Undergrad guidelines(1)

JAPANESE GOVERN MENT (MONBUK AGAKUSHO :MEXT) SCHOL ARSHIP FOR 2013

(UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS)

　 MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) offers scholarships to

international students who wish to study at Japanese universities as undergraduate students under

the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for 2013 as follows.

1. 　 FIELDS OF STUDY

Those who wish to study in Japan as an undergraduate student must choose a field of

major from (1) or (2) below. Applicants may enter a first, second, and third choice.

(1) 　 Social Sciences and Humanities

Social Sciences and Humanities-A: Laws, Politics, Pedagogy, Sociology, Literature, History,

Japanese language, and others.

Social Sciences and Humanities-B: Economics, and Business Administration.

Note #1: Applicants who wish to major in the fields categorized as “others” may have

difficulties in finding universities that can accept them.

Note #2: Major field content related to “Economics” and “Business Administration” of

Humanities B is not included in “others.”

(2) 　 Natural Sciences

Science (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry), Electric and Electronic Studies (Electronics,

Electrical Engineering, Information Engineering), Mechanical Studies

(Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture), Civil Engineering and

Architecture (Civil Engineering, Architecture, Environmental Engineering),

Chemical Studies (Applied Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Industrial

Chemistry, Textile Engineering), and other fields (Metallurgical Engineering,

Mining Engineering, Maritime Engineering, Biotechnology).

Agricultural studies (Agriculture, Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural Engineering, Animal

Science, Veterinary Medicine, Forestry, Food Science, Fisheries), Hygienic

studies (Pharmacy, Hygienics, Nursing), and Science (Biology).

Medicine, and Dentistry.

Note: An international student who intends to major in Natural Sciences and would like to

choose more than one major is required to choose and select first-, second-, and third-

choice subjects from the subjects in brackets from within the same course (i.e. Natural

Sciences A, B or C). However, a student who selects Course C as his/her first choice may
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choose his/her second-choice subjects from Course B or C and third-choice subject from

Course B because Course C offers only two subjects.

2. 　 QUALIFICATIONS

(1) 　 Nationality: Applicant must have the nationality of a country which has diplomatic

relations with the Japanese government. This applies at such times to stateless persons,

too. 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 (hereinafter,

referred to as “Japanese legation”) in the country of Applicant’s nationality (except

where two or more countries are attended by the same Japanese legation).

(2) 　 Age: Applicant must have been born between April 2, 1991 and April 1, 1996.

(3) 　 Academic Background: Applicant must either have completed a 12-year regular course of

school education or have graduated from a school equivalent to an upper secondary school in

Japan. (Included is any Applicant who will satisfy the above qualifications by March, 2013.)

　　　　 Note: Also included is any Applicant who otherwise satisfies entrance eligibility

for a Japanese university.

(4) 　 Japanese Language: The Applicant must be willing to learn the Japanese language and

receive university education in it.

(5) 　 Health: The Applicant must be physically and mentally healthy enough to pursue study at

a university in Japan.

(6) 　 Arrival in Japan: In principle, the selected Applicant must be able to leave for and

arrive in Japan between the 1st and ７ th of April 2013. Travel expenses will not be

provided if the Applicant chooses to travel to Japan before this set period. If the

Applicant is unable to travel to Japan within the dates set, the scholarship will be

cancelled.

In case where the student starts from the fall semester through direct placement (i.e

English courses), the selected applicant must be able to leave for and arrive in Japan by

the date specified by the university.

(7) 　 Visa Requirement: Selected Applicants must obtain a College Student （ ryuugaku 留学）

visa prior to his arrival in Japan. Applicants who are already in Japan before the start

of the scholarship period under a visa other than College Student are required to change it

to College Student by the end of the month preceding the start of the scholarship.

Applicants who change their resident status to any status other than “College Student”

after their arrival in Japan will immediately lose their status as a Japanese government

scholarship student.
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(8) 　 Any applicant who meets any or all of the following conditions is not eligible. If

identified after the start of the scholarship period, the applicant will be required to

withdraw from the scholarship:

① If Applicant is a service member or a civilian employee registered on the active military

list at the time the scholarship period is due to begin.

② If Applicant 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);

③ If the applicant is a previous recipient of a Japanese government scholarship. Unless

more than three years have passed since the first day of the month following the final

payment of the previous scholarship, as of April 1, 2013 (In case where the student

starts from the fall semester, the month of entrance.); or

④ If Applicant is, in principle, currently enrolled in a Japanese university with the

resident status of “College 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. This does not apply to current self- financed international students at

Japanese universities who will complete their course of study and return to their country

before the end of the current year.

3. 　 TERM OF SCHOLARSHIP

　　 Scholarship awards will be tenable for five years from April 2013 to March 2018, including

one-year preparatory education in the Japanese language and other subjects due to be provided

upon arrival in Japan. For scholarship grantees majoring in medicine, dentistry, veterinary

medicine or a six-year course in pharmacy, the term of scholarship will be seven years until

March 2020.

Note 1: The preparatory education requirement can be waived for grantees who have sufficient

knowledge of the Japanese language to pursue their study or who wish to enter a university

which demands no Japanese language ability (via direct placement). In this case, the

awards will be tenable for four years (or for six years for those majoring in medicine,

dentistry, veterinary medicine or in a six-year course in pharmacy). If a grantee

graduates earlier or withdraws from his/her undergraduate course for early college

entrance, the awards will be tenable until his/her graduation or withdrawal.

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Note 2: The term of scholarship in case of direct placement will start from the time of

entrance to the university, taking into account the circumstances of the accepting

university.

Note 3: In regard to six-year majors in Pharmacy, the student must undergo the common

examinations (CBT= Computer-based Testing, OSCE= Objective Structured Clinical

Examination) implemented prior to practical training. In cases when it is impossible to

fulfill the set standards necessary for practical training, the scholarship may be

cancelled.

Note 4: If a grantee graduates from an undergraduate course and is admitted to a master's

course at a graduate school during the term of his/her scholarship, he/she may have the

term extended upon successful examination by MEXT provided that he/she has outstanding

academic achievement that meets certain criteria. The scholarship will be discontinued if

approval is not granted.

4. 　 SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS

(1) 　 Allowance: Under the fiscal 2012 budget each grantee will be provided monthly with

117,000 yen. (an additional monthly stipend of 2,000 or 3,000 yen may be provided to those

undertaking study or research in specially designated regions.) (However, this will be

subject to change, depending upon the annual budget for each year). The scholarship will not

be paid to a grantee who takes a leave of absence or is long absent from the assigned

university or the preparatory Japanese-teaching institution.

The scholarship will be cancelled for a grantee in the following cases. Furthermore, if

scholarship payments were made during the period the following cases applied, the grantee

may be ordered to return scholarship payments received during that period.

① If any of his/her application documents is found to be falsely stated;

② If he/she is in breach of his/her pledge made to the Minister of MONBUKAGAKUSHO(MEXT);

③ If he/she is subjected to disciplinary action such as expulsion or removal from register

by his/her university or the preparatory Japanese-teaching institution;

④ If 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 If 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;

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⑥ If he/she is provided with another scholarship(except for a scholarship designated for

research expenses); or

⑦ 　 If he/she proceeds to a higher level of education without receiving approval for an

extension of the term of the scholarship.

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(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

following the itinerary normally used by the university where the grantee is placed).

Expenses such as inland transportation from his/her place of residence to the nearest

international airport, airport tax, airport usage charges, special taxes on overseas

travel and travel expenses within Japan will be borne by the grantee (the place of

residence of the grantee shall in principle be the address stated in the application

form). Air travel from a country other than the grantee’s nationality will not be

covered, nor travel to Japan before April 1, 2013.

② Transportation from Japan: A grantee who returns to his/her home country within the last

month of scholarship payment will be provided, upon application, with an economy class

air ticket for a flight from Narita International Airport (or following the itinerary

normally used by the university where the grantee is placed) 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: Fees for entrance examinations, matriculation and tuition at universities

will be paid by the Japanese government.

5. 　 SELECTION

(1) 　 In cooperation with the governments of the applicants’ countries the Japanese legation

will perform primary screening of applicants by means of submitted application documents,

interviews and academic examinations (see below for subjects of examination).

[Subjects for examination]

For applicants for a major in Social Sciences and Humanities: All applicants must sit for

mathematics, English, and Japanese (3 subjects in all).

For applicants for a major in Natural Sciences: All applicants must sit for mathematics,

English, two subjects selected from among physics, chemistry and biology, and Japanese (5

subjects in all). For selecting two from physics, chemistry and biology, applicants must

choose

Physics and chemistry when applying for Natural Sciences A; and 　

Chemistry and biology when applying for Natural Sciences B or C.
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(2) Results of primary screening will be notified to each applicant on the date designated by

the Japanese legation.

(3) Applicants who have been selected by this primary screening will be recommended to MEXT.

(4) MEXT will perform final selection of the recommended applicants and select scholarship

grantees.

6. PREPARATORY EDUCATION PRIOR TO PLACEMENT AT UNIVERSITY

(1) 　 Preparatory Education prior to Placement at University: Each grantee will be enrolled

at a preparatory school designated by MEXT for a one-year intensive course in the Japanese

language and other subjects necessary for preparation for proceeding to university. The

preparatory course lasts for one year. Its curriculum will mainly consist of education in

the Japanese language, but will include other subjects such as Japanese Affairs,

mathematics, English, and social studies for those majoring in Social Science and

Humanities, and physics, chemistry and biology for those majoring in Natural Sciences.

Please note that a grantee will not be allowed to proceed to university if he/she is

determined incapable of completing the prescribed course at the preparatory school. (He/she

will be required to return home upon such determination.) This preparatory education

requirement can be waived for a grantee who has sufficient knowledge of the Japanese

language to pursue his/her study at university or who wishes to enter a university without

the Japanese language requirement (via direct placement).

(2) 　 Change of Major Field of Study: A grantee will not be permitted to change his/her major

field of study between Social Sciences, Humanities and Natural Sciences, nor between Social

Sciences and Humanities A and B, or between Natural Sciences A, B, and C.

(3) 　 Subjects to be Studied: A grantee must study compulsory subjects as determined by the

preparatory school even if he/she has already studied them at a university outside Japan.

7. 　 UNIVERSITY EDUCATION

(1) 　 Entrance into University: A grantee who has completed the preparatory education will go

on to the university designated by MEXT upon passing its entrance examination. The

university whose examination a grantee will take will be decided by MEXT in consultation

with the university and the preparatory school and in comprehensive consideration of the

results of the academic examination in the primary screening held in his/her home country,

academic achievement at the preparatory school, the grantee’s proposed major subject, and

the receiving capacity of the university. No objection by the grantee against the decision

will be allowed.
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(2) 　 Academic Year: The academic year begins on April 1 each year and ends on March 31 the

next year.

(3) 　 Language Used in Education: All classes will be given in the Japanese language (except

where a grantee is placed at a university which requires no Japanese language ability).

(4) 　 Degree of “Gakushi”( Bachelor's Degree ): If a grantee attends the designated

university for the prescribed number of years and earns the number of credits as determined

by the university, he/she will be awarded the degree of “Gakushi.”

(5) 　 Change of Major Field of Study and Subjects to be Studied: 6 (2) and 6 (3) above will

apply.

Note: For direct placement of a grantee at a university, MEXT will decide the recipient

university upon discussion with prospective universities. An applicant desirous of direct

placement must enter a university without preparatory education, and if the desired

university does not accept the applicant, his/her application will be rejected by MEXT. If

you want to apply for direct placement, be careful in selecting the university, faculty and

school and their capacity to accept direct placement. For further information on

universities capable of receiving students via direct placement, please inquire at the

Japanese legation

8. 　 APPLICATION PROCEDURE

　　 Applicants must submit the following documents to the Japanese legation by the required date. The submitted documents

will not be returned.
(Original) 　　 (Copy)

(1) 　 ① Application (by the prescribed forms) 　 ................................... 　 2

(2) 　 ④ Application (Attachment) (prescribed form for applicants for direct placement) 　　 1

(3) 　 Photographs (4.5 x 3.5 cm, Upper body, Full-faced, Uncapped) taken within the past 6 months

(name and nationality should be written on the reverse;

photo to be pasted onto the application documents. Digital photographs also acceptable) 　　 3

(4) 　 ② Academic transcript for the past 3 years 　 ................................ 　 1 1

(5) 　 ③ －１ Recommendation from the principal or the adviser of the last school attended 　　 1 1

(6) 　 ③ －２ Graduation certificate of the last school attended (or certificate of expected graduation for an

applicant due to

graduate) 　 ....................................................................... 　 1 1

(7) 　 ③ －３ Certificate of passage of university entrance qualification examination (if applicable) 　　 1 1

(8) 　 ⑤ Certificate of enrollment (for an applicant currently enrolled in a university) 　　 1 1

(9) 　 ⑥ Medical certificate (on the prescribed form) 　 ........................... 　 1 1

Note 1: These documents must be written in Japanese or English. A document written in any other language must be
attached with an English or Japanese translation.

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Note 2: For items (6) and (7) above, a photocopy of the graduation certificate and/or the qualification certificate
will do, provided that the copy is attested by the relevant school or examining organization.
Note 3: An application will not be examined unless all the documents mentioned above are fully and correctly
completed. For applicants with (7) 　 Certificate of passage of university entrance qualification examination, this
document may be submitted in place of documents (4), (5) and (6).
Note 4: Number the documents(1 through 6) in the right upper corner.

9. 　 NOTES

(1) 　 All grantees are advised to learn the Japanese language and have basic knowledge about

the weather, climate, customs, and university education in Japan as well as about the

differences between the Japanese legal system and that of his/her home country before they

leave for Japan.

(2) 　 Grantees should bring the approximate equivalent of US $2,000 to cover immediate needs

after their arrival in Japan.

(3) 　 Accommodations:

①During the period of preparatory education ， scholarship recipients can reside in the

residential accommodations of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies or Osaka

University ， where these foreign exchange students are enrolled ．

②Residence halls for international students established by national universities

At present, the national universities have residence halls available for international

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 live 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. Please keep in mind that it is very difficult to secure family housing. A

married grantee is advised therefore to first come to Japan alone, secure a boarding house

for his/her family, and then bring in his/her spouse and children.

(4) If you have any question about the matters set forth/not set forth herein, inquire at the

Japanese legation, and follow their instructions, if any are given.

　　（ 5 ） In addition to the information determined in this guideline, matters which are

necessary to implement Japanese Government Scholarship are determined by the Japanese

Government.

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Undergrad guidelines(1)

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