Examinations. I had two: English and Japanese language skills. As I said earlier, you don’t necessarily need to pass the Japanese language examination. However, if you did take East Asian Studies and know some Japanese, it can’t hurt to revise your current knowledge.
One point to mention about Japanese skills: if you’re aiming to be accepted to a specific university or institution that only teaches in Japanese, knowing good Japanese could be mandatory to being accepted.
In the English language exam, you need to achieve a good grade. Although you’ll never know what your grade was, you have to perform well. You can practice by reading articles, and taking timed English tests. They need to know you’re eligible to study in a foreign country.
If you’re a native English speaker – lucky you!
Interviews. You need to arrive in a focused mindset. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY knows what they’ll ask you, but one thing is certain: they’ll ask you about your research. Therefore, think about your research proposal as the product you want to ‘sell’. Be the expert of your research field, and know how to elaborate on every detail. Remember the importance of your research, and pass on this importance to the acceptance committee.
If you know your research field perfectly – no one will question you! Knowledge Is Power, and a successful interview is essential in receiving the MEXT scholarship.
I can’t tell you how fast my heart was beating before I entered the interview room, and how sweaty I was in my fancy suit. All along I was memorizing everything I knew about my proposal, and why it was the most important thing in the world. So despite being nervous as hell – I was very sharp-minded. I had full confidence in my knowledge, and that’s why I was ready to answer any question.
A funny (or strange) thing is – I remember nothing from my interview! The only thing I remember is that when I stepped out of the room I had no idea if it was a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’. If it happens to you too – no worries. Anyway, you cannot know if you’re in or out until you get an official email from the Japanese Embassy. Therefore, you have no reason to be happy or disappointed after the interview. There’s nothing you can do now but wait patiently!
28 Comments
Kimomo
June 7, 2020 at 2:41 pmI appreciate this a lot. Kindly contact me cypriankimomo@gmail.com. I’d like to know more about this scholarship
bluevagabond
June 10, 2020 at 9:20 pmHi,
Feel free to contact me via any of my social media accounts 🙂
Prince Likezo
June 9, 2020 at 1:59 amIs there any MEXT undergraduate programme that is available..?
bluevagabond
June 10, 2020 at 9:19 pmHi,
I actually think there is one!
Best thing is to send an email to the Japanese Embassy in your country or search on their website.
Good luck 🙂
Olugbenga Samuel
June 18, 2020 at 6:37 amI am a Nigerian. I am at the verge of completely my MSC before the coronavirus lockdown. I want to Ask if I can apply for PhD pending the time I will get my MSC certificate.
bluevagabond
June 18, 2020 at 9:09 amhi Olugbenga,
Yes, you can 🙂
You just need to provide a document from the institute you’re studying in, approving you will graduate before you go to Japan.
Good luck !
Dawit (David)
June 10, 2020 at 7:26 pmthank you for such interesting article (info)! I have read it eagerly & got VIP,and I started to rethink about the application. my worry is that my age is just 37 now it will be 38 in 2021,shall I apply or stop about it please. I am a university professor in Ethiopia?
bluevagabond
June 10, 2020 at 9:17 pmHi Dawit,
thank you so much for your comment!
There might be special conditions which I’m not aware of – but best thing to do is to contact with the Japanese Embassy in your country.
Three information will be WAY more accurate than my speculations 🙂
Boitumelo Pitso
July 19, 2020 at 7:40 pmHi, I hope you’re safe and well. I was wondering if you know anyone who took the Maths test and why they took it , like who is it compulsory for?
bluevagabond
July 19, 2020 at 8:38 pmHi Boitumelo,
There must be a mistake since I didn’t mention any math test in this post.
I’m not so sure what you mean.
Anyway, there’s no compulsory math test for this scholarship (not one that I know of).
The only thing I can think of, is of you’re applying to a graduate school that one of its demands is a math test.
Still, I don’t know anyone who did such test.
Hope it was helpful 🙂
Stella
July 23, 2020 at 2:51 amI’m a Nigerian and a BSC holer can i apply for scholarship
bluevagabond
July 23, 2020 at 9:00 amHi Stella,
Seems like you can:
https://www.ng.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/edu.html
Good luck 🙂
Anishil
August 3, 2020 at 3:57 pmHi…during study breaks..can we come back to our home county for certain days..
bluevagabond
August 3, 2020 at 4:22 pmHi Anishil,
Sure you can – but on your own expanses (;
Godspower
September 7, 2020 at 9:43 pmHi… Thanks for this article
After application does it take long for the embassy to get back to the applicants
bluevagabond
September 7, 2020 at 10:17 pmHi,
I guess in each country the Japanese embassy is slightly different.
In Israel they got back to me after a few days.
Reema
September 22, 2020 at 8:27 pmHi there! I’m just wondering did you find the allowance they give while you’re studying livable? and did you need another source of income while studying?
bluevagabond
September 22, 2020 at 9:59 pmHi! I think that the allowance is pretty much enough for a simple lifestyle.
Let’s say, if I really wanted to, I could do just fine without working and living only of the scholarship.
But it really depends where you rent your house and what kind of lifestyle you want to have 😉
lloyd
October 15, 2020 at 8:14 pmHi Thank you for wonderful blog post.
I have question about mext embassy recommendation.
Can I enroll for research student in japan while waiting for next year mext embassy recommendation ? Am I still eligible for this if I am a research student ?
bluevagabond
October 16, 2020 at 2:03 pmHi,
I think you are, but I don’t know anyone who did it.
Best thing would be emailing to the embassy of your country to make sure!
Good Luck 🙂
Moses
January 6, 2021 at 2:20 pmCan you also work part time while receiving the scholarship? oh and do you also have to pay health insurance on your own expenses?
bluevagabond
January 6, 2021 at 3:45 pmHi Moses,
Yes, you can work up to 28 hs/week when you get your student visa.
And you should also pay for the national health insurance, which is about 1,600 yen for a single person if I remember correctly.
Cheers!
Sara
January 29, 2021 at 11:09 amMay I ask you some questions? Well, I’m currently in a weird course, it’s a 5 years bachelor/master degree all in one, how could I right this on the form? And most importantly, have I any hope since I doubled the time to get my degree?
bluevagabond
January 29, 2021 at 12:06 pmHi Sara,
Your first question is very specific, so you might want to consult to someone in the Japanese Embassy in your country.
They should know the proper way to fill the form. I don’t want to deliver any misleading information.
And regarding the time to get your degree – even if they will ask you about it in the interview, tell your reasons confidently. If the examiners will think it’s legit you’re good to go. It’s all about your attitude and how seriously you take yourself and your research. That’s what they’re looking for.
Good luck! (:
Sara
January 29, 2021 at 7:42 pmThank you for your answers! There’s hope after all 🤣
bluevagabond
January 29, 2021 at 9:36 pmAnytime 🙂
Harsita
April 27, 2021 at 1:57 amHello! I am so glad that I got to read your article, it was heaven sent! But I had a query or two. While applying for the master’s programme, is it compulsory to have published research papers in your name? Did you have one or two (sorry if I am being too personal)? And do we habe to take a separate English grading test like asked in the forms?
bluevagabond
May 2, 2021 at 11:18 pmHi there,
Actually it depends on the graduate school you wish to attend.
In my case I had 0 articles published when I was accepted, and so does EVERYONE else I know.
But that’s just my case.
And regarding the English exams – I had to present a TOEFEL/TOIC exam when applying, but other than that, no English exams were required.
Hope is helps you 🙂