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JAPANESE GOVERNMENT (MONBUKAGAKUSHO:MEXT)
SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2008
(RESEARCH STUDENTS)
MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports,
Science, and Technology) offers scholarships to foreign students who
wish to study at Japanese universities as research students under
the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for 2008 as
follows:
1. FIELDS OF STUDY
Fields of study must be subjects which
applicants will be able to study and research at Japanese
universities.
Keep in mind, however, that a student who
majors in medicine, dentistry or welfare science will not be
allowed to engage in clinical training such as medical care and
operative surgery until he/she obtains a permit from the Minister
of Health, Labour and Welfare under applicable Japanese laws.
Majors in traditional entertainment such as Kabuki and classical
Japanese dances, or in subjects that seek practical training in
specific technologies or techniques at factories or companies are
excluded.
2. QUALIFICATIONS
(1)
Nationality:
Applicant must have the nationality of a country which has
diplomatic relations with the Japanese government. Applicant who
has Japanese nationality at the time of application will not be
eligible. Applicant screening will be made at the Japanese
Embassy/Consulate General in the country of Applicant’s
nationality (except where two or more countries are attended by
the same Japanese Embassy/Consulate General).
(2) Age:
Applicant must have been born on or after April 2,1973.
(3) Academic Background: Applicant must be a graduate from a
Japanese university or have academic ability equal or superior
to that of a university graduate. A person will be deemed to
have academic ability equal or superior to that of a university
graduate, if he/she
① has completed or will complete a 16-year school curriculum
in a foreign country (or an 18-year school curriculum if he/she
desires to enroll in a doctoral course in the field of medicine,
dentistry or veterinary science, or pharmacy which is founded on
a 6-year department or faculty); or
② is or will be aged 22 or older and has
taken an individual entrance qualification examination and has
been judged by a graduate school as being equal or superior in
academic ability to a university graduate (or 24 or older if
he/she desires to enroll in a doctoral course in the field of
medicine, dentistry or veterinary science, or pharmacy which is
founded on a 6-year department or faculty).
Note: Eligible applicants include those who
otherwise satisfy or will satisfy qualification requirements for
admission to a Japanese graduate school. As a general rule, a
person who has completed a doctoral course may not apply unless
he/she seeks to obtain a degree.
(4) Major Field of Study: Applicant should
apply for the field of study he/she studied at the previous
university or any related field. Applicant must choose a field
on which he/she can receive education and perform research at
the university of his/her choice.
(5) Japanese Language: Applicant must be
willing to learn the Japanese language, interested in Japan and
enthusiastic about deepening his/her understanding of Japan
after arriving, and capable of engaging in study and research
while adapting himself/herself to life in Japan.
(6) Health: Applicant must be physically and
mentally healthy enough to pursue study at university.
(7) Arrival in Japan: Applicant must be able
to leave for and arrive in Japan between the 1st and 7th of
April 2008 or between the 1st and 7th of October 2008. Even when
Applicant desires to come to Japan during one of the two
periods, he/she may have to switch to the other if so requested
by the recipient university.
(8) Visa Requirement: If selected, Applicant
will be required to acquire a 鼎ollege Student, (ryuugaku(留学))・visa
prior to coming to Japan. Selected applicants who are already in
Japan under a different resident status (i.e. other than 鼎ollege
Student・ must change their resident status to 鼎ollege Student・by
the end of the last month before the scholarship enters into
effect.
(Applicant who
comes to Japan with a visa or resident status other than that of
“College
Student”
will not qualify for a Japanese government’s
scholarship. Also keep in mind that if Applicant changes his/her
resident status to any status other than
“College
Student”
after entry into Japan, he/she will lose his/her status of a
Japanese government scholarship student upon such change of
status.)
Note 1: If Applicant cannot arrive in Japan in the set
period, travel expenses to Japan will not be paid.
Furthermore, if his/her arrival in Japan is delayed for a
considerable period of time, his/her selection may be
cancelled.
Note 2: A service member or a civilian employee registered
on the active military list is excluded from eligible
scholarship grantees.
Note 3: Applicant who was a grantee of a Japanese
Government Scholarship in the past will not be selected unless
he/she has had at least three years of research or teaching
experience after returning to his/her home country. This
exclusion will not apply to a research-student applicant, who
(i) as a foreign student in Japan received training in the
Japanese language and/or Japanese culture at a university and
graduated from it, or who (ii) was a foreign student in Japan
under the Japan-Korea Joint government scholarship program for
the students in science and engineering department and
returned home.
Note 4: Applicant will not be eligible for this scholarship
if he/she is currently enrolled in a Japanese university with
the resident status of 鼎ollege Student,・or will be enrolled in
a Japanese university as an other source or self financed
international student between the time of application for this
scholarship in his/her country and the time the scholarship
period is due to begin.
Note 5: Applicant will not be selected if he/she is a
grantee of a scholarship from an organization (including a
governmental organization of his/her own country) other than
the Japanese government (MONBUKAGAKUSHO:MEXT).
Note 6: Applicant, who is 兎xpected to graduate・to satisfy
one of the qualification requirements and was selected subject
to such condition being duly met, will have his/her selection
cancelled if he/she fails to graduate by the specified date.
Note 7: Please note that scholarship offers made in and
after FY2006 require only those selected by the primary
screening performed by the Japanese Embassy/Consulate General
to proceed to obtain a letter of provisional acceptance from
or admission to the university of their choice. (See 5-(5)
below).
3. TERM OF SCHOLARSHIP
The term of scholarship will differ as follows
depending on the course a grantee takes in Japan:
(1) In a case where Grantee will enroll as a
research student, non-degree student, or auditor, etc.
(hereinafter referred to as 迭esearch Student・ after coming to
Japan:
① If Grantee comes to Japan in April 2008, his/her scholarship
will be payable for 24 months from April 2008 through March 2010;
② If Grantee comes to Japan in October 2008,
his/her scholarship will be payable for 18 months from October
2008 through March 2010.
(In either case, the above-mentioned term of
scholarship includes a 6-month Japanese language training period
applicable to grantees whose Japanese language ability is
insufficient.)
(2) If Grantee directly enrolls in a
master's course, doctoral course, or professional graduate
course after coming to Japan, regardless of the time of his/her
arrival in Japan the scholarship will be payable for a period
necessary for Grantee to complete his/her regular course
(standard course term). (Plus a 6-month Japanese language
training period for Grantee who needs such training.)
If Grantee desires to proceed to a regular graduate course from
a Research Student course, or to a doctoral course from a
master痴 course or a professional graduate course, he/she may
have the term of his/her scholarship extended upon successful
examination by MEXT provided that he/she has outstanding
academic achievement that meets certain criteria. (Grantee as
Research Student cannot have the term of his/her scholarship
extended, but he/she may proceed to higher education or continue
with his/her study as an other source or self financed
international student.)
Please note, however, that proceeding to a
regular graduate course from a Research Student course is
subject to period- related restrictions. Application for
extension of stay will not be accepted in the following cases:
① Grantee desires to move on to a master痴
course in a Natural Science field, but is unable to proceed to a
regular course by the last day of the 24th month counted from
the month of arrival in Japan;
② Grantee desires to move on to a master’s
course in a Social Science field, but is unable to proceed to a
regular course by the last day of the 25th month counted from
the month of arrival in Japan;
③ Grantee desires to move on to a doctoral
course in a Natural Science field, but is unable to proceed to a
regular course by the last day of the 13th month counted from
the month of arrival in Japan;
④ Grantee desires to move on to a doctoral
course in a Social Science field, but is unable to proceed to a
regular course by the last day of the 24th month counted from
the month of arrival in Japan;
4. SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS
(1) Allowance:
Under the fiscal 2007 budget each grantee will be provided
monthly with 170,000 yen, and 160,000 yen in and after the
thirteenth month of stay in Japan(subject to change, however,
depending upon the annual budget of each year). The
scholarship will not be paid to a grantee who takes a leave of
absence or is long absent from his/her university.
Scholarship will be terminated for a grantee
if
① any of his/her application documents is
found to be falsely stated;
② he/she is in breach of his/her pledge made
to the Minister of MONBUKAGAKUSHO(MEXT);
③ he/she is subjected to disciplinary
action such as expulsion or removal from the register by
his/her university or the preparatory Japanese-teaching
institution;
④ it becomes definitive that the grantee
will not be able to graduate(or complete his/her course)
within the standard course term because of his/her poor
academic achievement or suspension;
⑤ his/her resident status of
“College
Student”
as provided for in Paragraph 1-4 of Appendix to the
Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act changes to any
other status; or
⑥ he/she is provided with another
scholarship(except for a scholarship designated for research
expenses).
(2)
Traveling Costs:
①
Transportation to Japan:
Each grantee will be provided, according to his/her itinerary
and route as designated by MEXT, with an economy class air
ticket from the international airport closest to his/her place
of residence to Narita International Airport(or to the
international airport which is usually used by the university
where the grantee will be placed). Expenses such as inland
transportation from his/her place of residence to the
international airport, airport tax and any special taxes on
overseas travel will NOT be provided(“Place
of residence・of the
grantee
shall in principle be the address stated in the application form).
No air ticket will be provided for a flight from a place other
than the country of the grantee’s
nationality.
If the grantee comes to Japan earlier than
April 2008(or earlier than October 2008 for a grantee due to
arrive in October) to obtain admission to a university, he/she
will not be provided with traveling cost to Japan.
②
Transportation from Japan:
The grantee who returns to his/her home country within the
last-payment month of his/her scholarship will be provided, upon
application, with an economy class air ticket for a flight from
Narita International Airport to the international airport
closest to his/her place of return.
Note: Insurance premiums for
travel to/from Japan shall be borne by the grantee. The
airport the grantee departs from or returns to must be an
airport of the country of his/her nationality.
(3)
School Fees: The
Japanese government will cover matriculation, tuition, and
entrance examination fees at the university where the grantee
enrolls as a regular student. The grantee shall bear the cost
of entrance examination fees if he fails to be admitted. The
grantee shall also bear the cost of additional entrance
examination fees if he chooses to apply at more than one
university.
5. SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION
(1) In cooperation with the governments of
the applicants・countries the Japanese Embassy/Consulate General
will perform primary screening of applicants by means of
submitted application documents, written examinations and
interviews.
(2) Written examinations will be English and
Japanese tests. The Japanese examination must be taken by all
applicants, and the English by those who wish.
(3) The following policy will apply to each
screening:
① Application documents: Must show that
the applicant obtained academic achievement higher than a
certain level at the university he/she last graduated from,
and state the applicant痴 desired research program in a
detailed and concrete manner.
② Written examination: Must show that the
applicant obtained scores better than a certain level either in
Japanese or English.
③ Interview: Must reveal that the
applicant has a clear sense of purpose relating to his/her
study in Japan and has gathered information about Japanese
universities. Interview must also reveal that the
applicant has sufficient Japanese or English language ability
to communicate with his/her adviser in Japan. If the applicant
desires to study a subject that requires higher Japanese
language proficiency, Interview must reveal that the applicant
has a considerable degree of Japanese language proficiency.
(4) Results of the primary screening will be
notified on the date separately designated by the Japanese
Embassy/Consulate General.
(5) Each candidate who has been selected
by this primary screening is required to directly contact the
Japanese university of his/her choice and make the utmost effort
to obtain admission as a graduate student or research student,
or a letter of acceptance as a research student (hereinafter
referred to as ・Admission・ by the end of August.
(Universities in Japan do not respond to a request for Admission
after the end of August.)
(6) Each candidate must submit to the
university of his/her choice a set of the same documents as
those submitted to the Japanese
Embassy/Consulate General (application,
academic transcript of the university attended, research
program, all with a confirmation seal of the Japanese
Embassy/Consulate General affixed, and a passing certificate of
the primary selection issued by the Japanese Embassy/Consulate
General). Additional documents may have to be submitted upon
request of the university.
MEXT will conduct a final selection based on
the results of the primary screening, and select as Japanese
government scholarship grantees those applicants who have been
accepted by a Japanese university. Applicants who have passed
the primary screening are not guaranteed to be selected as
Japanese government scholarship grantees.
Note 1: A written Japanese examination must
be taken by all applicants. In addition, an English
examination will be provided to those who wish. The result of
these examinations will provide a basis for determining each
applicant痴 language ability and will be reflected directly in
the screening.
The result of the written Japanese examination will continue
to be used as reference data for Japanese-language teaching
due to be provided upon applicants・arrival in Japan.
Note 2: For example, if an applicant little
proficient in Japanese desires to pursue fields of study such
as Japanese linguistics, Japanese literature, Japanese
history, or Japanese laws ―fields that require sufficient
knowledge of the Japanese language ― he/she will not be
selected as a grantee unless there is a very special
situation.
An applicant who desires to conduct
fieldwork abroad at the time of application will not be
selected, either.
Note 3: Even if an applicant is selected by
the primary screening, recommended as a candidate grantee to
MEXT, and notified by MEXT as provisionally selected(his/her
recipient university yet to be decided), he/she will
automatically fail to be selected if he/she does not receive a
notice of his/her recipient university being decided by the
end of July 2008.
If an applicant is notified of his/her selection as a
substitute grantee, he may be designated as a definitive
grantee as early as by the end of July in the event that any
one of the selected grantees is known to be failing because of
his/her declination or any other event.
6. PLACEMENT AND RESEARCH GUIDANCE AT UNIVERSITY
(1) Placement of a grantee at a university
will be decided following a relevant request made to the
university from which, upon passage of the primary screening, a
candidate grantee obtained admission as a regular student or
Research Student at the university痴 graduate school(a candidate
who has received admission to a regular graduate course will be
placed directly in such course without passing through a
Research Student period).
If a candidate grantee has received a letter
of acceptance from a university, first of all MEXT will request
the university to receive the grantee, and place him/her there
upon its approval.
If a candidate wants to enter a public or private university,
the grantee痴 preference may not be met due to budgetary reasons
concerning school fees, etc. In this case, the candidate is not
allowed to raise an objection to the decision.
If a candidate has obtained neither admission
nor a letter of acceptance, MEXT will contact related
universities and decide at which university to place the
candidate in consideration of his/her preference. In this case,
the candidate is not allowed to raise an objection to the
decision.
In a case where a candidate fails to obtain admission or a
letter of acceptance and MEXT discusses the case with related
universities, the candidate may not be accepted and therefore
not definitively selected by MEXT, if his/her research program
is vague or unclear, the content of his/her research is not
substantial, or his/her desired major field presents difficulty
from the perspective of research guidance.
(2) Research guidance such as lectures,
experiments and practical training at universities is basically
conducted in Japanese.
(3) If a grantee is determined to be
insufficiently proficient in the Japanese language, usually
he/she will be placed in a Japanese- language training
institution designated by MEXT for education in Japanese for the
first six-month period after his/her arrival in Japan. Upon
completion of the education the grantee will be placed at a
university for advanced education. If a grantee has poor
achievement in the Japanese language training course and is
considered unfit for advanced education at the university,
scholarship payment will stop. (See 4.(1).)
(4) If a grantee is deemed by his/her
recipient university as sufficiently proficient in Japanese for
conducting his/her research in Japan, he/she may be placed in
the university as Research Student or a graduate student without
going through Japanese-language training.
(5) If a grantee desires to move on to a
regular graduate course from a Research Student course, or to a
doctoral course from a master痴 course or a professional graduate
course, he will be able to do so provided that he/she takes an
entrance examination provided by the relevant university and
passes it. But to continue receiving the Japanese government
scholarship after moving on to such higher education, the
grantee must go through a separate examination and have the term
of his/her scholarship extended. (See 3.(2).)
A grantee cannot apply for an extension of scholarship term
while retaining the status of Research Student.
(6) If a grantee desires to step up to a
regular graduate course from a Research Student course, in
principle he/she must move on to the graduate school of the
university at which he/she is studying as Research Student. If
proceeding to such graduate school is deemed inappropriate given
the grantee痴 major field or ability, he/she may be allowed to
move on to another graduate school provided that he/she is
admitted.
Note 1: Under the educational system of Japan,
a typical master's course lasts for two years subsequent to
graduation from a
university (i.e. after completion of a
16-year school curriculum), and a typical doctoral course
lasts for three years after completion of a master's course.
If a student has completed such two-, or three-year course,
obtained necessary credits, and passed the final examination
after submitting his/her graduation thesis, he/she will be
given relevant degrees.
Note 2: In the fields of medicine,
dentistry and veterinary science, and pharmacy which is
founded on a 6-year department or faculty, most of the
universities offer only 4-year doctoral courses. For admission
to such doctoral course an applicant is required to have
completed an 18-year school curriculum. If an applicant
completed a 16-year school curriculum, he/she is required to
have engaged for two or more years in research activities at
universities or research institutions subsequent to completion
of the 16-year curriculum, and to be deemed by a graduate
school in Japan as being academically equal to an applicant
who completed an 18-year curriculum.
Note 3: Professional
graduate schools are a new type of graduate school implemented
in 2003 designed to develop profound learning and outstanding
ability that support professions that require sophisticated
expertise. The standard required duration of study is two
years. In some fields of study, the duration is less than two
years but more than one year. Upon completion of the course a
master痴 degree (specialized occupation) will be conferred.
Among the degree courses are 堵raduates
schools of law.・The school is one kind of professional
graduate schools with the standard required duration of study
of three years. Upon completion of the course a student will
be granted the degree of 泥octor of Law (specialized
occupation).・/P>
Note 4: Entrance examinations given by
a graduate school vary from one university to another. In
general, applicants have to take examinations in two foreign
languages, his/her major subject, and an essay test.
7. APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Each applicant must submit the following
documents to the Japanese Embassy/Consulate General by the
specified date. The submitted documents will not be
returned. (Original)
(Copy)
(1) Application (by the prescribed form)
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(2) Application Form (Attachment)
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(3) Research Program (Attachment)
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1 2
(4) Photograph (6×4 cm, taken within the past six
months, upper body, full-faced, uncapped.
Write your name and nationality on its back and
paste it on the application form) ･･････････････････････ 4
(5) Academic transcript of each academic year of
the last university attended (issued by the
university attended)
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(6) Recommendation from the principal or the
adviser of the last university attended ･････････････････････ 1 2
(7) Recommendation from the present employer (if
currently employed) ･･･････････････････････････････････ 1 2
(8) Medical certificate on the prescribed form
(issued by the medical institution designated
by the Japanese Embassy/Consulate
General）･･････････････････････････････････････････････････････････ 1
2
(9) Graduation certificate or degree certificate
of the last university attended (or an attested
document certifying that the applicant will
graduate from the school, where applicable) ･･････････････ 1 2
(10) Abstracts of theses
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1 2
(11) Photograph showing applicant's own works of
art or a recorded tape of musical performance
(only for those majoring in fine arts or music)
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Note 1: These documents must be written in
either Japanese or English. A document written in any other
language must be attached with a Japanese or English
translation.
Note 2: Photographs to be pasted on the
original application must be original. Copies are not
acceptable.
Note 3: Research Program should clearly
describe the applicant痴 own research program because it will
serve as important materials for placement of the applicant at
a university.
Note 4: The academic transcripts of the
last university attended should be prepared to show the grade
scale applied and the grades earned by the applicant on all
the subjects studied for each year studied at a university
department/faculty and a graduate school. (A degree
certificate or a graduation certificate simply showing the
ranking of the applicant at graduation will not substitute for
academic transcripts.)
Note 5: The graduation certificate and the
degree certificate obtained from the last university attended
may be substituted for by a photocopy thereof provided that
the copy is attested by the authorized person of the
university.
Note 6: For abstracts of the theses,
abstracts of the graduation thesis and presented papers will
suffice. Please note that these abstracts will be used as
basic data for evaluation of the applicant痴 academic ability.
8. NOTES
(1) All grantees are advised to learn the
Japanese language and have basic knowledge as to what the
weather and climate, customs, and university education are like
in Japan before leaving for Japan.
(2) Grantees are recommended to bring in
approximately US $1,500 or the equivalent to cover immediate
needs just after arrival in Japan.
(3)
Accommodations:
①Boarding houses
operated by
JASSO (Japan Student
Services Organization)
Grantees enrolled at universities in
Tokyo，Osaka and Kobe may reside, if they so desire, at one of
the Foreign Student Houses operated by JASSO under prescribed
conditions. However, these dormitories may not be able to
accommodate all the students who wish to live there.
② Residence
halls for foreign students established by national
universities
At present some 90 national universities
have residence halls available for foreign students. Grantees
enrolled at national universities where such facilities are
available may reside, if they so desire, at these residence
halls under prescribed conditions. However, these facilities
may not be able to accommodate all the students who wish to
live there.
③
Private-run boarding houses or apartments.
Grantees who do not reside in any of the
above facilities will have to live in a dormitory of the
university or in private-run boarding houses or apartments
introduced by the university.
Note: Please keep in mind that it is very
difficult to secure family housing. A grantee is advised
therefore to first come to Japan alone, and to bring in
his/her spouse and children after securing a boarding house
for his/her family.
(4) If you have any question about the
matters set forth/not set forth herein, inquire at the Japanese
Embassy/Consulate General, and follow their instructions if
given any.
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