JAPANESE GOVERNMENT(MONBUKAGAKUSHO:MEXT)SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2014(SPECIALIZED TRAINING COLLEGE STUDENTS)

MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) offers scholarships to international students who wish to study at a Japanese specialized training college under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for 2014as follows. 

1. FIELDS OF STUDY

Those who wish to study in Japan as an exchange student at a specialized training college should choose a field of study to major in from # (1) to # (7) below.
(1) Technology (2) Personal Care and Nutrition
(3) Education and Welfare (4) Business
(5) Fashion and Home Economics (6) Culture and General Education
(7) Other Fields 

Note 1: Select a field of study from 1-7 above, and enter it in “Chosen field of study in Japan” on the application form. Applicants may also refer to a separate sheet titled “Majors and related subjects for field of study”, and enter a first and second choice of subjects from the same field of study.
Note 2: Applicants who choose (7) “Other Fields” are required to specify what kind of field they want in “Chosen field of study and subjects in Japan (Field of study) ” on the application form.
Note 3: Applicants who wish to major in (7) “Other Fields” (Agriculture, Medical Care, etc.) may have difficulties in finding a specialized training college that can accept them.
Note 4: In regard to “other fields of study,” keep in mind that in some cases the application can not be accepted because the period for completing the course of study will be more than the term of disbursement of the scholarship.
Note 5: Applicants who select “Other Subjects” for a field of study should specify their chosen subject in “Chosen field of study and subjects in Japan (First choice of subjects, Second choice of subjects)” on the application form. 

2. QUALIFICATIONS

(1) Nationality:

The Applicant must have the nationality of a country which has diplomatic relations with the Japanese government. This applies at such times to stateless persons,too. TheApplicant who has Japanese nationality at the time of application will not be eligible. Applicant screening will be made at the Japanese Embassy/Consulate General (hereinafter referred to as “Japanese legation”)  in the country of the Applicant’s nationality (except where two for countries are attended by the same Japanese legation).

(2) Age:

The Applicant must have been born between April 2, 1992 and April 1, 1997.

(3) Academic Background:

An Applicant must have completed a 12-year school curriculum or graduated from a school equivalent to an upper secondary school in Japan. (Included is any Applicant who will satisfy the above qualifications by March 2014.)

(4) Japanese Language:

The Applicant must be willing to learn the Japanese language and receive education at a specialized training college in the Japanese language.

(5) Health:

The Applicant must be mentally and physically healthy enough to pursue study at a specialized training college in Japan.

(6) Arrival in Japan:

In principle, the selected Applicant must be able to leave for and arrive in Japan between the 1st and 7th of April 2014. Travel expenses will not be provided if the Applicant chooses to travel to Japan before this set period. If the Applicant is unable to travel to Japan within the dates set, the scholarship will be cancelled.

(7) Visa Requirement:

Selected Applicants must acquire “College Student” (ryugaku,留学) visas before entering Japan. They then enter Japan with the “College Student”(ryugaku,留学) residence status. Applicants who are already in Japan before the start of the scholarship period under a visa other than College Student are required to change it to College Student by the end of the month preceding the start of the scholarship. (An Applicant who comes to Japan with a visa or resident status other than that of “College Student” will not qualify for a Japanese government’s scholarship. Also, keep in mind that any Applicant who changes his/her resident status to any status other than “College Student” after entry into Japan will lose his/her status of a Japanese government scholarship student upon such change of status.)

(8)  Any applicant who meets any or all of the following conditions is not eligible. If identified after the start of the scholarship period, the applicant will be required to withdraw from the scholarship:

[1]If he/she is a service member or civilian employee registered on the active military list at the time the scholarship period is due to begin;
[2]If he/she is a grantee of a scholarship provided by an organization (including a governmental organization of his/her own country) other than the Japanese government (MONBUKAGAKUSHO: MEXT);
[3]If the applicant is a previous recipient of a Japanese government scholarship. Unless more than three years have passed since the first day of the month following the final payment of the previous scholarship, as of April 1, 2014; or
[4]If he/she is, in principle, currently enrolled in a Japanese university with the resident status of “College Student,” or will be enrolled in a Japanese university as an other source or self financed international student between the time of application for this scholarship in his/her country and the time the scholarship period is due to begin. This does not apply to current self- financed international students at Japanese universities who will complete their course of study and return to their country before the end of the current year. 

3. TERM OF SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarship awards will be tenable for three years from April 2014 to March 2017 including one-year preparatory education in the Japanese language and other subjects due to be provided upon arrival in Japan.
Note: If a scholarship grantee graduates from a specialized training college and is admitted to a Japanese university as a junior transferee, he/she may have the term of his/her scholarship extended upon successful examination by MEXT provided that he/she has outstanding academic achievement that meets certain criteria.

4. SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS

(1)Allowance:

Under the fiscal 2013 budget each grantee will be provided monthly with 117,000 yen (an additional monthly stipend of 2,000 or 3,000 yen may be provided to those undertaking study or research in specially designated regions).  (However, this will be subject to change, depending upon the annual budget of each year). The scholarship will not be paid to a grantee who takes a leave of absence or is long absent from his/her specialized training college or the preparatory Japanese-teaching institution.
Scholarship will be cancelled for a grantee in the following cases. Furthermore, if scholarship payments were made during the period the following cases applied, the grantee may be ordered to return scholarship payments received during that period.
[1]If any of his/her application documents is found to be falsely stated;
[2]If he/she is in breach of his/her pledge made to the Minister of MONBUKAGAKUSHO (MEXT);

[3]If he/she is subjected to disciplinary action such as expulsion or removal from register by his/her specialized training college or the preparatory Japanese-teaching institution;
[4]If it becomes definitive that the grantee will not be able to graduate (or complete his/her course) within the standard course term because of his/her poor academic achievement or suspension;
[5]If his/her resident status of “College Student” as provided for in Paragraph 1-4 of Appendix to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act changes to any other status; or
[6]If he/she is provided with another scholarship (except for a scholarship designated for research expenses). 
[7]If he/she proceeds to a higher level of education without receiving approval for an extension of the term of the scholarship 

(2)Traveling Costs

[1]Transportation to Japan: Each grantee will be provided, according to his/her itinerary and route as designated by MEXT, with an economy class air ticket from the international airport closest to his/her place of residence to Narita International Airport (or following the itinerary normally used by the institution where the grantee is placed). Expenses such as inland transportation from his/her place of residence to the nearest international airport, airport tax, airport usage fees, special taxes on overseas travel and travel expenses within Japan will be borne by the grantee (the place of residence of the grantee shall in principle be the address stated in the application form). Air travel from a country other than the grantee’s nationality will not be covered, nor travel to Japan before April 1, 2014.
[2]Transportation from Japan: The grantee who returns to his/her home country within the last-payment month of his/her scholarship will be provided, upon application, with an economy class air ticket for a flight from Narita International Airport (or following the itinerary normally used by the institution where the grantee is placed) to the international airport closest to his/her place of return.
Note: Insurance premiums for travel to/from Japan shall be borne by the grantee. The airport the grantee departs from or returns to must be an airport of the country of his/her nationality.

(3) School Fees:

Fees for entrance examinations, matriculation, and tuition at a specialized training college will be paid by the Japanese government.

5. SELECTION

(1)In cooperation with the governments of the applicants’ countries the Japanese legation will perform primary screening of applicants by means of submitted application documents, interviews and academic examinations.
Examination subjects:
All applicants must sit examinations in Japanese, English, and mathematics.
(2)Results of the primary screening will be notified to applicants on the date designated by the Japanese legation.
(3)Applicants who have been selected by this primary screening will be recommended to MEXT.
(4)MEXT will perform final selection of the recommended applicants and select scholarship grantees.

6. SPECIALIZED TRAINING COLLEGE EDUCATION

(1)Preparatory Education prior to Placement in specialized Training College:

Each grantee will be enrolled at a preparatory school designated by MEXT where for a one-year intensive course in the Japanese language and other subjects necessary for preparation for proceeding to specialized training colleges. The preparatory course lasts for one year mainly consisting of education in Japanese Affairs with a focus on Japanese-language teaching. Please keep in mind that a grantee will not be allowed to proceed to specialized training college if he/she is determined incapable of completing the prescribed course at the preparatory school. (He/she will be required to return home upon such determination.)

(2)Entrance into Specialized Training College:

A grantee who has completed the prescribed course at the preparatory school will go on to a college of technology designated by MEXT. His/her college will be decided by MEXT upon consultation with the college concerned. No objection by the grantee against the decision will be allowed.

(3)Graduation:

A grantee of this scholarship will be enrolled into a postsecondary course of a specialized training college that requires upper secondary school education for entrance eligibility and receive professional education for two years prior to graduation. A graduated grantee will be awarded a diploma.

(4)Language used in Education:

All classes will be given in the Japanese language.

(5)Change of Major Field:

A grantee will not be permitted in principle to change his/her major field of study. 

7. APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Applicants must submit the following documents to the Japanese legation by the required date. The submitted documents will not be returned.

(Original)

(Copy)

(1)

1(circled number)

Application (on the prescribed forms)

2

 

(2)

Photographs (4.5 x 3.5 cm, Upper body, Full-faced, Uncapped) taken within the past 6 months (name and nationality should be written on the reverse;photo to be pasted onto the application documents. Digital photographs also acceptable)

2

 

(3)

2(circled number)

Academic transcript for the past 3 years

1

1

(4)

3(circled number)-1

Recommendation from the principal or the adviser of the last school attended

1

1

(5)

3(circled number)-2

Graduation certificate of the last school attended (or certificate of expected graduation for an applicant due to graduate)

1

1

(6)

3(circled number)-3

Certificate of passage of university entrance qualification examinations (if applicable)

1

1

(7)

4(circled number)

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

1

1

(8)

5(circled number)

Medical certificate(on the prescribed form)

1

1

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

8. NOTES

(1) All grantees are advised to learn the Japanese language and have basic knowledge about the weather, climate, manners and customs of Japan , the differences between the legal system of his/her home country and Japan, and what specialized training colleges are like in Japan before leaving for Japan.
(2) Grantees should bring the approximate equivalent of US $2,000 to cover immediate needs after their arrival in Japan.
(3) Boarding house
[1]For one year after arrival, in principle a grantee will be able to live in a dormitory for preparatory school.
[2]After entering a specialized training college a grantee will be able to continue to live in the aforementioned dormitory or other residential accommodations introduced by the college. 
(4) If you have any question about the matters set forth/not set forth herein, please inquire at the Japanese legation and follow their instructions, if any are given.
(5) In addition to the information determined in this guideline, matters which are necessary to implement Japanese Government Scholarship are determined by the Japanese Government.

お問合せ先

高等教育局学生・留学生課留学生交流室

木谷、高岡(応募については各国の日本大使館にお問い合わせください)
電話番号:03-5253-4111(内線:2624)

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