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Postgraduate in Tokyo University Japan
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Been thinking about this for a while and now I need your help: This year, I will be applying for a Scholarship in Japan for a Postgraduate degree, still haven’t decided if Masters or Doctorate’s Degree and will explain why below.
Pictured above is Tokyo University (東京大学), usually abbreviated as 東大 (Todai), which will be one of my three choices, along with Keio University and Yokohama or Waseda University. But first…
A couple of girls in my Japanese class (yes cute ^^) wrote this on my hand earlier today. H is for Hao (me) and each S is for each gal’s initial. Just met them last week but they are funny, what do you guys suggest? =)
(Sorry for the interruption!) For those who don’t know, outside of Japan, this scholarship is known as the 文部科学省 (Monbukagakushou) MEXT: Scholarship, and is available in many countries for undergraduate students. In my case, I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering. Requirements are being under 35 years (check), speaking good English and/or Japanese (check), said undergraduate degree (check), and a few more (not available for some careers, but the normal stuff is okay).
Another shot of Todai by contributor Osk ^^; anyway, to apply, you have to choose a topic for your major. The Embassy of Japan holds a copy of all universities and their current majors. Haven’t decided yet but me loves Web Development and other more obscure topics.
Next step is to choose three Universities in Japan — Tokyo Uni (東大/Todai), Kyoto (京大/Kyodai), and Osaka Universities (阪大/Handai) are the three best known in Japan, and usually staff from the Embassy will advise you against choosing them, since admission is very selective. If you’ve seen/read Love Hina, you know that Keitaro and Naru have a very hard time trying to become Todai students:
Tokyo Uni on the background. Another key term here is rounin (浪人) which applies to high school students who haven’t been able to get into college/university. Japanese higher education is not too hard, the hard part is passing admission tests and that’s why cram schools exist everywhere. I’m currently reading the Love Hina manga, but this has nothing to do with my decision of applying for Tokyo University ^^;
After your three choices, you have to write a composition in English or Japanese about your field of study. I’ve helped others apply for this scholarship, and as I did with mine before for the Study Tour, the J-staff usually wants to hear you talk about how you can benefit your own country, how you can teach others of the ninja stuff that you learn in Japan, how you admire Japanese customs like respect, punctuality, etc.. Writing about being an otaku is zettai dame!
After that, it’s choosing how much time you want to be in Japan studying. The first six months will be for studying Japanese (the part I’m most interested in), and after that it’s two years as a research student or for a Master’s degree; or a whopping five years for a PhD degree. Don’t jump in right there and say “it’s Japan, the more the merrier!” In my case, I do love Japan but I’m not too fond of returning to the student’s life. If you think about it the other way, after six years, I’ll be 29, and if I’m unlucky as to not have time left outside of becoming a PhD, it’ll be hard to return to the normal life — doing what you love is great but as Danny Choo mentions here (read the whole article if you can, moving and very inspiring), money is part of the process. My current small video game studio is my passion.
Here’s the good news: it’s possible (though not definite) to apply as a Research student and then beg to continue studying for a Doctorate’s degree, which is what I intend to do. If everything goes well and I’m able to split my time between my degree and my passion/work, then I’ll probably go for it, but I prefer not to condemn my next five years yet.
After applying, you’ll have to make both English and Japanese language exams, both which are very hard but don’t be scared, you only need to be good at any of those two languages, in most cases it will obviously be English. Knowing Japanese is definitely a plus, but don’t be discouraged by that — two of my friends who applied last year didn’t speak a word.
If you do well on these exams, the next step is the dreaded interview. My advise is to speak English even if you speak some Japanese, as you’ll be able to communicate your intentions better, you won’t have to be an ace in Japanese customs and expressions, and near the end of the interview, you may show your Japanese skills. Unfortunately, staff at the Embassy knows me and on my last study tour to Japan interviewed me in Japanese, which was the most cold-blooded interview. Don’t get me wrong, everyone at the Embassy helped me a lot and has been great with me, but their job is to challenge everything you’ve got, and in my case I felt like crap even after being selected.
Talk about fancy names ^^; anyway, suppose that you’re selected (normally, 3-6 candidates are selected). In my case, I’m supposing that I am (would be foolish to not do so ^^), for a few reasons (some mentioned in my About page):
- My English is above average (compared to my rivals)
- My Japanese is way above average (was chosen as the Outstanding Student of the Japanese Language)
- Computer Engineering at the Costa Rica IT is regarded as one of the best careers nationally
- Was elected by Procter & Gamble as one of the Top 20 Undergraduate Students
- Was also chosen by the Ministry of Japan’s Japan Foundation as an Outstanding Student of the Japanese-Learning Language Tour
- Published a Research Paper on the most important Computer-related Latin/ibero-american conference (CLEI)
- English, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese are all okay
Don’t think that I’m just bragging all these stuff — if you’re looking to apply for a scholarship now or in the future, you may grab a few good ideas. Many students from my University have won this scholarship and have a similar background (my partner who coauthored said research paper is now in Japan ^^). If you’re still young and would love to go to Japan, then start trying to add some solid evidence to your résumé — all effort pays off sooner or later! And definitely start studying Japanese now if you aren’t!
Keio University seen from the Tokyo Tower. Not sure at where I’m supposed to be looking though ^^ have tons of pictures of my trip to the Tokyo Tower, will blog about it one of these days.
Now, suppose that you’re selected, yay! The hardest part is yet to come: the scholarship covers your expenses but you won’t be able to live eternally party’ing and touring Japan: apartments are quite expensive at Tokyo and that’s the downside of studying/living near Tokyo. You’ll be spending somewhere between 30-60% of your scholarship on renting alone (dorms are rented too, no exception). Was thinking of choosing Osaka/Kyoto Universities since I’m also more of an Osaka fan, but in the end, for personal and business reasons (will detail later on if I’m accepted), I prefer to stay near the Tokyo area, since commuting in Japan is not only expensive but very time-consuming.
I need to apply before May 29th (won’t forget since it’s my birthday!), and that’s why I need to rush some of my decisions. If anyone around here is studying in Japan would love to hear from you. Results will be available in about a month I think, and I’ll let you know how it goes. Though I am highly confident that I will be chosen, preparing for the worse is still important ^^. Wish me luck!
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Tasty~
Go for it, Hao! 応援しています！（爆笑）
Have you taken the JLPT? If so, what level? Just curious.
サンキュー Deas!
Was going to take the JLPT 3K in San Francisco last year, but unfortunately my plans changed and I couldn’t.
To tell the truth, I have no idea of how I’m doing JLPT-wise. The exam I took to go to Japan is said to be somewhere between 3K and 2K, and I scored 70, so I’m guessing 3K is okay and 2K is a no-no (though I improved drastically after going to Japan). Ever since I started learning Japanese, I never went to any institutions or followed any text-book or method, I’ve always been in 1:1 lessons (until very recently, where I met the S & S girls ^^)
My verbal skills are better than my written skills (even though I don’t have much of a trouble with Kanji because of my Chinese background), since many exam takers here scored better than me but in the end they chose me ;)
Now okay, don’t get me wrong. Nationally speaking, my J-Sensei says that me and my brother are amongst the 10 best non-Japanese speakers here (being elected for the study tour proves that too), and I’ve worked for intepreting assisting for JICA too. But my sensei also guesstimates the number of Japanese first-generation people to be under 300 in Costa Rica, which explains a bit better the why.
This is why if I were to be compared with my rivals, both my English (which is non-native) and my Japanese skills can’t be matched — but that’s locally.
“Internationally” so to speak, I’m very well aware of my own level — when I went to Japan, there were a few students who spoke Japanese a whole lot better than me and studied for only a few years — 天才 is the only thing I thought when I spoke to the girl from Kazakhstan who learned both English and Japanese at an old age and spoke both of them as a native — really impressive. That’s where I met my reality check, I guess ;)
Still, let’s say, if you were to compare yourself (judging for your videos your Japanese kick ass) with the global Japanese students, what would you say about your own level to someone who determines if you get a scholarship or not? And how would you demonstrate it? Yes, we have to be humble, but you have to make it clear: you can speak and you will sheathe your katana if necessary :)
Sorry it got a little long and I got a little carried over with my Bushido ^^; EDIT: HOLY CRAP it’s longer than I thought!
Funny how you say that writing about an otaku is zettai dame, as I ironically talked about my otaku life on my MIT application (and I guess it wasn’t surprising to find out that MIT has a ginormous anime club). xD
But anyway, you totally deserve that scholarship! Based on what you have, it would be ridiculous for them not to give it to you. :3 Todai is a great school, hopefully you’ll dominate the competition! >:D
Thanks Mimi ^^ I’m confident in my skills but the world is a huge place and the more you learn the more you find out that people with more talent are everywhere — same with everything in life, same with piano, ne? =)
Also, in your case it’s probably not wrong to talk about otaku stuff, but the Embassy staff are interested in how you’re going to use what you learn in Japan to benefit one whole country as a vehicle of knowledge. Unless you’re real lucky and the Ambassador is a frustrated Otaku, I think it’s better to talk about world peace and such >:D
hi Hao, i posted on dannychoo but after reading this i’ve decided to comment abit more ^^
When i filled in the written part for the application, a statement of purpose, i thought it was a good idea to write what you can also do for Japan, as it is the Japanese Government that is providing the scholarship money as well as a research position. Japan is known to like building up good bilateral relations with other countries through these education programs as us students are seen to be the next generation people to change the world
I also noticed that scholarships may tend to go to people who are financially disadvantaged whether it be their country that they are from or their exchange rate with the Japanese yen, horrible for all at the moment.
Out of the group of students in my cohort, 25 people from all around the world, not all recieved scholarships. Out of the few Monbusho recievers (undergrad) i met at the Komaba and Hongo campus as well as our International dorm, i never see many americans or europeans. Most recievers come from south america and australia, as well as africa and south east asia. If i could have attended some socials organised by monbusho comrads, i would have but unfortunately its difficult to fit everything in :P
I was only able to meet the Toudai graduate school, Masters and phd, students on 2 occasions where we went on a Ski trip organised by the Todai ski club. There were many from south america, middle asia and middle east as well as the south east asian region. Only perhaps 3 from “western” countries. which one of them was me :P
All students seemed very dedicated to their work, and have a very nice place to live near their campus. The culture i observed there is everyone is diligent, at both study, work, and play. when i say play i mean nomikai and drinking. So if you want to get along with many people, best to start the alcohol training earlier than later :P it can be as important as japanese language study
anyways, u can contact me on acq128@hotmail.com facebook and MSN, i got a fair few pics on facebook so feel free to browse =)
Thanks! (added to facebook ^^ )
I’ll try to clear up some stuff: My country in Central America, Costa Rica, qualifies as a third-world country, so there are always three full scholarships to Japan given by the MEXT. However, internally, the staff at the Embassy (who decide who gets selected) don’t choose anyone based on social conditions, actually, those with a lower education than me are in disadvantage when it comes to languages and maybe other aspects of education. My education background is somewhat “prestigious” and so is my social background, but fortunately they don’t take these things into account and only your effort academically.
As you say, on my last trip to Japan, I also met people from South/Central America, Russian-speaking countries, Africa, India, lower Asia, etc., for a grand total of 60 different countries, but not many from “Western” first-world countries. I had the time of my life in Japan and if it were possible I would do anything to live that again (alcohol training is okay, no problem with tequila but the Russian’s loved vodka!)
I know that Todai is not just about Love Hina XD it was more of a joke, but to tell the truth as I said before, my interest is mostly getting the scholarship in a U near Tokyo, not particularly one. My choosing of Todai is more of a challenge, but in any case will try my best! Results should be in on June/July and will let you know :)
I’m sure you’ll have a good chance of getting through! The part about not being able to apply for a scholarship again is specific to just the scholarships offered by the Monbusho as thats their jurisdiction, they have no power in deciding for other scholarship institutions as well as ones provided within those Universities. There are many that i don’t know about but if your eager to know whats available i’m sure you’ll be able to find it =).
I recommend…a threesome.
LOL, for one second I almost deleted this comment and then I realized it had to do with me talking about those gals ^^ maybe this wasn’t the right post to add something like that but makes it more entertaining =D will take into account your suggestion ;)
Another vote for a threesome here.
Oh! Vas a aplicar para la beca! Excelente! Yo pienso aplicar después de graduarme de la Universidad (aunque todavía faltan 5 años para que ocurra). Estudio Japonés desde hace 1 año y medio, y el año pasado aprobé el JLPT4, así que ya estoy ganando puntos desde ahora *lol* Anyways, espero que todo te salga bien y consigas la beca =D
P.S: BTW, excelente post! He aprendido muchas cosas nuevas sobre el proceso para obtener una beca en Japón =P
Saludos desde Venezuela!
Gracias! Felicidades con el JLPT4, mi sugerencia es que sigas esforzándote con el japonés para que puedas aprobar el JLPT3 mínimo en ese período de cinco años, talvez hasta el JLPT2 pero con el 3 basta =)
Una amiga que fue conmigo a Japón de Venezuela fue aceptada hace más o menos un mes en la Universidad de Osaka, así que definitivamente es posible! A sacar buenas notas mientras tanto y espero que esta información te sea útil dentro de unos años.
I went to Sophia University in Yotsuya, personally.
I’ve heard great things about Sophia University, particularly from a friend who studied Japanese language there. What did you study?
In any case I can’t apply there ’cause it doesn’t have Computer Science majors
History for a semester. But I’m doing Photo-Journalism now.
Was curious.. over here (the Netherlands) you need to have a master’s degree before you can go for doctor’s degree. When you do Doctor’s from when you’re a post-grad will automatically get your master’s as well?
Btw, I see no reason for any problems to arise when you finish your Master’s and want to continue for a doctor’s, it simply has to be possible. I believe there is a separate scholarship for master students who are going for their doctor’s degree. Also, doing your doctor’s is not exactly the same as doing your master’s as you are basically doing your own research during your doctor’s and have to produce a thesis on some topic which will be your deciding factor. going for master’s is basically following a few lectures and doing assignments (at least it is over here.)
However, when i was reading through MEXT’s research student regulations, i saw this clause which stated that they wouldn’t provide additional scholarships for those who have already had one before. I wonder what they exactly mean by that. It seems very strange to me and I will have to ask someone to clarify that for me because it seems like it’s obstructing scholarships for students like you who want to do a master’s continued by a doctor’s degree with separate scholarships.
Also to comment on the actual scholarships themselves. Over here every Dutch national gets scholarships too, from our government. But those scholarships are nowhere near enough to cover the tuition fees, let alone rent for any housing that is required (you get more if you live away from your parents but it’s still not enough by a long shot). So unless you don’t get money from any other place you need to work to be able to pay for everything, or you need to get a student loan (special loan with low rent) to cover the costs, or in some cases both. And even with that, Dutch students are generally able to have a very good time with the fraternities and sororities around. So when I saw how much a prospective student like yourself would get from MEXT I was astounded. You will actually have money left over without even getting any financial help from somewhere else. You really have to be grateful for that scholarship if you get it! :P
Normally, you can’t jump right in to a Doctorate degree without a Master’s degree, but if your academic performance excels, it is possible, though still I think everyone has to be a Research Student in the process. But in any case, the scholarship will still apply, what you can’t do (I think) is finish off your studies, go back to your country, and then try to come back. So my choice after two years would be whether to go on studying or to finish there and never return with a MEXT scholarship ^^
In my case, I went to Japan with another scholarship but technically it doesn’t count since I didn’t get any formal education.
Also, the Netherlands is a first-world country, but as I wrote above, I have the “privilege” of coming from a third-world country (Costa Rica) XD which is why MEXT scholarships cover 100% of your necessities (the CR government does not pay a dime for your scholarship) and in many cases you can even save some and visit your family, go on trips, etc.
If I get the scholarship then I’ll be grateful =) but for now time to fill up papers and think about my field of study!
@ No.3
What I wanted to say was that the monthly fee any applicant gets from the MEXT scholarship is that it’s incredibly high, regardless of where they’re from.
Anyway, your story sort of jumped out at me as I am probably going to be in a very similar position as you are in a year or 2 (or 3). I’m majoring in aerospace engineering and the best option I have for studying in Japan is also Tokyo University. However, my results when it comes to my major aren’t as colourful** (see note below) as yours.. And me, like you said, being from a first-world country and all.. However, I do have Japanese language skills and my major is in English to begin with so that’s not a problem at all. So I’m hoping I’ll be able to ‘dazzle’ with my languages and project work, as opposed to my exam results, when the time comes.
What I have found out at any rate is that it’s in any respect a whole lot easier to get into Japan when you already have a Bachelor’s degree. So I guess that’s my goal for now. Get that BSc first, then go for an MSc in Japan. Maybe see if I can go to a language school in Japan during a summer holiday or even as a minor.
**(I’m actually already a 3rd year student but my major is so difficult that I’m not very close to actually getting my BSc. Having said that, I’m still at the average! Can you believe that? My major is supposed to take 3 years for BSc and 2 for MSc but in practice it’s actually 5 for BSc and 3 for MSc on -average-. So it’s -not even strange- to come across a -10th year student- on occasion. That’s definitely not right in my opinion but I guess it can’t be helped.)
Paying for college…. I always use my own work money. Now that I don’t even have a job, things are pretty difficult for me. Now I’m looking for grants. I’m hesitant to apply for government asisstance since most scholarships are really nifty. Or it takes an exceptional student to get such a scholarship here. I’ve been an honor student since junior high, but nothing more to add on. Its not enough to really impress an Illinois state representative. Haha. I’m about to start selling coke, ex, shrooms, juice, juanas…. the works. Haha Just kidding.
Btw, were those girls japanese?
How much for a pound of grass? =D
That’s too bad, education around here is fortunately very cheap, but to study in Japan would be almost impossible without a scholarship, at least for me.
Good luck with your college!
BTW: Not Japanese, but still cute ^o^! Have a few stories with J-gals and lots of others with T-gals (new meme for Taiwan-gals) and will post them when the time is due =)
Hola, soy de Venezuela, quisiera aplicar para la beca y tengo unas dudas que quizás tu me puedas aclarar, fui a la embajada de Japón en Venezuela, soy ingeniero industrial y pienso optar para postgrado o master degree, pero me dijeron que para aplicar tengo que contactarme con alguna universidad en Japón y ofrecerles un tema de investigación para ver si algún profesor acepte trabajar conmigo. el problema es que no se como contactarme ni que tema seria bueno para ellos, ya que estoy recién graduado y no tengo tanta experiencia en mi campo. ya tengo todos los requisitos, solo me faltaría eso, si me puedes ayudar te lo agradecería muchísimo.
Hi. i’m from Venezuela, I would like to apply for the scholarship and I have some doubts that maybe you can clarify me, i went to the embassy of Japan in Venezuela, i’m an industrial engineer and i would like to do a master, but they told me that i have to make contact with any university in Japan and provide them a research topyc to see if a teacher agrees to work with me, the problem is that i dont know how to contact with them or what topyc would be good for the teacher and the university, that’s because i just graduated and i dont have much experience in my field. i already have all the requirements they ask me, but this is my problem, and my time limt is this friday. if you can help me or give me some advice I will be grateful.