Field of Study and Research Program Plan Format for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, only
MEXT updated the Field of Study and Research Program Plan format for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship in 2019. The University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship still uses the format described below, but if you are applying for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship Application process, you can find information about that version here. Both versions contain the same content, it’s just organized differently and there are different limitations in place regarding the form itself.
Why the Field of Study and Research Program Plan Matters
The Field of Study and Research Program Plan is the single-most important part of your MEXT Scholarship application at the graduate level.
Whether you’re applying for a research student status, Master’s Degree, or PhD, this is the single most important element that you have any control over. So, it’s understandable that most applicants get more anxious about this form and what it should include than anything else in the application process.
Downloading the Form
As with all MEXT scholarship application documents, you should always download the document from the website of the university where you intend to apply. Especially for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, the university may ask you to use their own format first for the application, then convert it to the MEXT format after they select you for nomination. Know your specific university’s instruction!
If your university hasn’t posted the form yet and you want to get started, here is a copy of the form from MEXT’s website. This version is from 2023, so it may be out of date by the time you apply, but I have not seen it change in years, so if you start with this format, you should be fine.
You can usually find the form on MEXT’s website, too, but you’ll have to navigate that page entirely in Japanese.
Purpose of the Field of Study and Research Program Plan
Hereโs the important thing to keep in mind: The purpose of the Field of Study and Research Program is not to be a a final proposal for your thesis research!
Wait, what?!
Thatโs right. Itโs not final, but you should write it as if it is.
The purpose of this document is to demonstrate that you understand the state of research in your field, can identify an important issue, and develop a research question and specific research steps that will contribute to resolving the issue. Your actual research question and steps will likely change later, under guidance from your Academic Advisor (thatโs kind of their job, after all), but for now, you need to show what you are capable of to convince that advisor to accept you in the first place.
Field of Study and Research Program Plan Sections
In Japan, the Field of Study and Research Program Plan (็ ็ฉถ่จ็ปๆธ kenkyukeikakusho) is part of any graduate school application. It is not unique to the MEXT Scholarship. There is a set format and elements that Japanese universities are looking for, but the contents are not obvious from the form, itself.
As a foreigner, you wouldn’t necessarily be expected to know all of the elements of the Field of Study and Research Program Plan, but if you do hit them (I will explain how below), you’re going to stand out in a good way.
This article is based on more than eight months of research into Japanese professorsโ websites, university websites, and talking with faculty members at the university where I work, plus years of coaching MEXT applicants through creating the form. It is the same model you will find in my book,ย How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan,ย although the book obviously goes into more detail and also helps you develop your research question and subject.
I’ve researched several universities’ guidelines for what they’re looking for, professors’ blogs, and prep school websites to put together the elements below. I hope they help. (My research sources are available at the bottom of the article, but they’re all in Japanese).
Disclaimer: This is all only my own research and conclusions. It has not been formally vetted by any MEXT officials, Embassy staff, or grad school admissions committees, yet.
Sections of the Field of Study and Research Program Plan
- 1.ย Past and Present Field of Study
- 2.ย Your Research Topic in Japan
- 3.ย Study Program in Japan
- Attachment: References
Field of Study and Research Program Plan: Formatting Notes
These requirements apply to the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship Field of Study and Research Program Plan, only. The formatting requirements for the Embassy version are different!
Font Size:
The default font size in the Field of Study and Research Program Plan that you download from the MEXT website is 8.5 pt, which is ridiculously small and unreadable. Feel free to change it to a reasonable Times New Roman 12 pt.
Titles and Formatting:
You should add your own titles to your Field of Study and Research Program Plan to make it more readable. I recommend titling each of the sections mentioned below and breaking it into paragraphs to make it easy on the professors. Nobody likes a big old wall of text.
Page Length:
If you have to add extra pages to account for the formatting, that’s OK. But don’t go overboard. While there is no page limit for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship Field of Study and Research Program Plan, as a rule of thumb, you should never have more than 3 pages of content. (For reference, the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship version is limited to a maximum of 2 pages, including the instruction section!
I have never seen an example of a Field of Study and Research Plan that needed more that 2 pages. (But I have seen many that needed to cut out irrelevant material!)
Note that your attachments do not count toward this limit.
Tables, Graphs, and Diagrams:
If they add to the document and are necessary to answer the questions below, go ahead and include them. But again, keep it within reason. I have almost never seen an example where tables, graphs, etc. added value or understanding to the plan. But one good use example was an applicant who had groups of analysis tests to perform on different data sets and need to show the correspondence and outcomes in a quick, easy format.
References:
Include a list of references on an attached page. I’ll get to it below, but it’s a good thing to have.
Completing the Field of Study and Research Program Plan
1. Present Field of Study
This question previously only existed in the Field of Study and Research Program Plan format for the Embassy-recommended application process, but was added to the form for the University-recommended MEXT application process in 2018.
Research Background
Recommended Heading: None. Since you only have one sub-section in this question, there is no need to add another title.
Recommended Length: 3-4 sentences
Recommended Content: Your “present” field is what you are studying now, if you are current university student, or what you studied in your most recent university degree. Describe your research topic and how that led to your interest in the topic you will pursue in Japan. Since MEXT requires that you study a topic that you majored in in the past, this is your opportunity to show the connection.
Make sure that you describe your interest in terms of what it will contribute to the field. This is not a personal statement. “I am interested in microfinance because my family was poor” is not a good explanation. “Based on my past research into microfinance in developing countries, I think a systematic examination of the impact of microfinance-supported entrepreneurial ventures in former agricultural areas of developed countries has impacted population movements and rural revitalization is necessary to apply effective practices both in Japan and abroad” is better.
To strengthen the statement above, you could go into more detail about why your research would be beneficial to the field in general, with an emphasis on how it could connect to your desired advisor’s research.
2. Your Research Topic in Japan
This section is where you will cover the academic aspect of your research (as opposed to the practical process of research, which we’ll get to later).
Research Title
Recommended Heading: None. Simply center the text at the top of this section.
Recommended Length: Title and Subtitle, like it would be on a completed thesis.
Recommended Content: This is your sales copy. It needs to grab attention so your reviewers read further.
The main title is your overall theme and the subtitle is how exactly you plan to study it. For example:
The Contribution of ‘Outsider’ Expertise to Rural Revitalization Projects: An Exploration of the Yuzu Industry in Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture
(JAIST)
You are not locked into using this title. Like almost everything else in your Field of Study and Research Program Plan, it will probably change once you begin your research under your advisor. But it’s still important to have a solid idea at this stage.
Detailed Theme
Recommended Heading: Research Theme
Recommended Length: 1-2 sentences
Recommended Content: This should take a format like “I intend to research [RESEARCH QUESTION] by examining [SPECIFIC EXAMPLE] from [APPROACH] perspective in order to [OUTCOME].” It does not need to be exact, but it does need to cover those elements.
It is important to include the intended outcome of your research. Research itself is not the goal – you should have something you intend to accomplish through it. Returning to JAIST’s example from the previous section:
This study will elucidate how specialist knowledge held by outsiders to rural revitalization projects can contribute to those projects, by examining the example of Yuzu farmers in Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture’s contributions to local efforts by way of surveys and interviews, in order to advance the effectiveness of rural revitalization projects across Japan.
(JAIST)
Yes, the original Japanese is a horrible run-on sentence.
Unlike the title, you should format this section in paragraph format, left or full justification (not centered) and not bold.
This article is only about how to format your form for submission and assumes that you have already developed your research question, example, and methods fully. If you have not done that yet, I recommend my book, How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan, which goes into detail on the process of choosing your field of study, developing and refining your questions, and also discusses formatting in much more detail.
Research Goal
Recommended Heading: Research Goals
Recommended Length: 1-2 paragraphs
Recommended Content: This is where you describe the academic value of your research and is perhaps the most important section of the entire form.
Your first paragraph should cover the research question you intend to answer and how – an expansion of your detailed research theme. The second paragraph should outline the possible academic and practical benefits of your research.
The first paragraph of this section is also where you can provide brief background on your research topic. Give the readers just enough to understand what you are saying and why your research is important, no more than 1-2 sentences.
The most common place I see lengthy unnecessary content in Field of Study and Research Program Plans is unnecessary background. Remember, the point of this document is not to show what is already known in the field, it is to demonstrate what research you will conduct to contribute to it!
For the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, it will mostly be academic experts reviewing your proposal, but I still recommend that you start and end each paragraph with a topic sentence and conclusion that would be understandable to someone outside your field.
When discussing the benefits, it would be beneficial to mention specifically how they apply to Japan, your home country, and/or bringing the two closer together.
Existing Research
Recommended Heading: Existing Research
Recommended Length: 2-4 sentences
Recommended Content: In this section, you want to give a very brief introduction to the state of your field, with 1-2 examples, to show how your research fits into and contributes to it.
Your first sentence should describe the state of the field, particularly the most relevant studies to your own research. For example, if your field is still developing, you would state where current research stands and how you will add to it. If your research is targeting a gap in your field, then you would describe the state around that gap.
You can then give examples (with citations) of generally no more than two of the most important, related studies. But only mention them in the context of how they relate to your proposed research. Remember, you are not trying to show off how much you know about what has already been written. Your goals is to show how you will add to the field.
Your final sentence should refer back to your research goals to explain how your research will extend knowledge in the field (e.g. by using a new method or approach, examining a different data set, contribute to resolving a conflict or gap, etc.)
3. Study Program in Japan
In this section, you will go into detail about how you will answer the research question you identified previously and meet your research goals. This is where you need to detail the data you will collect and how you will analyze it.
In general, this is the weakest section of most applicants’ forms, so getting this part right will really help you stand out!
Research Methodology
Recommended Heading: Research Methodology
Recommended Length: 1-2 paragraphs
Recommended Content: Describe your research methodology (quantitative, qualitative, hybrid), specific methods, the data you will collect and how you will analyze that data in order to answer the research question / accomplish the research goals you set above.
In a second, optional, paragraph, describe the limitations of your research and how you will account for them.
At the end of the Existing Research section, you explained why your research would add to the field. In this section, you will explain how. This section should explain your research process, including each research step you will take, what data you expect to gain from it, and how you will analyze that data to show that you can answer your research question.
Prof. Tajima from Keio mentioned in his blog that he expects his advisees to do field research twice during their degree. For example, students would do a survey study first then return later for interviews to go into more detail, or do field studies in two places for comparison purposes.
This is the section that I most often find lacking in Field of Study and Research Program Plans. Many applicants cannot demonstrate the steps they will take to answer their research question (these are usually applicants who have wasted way too much space on describing the research that has already been done in their field), which is a huge red flag. You must demonstrate the steps to answer your research question!
(Optional) Hypothesis
Recommended Heading: Hypothesis
Recommended Length: 2-3 sentences
Recommended Content: Present the hypothesis that you intend to test through your research.
This section will not be possible for all applicants, but if it is applicable, I recommend including it.
A hypothesis is your proposed answer to your research question that you will test. It is not a certain, final answer and in most cases, should not be correct. Professor Tajima from Keio University wrote in his blog that if your hypothesis turns out to be accurate, then your research could be considered a 99% failure. After all, if you already know the answer before you have even started your graduate program, then there really wasn’t any point in your research.
If you include this section, you should explain what data / analysis results would prove the hypothesis true, to show that it can be tested.
Specific Research Plan/Timeline
Recommended Heading: Research Timeline
Recommended Length: 1-1.5 paragraphs or table / timeline / gantt chart long enough to cover the content below
Recommended Content: Describe your research steps in order, connected to your semesters of study in Japan. If your research does not have multiple, complex steps, you can do this in paragraph format. For example, social science research consisting of a survey and interview steps would be fine in paragraph format. But if your research includes multiple analyses of different data sets, as is common for some STEM fields, a timeline or gantt chart might be easier to read.
In either case, focus on steps that are related to research (i.e. you don’t need to mention the language semester or studying for the entrance exam). Your steps should include a literature review, topic approval (including ethical review, if using human subjects), data collection steps, and analysis steps. You should also mention when you will write and defend your thesis, but that should be as brief as possible (e.g. “In semester four I will write and submit my thesis.”)
Include references to any intended publications or presentations and finish the paragraph with an explanation of how you plan to distribute your results. Be specific in both of these cases. Don’t just say you intend to publish, mention the specific journal title that you want to publish in or specific conference where you intend to present! That will show your knowledge of your field!
The second, partial paragraph or a separate column in the table, if included, could describe how you intend to interact with the community during the course of your studies. Be specific. “I intend to interact with the community” is meaningless. If you plan to hold workshops based on your research, or use a specific skill you have to interact with the community, like holding cooking classes at a local community center, explain that to show that you bring a unique approach to community interaction!
Your Research Program Plan is a strategy, not a concrete plan. You are not locked in to doing things exactly this way, but having a solid plan at this point makes you look like a more responsible and dedicated applicant.
Attachment: References
This isn’t a section of the form, but you should attach a list of references nonetheless.
Recommended Heading: Selected Sources
Recommended Length: 0.5-1 page
Recommended Content: Bibliographical references for all sources you mentioned in the text of your Field of Study and Research Program Plan (particularly in the existing research section) plus key sources you used in your literature reviews when creating your plan.
As a general rule, you should not have more than 3-4 cited sources in your document. Any more than that, and you have probably spent too much time on research background and not enough describing your research. Aside from the cited sources, though, you can include other references that you used.
List your references in alphabetical order, using the format most common to your field of study. Make sure that they are formatted consistently!
Sources
I put this article together based on several Japanese faculty blogs, university websites, and prep school pages. You can find those sources below:
How to Research and Craft a Research Plan
http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/nifongo/keikaku/index.html
KALS Graduate School Application Prep School application advice article
http://www.kals.jp/graduate-sch/pln/
Keio University Professor Tajima’s Blog
http://cce-cmkt-tpro.sfc.keio.ac.jp/tajima_lab/inframe/sonota/01.htm
JAIST (Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) Application Advice Page
http://www.jaist.ac.jp/~as-asami/exam_research_plan/exam_research_plan.html
Study Channel Research Plan Writing Guide
http://www.study-channel.com/2015/07/research-plan.html
Five Steps to Writing a Lousy Research Plan (University of Tokyo Professor Nakahara’s Blog)
http://www.nakahara-lab.net/2013/05/post_2004.html
Do you want a step-by-step guide to developing a research question and making your Field of Study and Research Program as strong and persuasive as possible? In How to Write a Scholarship-Winning Field of Study and Research Program Plan, I take you through the process of choosing your research field, finding a specific question, and developing a research proposal based on that question to help you master the most important document in your entire application package!
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Questions?
Please let me know in the comments below!
Hello, Travis
I will be applying for the Research Student program this year. I believe they would start accepting the application from mid-April and I have neither compiled any of the documents required nor have I started writing letters of reference and so on. I am extremely intererested in studying in Japan and I also do believe that I can submit my application within this short period. However, my concern is the Japanese language.
For my application to standout, do I need to have atleast basic level of Japanese and a certificate in JLPT? I understand that I have to appear for the entrace examination which has two papers: English and Japanese. Could you kindly help me in understanding how I should go about with learning the language?
Also, do I have to submit any english proficiency test score like TOEFL or IELTS even though I have been studying in English medium schools since kindergarten? I can submit the scores, but my question is: is it crucial to raise the standard of my application?
Your reply will be extremely helpful and much appreciated.
I also would like to point out that fact that your blog is one masterpiece. It is extremely detailed and will definitely help hundereds of students like me who apply with slightly lesser clarity about the application process. Thank you so much!
Looking forward for you reply.
Sincerely,
Swetha from India
Hi Swetha,
Thank you for your kind feedback!
If you haven’t gotten started yet, my recommendation is that you start focusing on your Field of Study and Research Program Plan, first. That is where you need to put most of your effort and certainly requires the most time. It’s also going to have the greatest impact. Your letter of recommendation, on the other hand, isn’t nearly as important.
By the way, this article is about the FSRPP for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship. Be sure to read the article about the Field of Study and Research Program Plan for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, instead. The format, and to some extent the focus, are different between the two applications.
It’s already a bit late to get started on the FSRPP, so I recommend you focus on that right away!
You do not need to worry about Japanese language proficiency if you are not applying for a program taught in Japanese. It helps to know a little, as an indication that you are interested in Japan, and you do have to make an attempt at the test during the Primary Screening, but there is no minimum requirement and you do not need an official certificate. Besides, if you don’t have one now, it would be impossible to obtain one before the application starts.
For English language proficiency tests, you should absolutely submit TOEFL or IELTS scores if you have them. The Embassy doesn’t require it, since you will take their test during the screening, but having the scores can only help during the document screening. It’s not “crucial” (not as much as a well-developed FSRPP), but every little thing you can do to help your application is a good thing! When you apply for Letters of Provisional Acceptance, some universities will accept that completing your bachelor’s degree in English is sufficient proof of your English language proficiency, but some may ask for test scores anyway. You’ll have to check the requirements for the universities you want to apply to.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Pingback: How to Apply for the 2023/2024 University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship | TranSenz: MEXT Scholarship and Visa Information for Moving to Japan
Hi Travis,
Thank you for offering such detailed advice and guides on this blog – they have been an immense help throughout my MEXT application process. As someone without advanced Japanese proficiency, I am writing to ask a question regarding the research plan: what are some common strategies to overcome language barriers in research interviews/accessing information, especially for field-specific terminologies? Is it reasonable to write about hiring a translator who is fluent in English and familiar with the field through connecting with the university’s library or one’s supervisor? What other strategies will you recommend?
Many thanks in advance!
Hi Sarah,
Thank you for your kind words!
If you are not fluent in Japanese, then I recommend trying to find a university that teaches the degree that you want to follow in English.
If they offer the degree in English, then your advisor will be able to speak English, including technical terms related to the field (if you want to be doubly sure, then make sure you select an advisor who has experience publishing in English, too). The university library should also have, or be able to obtain, any necessary resources in English.
The only time I can think of that you might need to avail yourself of a translator or interpreter would be during fieldwork, if necessary for your field, such as interviews. For written documentation, the Google Translate app is pretty good, but I’ll admit that I haven’t tried it for anything more technical than Japanese government documents. For interpretation, you might be able to work with another student in your lab/program with the necessary language ability and trade favors.
Honestly, most of the research proposals I see that include interviews don’t discuss how they are going to overcome the language barrier at all (though I usually recommend they think about it before the interview).
I hope that helps.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey Travis, thank you for all the helpful information youโve provided concerning the MEXT Scholarship. I am learning a lot. My question is: in the PDF document in how to apply for the MEXT Scholarship, there is a section that outlines the documents to be provided. It is also indicated that a certain number of copies of some documents are to be provided. Does this mean that I should provided three filled-out application forms, three copies of my Research Plan etc. when I am submitting my application?
Hi Vanessa,
That’s right. You need to submit one original and two copies. For documents like the Application Form and Field of Study and Research Program Plan, where there is no difference between and original and a copy, that basically means three copies. For documents like your transcript, one would have to be an original (or certified copy) and the other two could be photocopies.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you Travis! Last question please, is it alright if my transcripts are all original copies? Will it affect my application in any way? I made copies of my certificate because we are only given one original but for my transcripts they are all original certified copies. Thanks Travis.
Hi Vanessa,
That shouldn’t be a problem. I can’t imagine a situation where they would say, “No, we can’t accept originals, only copies are good enough.” ๐
They might tell you that it wasn’t necessary to submit originals for the others, but that should be about it!
If you’re worried, you could keep the two extra originals and just make photocopies of one of them.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis!
I’m not quite sure about what to write in the field of study section of the research plan.
I have a degree in system engineering and my degree project was a gamified e-health application, but the topic I want to investigate now in Japan is related to deep learning. However, I have never done research in deep learning and I don’t know how to explain the relationship between my interest in that topic and my research background.
Could you give me some suggestions?
I would also like to ask if you think it is a good idea to write the research plan in both English and Japanese. Since the official language at the graduated school of the university I want to apply to is English, I think writing it in english is enough. But it’s stated to write in Japanese if I have enough Japanese language ability, which I do have, and I thought it might be an opportunity to stand out from other applicants. What do you think?
Thank you so much for your time
HI Quismagi,
I’m afraid I’m not familiar enough with your fields of study to be able to give any detailed suggestions as to how you could connect them. Is there something in the gamified e-health app that motivated you to study deep learning, for example to investigate something that you couldn’t solve yet? Even if the fields are not directly connected, if you are the new research topic to explore an interest that grew out of the last one, that could be a connection.
I recommend that you write your FSRPP in the language that you plan to pursue your degree in. I would only recommend writing it in Japanese if you are going to study in Japanese or, maybe, if you feel you can write just as fluently and clearly in Japanese as in English. A poorly-written Japanese plan would probably not be helpful to your application.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hay travis!
I am in final year of my high school, can I apply for mext scholarship as an undergraduate for 2023?
Hi Aayush,
As long as you will graduate from high school before the end of March 2023, you can apply this year. (The scholarship would start in April 2023, so you would need to be finished with your degree and ready to go to Japan at that point).
However, at this point, I think the application deadline for 2023 has already passed in most countries, so you’ll want to check the dates with the Japanese embassy in your area.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Trevor.
It seems the 2022/23 research plan and field of study forms don’t have a ”previous research” and ”problems with previous research” field(s) . Does that mean we shouldn’t include them? My embassies deadline is 27th Jun and I’m hoping to start in April 2023.
Many thanks
Thabang
Hi Thabang,
Sorry I wasn’t clear enough in the article. “Previous Research” and “Problems with Previous Research” were never part of the official form. However, those are topics that you would be expected to cover in a research proposal, so I suggest adding those headers yourself to the appropriate section of your FSRPP.
By the way, this article is about the FSRPP for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship. The FSRPP for the Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship is different and I have a separate article about that form, so I recommend checking that one!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, I wanted to ask you about “problems with the previous research”, so under this heading is the previous research done by other researchers or the previous research by the candidate should be included?
Thank you
Hi Sahar,
“Problems” with the previous research should refer to the field as a whole, not research by the candidate. And you should avoid criticizing past researchers, just point out where research has not yet been conducted, or where there is no conclusion and more research is required.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, thank you so much for your information!
I am applying to mext this year, and for my consulate general, the deadline is in the first week of June.
Which means I have about 2weeks to prepare, but I haven’t contacted any professors yet.
I know this is a silly question, but do you think it’s too late to email them?
Thank you so much for your help.
Hi Stella,
It isn’t mandatory to contact professors prior to the embassy’s deadline. You should certainly research them and decide what professors you want to study under to fill in the Placement Preference Form, but with only two weeks, I don’t think it makes much sense to contact them at this point. You can wait until after you pass the Primary Screening and then contact them when it is time to apply for a Letter of Provisional Acceptance.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey Travis thanks a lot for the work you are doing and i cannot get enough of what you always provide. My exact question is i did write a thesis about soil contamination and pollution brought about by Petroleum drilling in an oilfield in China. Now i am in my home country and want to conduct exact similar soil pollution research in Japan now how do i get to know the practical areas to conduct research in Japan while i am drafting the plan and i have never set foot in Japan?
I wish to conduct this research in relation to my own country which is fast growing in petroleum drilling but it will be better suited in Japan
Hi Kambesha,
It sounds like you need to do some more research on the state of soil contamination in Japan. If you refer to current research in the field, you should be able to find sources that show the practical areas to conduct research in Japan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis.
My university graduation thesis supervisor said that, my thesis’ quality is good enough to be used as Master Degree thesis. In more correct way, the methodology, data, etc.. used is way above university level. The only problem is it lacks details since I only have 4 months to write thesis.
I found his Master Degree thesis done in Keio Univ., and it was almost the same as mine.
Now I plan to reuse the research theme and methodology, collect and analyze more data and use it for my research plan for MEXT. In short term, bring my university graduation thesis to its full power as my supervisor said and use it for MEXT. However I got a problem, in which I may got refused in document screening when they see my previous research and planned is almost the same.
I want to tell them that the theme may look the same, but there will be much more detail into it, and my supervisor said that it can be qualified for Master Degree. How can I tell them that in this research plan document?
(I know that I can tell them in the interview, but it will be nothing if I can’t make it to the interview)
Hi SK,
When you describe your past research and your research plan in Japan, you need to establish the difference in the two research projects. Of course, you can’t just write up the same research again in more detail, even if it was Master’s quality. Your plan should include all new research to be conducted during your Master’s Degree. If you can show that you will be doing all new research as a MEXT scholar, and explain in the “Past and Present Field of Study” that you conducted similar research in undergrad and want to do additional research to further explore an area of the topic, then there should be no issues with the two research projects being related.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you for your reply. I want to ask one more thing please.
Is there any chance I will get rejected by the university if my research theme does not match their style? (There are professors there that can supervise my theme)
I plan to apply to Waseda University, and my supervisor said that I should change research theme to match their style. However doing so my theme will contribute nothing to the connection between two countries, which does not suit MEXT’s vision.
Hi SK,
Yes, there is a good chance that the university will reject your application for a Letter of Provisional Acceptance if the faculty member is not willing to supervise your research. I’m not sure what you mean by style, but if the faculty member has told you to change your research approach in order for them to supervise you, then you should choose between changing it or applying to a different professor/university. Do not expect the professor to accept your application if they told you to change it and you didn’t!
If you really want to work with that professor, then try to be creative in coming up with a way that the revised research proposal will contribute to Japan, your country, or the relationship between the two.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey Travis,
Thanks for all your effort in guiding us through this process, it’s so so helpful! I’ve a pretty silly question – do I have to mention expected results of my research in field of study and research plan? (or are goals of research enough?)
Hi Prathyusha,
You should mention the expected impact of your research and your goals, but in most fields, it is not necessary to mention your expected results or hypothesis. As long as you can describe the data you will obtain and how you will analyze it to answer your research question, that should be enough.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Good day sir!
Greetings with peace! can I ask if is it okay to transfer to another university within our country when you are applying to mext? I am currently a freshman at a university but I want to transfer to a university nearby.
thank you so much for big help.
Hi Melanie,
If you are expecting to leave your home country next April to start your MEXT Scholarship, then it seems like a lot of effort to change universities in your home country, when you’re just going to drop out, anyway. But there is no rule against it! There should be no problem with your application if you transfer during the application process. Just be sure that you can give the reviewers a good reason for the transfer if they ask.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you so much sir! <3 I want to transfer to a university just within our city because I have no assurance to pass the Specialized Training College but this is a preparation if im going to apply again for thank you so much <3
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Hello Travis,
If I entered “The first course you plan to take in Japan” as a Non-degree student. And “Term you wish to study in Japan” as Up to the completion of the doctoral program. In the Research Timeline table, should I make it 2 years (Master course) or 5 years (Master+PhD), as I will start with my Master first?
Hi Mohamed Ragab,
If you are planning to arrive as a non-degree student and then progress to the Master’s degree after one semester, then I recommend that your Field of Study and Research Program Plan cover 5 semesters, (one semester as a research student and four as a Master’s degree student).
You should not include your PhD in your original research plan. You will discuss that later when you apply for an extension of your scholarship from Master’s to PhD.
For the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, please make sure that your university is actually accepting applications as non-degree students. Typically, they would only do so if they cannot accept applications for the degree program starting in the fall. (i.e. if the degree program only starts in the spring semester.)
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you Travis for your advice and your help.
Hi Travis, I hope youโve been well! I am John. I am asking the question about Unversity Recommendation MEXT Scholarship for masterโs degree, regarding the Study and Research Program Plan Form.
I am concerned about the content you post in this blog: “If you have to add extra pages to account for the formatting, thatโs OK. But donโt go overboard.”
For the University -Recommendation forms I have seen so far, they do mention that the form must be created within two pages, but additional sheets may be added if necessary. So isn’t it implying the there is no page limit??
I actually have done the form, and because is it in STEM field, the overall length is about 7-8 pages. is it acceptable,??
Thank you.
Hi John,
I would say that 7-8 pages is much too long!
Two is the target amount, which means that they are expecting the level of detail and content that can fit into two pages if written well. Adding one or two pages might be reasonable, if you have diagrams, etc., that take up a significant amount of space, but I have never seen a diagram that was actually necessary to the proposal. I have also never seen a research proposal that needed to me more than two pages of text to get the point across – including STEM proposals. (Please note that if you include a research timeline and/or list of sources, I am not counting those within the two pages! Those would be separate attachments.)
The problem with a proposal that long is that it makes it unlikely that reviewers will read it in detail. They are expecting you to be concise and to the point and don’t have time to read such a lengthy proposal from every applicant.
I suggest that you go through your proposal and find ways to make it more concise, shorten parts, and condense it down to the necessary items.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Alright, thank you for your help!
HEY, first of all thankyou for such a wonderful work and helping us confused kids out.
I have been dreaming for years to go to japan for my master’s and would really love to apply there. I am from STEM Electrical Engineering. My project doesn’t have originality in them just a little bit of tweeking to get better results from existing ones. My goal down the road is to do a master’s get a job in industry and earn money. While looking about masters I came to knew that there are two types of masters research (80% research 20% coursework) and taught (80% course 20% research). Also it took me a while to get clarity that all masters in japan are research based which really confused me and troubles me . Will doing masters help me get that industry job??what are your opinions regarding that??yeah and i am not confident if i am good for research or is it my cup of tea or not.
Hi Avi Singh,
All graduate degrees in Japan require both research and coursework, but I don’t think that the 80%/20% split is accurate. However, for the sake of your application, the Field of Study and Research Program Plan and your ability to propose a research project is critically important to being accepted.
Typically, in a STEM master’s degree in Japan, your “research” portion would be working on a specific, assigned research project related to the ongoing research in your advisor’s lab, so you would be getting practical experience in the field. That should help with a job hunt later.
I’m not sure whether you are interested in working in Japan or your home country, but if you wanted to work in Japan, faculty members often have industry connections and work on contracted research from industry, so your performance could certainly help in the job search through your advisor’s network. (On the other hand, many Japanese job opportunities would require that you speak the language).
But before you start worrying about jobs, I think you need to think hard about the application. The MEXT Scholarship is looking to select applicants who have a high potential to contribute to society, the relationship between Japan and their home countries, and/or their academic field. If your goal is just to get a job and earn money, then frankly I don’t think you have much of a shot. You will be competing against applicants who have strong goals in the categories above. So, before you start your application process, I would encourage you to think about what you want to accomplish/contribute to in the future that will help others and develop a research proposal that will serve that goal. My article about How to Maximize Your Chances for the MEXT Scholarship goes into more detail on goal-setting, and I also have a deep-dive in my book, How to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship. I recommend at least reading the article as a start!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Yeah i got your point. i have a drive to do something for the society and contribute my knowledge its just that alongside I want to earn sufficiently to take care of myself and my family. I have read that research students tend to go for PHDs and earn less than the industry working people thats what made me a little unsure.
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Hi Travis,
Thank you for providing a comprehensive set of resources for the MEXT application. I’m an undergraduate student applying for the Research scholarship, and your blog posts helped me avoid some of the pitfalls of creating a research plan given my lack of experience with them.
My question is: Should I make specific references to schools or professors that I listed on my placement preference form? I assume all three universities would see the research plan when I’m reaching out to professors, but I also want to demonstrate that I did my homework on the people I want to work with.
Thanks again, and have a great day!
Hi Kani,
You are right that you will be sending your Field of Study and Research Program Plan to both universities that you apply to. (In the 2021/2022 application cycle, you are only allowed to contact two universities at once to apply for Letters of Provisional Acceptance, even though you can list three in the Placement Preference Form).
So, I recommend that you do not list the universities or professors by name, in order to avoid hurting your chances with the others – unless, of course, you are citing that professor’s research in your “existing research” section!
By the way, this article is about the format of the Field of Study and Research Program Plan used for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship. The Embassy-Recommended MEXT Scholarship uses a newer format.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello,
I just had a small query about the topic of research that we need to finalise for our proposal.
I am applying for the Graduate Student scholarship looking to pursue a Masters in Business Administration in Japan. My Bachelor’s Degree is in International Business and Marketing.
Question: Does the scope or place of study have to include Japan? Or a particular place in Japan?
Initially, I wanted to explore a certain issue about SMEs in developing economies such as my country and region (the Pacific). However, I am not sure if it is a requirement to conduct research on Japan specifically since that is where we will be researching from.
Would you have any advice for me regarding this? Is it okay to study SMEs in Japan and their experiences with the particular issue that I am looking into, and then relate it to developing economies?
Thanks in advance.
-Tera
Hi Tera N,
Your research does not need to focus on Japan itself or a Japanese example. But it helps make your application stronger if you can show a reason it is best that you study at a Japanese university as opposed to another country. If you can find a professor in Japan who specializes in a similar field and explain that you want to study under that professor, then that should be fine.
Also note that you are not allowed to conduct long-term fieldwork outside of Japan, so if your research requires you to visit locations in person, make sure that you are not gone for any amount of time that would make you miss part of your semester or for any period greater than a month.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
In the Application form which professor name can be written- Professor, associate professor, assistant professor, specially appointed professor? Like if my theme or research matches with a specially appointed professor should I write his name or the main professor’s name??
Hi Nikhil Singh,
In general, there is no rule that your supervisor must be a full professor. It should be possible to list an associate professor or assistant professor, as well. However, whether or not each professor is approved to supervise graduate students depends on the university’s rules.
I would recommend avoiding specially appoint professors, though, as that is usually not a full-time position at the university and may be only a temporary post, so they are less likely to be able to supervise graduate students.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello, I am Angie. I did my MSc in Agronomy and I am waiting for my final results. Is it possible for me to apply for PhD scholarship using the results I have.
Hi Angie,
Yes, it is possible to apply before you complete your previous degree using the results that you have so far, as long as you will graduate before the start of the MEXT Scholarship. (You would have to submit a certificate of expected graduation).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
I want to ask about Recommendation. If i want to apply for Embassy Recommend, my Recommendation should be sent to whom? Is this just Japan Embassy?
Hi Emily,
For the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship, the letter of recommendation can be addressed “To Whom it May Concern” or to the ambassador/consul, using their full formal title. I recommend “To Whom it May Concern” though.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
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Hello Travis,
I saw that the research proposal format changed for MEXT2020-2021 (shorter field of study paragraph….). I was wondering if these changes are also for Mext 2021-2022. I am planning to apply for the scholarship in May 2021 through the embassy.
Thank you very much for your help.
Hi Mariam,
This article is about the old format of the Field of Study and Research Program Plan, but as of last year, it was still being used for the University Recommended MEXT Scholarship.
I have a separate article about the newest format, which has been used for the last two years of the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship. I would expect the new format to continue to be used in the future.
Even though all of the questions in the new format have been condensed down to be written on a single page, you can still go on to two pages and can adjust the space as necessary within that limit.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
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hi
I’m currently planning to study master’s in japan as an engineering student .I am currently in my 5th sem (3rd year)of btech and there are so many variables for applying that i am confused about sime things like when to apply for mext (in 3rd year or 4th year) as my ug program will end in may-june of 2022 and academic year of japanese universities starts in april(most of them) . On the site of embassy it said that i will be given 6 month language classes so taking in account my ending of ug and 6 months jap classes in which year i have to apply for mext ?Is it this year or next year in 4th year?
Thankyou
Hi Avi Singh,
While the Japanese school year starts in April, most programs taught in English will also accept new students in the fall. So, if you are set to graduate in May-June of 2022, the best time for your to apply would be the 2021/2022 Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship application process. That should start around April/May of 2021 and if you are selected, you could arrive in Japan for the Fall 2022 semester to start your studies.
The 6-month language program occurs after your arrival in Japan, so in the situation I described above, you would arrive in Fall 2022, participate in the language program for your first semester, then start your studies at the university in April 2023.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you very much sir.
Sir in the application form there is an option for toefl and jlpt score .Does having a score improve your chances ? And if i am applying in april next year which will be my 6th sem .So my gpa from 2-3-4-5will be seen and calculated for eligibility?
Hi Avi Singh,
For the Embassy Recommended MEXT Application, having a language proficiency score is not going to make a huge difference in your application success chances by itself. However, when you apply to universities for a Letter of Acceptance after passing the Primary Screening, some will ask you to submit language proficiency test scores, so having one would certainly help.
Having a JLPT score, even if you’re applying for a program taught in English, can also help because it shows that you have an interest in the language, which is a positive mark in your favor. Again, it’s not something that’s going to make an overwhelming difference, but it’s better than not having it.
As for your GPA, since last year, it appears that MEXT is now calculating your GPA using all semesters of grades earned at your current university, not just the most recent two years.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
Thanks for your sharing. It is very helpful.
I’m planning to apply for MEXT – university recommendation track in Master Degree at Graduate school of Economics – Ritsumeikan University. My major in undergraduate school is Corporate Finance, and I’m writing the research proposal about Finance. Is it okay to submit it to apply for Economics program? In the application guideline for the AY2020 (I have read it just for reference), they said there’s no need to contact to the professors in advance, because there’s no guarantee that the professor I contact would be my future supervisor, so that I’m not so sure if they accept the field of study which is different from Economics (although I can change it if I can get admission).
What should I do now? Should I continue writing it or I should change the topic into Economics term?
And if I submit the research about Finance, does it reduce the ability to get admission or nomination to MEXT? In the case I want to continue Finance topic (just because I have learnt about it so I think I can write it better), should I contact to professors to ask some advice? (I mean he/she could suggest me to continue with it or change the topic, although I think it’s hard to get their consent because I think they follow the policy of the school)
I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
-Phuong Tieu-
Hi Phuong Tieu,
Is finance one of the fields taught in Ritsumeikan’s Graduate School of Economics? In most cases, Finance is a subset of either Economics or Business Administration, so you would need to figure out where it fits. If you can find that they have courses in that field and there they have professors who study Finance, then there should not be any problem with writing a proposal in that field.
Even if the university tells you that you do not need to contact a professor at this time (in the past, Ritsumeikan’s Grad School of Economics did not assign advisors until the second year of your master’s program, though I don’t know if that’s still the case), I would certainly recommend that you research the professors and choose one to target so that you can make sure that your research proposal is on point.
If you can find a professor in the program that specialized in finance and have the ability to reach out to them, I think that is a good idea. Start from the angle of wanting to study with them, not necessarily discussing the MEXT Scholarship right away, and talk to them like an interested student.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis,
Thank you for all that you do. I am really grateful and I will probably need to have a consultation with you when the deadline for next year approaches because you’re the only one who seems to know everything about this confusing and doubt-inducing process.
For now I just have one question that’s been bothering me so much and nobody seems to be able to answer. In college, my major was in philosophy and my minor was in government. I want to study international relations in Japan which is pretty close and related to my background because of my minor in government. The programs I chose are all interdisciplinary and accept students from all background of humanities and social sciences. However, I’m worried about the thesis abstract that they require of us. My thesis was on an entirely philosophical topic which has nothing to do with politics. I’m worried that this would make them think that my area of expertise/interest is only in philosophy and my major is not related to what I want to study. In the application guide, it says that reading our theses abstracts is how they judge our academic ability. If that is the only purpose for the abstract, then I guess it’s not all bad. But I’m afraid that the thesis abstract will make them question whether my major was related to what I want to study. Do you think this would be the case?
Thank you so much for your time,
Ana
Hi Ana,
I typically recommend that applicants use the “Past and Present Field of Study” in the Field of Study and Research Program Plan to justify the connection between their fields of study. So, even if your thesis was purely philosophical, in the FSRPP, you could talk up the research and coursework related to government. If you can highlight the crossover between how your major in philosophy affected your understanding of government and international relations and how you plan to incorporate the two fields into your research in Japan, that would be even better. For example, if there is some way that you can apply the results of your philosophy thesis to your study of IR, for example to say that you want to explore how a particular phenomenon from philosophy plays out in IR, that would be a lock for establishing the connection between the fields.
The abstract might be a reference, but the FSRPP should get the most attention, so if you can make a strong case there, I think you will be in a good situation.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I don’t have a question, I just want to thank you for putting in the time and effort to write this!
Thank you so much!
Hi Travis,
Am a graduating student with a bachelor’s degree in Zambia Cultures and Ceremonies. Can I be given a scholarship under MEXT in Anthropology?
Hi Rowland Simukonda,
Those two field of study sound closely related to me. As long as you can justify the connection between your research topics in the “Past and Present Field of Study” section of the FSRPP, you should be fine.
By the way, I have an updated version of this article reflecting the changes in the format of the FSRPP that were made for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship last year.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello pls Iโm filling forms for Japanese MEXT scholarship, and Iโm so confused writing a research plan I really need help
Hi Ibrahim,
I’m sorry I couldn’t answer your question in a timely fashion.
I’m not sure what part of the process you were confused about, so I’m afraid I can’t offer any advice. I do have an updated article about this form, based on the newest version, and I’ve also written an entire book about how to fill in this one form. I hope those might be of assistance, but if you have specific questions, please let me know.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Denno,
Nice to meet you. I really aprecciate this post, is very educational and helpful. Thank you so much!
My question is about the subject about is preferible to present. I have a Bachelor in International Business and I made my thesis about bussiness relationship and oportunities of development between my country and other country of middle Asia. Since I read I can’t present a plan of research looking at my work field, it’s difficult to concieve and idea of what I can propose (I do not have a master in an specific topic either). The matter is: Do you recommend to elaborate the research plan taking into consideration the topic I used to made my last thesis?
Waiting for your assistance!
Hi Crisalys,
In general, you should have a clear idea of what you want to research/where you want to focus your studies before you consider applying for graduate school. (That research should be the reason you apply in the first place.)
For MEXT, your studies in Japan have to be in the same field as your previous major, or a related field – you have to explain how they’re related, if it isn’t immediately clear. So, if your previous degree is in international business, anything related to that field is acceptable. Your research in Japan does not have to be related exactly to your previous thesis topic.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, Can you please tell how to write a research plan for MEXT scholarship 2021
Hi Filza,
The contents aren’t too different, but the format has changed. I have an updated article about how to write the new format of the FSRPP that should help. (I also have a whole book on the subject that will take you from the idea stage to the finished plan).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
The MEXT application has to be sent in word or pdf format?
It is just mentioned that the size should not increase the 200kb mark.
Hi Rahul,
The precise submission instructions are determined by each specific embassy or consulate, so I do not know what the rules are for where you are applying. The best thing you can do is to check with the embassy directly.
Indeed, up until your comment, I was not aware that any embassy was accepting digital submission at all. I thought applications had to be posted.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
873/5000
Hello, I am applying for the Research Student scholarship, I am a recent graduate of Architecture but I have many questions and I hope you can help me. I am a little confused by the fact that on the page of the embassy of my country (I live in El Salvador) the scholarship says that it is for a master’s degree, and when I am filling out the application forms they ask me what type of research I want to do. I don’t know how Masters work in other countries, but I don’t have a specific research plan (as I said, I just graduated), so my question is Do I need to start thinking about a research topic? And how much knowledge and experience in the subject do I need to have? It may sound silly, but those are the doubts that do not allow me to finish filling out the forms. I hope you can help me because I would like to apply for this scholarship. Regards
Hi Allison Aguila,
Typically, in a graduate level program in Japan, you would be expected to do some kind of research or experiment to create new, original data. I am not particularly familiar with the field of architecture or what is expected at the Master’s level in that field, but my suggestion to you would be to research a few Architecture Master’s programs in Japan and see what their program structure is. In particular, look for what they want you to produce as the final project for your Master’s degree. Your Field of Study and Research Program Plan should be a proposal for that project.
If you’re applying for a graduate degree in Japan, you really should have an idea in mind of what you want to research/learn from that degree that you can’t get in your home country. That research or outcome goal should be the core of your whole application.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi!
in the preliminary application form, what should i write in course applied?
research student?
Hi Shradha,
The preliminary application form is not an official MEXT form, it is something created by your local embassy, so I have never seen its contents and don’t know what the options are for the question you are referring to.
If your options are Research/Master’s/Doctoral, then filling in “Research Student” makes sense. If there are no instructions indicating what information they are looking for, then I would suggest filling in “Research Student in . . .” with the name of your major in place of the “. . .”, to be safe.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, I am pharm.d final year student and waiting for result. In this case what should I have to do for applying? either apply on the basis of intermediate grades or last year pharm.d grades?
Hi saad hussain,
You would have to submit your most recent grades available at the time of the application and those would be the grades used for the evaluation.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
HI,
I want to know that do career gaps matter for the scholarship?..like I graduated in Electrical Engineering in 2015 and now If I am looking for some research related to my field, am I eligible for this after so many years?.
Hi Asim,
It depends on what you have been doing in the meantime. If you have been working full time, then that would not be a career gap. But if you have a gap of several years while you have been unemployed and not engaged in studies, that might negatively impact your application. The reviewers want to be sure that you are the kind of person who can contribute in the future, so a completely blank period in your resume could make it look like you are unmotivated or not proactive.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
can I change the research plan in case of earning the scholarship ?
Hi Mawloud,
You will almost certainly have to make some changes to your research project after acceptance and starting to work with your advisor.
You cannot make significant changes (e.g. changes that would require you to change advisors, departments, etc.), but changes within the same field are certainly acceptable.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hi travis this is prem ,
i had done bachelors in physics , and i wanted to do masters in the same , in japan , i am applying for mext schollarship through embassy . I just wanted to know that are masters in japan is study of only specific topic for which i apply or i have to learn whole physics concepts as in my bachelors .
Hi Prem,
I would recommend that you do some research on the website of the universities that you want to apply to in Japan. In many cases, they have a fairly detailed explanation of what the degree program looks like, including the coursework you will be expected to take, various departments, and the degree progression. That should give you the best idea of what to expect during your Master’s studies.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, Travis. Thanks a lot for your pieces of advice. In fact, I graduated in English Didactics. And now, I’m willing to pursue my Master study in TESOL with interests in CALL, e-learning, curriculum development and multimedia materials designing. But all the universities that fits my field of study are private ones. I’m worrying about my choices of private universities instead of pubic ones. Also, with such a field, aren’t my chances of being selected to sit for the written examination at the Embassy reduced?
Hi Merigue,
It is not forbidden to list only private universities, so if you cannot find a national university that offers a Master’s in TESOL or similar, then you could move forward with your choices. (Or, of course, if the private universities have better programs for your goals, then I would recommend sticking with them!)
As far as chances go, there are so many factors that go into it, that it is hard to say. Ultimately, it is up to you to make a strong case for why you, as a TESOL graduate, would be able to make a strong contribution to your society and the relationship between your country and Japan. Keep in mind that you will be competing with applicants from every other major out there, but don’t be humble about it or think you don’t have a chance. In fact, as a future teacher you would be in a unique position to spread the word about Japan and Japanese culture, etc., to generations of your students and thereby strengthen the relationship between Japan and your country in the future!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi!
If someone wants to apply for a professional degree such as an MBA that doesn’t have a research component as far as I know, what should we do about the research plan part? There’s very little information online about applying for professional degrees as a research student. MBA programs don’t typically require a thesis paper and differ from other master’s disciplines as they focus on the practical aspects of the degree, rather than research. What could we even write for that section?
Thank you so much for your help!
Hi Ana,
I would recommend that you research the degree progression/curriculum for your target program to see what is expected and whether or not there is a culminating project. If there is some kind of culminating project that serves a similar role to a thesis in an academic degree, write your FSRPP about that project rather than a regular academic thesis.
Even if you are applying for an MBA, you are going to be held to the same expectation as all other applicants that after graduation, you will go on to make a contribution to your home country and its relationship with Japan. Since this is a competition, you will need to show how you can do that better with and MBA than someone else can with an academic degree. Your FSRPP should show what you will accomplish during your degree that will give you the academic/practical background to go on and make that contribution. It is not going to be enough to just attend the program and complete the assignments that you are given. You are going to have to proactive and use the assignments and coursework throughout the degree to pursue a pre-existing goal.
Hopefully those ideas will give you a suggestion as to how you can frame your FSRPP: What is your goal and what is the culminating project of your degree. Once you know that, your FSRPP should show how you will use the final project (or a series of projects throughout your degree) to pursue your goal.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Good evening Travis from here, I have paid rapt attention by perusing through the blog, and has find so helpful, can you please help me with a sample of research plan relating to civil engineering or any form of Engineering? that will serve as a guide while preparing mine because it will be very useful sir, thanks so very much in anticipation sir…
Ani Dan
Hi Ani Daniel,
Thank you very much for your kind comments.
Unfortunately, I do not have any sample Field of Study and Research Plans that I have permission to share at this point. Nobody is really willing to share their plans during the application process, and afterward, they tend to forget.
I did once see someone who shared a Field of Study and Research Program Plan on metallurgy, but it was not particularly good (I used it mostly as an example of what not to do in my book on the Field of Study and Research Program Plan), so I would not want to share that with you as an example.
I will keep searching for samples though, and if I find any, I will share them here.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thanks for the reply, Am from Nigeria and I don’t know when the embassy recommended of MEXT scholarship will commence due to the pandemic ravaging the whole world?
Hi Ani Daniel,
I don’t know when it will start, but I imagine that they can’t push the process back too much further.
I did see a facebook post by the Japanese embassy in Tonga saying that they expected the release of the application guidelines to be pushed back until mid-May, but I have not yet heard anything official to confirm that.
For now, I am continuing to monitor MEXT’s website every day. But after today (May 1), Japan will be in a 5-day holiday for Golden Week, so if nothing changes today, the earliest we can expect to see new information would by May 6, I think.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis! Thank you so much for this information about mext scholarship. I’m currently interested in applying for this scholarship. I’ve graduated from my bachelor at 2018 and I’m currently employed. May I know I should include my professional work in the present field of study? Looking forward to hearing from you!
Hi Nich,
Your present field of study is the field that you majored in most recently in university and your research proposal for the MEXT scholarship must be in that field (or a related field). Your work experience is not taken into consideration for determining your “present field of study.”
However, if you are doing work related to your present field of study and that professional experience has incited your interest into further research, it would be worth mentioning very briefly.
Another place that you could possibly mention your work experience – again, only if it is relevant – would be at the end of your Field of Study and Research Program Plan, where you touch on what you will do with your research once you graduate. If you have professional experience in a field that could use the results of your research, it would be good to mention that you can use your professional connections to distribute it to people who can use it.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
In the field of present field of study you have emphasized on explaining how my present research is linked with my future study program in Japan. However, I am planning to do do research in different area which is not closely related to what I have done till now. So, I do not know how to bring this point in my present field of research that it is related to what I plan to do in Japan. Does that reduces the strength of my research proposal?
Hi Divyanshi,
One of the requirements of the MEXT scholarship is that you apply in a field of study that you have previously majored in at university or its related field. So, there should be some connection.
It’s not necessarily about the strength of your application, but in your case, if your fields of study are really that different, you need to establish the connection to prove that you meet the eligibility requirements.
There are a number of ways that you can make the connection. One study could have inspired you to new research in another area. Or you wanted to approach a similar problem from a new direction, etc. Try to be creative and make the connection.
You do not need to dwell on it too much. I single sentence, or maybe two, showing how your last research inspired the new one, should be fine.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi. My name is Abraham P. Jallah and am from Liberia. What are the chances of students applying from Liberia, West Africa? I have my first degree in economics and want to pursue a master in Health Economics or Public Health.
Hi Abraham P. Jallah,
Your chances are based entirely on the strength of your application and your competition. If you are applying for the University-Recommended MEXT Scholarship, Liberia is a priority country, so you can apply freely to any university, but you’ll be competing with applicants from around the world and must exceed all others, regardless of your country of origin.
If you apply for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship in April-May of this year, you will only be competing with others from your country, but you’ll still need to have a strong an application as possible to be competitive.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello,
I feel so lucky for finding this blog to start my research plan for MEXT scholarship. i am currently applying research student program which is non-degree. The University that I apply is Tokyo Institute of Technology. I already got acceptance from professor to be my academic supervisor. He also likes my research brief and now preparing to subit with their format form. And there will be skype interview with three professors from that University for recommendation.
I would like to know how can I increase my chance to get MEXT scholarship? I know the scholarship is so competitive for University recommendation and My GPA is just 3.1 out of 4.0. Am I impossible to qualify?
Hi Hein,
I am glad to hear that you have found the site useful so far!
For your GPA, you need to convert it to MEXT’s 3.0 scale to find out how competitive you are for the scholarship. I have an article about how to do that conversion that should help.
The only other steps you can take at this point are to refine your Field of Study and Research Program Plan to make it as strong as possible. I have an article about increasing your chances to earn the MEXT scholarship, which talks about having a theme to your approach. There is also an updated version of this article, based on recent changes and more research into the Field of Study and Research Program Plan since I first wrote this piece.
Both of those articles could give you a hint about how to improve your chances!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
I want to apply for MEXT coming feb, during my B.tech my project was on Bio-Instrumentation but now as i am working in railways, i want to do masters in tapping renewable energy into railways system. Can it be accepted??? (as it has nothing to do with bio-instrumentation). pls guide
Hi Rajat Kumar Singh,
Your field of study for your MEXT Scholarship application needs to be related to your previous studies, not necessarily to your work experience. So, you would need to find some connection between your studies in bio-instrumentation to renewable energy. You might have to get a little creative or focus on the few courses or areas of overlap that affect both.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi,
I need to submit my letter of acceptance along with the final placement preference form to embassy. My undergrad and masters was in “Computer Science & Engineering (CSE)” but my supervisor in Japan is in “Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE)”, So should I write EEE in “Field of study in Japan” or CSE. There’s a “Detailed field of study in Japan” where I explained about my own work. Thanks.
Hi Sania Zahan,
I recently published a new article specifically on the Placement Preference Form, but what you wrote matches my advice in that article perfectly: Your field of study in Japan should be the name of the department where your supervisor is affiliated. (In the case of different department names between different universities in your form, I have more advice on how to handle that in the article linked above.)
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
pls guide me if you get there, i am from EE background, presently posted in Railways, i wish to join MEXT.
Hi Rajat Kumar Singh,
This website has everything I have learned about the MEXT scholarship and how to make a strong application, based on eight years of working with the scholarship and thousands of applicants. If you look around and read the articles, that should help set you up for success!
I would recommend that you start with one of the introductory articles then decide what you need to learn next, based on that.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hi travis!!
i gave my interview this june. in my research plan, as it was embassy recommended, i wrote it very concisely in 7-8 lines assuming that in the interview i will explain in detail. in those 7-8 lines, i have explained my research plan along with its benefit and outcomes. so what are my chances based on this?
Hi Rakesh Sharma,
Unfortunately, that’s not really enough for me to make a guess. But if you made it as far as the interview, that means that they saw that you had some promise in your application even if your FSRPP was a little on the concise side. So, as long as you did well in the interview and succeeded in fleshing out your plans, there should still be a good chance for you to pass the Primary Screening.
Unfortunately, there are just too many other variables to be able to say anything for sure.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi travis,
Do u have any idea about how many students are selected through embassy recommended scholarship?
Hi travis,
Do u have any idea about how many students are selected for embassy recommended scholarship from india?
Hi Akhand pratap rai,
Based on forum posts and news articles that I could find, there were 28 slots available during the 2018 application cycle for Graduate students from India. But that number was further broken down into slots for social sciences/humanities and slots for science/engineering.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Akhand pratap rai,
The overall number of places shouldn’t matter. What you need to focus on is the number of places awarded in your country in the previous year, as that will be the best indicator.
One of the best ways to find that information is to look for news articles or press releases from March/April and August/September of the previous year to see if there are any about MEXT scholarship going from your country to Japan, and what numbers are mentioned.
Of course, that’s not an official number, because it can include several different scholarship types, but it should still give you an idea. Also keep in mind that numbers can fluctuate from year to year.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi travis!!
The results of interview is uploaded on website right?
Hi Shradha Sharma,
The method of announcing results is determined by each individual embassy or consulate. There is no one method for everyone.
So I would recommend checking to see it the Embassy or Consulate where you applied has given you any information on how results will be released.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi travis!!
Thanks for the wonderful article. i have given my MEXT interview, but in the research theme doc file, i did a mistake. in past and present field of study, i have written “Bachelor in technology in biotechnology”. i didn’t know that i have to write all that you have described in the article. The rest part is properly written. so, to what extent this will affect my selection process. also, after the interview, which people are responsible for the selection procedure?
are these professors or administrative people who took my interview?
Hi Shradha Sharma,
If you made it to the interview stage, then your short answer to the Past and Present Field of Study did not kill your chances outright. Depending on how you answered the rest of the questions and whether you satisfied what the reviewers would have been looking for elsewhere, you might not have suffered any setback at all. It all depends on how well your interviewers were satisfied with your response overall.
As far as the interview panel goes, it is different at each embassy. Usually, the panel includes some combination of Japanese government, local government, and a local academic related to your field.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
HI TRAVIS,
i did my baachelor degree in mechanical engineering..
now i want to apply for master degree porogram
but i have no idea about
reaserch plan
reaserch theme
past and presendt field of study
pliz help me
Hi Dildar,
Pardon me for being a bit blunt, but if you have no idea what you want to study, why do you want to enroll in a master’s degree? I would suggest that you should not be applying for graduate school, let alone this scholarship, if you do not have a clear idea of what you want to get out of it.
I noticed that you are looking at an old version of my article about the Field of Study and Research Program Plan, though. If you are just confused about the form, then I would recommend the newer article. The form changed this year and I updated my advice to match. I hope that the explanations in the newer version are also clearer to help you understand.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Mr Travis,
Please how do I get the name of my student advisor?
Hi Tyson,
You need to research what universities in Japan offer your desired course in English and then find a professor there who is closely related to what you want to study and would potentially be able to supervise you. (You do not need to contact that professor in advance, but if you can start to network, that would be beneficial).
I have an article about finding universities and professors that should help with your research.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi, Travis
will I change my research topic? I have done my M.Phil research on this topic( factors of rising trends in female education among masses). Now I would like to do research in ( role of social media in political empowerment of people in Japan). Or we have to continue the same topic in Japan. Research Universe is necessary for Japan or we collect data from our own country.
Hi Shahid,
Your research topic in Japan has to be related to what you studied in the past, so in your Field of Study and Research Program Plan, you need to make that connection clear. If you can do that, then there should not be a problem.
You cannot do extended fieldwork outside of Japan during the MEXT scholarship. If you can collect data from your home country without being there in person, then that is fine, though. I would recommend that you plan to be asked during the application process why you want to complete your research in Japan, if your research subject is your home country though. If you have a good answer, it won’t be a problem, just be prepared for the question.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis!
Thank you for this wonderful guide!
The website of the embassy of Japan in my country posted only the pdf files of these forms. Will it be alright if I printed those forms and hand-write everything or would it be better to convert these pdf files into word files?
Hi Bill,
The forms they posted should have been fillable pdfs. If you use the free Adobe Reader software, then you should be able to type your answers into them.
If that doesn’t work, the forms on MEXT’s site are all fillable pdfs and you can type into those.
(The form names are in Japanese, but when you download them, the contents are in English, so I recommend downloading them all then checking which ones you need.)
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis and thank you for your help!
I am a civil engineer, Can i get my master degree in renewable energy and sustainable system?
Hi Abdullah,
You have to pursue your degree in Japan in the same research field as you majored in in your previous degree. If your research in renewable energy or sustainable systems is similar to what you studied as an undergraduate, then that would be fine. It is not the name of the program that has to match, just the content of the research/studies that needs to be logically similar.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Handwriting or typing into the forms? This simple activity is not clear to me when filling the forms and research plan etc.
Hi Denno,
Always type if you can!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Please should i type it in red colour or black colour which is most preferable ?
Hi Ibrahim,
You should absolutely write in black! I only used the red text in my sample application to make it clear what was my entries and what was part of the original form.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSeznz
Hi,
Thanks for your helpful guidelines,
I wanna know about the Recommendation letters: They said one should be from the university where you have studied and one where you work. The thing I have problem with is, I am in Afghanistan but I have studied in Pakistan, I can’t manage the Recommendation from University .
What should I do but I have one recommendation letter from my Professor but It is from 3 years old. Can u advice me what should I do
Hi Quadratullah,
Even though you studied in a different country from where you live, you still need a letter of recommendation from the university where you graduated. I would recommend that you contact that university and ask if they would be willing to send you a new one. A letter that is dated three years ago may not be accepted.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi,
I have studied bachelor of Electrical Engineering, Can I directly apply for the Master Degree, should I mention my research time in study plan
Thanks
Hi Quadratullah,
Yes, if you have completed your bachelor’s degree, you can apply directly for a Master’s program, but you might want to consider applying as a research student first in order to give yourself time to adjust to the Japanese system before you start the degree program.
I do recommend mentioning your research time in your Field of Study and Research Program Plan, but since MEXT changed the form this year, I have written a revision to this article based on the new format. You can find that new article here.
Good Luck
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey Travis, can I embolden or italicize a few words to highlight them in the research plans?
Hi Altair,
Yes! I recommend it.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
You rulez! Thank you!
Hi Travis
Once again Thanks for the help
How best I can contact the Academic advisor
Thanks
Aimal
Hi Aimal,
I have a whole article about how to find universities and professors that includes recommendations for contacting them. That should help answer your questions!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for your willingness to help. I have spent the past few months struggling to get a supervisor for my doctoral study in Japan. Is there any way you can help with the article on How to Find Universities and Professors in Japan.
Thank you.
Hi Ebele Ijeh,
I’m sorry to hear about your struggles. If you have suggestions about how to make this article more useful, please let me know!
(Finding and contacting professors is also the subject for my next book in the Mastering the MEXT Scholarship series, but I have not yet started writing it, so that will be a while).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis
Thank you for the useful information.
Secondly I have did my BBA in 2012 and my specialization was Managment so i want to do my MBA in the same field.
My question was that I have no idea about research plan so if you guide me. How to do it .
Thanks
Aimal
Hi Aimal Zaheer,
This article is designed to help you write the study plan and the book that you will see mentioned above also walks you through the process of creating your research question and deciding what you want to research and how in the first place. It is not specifically written for business studies, though, so you will have to apply the ideas to your own field as you go through.
You might also benefit from talking your ideas over with a professor in business for their input and recommendations!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis!
Thank you so much for your articles! They are very helpful!
In this article you advise to fill “Your research topic in Japan” field with text divided into following topics:
1. Research Theme.
2. Previous Research.
3. Problems in the Field.
4. Research Goals.
In this year in the form for my country it is just written:
2. Research theme and plan in Japan
(1) Research theme
(2) Research plan
So, here is a question: What would you recommend, write only “Research theme” part or include all of these parts?
Thanks!
Hi Kirill,
Yes, the Field of Study and Research Program Plan format changed this year. I am working on my revised guidelines now and will have them posted here as soon as possible!
In general, I recommend keeping your Research Title and Research Theme in the “Research Theme in Japan” section, and moving everything else down to the “Research Plan” section, but I will have a more complete update in the coming days. (I just finished writing that update for my book).
If you are signed up for my mailing list, I will let you know as soon as the article is updated!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thanks, Travis!
One more little question:
Is it OK to delete “Guide for Creating a Field of Study and Research Plan Sheet” part from Field of Study and Research Plan form to make more room for Research Plan?
Hi Kirill,
No, I would not recommend deleting any of the existing part of the form.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you soo much !
Hi Travis,
I have noticed the new guideline about the Field of Study and Research Plan that the document shoukd not exeed 2 pages. Mine is 4 pages including reference would it affect my application ?
Hi Travis,
I managed to fit it into two pages but I still want to add a timetable and a list of references. I am not sure whether 3 sheets in total are acceptable? Thank you in advance.
Hi Aahd,
The form says that attachments are allowed, and I would certainly consider the list of references to be an attachment, so that would not count as part of the two pages.
If your research timeline is just a chart and does not contain essential information to understanding your FSRPP, I think it could be included as an attachment as well.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Aahd,
Yes, I just became aware of this change and will be updating this article as well as my book as soon as possible.
It does have to be within two pages, but the list of resources could certainly be an attachment (and not count toward the limit), and I think you could get away with including the research timeline as an attachment, too, as long as the text portion does not exceed two pages.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi!
In our embassy’s forms, it states that “This sheet must be created within two pages. Additional materials may be attached if necessary.” for the FSRPP. Do you think that this means that it’s now a maximum requirement to have just 2 pages? Thanks for your insight!
Hi Erika,
It looks like MEXT changed the form and requirements this year (of course they would do that only 2 weeks after I just finished spending 8 months writing a book on the same form!)
Yes, it is now a requirement to keep your Field of Study and Research Program Plan under two pages, though things like your list of sources and potentially even your research timeline could be considered attachments (and therefore allowed to exceed the two-page limit).
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, thank you very much for this amazing guide.
I am planing to apply as a research student then apply for an extension to enroll in a masters program. My question is regarding the Research Timeline, can I include that during my research student period i will be preparing for the entrance examinations or there is no need to mention this information?
PS: in the research timeline i included the research student period as well as the master program period.
Hi Aahd,
Thank you for your kind words.
I do recommend that you include your research student period in your timeline. During that time, you would not only be working on preparing for the entrance exam, but would also be staring your research, as well.
I do not think you need to state that you would be preparing for the entrance exam. That should be obvious, and space is at a premium, so I recommend that you focus on your research!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis!
I was completing my Research Plan for this year’s Scholarship for Research Students as I want to pursue a Master’s degree course in Japan (enrolling directly as a Master student).
I wanted to ask you if adding a list of prospective classes from the three universities I’ve chosen is a good idea or it’s just too much. I know from this and other blogs about this scholarship that showing a concrete plan of what you want to do precisely in Japan can be beneficial, however I’m not sure if such a thing is actually useful for increasing my chances or not.
Anyway your blog, especially this step-by-step guide, has been extremely useful for writing my Research plan, thank you!!
Hi Marco,
Thank you for your kind words!
I do recommend listing some of the coursework that you want to take in the timeline in your FSRPP. It is not going to make a significant difference in your chances, so don’t go overboard on it, but including it does show that you have done your research.
The challenge with applying for the Embassy is trying to find a way to list the courses so that it isn’t specific to one university and could apply to all three. For that reason, I suggest using general titles.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
First off, much thanks for this succinct break down. We as applicants owe you!.
Secondly i have a question related to the specificity of the research topic I”ll have to develop context first. For my Civil and Environmental Engineering Undergrad (this is what i majored in) we were required to research and submit a “Final paper”. Specifically, mine was based on database building and Management for Solid Waste. Now, id like to know if I’m bounded to further in a topic related to Solid waste Management or if I’d be able to explore a new field in Civil and Environmental Eng.
Thanks
Hi Roweena,
Thank you for your kind words!
Your topic does not have to be an exact extension of your undergrad final paper, it just has to be close enough that you can show that you have the necessary background in the academic field to be able to conduct advanced research. I would also recommend that you be able to draw a connection from one to the other – for example, highlighting something in your previous research on solid waste that sparked your interest in your new topic and what you hope that new research can accomplish.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis!
For the specifics of the research plan (time frames etc.), how would you suggest formatting this when applying for a taught masters? More specifically, I am worried about deciding my timeline when this might not be in line with the semesters/classes already decided by my three different universities.
Thank you in advance!
Hannah
Hi Hannah,
I am not aware of any “taught masters” in Japan. Every degree program here that I know of requires some original output or culminating project. If your final project for your degree is not a thesis but some other output, then I would recommend considering that to be your “thesis” and modifying the other sections appropriately.
I am afraid that without knowing your field, I cannot get any more specific than that, but if you are looking for an example, here’s one from an applicant (many years ago) who wrote a Field of Study and Research Program Plan in fine arts, where his final output was a portfolio, rather than an academic thesis:
http://larsmartinson.com/research-proposal/
Of course I recommend checking the semester and course schedules at your chosen universities and matching your plan to that schedule as best you can.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis!
I heard that the research plan is one way for the screeners/professors to check if you are also adept in writing and communicating your research work properly. I’d just like to ask your opinion, do you think it’s better to use the first person in writing the Research Plan? i.e. “my proposed research…” “I believe that…” or should I stick with the traditional third person writing?
I’m sorry if it sounds trivial. Thanks so much for your help!
Every time I write a comment, I feel the need to thank you profusely for all your help and effort. Again, you are a godsend! Best regards!
Hi Marc,
Thank you very much for your kind words!
Yes, one of the purposes of the FSRPP is to show that you are a clear and effective writer (the interview later will do the same for speaking).
Parts of the document I think require you to write in first person, such as your “Current Field of Study”, but as you point out, most academic writing avoids it. When you describe your research (primarily in question two and three), I would recommend that you stick to the academic conventions for your field, including writing in third person. When you describe your background as well as your intended activities, such as community interaction or publication/dissemination efforts, then the first person should be fine.
At the end of the day, I do not think that writing in first or third person is going to have a significant effect on your acceptance, but it is just one of many small things you can do to make your paper more readable to reviewers.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you for this helpful guide. I have a question on “past field of study” and “present field of study”. I have graduated with bachelor degree and currently is working. Is past field of study referring to my undergraduate thesis? What about “present field of study”?
Thank you
Hi Nor,
Both terms, “past field of study” and “present field of study” refer to what you studied in your last degree. MEXT uses “present field of study” to refer to what you studied in your last degree, but I find that term to be confusing for applicants who are not currently still enrolled in the degree, so I use “past field of study” instead.
In either case, you should refer to your undergraduate major/thesis.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
to begin with,i would like to thank you for this useful guide.
And i want to ask a few questions regarding mext applications.
one of the Japanese universities asked for the documents listed below;
List of recommenders
Overall academic evaluation report
Report on the university’s recruiting, screening criteria, selection system and selection process
But i couldnt find any forms that explain the contents of them.So i couldnt understand what kind of documensts they are expecting from me?
What would you recommend me to prepare?
Hi Sena,
I have never heard of those documents being part of the MEXT scholarship application, so it must be something that particular university is asking for for their own admissions.
Unfortunately, without any context, I’m not sure that I could do anything more than guess. Is there any way you could share the exact guidelines they sent you or the context?
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
I have a question regarding the length of the research plan:
I know you said that the length should be no more than 3 pages, but Iโve been talking to some successful candidates from the past and some of them wrote 8 and 10 pages of research plan. Would it be alright to include a lengthy and detailed research plan and then a condensed version of 2-3 pages in the application?
Another question that does not relate to the research plan:
I see in the comments that a lot of people did not pass the initial application screening. Are there any common problems that people make in application aside from not meeting the elegibility requirements such as GPA etc?
Thank you again!
Best,
Ye Yuan
Hi Ye,
I have also heard from a few outliers who wrote longer plans, but I would be surprised if the reviewers had read through the entire thing, unless something caught their attention in the very beginning and got them excited about it. In my opinion, going long does not make you look more prepared, it makes you look less organized and less able to communicate clearly. I would not recommend it.
For the initial application screening, the universities and embassies are only required to give you feedback if they reject an application (e.g. do not screen it) because the applicant did not meet the minimum eligibility requirements. For applicants who are screened but ultimately not accepted, they will not receive any feedback on why their application did not pass.
In my experience from the University Recommended MEXT Scholarship, it’s all about the competition. Even applicants who meet the minimum eligibility criteria might be dropped during the document screening process because the university/embassy wants to cull the applicants down to only the top candidates before the tests and interviews. GPA and quality of Field of Study and Research Program Plan are going to be the essential factors in that decision, based on what I have seen. Since you can’t control your GPA at that point, the best thing to do is to have a well-thought-out and realistic Field of Study and Research Program Plan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you Travis!
I have a few more questions, apologies.
Would if be appropriate in the field of graphic design (in my case book design) to include pictures of designersโ work that I plan to research in the FSRPP?
Would it be necessary or beneficial to include the work Iโve done in the past in the application?
I heard from a Japanese studies applicant that their interviews were conducted entirely in Japanese because the course was taught entirely in Japanese. The schools I am applying for are also Japanese only. Would it be possible to know if that might be the case for the Canadian embassy?
Best,
Ye Yuan
Hi Ye Yuan,
I would only include graphics (or any other visual references) if they were necessary to your argument. If you are going to refer to elements in the book design as part of your research description, that could work.
For applicants in fine arts fields, which would include you, yes, you should include samples of your work.
The Japanese Studies scholarship requires a high level of Japanese ability from all applicants, so it makes sense that the interviews would be conducted entirely in Japanese. However, for the Embassy Recommended MEXT Scholarship, I would be surprised if the entire interview was in Japanese. It is likely that the interview panel will include members who are not fluent in Japanese. But you would have a few questions in Japanese mixed in there to test your ability.
I would recommend that you practice your interview questions and answers in both English and Japanese as you get closer to the actual interview!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you Travis!
Hola, tendrias algun proyecto de investigacion que podamos usar de guia?
Hi Kevin,
I have found a few sample plans from past applicants that may be helpful (I refer to them in my upcoming book about the FSRPP). Here are the links (please note that they redirect to the websites of the original plan authors):
http://www.transenzjapan.com/lars/
http://www.transenzjapan.com/onyilam/
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello sir
I wrote a research proposal but I did not detail my subject, I just wrote the impact of international political economic put I did not specify in which aspect of the international political economic will impact my research subject,,, will this affect my research quality ??
should I be more specific to show them that I understand my research not only wrote a general statement like what i did?
Hi Susan,
I highly recommend that you build your FSRPP around a specific research problem that you want to examine and have your methods, and possibly even your hypothesis, in the FSRPP when you submit it. Just saying that you want to study a particular field will not help you stand out. You should propose specific research and be able to show its potential impact, for the best chance of success in your application.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank you for your replay I understand your point
can I know what is FSRPP ?
Hi Susan,
FSRPP is my shorthand for the Field of Study and Research Program Plan.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
for economics how i answer ….field of study and study plan
Hi Najmus Saqib,
You need to find a research question that you want to pursue and then format your proposal as I outlined in this article.
If you need help formulating a research question, I am working on a book that will guide you through that process, but in the meantime, I recommend talking to your current academic adviser for pointers!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thanks Travis for your wonderful job.
I learnt about this blog much late after I have submitted my application form.
I have a serious worry with regards to my research plan because its barely up-to 110 words and there is no reference attached. Though I intend to do my research on photovoltaics for electricity (SOLAR ENERGY) I only specified the nature of technology am going to apply in the research without much details. Will this affect my chances?
Hi Stanley,
Thank you for your kind words.
I’m afraid that 110 words for a Field of Study and Research Plan would be too short. There is no way to properly describe a research plan in so little space.
I am sorry to say that I think it will seriously hurt your chances, because this document is probably the most important one in the application.
If you don’t make it through the review this time, then I would recommend that you spend more time preparing and submit a robust and well-researched Field of Study and Research Program Plan for the University Recommendation MEXT Scholarship application later this year or for next year’s Embassy Recommendation.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello,
I think i am saying this form the behave of everyone.. you are amazing and thank you for all the help!
Is the research proposal should include-Research Title,Detailed Theme,Previous Research in the Field,Problems with the Previous Research,Research Goal/Outcome,Research Approach,Specific Research Plan
And the Present Field of Study includes-Research Background
Also how long the research proposal needs to be. I know that it dose not say exactly how many words you need to write. my is 1800 words that is why i am worried ๐
Thank you
Hi Alek,
Thank you very much for your kind words.
I recommend that you keep your research proposal around 3 pages (not including any extra pages required for graphs or bibliography, if applicable), but I have heard some people having success with plans up to 5 pages. 1800 words should fall between those numbers.
The important thing is to be clear and concise. Remember that your reviewers are going to be reading dozens or hundreds of these, so they may not give your plan as much attention as you want. You need to grab their attention and make it easy for them to understand and get excited about your research, as best you can.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thanks for your useful information
1) For copies, Do we have to make colored copies or white and black? I am talking about the copies of certified transcripts, certificates, medical examination report, lab results reports, application form, study plane, theses abstracts, etc.
I am afraid that colored copies of certified transcripts and certificates will cause confusion for reviewing staff because they might find it difficult to distinguish between the original and colored copies.
2) Do we need to staple each set of papers together? for example the original and copies of study plane together and the 3 application forms together, etc.
Hi Omar,
1) There is no specification, but black and white should be fine as long as all details can be clearly read.
2) I recommend using paperclips to keep each individual document together (for example, each copy of application form), but I recommend never using staples for anything and I would not recommend attaching multiple copies of the same document to one another. Simply stacking them in order in your application should be enough.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thanks for making this guide. My only regret is that I didn’t find it sooner as I realize now that the Field of Study form I have been preparing is woefully inadequate, but thankfully I found it in time. My question is: while I have some familiarity with the field I want to go into, unfortunately the only papers I am familiar with from the field (Quantum Computing) are written by my target advisor, with whom I have already established contact. Would these be sufficient as references or should I go find some last minute sources to include as reference?
Hi David,
I would recommend that you find some additional sources – not only for the sake of the application process but also to broaden your knowledge in the field. You should also have some knowledge of sources from your previous studies, I assume.
As of the time I am answering this, I assume it may be to late to include those sources in your field of study and research program plan, but having that knowledge for the interview and future conversations with your adviser would be helpful.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you so much for writing this guide, it has been really helpful. I applied to Todai twice through the university and was twice rejected. Nonetheless I didn’t give up and I raised my head from dirt and decided to go the embassy route instead and do a doctoral degree.
I have just submitted all my application documents to the embassy. However I haven’t contacted the professors yet from any of my 3 choices as I was still unsure which of them to choose. Is it too late to contact them now? Or should I wait to hear back from the embassy?
Kind regards,
Lazar
Hi Lazar,
Thank you for your kind words.
Applying to Todai for the university recommended MEXT scholarship might just be one of the most competitive and challenging ways to approach the MEXT scholarship! The embassy recommended approach should prove easier for you, especially with your experience.
You do not have to contact your universities to request a letter of acceptance until after Passing the Primary Screening. So, if you haven’t gotten in touch while preparing your application and Field of Study and Research Program Plan, you may want to wait until you hear back from the university at this point.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi travis,
I have a couple of questions if you can answer them please,
1- I only have 6 days to submit everything and I just knew about the scholarship, do you have any recommendations on what to do? all my papers are ready except the field of study or research plan, but I know what I am going to do. And the Placement preference form. What should I do?
2- I didnt understand the time frame exactly but what I want to do is MBA in HR. Should I just write: The first 6 months I am going to consult with my supervisor about the paper and read some articles about it in the same time am going to learn Japanese and the next semester am going to finish the paper and then apply for MBA in HR for the whole next year so 24 months in total. Is that what they actually want? or something else?
3-The recommendation they ask in the papers ( recommendation from the dean ) I have recommendations by other professors in the university but not the dean, is that accepted or not?
4-In the Placement preference form, could you please give me an example or tell me the steps to do it as fast as i can ?
Thank you very much and I hope you would answer my questions very soon.
BR
Osama
Hi Osama,
1- For the placement preference form, I suggest you read my article on finding universities and professors in Japan. The article you commented on should help you complete the Field of Study and Research Program Plan. 6 days really isn’t much time to complete it, but you can try if you’re willing to put in a lot of time and not sleep much!
2- You should have a specific topic or research project that you want to complete through your MBA and your timeline should reflect your progress toward that goal. Your timeline should include all of the research and writing phases, including fieldwork, plus the courses you want to take in the meantime.
3- For the Embassy Recommended MEXT scholarship application, a letter of recommendation from you academic advisor is sufficient.
4- See #1, above. I do not yet have a sample created for that, unfortunately.
If you can’t get everything done in tie for this deadline, you may want to consider waiting for the University Recommended scholarship application period later this year or for next year’s application period so that you have the time to put together a stronger application.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello
Thanks for all your information it’s very helpful but I’m still worried..I wanted to ask you do I need to fill in the 3 professors names I only have one professor so can I leave the other 2 empty.
Hi Gigi,
You can leave the others empty, but you will face questioning about that. So, you would need to be prepared to explain why only that professor is qualified to supervise your research.
Filling in only one professor is a bit of a risk, since if you do not get a letter of acceptance from that professor’s university, you would not be able to continue. I recommend looking up and listing a few back-up professors!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Travis,
This is one of those last minute epiphany doubts just before applying. First, there are two colleges with English course that I am applying for. The first one starts at September and the second one starts in April. Since the college whose course starts in September is my first choice, I wrote the timeline starting from September. Will the second preference college reject me when they see such a timeline? Also, since my first preference course only starts by September, does that mean that the Embassy will only pay for three of my semesters? The course is a two year course, but would I have to pay for my own expense in the last semester?
Thanks again for all your help ๐
Regards Vinu.
Hi Vinu,
When you write a month-by-month timeline, you do not need to specify which month it starts with. For example, you could write “Month 1-3” instead of “Sep – Nov”. Then your plan would work for either one. However, I don’t think the university will reject you over that.
If you are enrolling in a Master’s degree through the Embassy, you will get funding for the full four semesters, regardless of what semester your program ends in. The only tie the scholarship duration changes based on your arrival month is if you are a research (non-degree) student.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
hey
Thank you for your helpful guidelines.
I am a bit confused on where to attach/Paste my research proposal as a solid set?
OR shall I break it down to answers for the specified questions?
Hi Al Shamali,
You need to fit your research proposal into the questions asked in the form, so you may need to break it up and edit it slightly.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Mr. Travis
Thanks for your generosity in spending such massive efforts
I have 3 inquiries, I wish that you kindly guide me
1) Regarding the application form
question number 15
I am going to apply for Ph.D. in Clinical Pharmacy.
the question is The first course you plan to take in Japan?
4 options are available including non-regular course and a Doctoral course
which one suits my situation? doctorate or non regular student ? I am confused since I have heard that there must be a period of training before starting doctoral program. Should I choose a non-regular course student or doctorate student?
2) regarding my recommendation letter
My supervisor sent me a recommendation letter from overseas by post in an unopened envelope with stamp and signature on the envelope seal. However he said he just put original recommendation letter. According to guidelines, we should submit one original and 2 copies. the problem is that it is difficult for me to ask the supervisor to send me copies again by post, because the first one has took a lot of time and effort to get it from overseas. what should i do? should I open the envelop and make 2 copies ? what if I submitted the original one only?
3) I have read in the guidelines, it was written that doctorate applicants are required to confirm directly with the school of their choices before applying.
How can I confirm that? I want to know the strategy. Does that mean I should ask for pre-approval letter? by the way, I have asked administrative offices in some universities about the possibility of applying to phd in clinical pharmacy and they simply replied by email that you can apply, does that email response enough to proceed to application process although some of such email replies are from general mext scholarship offices, not from schools themself.
Thank you
Hi Omar,
I see that you had asked each of these questions before in separate comments. You can find the answers:
1. First course to take in Japan
2. Recommendation letter
3. Contacting the university for clinical programs
I get more questions every day than I can answer, so it does take a while sometimes to reply, but I do not ignore any questions.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thanks for all the info
I wanted to ask that if could apply even i don’t know Japanese. I am applying for Structural Engineering, and my Japanese proficiency level is zero. should i still apply?
Hi Reza,
There are many universities in Japan that teach graduate degree programs in English, especially in engineering fields. If you can find at least one degree program in your field taught in English, you should be fine!
I recently wrote an article about how to find English-language degree programs that might help you.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hey Travis
thank you for this detailed explanation…its very much useful.
I did have one small doubt regarding the research timeline.
I will be applying for a masters course in Japan for 2019 intake….so should the timeline include the 6 months Japanese language training program in it (since I don’t know the language) or not ???
Hi Aishwarya,
Yes, I would recommend including those six months in your timeline, but understand that you will primarily be focused on learning Japanese language at that time, so your free time for research will be limited. It would be good to list them as time to consult with your advisor and start a literature review, or something to that level, but don’t expect to accomplish much more.
You may also want to note that those six months are part of your plan only if the university decides to enroll you in the language program. Ultimately, it is the university’s choice, not yours.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Mr. Travis,
I want to apply for MEXT scholarship. And I have 2 questions.
1. In the Placement Form there is a field , which is called ” Name of Graduate school”. Should I write something there, if I am applying for Master’s degree? Or I should fill only “Name of University” field and “Name of Professor” field?
2. In the Field of Study Form near every question is written “write in Japan”, but I don’t know Japan language. Can I fill that form in English language?
Thank you in advance.
Best Regards,
Laura
Hi Laura,
1. If you are applying for a Master’s degree, you would need to fill in the name of the graduate school at the university you are applying to, along with the name of the university and the name of the professor from that university that you want to study under.
2. I think it says to write in Japanese if you have Japanese ability. You should fill in the form in English if you are applying for a degree program taught in English and in Japanese if you are applying for a degree program taught in Japanese.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Thank you for your valuable information.
I am currently working as R&D engineer for 4 years in a developing country. I have a colleague that we worked together for that long. We are intending to apply for MEXT scholarship, we have a certain multidisciplinary research we want to conduct.
So our research plan will seems very similar to each other. And I didn’t find any guidelines about the research whether it could be performed by single person or a team.
Is it applicable to have a two person on one research in MEXT?
Hi Minime,
This is an individual application process and there is no guarantee that both of you would be accepted, so I would recommend that you write your research plans as if you will conduct the research on your own.
If you are both accepted and end up in the same lab in the same university (or different universities but able to work together), then you can alter your plans and work together later, but for the purpose of the application, I recommend moving forward as individual applicants.
Of course, you also want to make sure your research plans are at least a little different, so you don’t come across to the review committee as having copied one another.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis,
I’ve been reading all your articles and they’ve been so helpful in this process, however, I have a question about the timeline for the specific research plan. I’m applying as a research student since the universities I have interest in all ask to apply like that at the beginning of the program. Because of that I decided on just staying all the coverage of the scholarship (if granted) as research student and then try to apply for an extension to continue with the master degree. I’m aware if I get selected I will be taking the 6 months Japanese course so, how long would my research plan have to cover? Do I cover the entire 2 years even when 6 months will be mostly of language study or do I just cover the remaining time?
Also, I already found possible advisers on the universities directories but in the case of ๆญฆ่ต้็พ่กๅคงๅญฆ I can’t seem to find professors contacts; like they just have a big list with names and their curriculum but not email or website so, does that mean I don’t have to contact them?
Thanks for taking your time to read this and help us all!
Hi Martha,
For your time frame, I recommend that you include your research student time as well as your degree time, if you’re planning to do one major research project. Most students spend one semester as a research student (plus the semester of Japanese language), or a maximum of one year, if they have to wait a full year to take the entrance exam to get in to the degree program.
You can include the semester of Japanese language study, but your focus during that semester should be on language (state that in the plan!). That semester counts toward your maximum amount of time as a research student (2 years if you arrive in Japan in April, 3 semesters if you arrive in the fall).
If you cannot find the professors’ contact information on the website, then I would recommend contacting the administrative office of the graduate school you want to apply to to ask for their guidance – whether you should contact professors or not. By the way, the list of professors is available in Japanese: http://profile.musabi.ac.jp/
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Dear Mr. Travis,
First of all, thank you for your efforts and informative tips, I really appreciate this kind of positivity
I have some inquiries please, all my inquiries are related with embassy recommendation scholarships
1) You recommended to apply for more than 3 universities to increase the chance of acceptance, how can I choose more than 3 universities while in the application form there are just 3 blanks to fill in?
2) In field of study and research plan form, it was written literally in the form โโOutline your field of study on this side and the specifics of your study program on the reverse side of this sheetโโ. What do they mean by the word โโspecifiesโโ. Another thing is that, I am totally so confused about what and how to write on the reverse side of the paper.
3) What do you think if my research plan 8 papers including references?
4) It is required to write my name in my language in some blanks, does that mean I should write my name in my native language (Arabic)
5) Some documents (certificate, transcripts, recommendation) are required to be submitted as original documents although they wonโt be returned, however, my university just gave me one original copy, what should I do in this situation?
6) Finally, I suggest that if you could look for candidates who were accepted for MEXT scholarships in the previous years to volunteer in sharing their experience and documents because that will be very useful.
Hi Omar,
I saw your question on another article and answered it here.
(Some of the answers were to direct you to this article, so I’m glad that you found it!)
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
This post is great! Thank you for breaking down the research plan elements.
I have read from one of your posts that chances for getting a mext scholarship are not good if one applies for the same degree level that one already has. In my case, I will be applying for the mext scholarship 2019 embassy-recommended route. I have an MBA degree, and would like to pursue graduate studies in sports in japan. After going through JASSO’s list of degree courses in English thanks to your recommendation (https://www.jasso.go.jp/en/study_j/search/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2017/05/19/degree_english_20170519.pdf), I found there are only 3 graduate degree courses in sports studies in japan that is taught in English (2 courses in Masters level and 1 course in Doctorate). This is consistent with my own research, and I in fact have been interested in applying to these three courses. However, since I already have a Masters degree, does that mean I should only be applying for the 1 Doctorate course available in English? I am not too keen on applying only to the Doctorate course for the following reasons:
1. It is not a national university, so it lowers my chances of getting a mext scholarship
2. I would prefer to take a Masters degree in this subject since my previous educational background was in business/management. Since 2007 I have been involved in sports (college varsity athletics, martial arts practitioner, and recently co-founded a martial arts school) that is why I want to pursue my graduate studies in this subject. I want to my future studies to focus on the business side of sports – sports management, sport marketing, sport event and facility management, etc. – as well as the effect of sports in society.
What would you recommend in this case?
Thank you for your time and appreciate all your efforts in helping aspiring mext scholars!
Sincerely,
Yani
Hi Yani,
I’m glad you were able to find some programs that would work for you! My next article on this blog is going to be about how to find programs in different fields :).
1. I should clarify that applying to a non-National University does not necessarily reduce your chances of getting the scholarship. If you have a non-National University as your first choice in the placement preference form, there is a higher chance that you would not get placed in your first choice. Of course, having only one university in your field could make it more challenging to get the scholarship.
2. You have to apply in a field that you have majored in before or that is related to your previous research field. In this case MBA to sports management seems like it would be possible. As you mentioned, you are changing fields to some degree, though, so I agree that it would make more sense to start with a Master’s degree. (Changing fields is the only time I recommend this).
I hope that helps!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
thanks for your inputs Travis! much appreciated ๐
Hi Travis,
I have a small question regarding the Study and Research Plan.
The Master degree I plan to apply to does not include a thesis. It is a credit based Master degree. As such, where the form asks for my Research Plan and Research topic, should I focus on what the degree aims to teach and the different courses? I assume I should then try to link this to my particular interests? For the record, this is a Business Master Degree.
Thank you for your help, amazing content in here!
Hi Fabio,
Thank you for your kind words!
I didn’t know there was such a thing as a credit-based Master’s program in Japan. Even for MBAs, you should have some sort of culminating project, no?
I assume that during the course of the degree, you will have some flexibility as to choosing what courses to take as well as what particular industry or case studies you want to focus on, so even if you are not writing a thesis or completing a culminating project, I would recommend that you write this document about what you will focus your individual research on throughout the course of your classes. It is not about the courses you will take, but what you will do your original research, analysis and work on.
Clearly, I have never been enrolled in a business degree, but I hope that helps anyway!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis.
My name is Liza. I understand that I can only apply for the scholarship to study the same major as I had studied in undergraduate or a related field. My degree was on Professional Communications and the Media (Bachelor of Arts) but I may want to pursue a Master’s in tourism/business. This is because I am currently working in the travel and tourism industry. Should I indicate on the field of study that my proposed research has to do with my current job as opposed to the degree I received? Or should I just write my thesis without indicating past degree? Thanks a lot for your help!
Hi Liza,
You have to relate your studies in Japan to your previous major, so you can’t just ignore it or choose to relate it to your job instead. You’ll need to come up with some way that you can connect your past studies to your current research. You can use your job as an additional reason to support your research, but not as a replacement for your past major.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi everyone !
I want to apply this scholarship in 2019 but I run into difficulties with Mathematics A. Can you recommend me some sources to prepare this test without the previous test (cuz I did all of it and it is not enough for me) ๐ ?
Thank you very much <3
Hi Ka Ka,
That’s the only MEXT-related resource I know of. If you find a particular area in that test that you struggle with, then I would recommend that you look for general textbooks on that portion.
Maybe someone else can comment with other resources.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis,
Firstly thank you so much for this wonderful guide. Thanks to you I had a good understanding of the research plan. Because I had never write a reseasrch plan or thesis before, this was a great help to me.
I have one question and I will be happy if you can help me. I will be applying through embassy recommendation for master degree. As I had never wrote a thesis to finish my degree I am not sure what to write on Field of Study. In your article it says that we should mention the previous field of study and research subject. Field of study in this case should be my degree but what should I write for research subject?
If you can help me on this subject I appreciate it.
Have a good day,
Erina
Hi Erina,
Even if you have never written a graduation thesis in the past, you can still write about whatever the specific focus of your undergraduate major was for this form. I would recommend writing about research/studies from your previous degree that is directly related to the research you want to conduct in Japan. What inspired you to come up with your research topic that you want to pursue in Japan?
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
HI,
I’ve been wanting to apply for MEXT since I got my undergraduate degree years ago. But I was hesitant because upon reading the requirements, I felt like I’m not qualified. Can I apply for the Research/Master’s scholarship even if I’ve been employed for several years already?
Hi Nananana,
Yes, you can still apply after several years of employment! As long as you meet the age eligibility requirement, there would be nothing else to stop you.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello, thanks for sharing this valuable instruction. I have requested a sample file for MEXT Scholarship Field of Study and Research Program Plan Elements. But I didn’t get any sample. If you kindly send me the sample, it will be helpful for me. Thanks in advance.
Hi Tanzila Islam,
The link on this article was to download a sample MEXT application form. Did you receive that by email?
I have not yet created a sample Field of Study and Research Program Plan or a downloadable version of this elements guide. I plan to do so in the future, but it is part of a larger project that is taking me more time than expected to complete.
If you signed up to download the form, then you’ll be on my mailing notification list, so you’ll be one of the first to know when I have those new resources available!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hi Travis, thank you for this valuable guide. I have a question regarding the study program. If I’m applying for the embassy recommended MEXT scholarship and I intend to go through all three periods of the scholarship if possible (that is, apply first to be a non-regular research student, prepare for entrance examination, apply for masters program and 2 year scholarship extension, and then apply for doctorate program and 3 year scholarship extension), should I lay out all 5-6 years of my research plan in the study program? Or should I only describe my research timeline up through the master’s program?
Hi Vincent,
You’re welcome!
I would recommend that you only lay out the research student and master’s student phase of your research, treating the research as the preparation for the Master’s research, not as a separate topic. You want to go up through your Master’s thesis.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello,
I have basically the same intentions as Vincent, so, continuing the topic โ would it somehow damage me if I were to not mention my plans for Master degree onwards? I remember reading up that it’s up to embassy to decide to place me either in research or master’s student status, and I wouldn’t want to go straight for master’s the moment I arrive.
Also, I’m graduating this summer and won’t have the thesis finished by the time of documents submitting deadline. Below you said that I could submit an abstract of an unfinished paper, but is this how it usually goes for students just gratuating or is this more of an irregular case?
Hi Tereya,
In the application form, there should be a place where you explicitly state whether you want to start as a research student or degree-seeking student and another place to state what your final degree goal is in Japan. It is not going to hurt your application at all to say that you want to start as a research student and continue to the degree.
Ultimately, the decision of whether to place you in the degree program or to start you as a research student rests with the universities, not the embassy. They will consider your request, certainly. Usually, there are some administrative factors in that decision – for example, some programs only accept new students in one semester or the other, or others require you to start as a research student so that you can be physically present for the entrance exam – but it is very rare that I have heard of a university asking an applicant who wanted to start as a research student to go straight to the degree program, instead.
For the abstract, I think a significant number of the applicants I worked with had not yet finished their thesis, or had not yet had it approved, by the time they applied. As a reviewer, I actually have no way of telling whether the abstracts I read were for completed papers or papers-in-progress unless applicants explicitly told me. Many did, and it was never a problem for us!
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
My concern is also that I would have to plan out as much as 4 years of research month by month if I were to state that I’m going for master’s.
And I have a hard time with just the research student’s timetable as it is already.
Hi Tereya,
If you’re planning to go from research student to master’s degree, typically you would only spend one semester in research student status before taking the entrance exam and enrolling in the degree program, so it shouldn’t be a whole four years that you have to plan.
I think you may be going into too much detail, too. Some of the successful plans I’ve seen had timelines with 3-month blocks for activities, with detail levels like “literature review,” “experiment design,” etc. Remember you should be aiming to keep the Field of Study and Research Program plan with 3 pages or so. Maybe 5 at the most, though I wouldn’t recommend going that long. Keep your detail level at an appropriate point for that length.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello, thank you for your exhaustive explanation!
I’m really wondering now though, such a specific project plan is completely of our choice?
Since at this stage applicants haven’t even applied yet, I imagine it is not something that has to be agreed with a prospective supervisor but it is 100% up to us. Am I correct? I’m just wondering because it would look like I’m just asking to carry out such a specific project without even asking my host laboratory…? On the other hand I doubt someone would be willing to develop/agree on a project with me without me even passing the first screening by which time it is too late.
Hope I’m making sense. Thank you so much ๐
Hi Celine,
As the saying goes, “no plan survives first contact with the enemy.” Or the advisor, in this case.
The purpose of writing a plan at this point is to prove that you can. You are not committed to carrying out that research exactly.
I would recommend that you have at least a solid draft of your plan in place then start contacting prospective advisors with your idea. Get their feedback on how your research interests intersect with theirs and modify your plan accordingly. (Of course, this is assuming that you start early enough to do that).
Even if you start late and don’t have time to get feedback, you should know – and your advisors ought to know – that your research plan is subject to change.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz
Thank u soooooo much for this help
Wow what an amazing post, I can’t thank uou enough!! Incredibly helpful, and I feel a lot more confident and prepared. Thank you!!!!
You’re very welcome!
Good Luck with your application,
– Travis from TranSenz
Hello Travis!
I just wanted to give you my biggest THANK YOU. Your posts have helped me A LOT with the structure of my research plan. I started really late to prepare my documents because I just found out about the scholarship a couple weeks ago. Ever since, I’ve been worrying nonstop about what to write for the field of study and the study program. It’s been extra hard for me since I’ve never written a thesis before (I studied medicine so it wasnt a requiremente at my uni), and Iยดve never really done much research either (again not many research facilities in my country). I’m still not 100% happy about it but at least you have helped me in making it more organized and understandable, so again thank you!
Hi Carol,
You’re very welcome. I’m glad to hear that it helped and I wish you the best of luck with your application!
Good Luck,
– Travis from TranSenz
I just came to say thank you, I don’t know how I could fill this form without all the information that you wrote here!
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You’re very welcome. I’m happy to help!
Hi Travis,
Thanks for this clear and helpful guide. I think I have a good grasp on this part of my application now.
I have a question related to a different portion the application. Is it required to submit an abstract of a thesis or other paper? I have not written a thesis for my undergraduate degree yet (will be doing that and graduating this coming fall semester) and on the application form I have marked that I haven’t written a thesis yet where it asks. On the list of documents to submit it says an abstract of your thesis, “if applicant has written” – so does that mean I don’t have to submit an abstract of a paper at all since I have not written a thesis yet?
Thanks!
Hi Christa,
I’m sorry for the late reply. It’s probably too late to help, but my advice would be to contact your embassy/consulate for their guidance. They’re not always consistent, so it’s best to get the answer straight from them.
In most cases, Embassies (and Universities, for the University-recommended MEXT scholarship) would ask you to submit an abstract from any major paper/project you completed that is related to your field of study in Japan.
Also, you don’t have to have finished the paper to submit an abstract. Typically, you have the abstract done earlier in the process, I think.
Good Luck!
– Travis from TranSenz