!
Choosing a Field of Study
When choosing your field of study, you must consider your experience and goals. Selected candidates are qualified to study in their field but need further education to reach their goals.
Key Point: Great example of finding a degree program when there isn’t an exact match in the field name.
To separate yourself from the competition, you should discuss more than a degree in your application. This can be an internship, work experience, a thesis, or something else. For me, it was one year as an intern at a think-tank that specialized in U.S.- Mexico relations. This experience exposed me to international relations and improved my research skills.
Key Point: You must show why you need more education in Japan in order to accomplish your goals!
At this point, my narrative connects my past, present, and future to international development and the MEXT scholarship.
Choosing a Research Topic
Choosing a research topic was the most challenging part of the application for me. My approach was to find the intersection of all the work I had already done:
- Since my goal was to work in government, my research would be on government international development projects.
- Since I wanted to understand Japan’s approach to international development, I chose Japanese and U.S. projects.
- Since I studied Mexico, I chose to research international development projects in Mexico.
My final proposal was to do a case study comparing USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) projects in Mexico. After research, I found projects by the United States and Japan suitable for the study.
University Placement
Remember that after passing your interview, you will have to be accepted by a Japanese university. My understanding is that applicants who pass the interview almost always find a school. But, I was rejected by one of the two schools I applied to.
Commentary: Mentioning a specific university in your application as a target is risky, since it can hurt your chances with other universities.
Additionally, I prioritized Nagoya University, even mentioning them in my application. This was a risky move I felt was worth it because Nagoya was my first choice, but I would not do it if I were to apply again.
Wild Card
Key Point: Your FSRPP is not final and it should change later. After all, that’s part of the point of your studies and working with your advisor!
Unless you are a PhD applicant, MEXT is looking for someone who will be a great researcher when they graduate. It is important that your FSRP shows effort and consistency. So enrolling in a Japanese class, learning basic research protocols in your field, and being able to answer questions about your background is more important than having a revolutionary topic.
TranSenz
Writing the FSRPP itself, I used Travis’ articles and books religiously. I would recommend following his advice once you have chosen your topic. In particular, his book, How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan, is worth buying if you are able. I followed his advice down to the details. The fact that you are reading this blog right now is a great sign for you!
James’ Field of Study and Research Program Plan
Here is James’ research proposal. After each section, I have added my comments in italics about the strong and weak points. Of course, this was a successful research proposal, so I don’t mean to be critical, but even the best research proposal has room for improvement and I know you want your proposal to be the best it can be. If James had brought this proposal to me for a review through my coaching service, these are some of the suggestions I would have made. (Although compared to most of my reviews, I had very few weak points to highlight or suggestions to make!)
1. Past and present field of study
I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University with a B.A. in Sustainability with an international development track, a minor in Spanish, and a certificate in Latin American Studies. As an undergraduate, I studied sustainable development in Latin America. My thesis, supervised by Dr. Marco Janssen, researched the impact Latin American coffee cooperatives have on community economic development through the lens of dependency theory. My research with Dr. Janssen led me to Kenichi Ohno and Izumi Ohno’s 1998 article, Japanese Views on Economic Development: Diverse Paths to the Market, which inspired me to study Japanese development theory. I am currently involved with Spanish language day to day research activities and research projects that involve Latin America and economic development through my work at the Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute.
TranSenz Commentary
Strong Points:
- Every detail about his undergraduate study and current work is directly related to his research proposal.
- He describes his thesis topic concisely while displaying knowledge/experience in the theories used in the field of study he is applying for.
- He gives a clear example of how his previous research led to his interest in Japan.
- He demonstrates his proficiency in conducting research in a foreign language, which also helps reviewers see that he can adapt to new cultures and work outside of his own linguistic background.
Weak Points:
- He does not describe what problem he wants to address in his future research or why it is significant. Although he covers this later in the FSRPP, I typically recommend bringing it up in the Past and Present Field of Study section so that the reviewers, particularly at the embassy level, will have a clear understanding of the potential impact from the very beginning.
- I would have suggested mentioning a specific research project related to his proposed field in Japan in the reference to the Wilson Center, to give a little more continuity and strengthen the overall impact.
2-1. Research Theme
JICA and USAID in Mexico: The impact of development theory on the Mexican automotive industry
This study investigates how ideological differences between Japanese and American approaches to international development impact United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) initiatives through the example of workforce development projects in the Mexican automotive sector by way of a document review and in‐depth surveys in order to fill the knowledge gap concerning the Japanese development theory in the United States.
TranSenz Commentary
Strong Points:
- The title clearly shows the field of study and the specific focus area, which would attract the attention of reviewers.
- The theme paragraph builds well on the title to explain his field and specific research target/sample data, as well as the methods that he will use.
Weak Points:
- The title doesn’t quite make it clear that he will be comparing the ideologies of the two organizations and their impacts, so I would have suggested rewording it to include the word “comparison” or “comparative” in there.
- The title could have been more specific about workforce development projects being the focus.
- He mentions he wants to research how differences “impact. . . initiatives”, but I would have suggested being more clear about whether he is analyzing the difference in the agencies’ choices in which initiatives to pursue or the difference in the effectiveness (or both). That would help reviewers better understand how the data collection he describes could answer his research question. He actually answers this in the next section, but I would have recommended moving it forward to this part.
- When describing the research methods (document review and surveys), I would have suggested being more specific about the target data for each. As with the comment above, he mentions this in the next section, but I think the level of detail in that section would have been more appropriate here.
- He does not explain how he will analyze the identified data sources or how the information will answer his question. This could be addressed by briefly mentioning the analysis method or the results he expected from each source.
- I would have suggested describing the expected outcomes and importance at the end of this section.
Most of the issues I identified as “weak points” could have been solved by essentially moving some of the details from the first paragraph of his “research goals” section to this paragraph, so it’s not really a “weakness” of the plan as a whole, just a matter of order of content.
2-2. Research Plan
Research Goals
The purpose of this study is to contribute to better understanding how ideological differences between the Japanese and American development communities impact their development agency’s projects. The main research question is as follows: Which development theories are implemented in USAID and JICA’s projects and how do theoretical differences affect the methods and outcomes for each organization? To answer this question, this study will investigate USAID and JICA projects in the el Bajio region of Mexico, where each agency is supporting the automotive industry. This study will analyze documents from USAID, JICA, and the Mexican Agency for International Cooperation for Development (ANEXCID) and conduct a survey of relevant actors using novel mobile phone research methods developed by Elisa Maffioli (2020).
The November 2020 creation of the Japan US Brazil Exchange (JUSBE) and February 2021 meeting of the “Quad” leaders, which resulted in public health cooperation, demonstrate the momentum for soft power cooperation between Japan and the United States. However, there is little academic material on the potential challenges and benefits of such cooperation, as Ohno & Ohno identified in 2014. This study will contribute to filling this research gap by comparing Japanese and American development projects in the field. Along with the academic benefit, this research will be of benefit to policy makers who wish that the growing Japan United States soft power alliance is not hindered by differences in theory and approach.
TranSenz Commentary
Although I have more “weak point” comments than “strong point” comments for this section, I want to be clear that I thought the first paragraph was quite good. It was significantly better than most of the research proposals I see in its specificity.
Strong Points:
- He makes the importance of his research clear in the first sentence and explains it in terms of the benefits to Japan and his home country of the US.
- He states his specific research subject and makes it clear why it is the ideal research sample for his research in a concise manner.
- He describes his data sources for the research.
- The final two sentences of the second paragraph clearly show the academic and practical significance of his research.
Weak Points:
- His research question is actually two questions, so I would have rephrased it to focus on the latter part.
- Building on my comments on the previous section that recommended moving some of the details from this paragraph to the “Research Theme”, I would have suggested more details here about his data sources, such as the types of documents he will analyze (policy white papers? specific project implementation documents?) and who he will interview (aid officials? automotive factory owners? managers? workers?) and how he will use that information to answer his research question.
- The second paragraph could benefit from a stronger opening. The current first sentence does not seem to be connected to the subject of the previous paragraph, so a better transition is required. This could be accomplished by combining the first two sentences and rewording them so that the context (increasing soft power cooperation between the US and Japan) comes first. Irrelevant details, like the dates and the confusing reference to the “Quad” leaders, which is not explained, could be eliminated for a more streamlined and clear description.
Existing Research
It is generally accepted that the East now promotes a unique developmental philosophy, defined by active government support for long term, “real” targets, such as employment and output, while the West continues to argue for limited government intervention while watching macroeconomic targets (Ohno & Ohno, 1998). Tsuyoshi Kikuchi’s work on JICA and the European Union development projects in Tunisia concludes that the different approaches taken complemented each other and positively impacted their recipients. Kikuchi’s conclusion states that each ideology covers for the other’s weakness and that coordinated partnership between Japan and the West is the best path forward for development. To test his conclusion, further research that includes different donor countries, sectors, and recipient countries is necessary.
TranSenz Commentary
Strong Points:
- He describes the state of research into his field in a concise and understandable manner, giving two relevant references that set the overall state of understanding and one specific reference that is similar to what he intends to study, but also leaves a clear need for his research. Probably one of the most common problems I see with FSRPP drafts is too much information about the research background or existing research. This is an excellent example of how to summarize that information quickly and clearly so that he can focus on the important part: his research proposal.
- It is fine to mention a theory as being “generally accepted” in the field when something is, in fact, generally accepted and that makes it difficult to find a specific citation for it. (In this case, since he has a citation to go with it, though, it would be better to remove the “generally accepted” comment and include this sentence as a reference to Ohno and Ohno’s research).
- The concluding sentence clearly shows the research gap he intends to fill, showing the importance of his research.
Weak Points:
- The reference to Kikuchi should have had a citation.
Methodology
This study will approach the problem through qualitative research by analysis of primary and secondary sources and survey of relevant actors in order to best identify each agency’s motivations, methods, and outcomes. The first step will be the analysis of Spanish and English primary and secondary sources, such as USAID, JICA, and ANEXCID documents, scholarly literature, and local news reports. This information will be used to create a survey that will be disseminated to USAID, JICA, and ANEXCID officials, and workers for companies receiving the aid using phone based research methods. The goal will be to identify the international development theories being applied to each project and how the theories impact methods used. In 2020, Elisa Maffioli published research on phone based research during a pandemic which demonstrates that mobile phone surveys and interviews are cheap, timely, and reliable sources of information. This method will obtain reliable data from Japan, so that I can study Japanese development ideology, react to unpredictable health and travel conditions, and comply with MEXT regulations.
The foremost limit of this method, finding a representative sample, will not be an issue for this study because it targets a specific sample of respondents. However, to obtain access to these stakeholders, it will require compliance from government agencies and businesses. Through the Wilson Center, I have developed connections with El Gran Bajio, an non government organization dedicated to promoting industry in the region. I also have a strong network of academic and political figures throughout Mexico through work.
TranSenz Commentary
Strong Points:
- He has a clearly defined list of sources for his documentary research.
- He has dropped another reference to his ability to conduct research in multiple languages relevant to his topic as well as how his existing connections give him unique access to the research target population, which strengthens his case for why he is the best candidate to conduct this research.
- Since the phone research method he describes might not be well known and its effectiveness could be questioned by someone who was not familiar with it, explaining that it is an established method is a good idea. If you are using a method that might not be well known in your research (consider that your reviewers will include bureaucrats at the embassy level who will not have academic expertise in your area), a brief explanation like this can be useful to assuage concerns.
Weak Points:
- He should have explained what data he intended to gather from the primary and secondary sources. It is not clear how the documentary research will allow him to create a survey.
- He does not explain how his survey will allow him to identify international development theories. He mentions that it is intended to be a qualitative survey, so that means it would include open-ended questions, but it is not clear what kinds of questions he plans to ask. It would have been better to explain what data he would collect through the survey and how he would then analyze it to identify international development theories and methods.
- Although he mentions that he plans to identify outcomes, there is no methodology step that collects data on them.
This struck me as one of the weakest area of his research proposal because of the lack of description of the data he would collect and how he would analyze it. But on the other hand, that is where his academic advisor in Japan could provide the most help. The important thing is that he has a clear research problem that he wants to address, a target population, and an approach.
Research Plan
I will begin as a research student, during which time, I will prepare for university examinations and familiarize myself with “the Japanese approach” to international development and the relation between international development theory and practice. In my first semester, I will write a focused literature review, including academic materials from my time as a research student, government documents from JICA, USAID, and ANEXID, and take a class on research methods in order to prepare to write and disseminate a survey. My second semester, I will create a document that identifies key conclusions and unanswered questions from the initial literature review. This document will be used to write the survey. Participants in this survey will be identified during this semester, and the survey itself will be disseminated before the start of my third semester. My third semester will be spent collecting and integrating survey responses into a completed thesis draft. My fourth semester will be spent revising and editing my thesis in order to prepare it for publication. After graduation, I will consult with my advisor to determine the appropriate journal to submit my work for publication, such as Kokusai Mondai, the Journal of International Development, or another international development journal.
Before leaving for Japan, I intend to continue taking Japanese classes at the Japan America Society of Washington D.C. and volunteering with Global Launch at Arizona State University in order to increase my understanding of Japanese culture, increase my network in Japan, and improve my Japanese language abilities. Upon arriving in Japan, I plan to be deeply involved in my community through language exchange, participating in both English and Japanese speaking groups. I also hope to use my network in the United States to publish news and blog articles on Japanese international development practices. For more information, please see the attached research timeline, which gives the example of if I were to be placed at Nagoya University for the fall 2022 semester.
TranSenz Commentary
Strong Points:
- He explains every step of his research in order in an easy-to-understand progression.
- His plans to disseminate his research demonstrate an awareness of the scholarly journals in his field.
- He mentions a specific way that he wants to get involved in the local community in Japan and also how he plans to share his experience with a wider audience.
Weak Points:
- The opening sentence, which sets the tone for the section, contains a weak reference to becoming familiar with the Japanese approach to international development without any substantive action. It would have been better to have more concrete actions, such as starting the literature review during that time.
- His research plan still lacks any indication of how he will analyze his data to solve his research question, which could lead a reviewer to suspect that he doesn’t know how to answer the question.
- The description of the research steps could have been more concise. Since he already mentioned the documentary sources for his literature review earlier, there is no need to repeat it here. The following sentences could also be combined and shortened without losing any meaning, which would give him more space to describe meaningful steps in his research and analysis.
- I would not recommend spending time/space in the FSRPP talking about language self-study and networking prior to departing for Japan unless it is specifically related to the research proposal. For example, it would be worth mentioning if he was going to visit the automotive factories described earlier, but otherwise, this space would be better spent on relevant content.
- Mentioning one specific university in the Field of Study and Research Program Plan is very risky. Unless you already have a connection with a professor there who has essentially agreed to accept you and you do not plan to apply anywhere else, I recommend against planning for a specific university in this document. It would hurt your chances of being accepted elsewhere since other universities would see it as an indication that they are not your first choice.
Attachment: Research Timeline
James attached a one-page research timeline formatted in an easy-to-read table. This is optional and it should never present information that is essential to understanding the research proposal, since it is outside of the 2-page limit, but can serve as an easy reference for reviewers if done well. In this case, I don’t think the table is particularly necessary, given the straightforward nature of his research, which is explained sufficiently in the document itself, and the weaknesses of the table (described below) might do more harm than good.
The following timeline is formatted for a 2 year course of study, with a semester as a student at a Japanese language school and as a research student. To demonstrate the specific classes and organizations I will be involved in, Nagoya University will be used in this example, However, this timeline can be altered as the university I am placed in desires.
James’ research timeline, as shown in his FSRPP
TranSenz Commentary
Strong Points:
- Mentioning that this is just an example and that he is flexible is a good start.
- Overall, his research plan is quite straightforward and this table reinforces it. For applicants with more research steps, such as series of experiments, it would need to be more complex.
- Mentioning his intent to volunteer as a language tutor is a good touch.
- He only mentions classes that are specifically related to his research progression, which is good. There is no need to clutter up the timeline by mentioning every class that you want to take.
- Including his publication goals, future career goal that relates to his studies, and to improving relations between Japan and his home country, is a strong ending.
Weak Points:
- The table contains spelling errors and a lack of understanding of how the MEXT Scholarship works, both of which could put off a reviewer even if the rest of the document was perfect. His reference to language study in Summer 2022 was meant to refer to the semester of language study under the MEXT Scholarship, but in this example, it appears to be something he was going to do on his own. That could actually disqualify him from the scholarship if he were to come on his own, so it is important to mention that it is part of the scholarship program.
- The table should only really contain research steps during the MEXT-sponsored studies. As mentioned above, if he planned to conduct research-related activities prior to coming to Japan, that would be worth mentioning, but otherwise, mentioning activities before the start of the scholarship could be confusing.
- During the research student semester, it is expected that students would be attending courses (the credits would transfer later) and conducting their research, so it is important to avoid the perception that you would only be studying for the entrance exam.
- There were some unnecessary details, such as the contents of his literature review (just stating “Complete literature review” would be sufficient), and mentioning when he would graduate.
Conclusion
Thank you very much to James for sharing this FSRPP! Remember, this was a successful application, so even though I have highlighted some weak points in my commentary above, the strong points certainly outweighed them. As you know by now, I offer coaching reviews of Field of Study and Research Program Plans and no matter how excellent a plan is when I first receive it, I will always look for ways to improve it! (Normally, I would go into a lot more detail about potential improvements and recommendations.)
Overall, I think the greatest strengths of this proposal were:
- He identified a research problem that had clear applicability to Japan and USA national interest and to cooperation between the two.
- He identified a research gap and clearly and concisely explained the state of the research field and why his research was necessary.
- He had a very specific and relevant research topic, showing his preparedness.
- He leveraged his experience and connection to position himself as the best candidate for this research.
On the other hand, the most significant weakness was a lack of detail about his data and analysis, but there was enough in this proposal to intrigue reviewers so that he could get to the next stage, the interview, where he could explain in more detail. And, as I mentioned before, those are areas that his advisor in Japan could help most with after his selection, so the weaknesses could be overcome.
If you are interested in a review of your Field of Study and Research Program Plan, you can contact me through the link at the top of the page. If you are interested in sharing your research proposal for a similar article in the future (after your application is successful, if you prefer), particularly if your research is in another field (STEM, business, arts, etc.) there are thousands of readers who would appreciate it, so please let me know in the comments below and I will get back to you right away.
Special Thanks
Special thanks to James Chabin, who made this article possible by generously sharing his successful Field of Study and Research Program Plan. You can find out more about James on his Twitter feed.
Thanks also to my supporters on Patreon, who help keep this site running through their generous contributions, especially to my newest Samurai-level patron, Alvin S, Daimyo-level supporter Alessia M, and to everyone who has been supporting the sight for months or years. I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your continued support! If this site has helped you in your application process and you want to “pay it forward” to keep the site running to help future applicants, every contribution helps!
Questions?
Let me know in the comments below!
Hi Travis! I hope you are doing well.
I need a help regarding topic selection. I selected a topic regarding biochemistry and the topic also includes Pakistan and Japan collaboration regarding this field. But one of my teacher says that you should only focus on lab based research in japan not questionnaire research , comparing both countries as you are a science student.
But, my other teacher says it is fine to talk about how you would link both countries labs.
what you suggest?
Hi Hania,
Please keep in mind that I am not a biochemist, but since it is a laboratory science, I think your research topic should be focused on lab work. If you want to do questionnaire research, then you should make sure that you can find examples of biochemistry professors in Japan conducting the same kind of research, first. If you can’t, then you can assume that would not be acceptable.
Linking both countries’ labs is a good thing, but it would not be part of your research and would not require a questionnaire.
Ideally, your laboratory research will produce results that could be used to help Pakistan and Japan in the future.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi travis! grateful for the above information, currently in my 3rd year of undergrad and gonna apply for Masters course through MEXT, also my field of research is Natural Language Prcoessing(just got into it been 1 year), any good research themes/title you would suggest for the same and also is it ok if we mention the prof, and university name in the research plan( like there research papers brought me more of interest in the field and similar things).
guidance will be appriciated🙏
thanks!!
Hi Jeevan M.H,
Unfortunately, I do not have enough expertise in your field to suggest possible research topics. I recommend that you ask a professor in the field at your current university or find something from your research that excites you.
It is OK to mention a specific professor in the research plan, but I would recommend doing it in the context of citing one of their papers as existing research. You should not be mentioning individual professors as your inspiration to study that field. Your inspiration should come from a problem or issue that you want to resolve.
A more appropriate place to mention inspiration by specific professors would be in Application Form essay question 19.(2), where you explain why you want to conduct your research in Japan. But be aware that all of your prospective professors will see that form (and all others), so you don’t want to make them think they are a “back up” choice or that you’re not interested in working with the professors who aren’t listed.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis! I had no idea how to write research plan. I can’t be more thankful. I have some queries. Can you please guide what type of topic I can select as a BS Chemistry student?
The research plan pdf given by MEXT has only one page in document and only headings of research theme, plan are given, can I also write all these steps described by James? Is it allowed to attach one more page?
DO MEXT not allow to start studying Masters in one’s home country before final result of MEXT? Like one would leave that university if they qualify all the phases of MEXT?
Hi Hania,
If you are applying for the undergraduate scholarship (for a bachelor’s degree), then you don’t need to write a research plan.
If you already have a BSc and are applying for a Master’s degree, then this document will be necessary.
I cannot help you to choose a research question in your field, since I am not an expert in Chemistry. I recommend that you consult with an instructor at your current university for advice or try to find thesis titles for Master’s students at the university that you want to apply to in order to help you develop ideas.
I have another article with my recommendation about how to format the Field of Study and Research Program Plan, that includes the length, adding recommended headings, etc., so I recommend that you read that one too.
You are permitted to start studying a Master’s in your home country before the MEXT Scholarship with the intent to drop out if you get selected for MEXT. You won’t be able to transfer those credits, though.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Sir! Thanks for the guidelines, I would like to have link you said it is at top. But, I can’t findit sorry.
Also, sir in the Placement Reference Application form, there is a requirement at the bottom that says ‘I agree to arrive in Japan during the Proposed month of arrival in Japan
period of arrival stated in the Letter of Provisional Acceptance”. But letter of acceptance is issued after first screening. In my country’s guidelines, it is written to submit both Letter of Acceptance and Placement Form after results of first screening, Should I send it twice like you said, or skip the placement form for first screening?
Third thing is, should I attach my photo on application form with a glue and also write name and nationality at back of it or just on the copies
Sorry for the lengthy questions.
Hi Hania,
I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean by guidelines and link. What link and what guidelines? Could you be more specific please?
I have explained the Placement Preference Form in another article, including how to handle that checkbox, so see that article for details. You must submit it twice.
Write your name and nationality on the back of all photos, even if you are attaching them by glue to each copy of the application form. The name is there in case the photo falls off later and they have to match it to your application.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
By guidelines, I mean the guidelines given by Embassy of Japan in Pakistan official website
Hi Hania,
Please check the embassy website directly. I don’t have the links to every embassy in the world. The official application guidelines can be found on the Japanese government’s Study in Japan site, but you should also check the local embassy website to see what specific requirements they have.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis! I would like to ask this: what do they mean when they say do not choose a school you have already been rejected from? Does this mean I cannot choose the same schools that I chose previously for the Embassy Recommendation? Thanks!
Hi Vanessa,
That instruction applies later in the application process. You submit the Placement Preference Form twice: Once with the rest of your application documents at the beginning, then a second time after the Primary Screening and acquiring your Letters of Provisional Acceptance. The requirement to “not choose a school you have already been rejected from” is for the second submission.
You cannot formally apply to universities for acceptance (Letter of Provisional Acceptance) until after you pass the Embassy’s primary screening. If you apply to one of the universities on your initial list, and they reject your application, then you would have to remove them from the list before you resubmit it.
While the rule only applies to universities that have rejected you this year, you probably should avoid listing universities that have rejected you in the past, too, unless you think there is a good chance of getting a different result this time. If you applied for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship in a past year and did not pass the Primary Screening, then you could list all of the same universities as before. But if you passed the Primary Screening and applied for Letters of Provisional Acceptance and were rejected by the university, then you probably should not list them again this time.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, so I’m applying for a master’s course and through my educatio0n have never had the opportunity to do any research (I study science). I am wondering what such a document would look like for someone in my situatiom
Hi Pierre,
The field of Study and Research Program Plan is about the research that you propose to complete in Japan, not the research that you have already completed in the past, so nothing would change. In the past and present field of studies, you would refer (as necessary) to your lab work/experimentation experience instead of research papers, etc.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Sir, thanks for this excellent piece of information. But after reading this, I realized there is a high chance I might not be selected for the scholarship. I have a Master’s degree in English Literature and want to apply for a double Master’s in Japanese in Asia Cultural Studies Program. Now, I do not know how I can link my past and my future education field.
Though I am a full-time anime content writer for an entertainment website and have been a part of the Indo-Japan Student Conference in the past, I doubt that would help my case. I would really appreciate it if you have any advice for me.
Thank You,
Trisha
Hi Trisha,
“Asian Cultural Studies” is a pretty broad major. What is your specific research field? That’s what you need to connect. If you were doing research on comparing literary elements in English literature and Japanese manga, for example, that would be an obvious connection, but without knowing your research topic I can’t make any more specific suggestions.
It is not the name of the major that you need to connect, it’s the specific research.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, thank you so much for providing such great information.
I’m planning to apply for the MEXT scholarship through the 2025 embassy recommendation. I have a few questions:
* I noticed the Field of Study and Research Plan states, “(2) This sheet must be typewritten or written in block letters. If possible, please write in Japanese.” Is there any disadvantage to writing it in English? (I’m applying for a Ph.D. and will be applying in the English track.)
* Also, does the Field of Study and Research Plan absolutely have to be limited to 2 pages? Is it ideal to keep it within 2 pages?
* When writing the Research Plan, do I need to include in-text citations or a reference list?
I’m preparing well with the information you’ve shared. Thanks a lot! Also, I’ve ordered your book and am waiting for its delivery. Hope you have a great day!
Hi Elijah L.,
Thank you for your kind feedback.
For the Field of Study and Research Program Plan, I recommend that you write in English if you are applying for an English-taught program. There is no particular disadvantage to doing so. The vast majority of applicants write it in English!
If you are applying for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, then yes, the plan must be 2 pages or less (including the space taken up by the instructions). I have never seen a research proposal that could not be completely expressed within those two pages, it is just a matter of deciding what is essential to get your point across and what can be left out.
I recommend including citations where necessary (you should only need 2-3 in the existing research section, and maybe 1 in the rest of the text. You should be focused on your specific research proposal, not what others have done). You can cite inline or with end notes. The list of sources can be an attachment to the document, so that it would not count toward the 2-page limit.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much for your kind response! I was worried, but now I see I can write in English. Creating a separate attachment for reference list is a great suggestion. I really appreciate the help.
May I ask one more question? So, I’m basically applying for the Ph.D., and I looked at the ‘Application Guidelines for Research Students.’ I had trouble understanding section ’13. ACADEMIC PATHWAY FOR RESEARCH STUDENTS.’ What’s the difference between Japanese language preparatory education, Non-regular students, and Regular students in the Doctoral course?
One more thing, I understood that, through this embassy track, if I’m selected as a MEXT scholarship student, the process involves submitting documents to the embassy, passing tests and interviews, and then asking each university if they can accept me as a student (meaning, I don’t need to take each graduate school’s entrance exam). But I hear others preparing for entrance exams, and with the three categories mentioned in section 13, I’m confused. I’m really sorry, but could you please help me understand these?
Hi Elijah,
Basically, there are only two statuses: Non-regular and regular. You are a regular student when you are enrolled in the degree program (i.e. you passed the entrance exam to get into the doctoral program and are earning credits toward graduation.) You can be a Non-regular student in the Japanese language program and/or at the university where you will study for your doctoral degree, if you haven’t yet passed the entrance exam there. As a research student, you would be preparing for the entrance exam, taking some classes (you can earn credits then transfer them to count toward your doctoral degree) and starting your research.
I have an article about requesting Letters of Provisional Acceptance (the stage where you ask universities to accept you, after passing the embassy’s primary screening) that should help to explain the difference between a Letter of Provisional Acceptance and passing the entrance exam to the degree. Those can be two different steps!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I am planning to apply to MEXT and I am super worried. I can’t say enough how I’d LOVE going there for an MA program. So, I hope I will benefit from this article. I’ve tried to take as many notes as possible and I’ll be starting my research plan soon enough.
Wish me luck <3 <3
And thanks so much for the effort put in this article, and for anyone who's participated in the making of this website. Thank you from the bottom of my heart <3
Good luck!
Hi Travis, I am Jan and I wanna thank you again because I have gained MEXT graduate scholarships thanks to your books and I will extend my scholarship to phD. I wanna ask you something important. Mezt released necessary document for scholarship extension. However, there is no extensive “Field of Study and Research Program” document but only “ Research Plan or Research Status Sheet 研究計画又は研究状況シート” in which there are only parts for nationality, name of applicant, theme of research and big blank pages, and it says 図表を入れた場合も、Ａ4で2～3枚程度とする(there is 2-3 pages limits including graph). How should I write to this blank paper cuz I was expecting same FSRP sheet like before that’s why I have already written extensive FSRP nearly 6-7 pages. I am puzzled if I should write only a basic plan and short theme? If you explain in detail I will be appreciated
Hi Jan,
Thank you for your kind feedback. I am very happy to hear that the books helped with your application process!
Even though the format is different for the extension application, you can still fill it in the same way as you did for the original FSRPP, you just have to add the titles/headings yourself. (Since the same form can be used for applicants extending from Non-degree student status to their degree program after only one semester, it has more flexibility, since they would not be writing a completely new research plan, just an update on their progress.)
However, 6-7 pages is way too long! Just like the original FSRPP, you should keep it down to 2 pages, maybe three if you have images and graphs, as they mention in the instructions.
I hope that helps!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis..I am currently going through your FSRPP book and I must say it’s amazing. I just decided on my research topic (chapter 2), but I’m applying to a 5 years PhD program with my Proposed BSC Econs(am in my final semester yr) I am supposed to have two research themes because it’s both Masters and PhD? I saw an example of something similar in the appendix analysis of Dr onyi lam, I’m really sorry I have long questions but I just wanna clarify…Thanks Sensei
Hi Bunmi,
Thank you very much for your feedback! I am glad that the book has been helpful!
Even though you’re applying for a five-year PhD program, for MEXT’s purposes, they are still going to treat it like a 2-year master’s followed by a 3-year PhD, for the purposes of the scholarship. You will only be approved for the first two years at first and will need to apply for an extension to continue on to the last three years.
That said, you can have a single research proposal that carries through all five years, if that is what the curriculum of the university you apply to calls for. So, you could should cover your overall research proposal for the five-year degree (you want to show the conclusion and impact of the final research), but be sure to to specify what you will complete during the first two years. If you have trouble fitting everything into the limited space (assuming that you’re applying for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship), then when you go into detail on your research methodology and steps, you can focus primarily on the first two years, then give an outline of the three final years.
I hope that helps!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thanks Travis.. I’m gonna be applying for the university recommended tier.
Hi Travis, thank you for sharing all of your knowledge about the MEXT scholarship. I have read all your books and all of them are invaluable, I highly recommend them to everyone. I was reading this post and a question arose regarding one of your comments: “His reference to language study in Summer 2022 was meant to refer to the semester of language study under the MEXT Scholarship, but in this example, it appears to be something he was going to do on his own. That could actually disqualify him from the scholarship if he were to come on his own, so it is important to mention that it is part of the scholarship program.”
As far as I understood, it is not a problem to study in Japan if you return to your country before the start of the scholarship, but I see that you comment that this could disqualify you. I am making arrangements to study at a Japanese language school in Kyoto until the end of May but the scholarship starts at the beginning of April. Until now I thought that as long as I had time to return to my country and apply for a new visa there was no problem, but this comment has left me worried. Can they disqualify me for that?
Even if you don’t have time to answer, thank you very much for all the help you have given me so far.
Hi Oriol,
Thank you for your kind feedback! I am glad to hear that your have found the books to be helpful!
Thank you for bringing up that point. I didn’t explain it well enough.
The eligibility rule is that you are ineligible for the scholarship if you are currently enrolled in a Japanese university or other institution with a “student” residence status at the time of application or if you intend to enroll in a university or other institution at any time between your scholarship application and the start of the scholarship unless you can prove that the program of study in Japan will end before your scholarship starts, allowing you to return home to apply for a new visa.
In this case, my comment that his timeline entry could make him ineligible was because if it was interpreted to be him going to Japan to study on his own, there was no proof included that his program would definitely end before his scholarship started. Now, there’s a good chance that the embassy would have asked him additional questions about his study plans or given him the opportunity to provide proof later, so he would not have been instantly disqualified, but I just mentioned this as a red flag to avoid.
In your case, I think perhaps you mixed up the months in your comment, or you were referring to different years. You said that your language studies would run until the end of May but the scholarship starts in April. That is a clear overlap and would disqualify you. But if you meant that the language program would end in March, or they are different years, then it should not be a problem. You would just have to be able to show documentation of the end of your study period in Japan to prove there is no conflict.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much for the clarification and sorry for the confusion of the months, indeed I meant to say March. Thank you for your time!
hi sir .thank you for all you do for us trabers your blog. I would like to know if you can find us old exam papers for the Research category. THANKS
Hi Marc Merlot,
Yes! MEXT used to make the old tests available for study, but they took them down last year. Fortunately, I saved all of them before MEXT took them offline, so you can find them here.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, I am going through the application process, at the section of “detailed field of study in Japan”, what should I write? Describe what the field I want to study is like? mention the contents of the graduate school I am choosing? Also, please tell me, since we have 3 universities to add as potential options, can I write more than one graduate school name (aka department) for each which I would be okay to be accepted from? And if so, when accepted do I get to chose the department (or else graduate school) of the university that accepted me? Can it be different from the one mentioned on the application? thank you
Hi Ze,
I have an article about the Placement Preference Form that might help!
Basically, I recommend that the detailed field of study should be your thesis title or a description of your thesis topic.
For your university choices, only select one graduate school, one department, one advisor per university.
After passing the Primary Screening, you will have to contact the universities on the list to apply for a Letter of Provisional Acceptance. They will choose whether or not to accept you and will assign you an advisor, so the contents of this form may change later. That is fine. You will submit a second, updated version when you also submit your Letters of Provisional Acceptance later in the application Process.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thanks for providing this example and thanks to James as well.
I also applied to the ’21-’22 MEXT Embassy Scholarship, made it to the interview, but was not selected as a recipient. I sent you an email containing my application and my research proposal back in 2021, as well as commentary on the process, curious to see if you ever wanted to use it as an example or provide feedback. I have not and do not intend to apply to the MEXT scholarship again but for other people who are interested, maybe it could help.
I am once again offering you my research proposal to use as an example of one that is unsuccessful should you desire to have one; albeit successful enough to get me to the interview. My topic was in the hard sciences which I don’t see a lot of examples/information on. If you are interested, please respond to the email provided.
Hi Conner,
Thank you very much for your follow-up message and for reiterating your offer.
I’m afraid it was a matter of timing. When you originally contacted me, I wasn’t in a position to be able to put together this kind of post and analysis due to a chaotic situation at work (managing an international office during a pandemic was not fun). Things have settled down now and I have a little more time to focus on new plans, so I would like to come back to your plan in the near future. Fair warning, though, with the MEXT application guidelines due to come out any day now, my first priority will be getting those articles updated for this year, but then I will circle back.
Thank you again!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thanks Travis! This might sound a bit silly but is it absolutely necessary to type out my application in block letters? I thought it was quite a strange instruction, especially for the research plan. Will it affect my application in any way if I don’t?
Hi Vanessa,
You should only use block letters if you are handwriting. Do not type in block letters! In the Japanese instructions, it is more clear that you should “type” or “write neatly by hand in block letters” as two distinct things.
Block letters is only required in the case of handwriting, for the sake of legibility. (Some people have terrible handwriting, and block letters are usually easier to read.)
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
James, thank you so much for sharing your FSRPP and the awesome, detailed tips you provided, they will surely go a long way.
Travis, thank you so much for putting this article together and the great analysis you’ve provided, its been an amazing read…though my head is spinning a little just thinking of how to add all the great additional tips you’ve provided for each section given the 2 page limit. Lol. But, there’s still a few more days to refine the research proposal before applications open.
Can never thank you enough Travis for your amazing support through your articles, they have tremendously helped me. Hopefully I’ll get to share one day.
Thanks
Sarah
Hi Sarah K.,
Thank you for your kind words!
One of the things we hope this article shows is that you don’t necessarily have to be perfect in every area of the FSRPP. Some people are going to be stronger in one area than another. It might be impossible to incorporate all of the tips in the limited space, but I just wanted to give as many as possible so that each applicant can find their own strengths and weaknesses.
I also hope you’ll have a successful plan to share in the near future!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis.
Thanks for the reminder that we don’t have to be perfect in every area of the FSRPP because personally for me it’s been a battle and it’s amazing that this is the very thing I was telling myself a few days ago. Thank you for the pointers.
Thank you.
Sarah