I am writing this for all who wants to know about the procedures of #Embassy_Recommended_MEXT scholarship of #Japan_Government for the #Research_student category, especially in the context of Indian Embassy applicants. (There is also University Recommended MEXT scholarship, but the procedures and timelines are slightly different).
The details of the procedures and the timelines may vary year to year, but the general framework followed is similar.
MEXT (#Monbukagakusho in Japanese) stands for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan. This scholarship is offered by the Japan Government in 7 different categories.
1. Research Students
2. Undergraduate Students
3. Teacher Training Students
4. Japanese Studies Students
5. College of Technology Students
6. Professional Training College Students
7. Young Leaders Program (YLP) Students
*In order to do masters or PHD program, or simply do research under a non-degree category, apply for the first category.
*In order to do an undergraduate degree, apply for second category.
*I wanted to go for Masters. So I came under the first category, research student.
The procedure:
* Call for applications:
The notification about MEXT comes through the MHRD webpage on scholarships, and is likely to reach you through your academic/institute networks. Else you have to check this website. The call for applications come around April for the Embassy recommended Research student scholarship.
→ https://mhrd.gov.in/scholarships
You will find the application form and all the basic information in the below link of the Official Page of Embassy of Japan in India:
— >https://www.in.emb-japan.go.jp/.../japanese_government...
* Stage 1: Application form
You are required to fill in an application form given in the above page of the Embassy of Japan in India. In that, you apply under one of the departments/fields as prescribed by MEXT that year. Mine was Electronics and Communication Engineering (as my Bachelors was in it). The application form requires you to submit your academic details as well as a research plan. Shortlisting from the applications, I believe, is a sort of weighted average of your academic merit and research proposal (Factors may vary for different Embassies).
The deadline for submitting this preliminary application form to the Embassy was 31 May, 2018. Names of the shortlisted candidates were released in June 2018.
* Stage 2: First screening
It involved a language test and Embassy interview. A written test to test english language proficiency and an interview by the embassy (1 July, 2018). If you pass this step, then you have passed the first screening (11 July, 2018)
* Stage 3: Finding lab and academic supervisor
Next, you have to find a maximum of three or four universities which is suitable for your study. This means to find a professor who has the same research field as your interest. To find professors and details about them, surfing the university websites would be the best way. You may also go via other channels like conference/journal works etc., I advice using a combination of both.
In Japan, each professor will be associated with a research lab which makes it easier for you to find your tribe.
Each University has their own graduate schools like Graduate School of Engineering, Graduate school of Information Science and Technology etc. Departments generally come under that. Japanese Universities have many interdisciplinary fields and departments.
I chose #Tokyo_Institute_of_Technology and #Graduate_School_of_Engineering . I emailed my prospective professor, expressing my interest in being his student joining his lab. He enquired about my research interests (through emails) and accepted the research proposal & finally agreed to be my guide for the research. Thus, I opted for MS in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Economics. There was also a Skype interview before he wrote me the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) (23 August, 2018). The LOA was sent over to my address and was forwarded to Embassy of Japan in India (9 September, 2018).
*Stage 4: The final confirmation of the scholarship from MEXT
Getting the LOA nearly always means you have secured the scholarship (See application guidelines for the details), but there are still some internal screenings involved at the MEXT level. So you wait… My final results were announced in mid January 2019.
This is the timeline of MEXT Scholarship Application experience in my case. It was not easy because it is almost an year long procedure. I submitted my stage 1 application form in May 31st 2018 and I got the final confirmation by January 2019. The course officially starts on April 2019. It was almost an year of long risky wait after the graduation and it wasn’t even sure that the scholarship would be granted in any of these steps. The embassy will guide you but you have to work a lot of your own mostly and patiently wait for the result.
However, the risk and effort is totally worth it not only because it gives you an opportunity to pursue higher studies under a fully funded scholarship scheme, but you also do that as a student ambassador who acts to cement the international relations between India and Japan. You get an opportunity to learn, mingle and experience the hospitable and unique culture of this unique nation called Japan. And you get to study in world class universities and work with top-notch researchers in a development and progress oriented community. The new experiences and opportunities tied up with this scholarship is totally worth the effort. I encourage more students to consider Japan for their higher studies and to try to apply for this scholarship.
N.B: Applications are closed for admission for 2021. New applications for the Masters & Doctoral Course for the period of 2022 , may start from 2021 April. Please check the Embassy link.
Some of the useful links for how to apply for Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship. (This blog really guides you through the entire MEXT application process!)
http://www.transenzjapan.com/.../living-in-japan.../
Thank you.
