JAPANESE GOVERNMENT （MONBUKAGAKUSHO:MEXT） SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2015 （COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS）

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) offers scholarships to international students who wish to study at a　Japanese college of technology under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for 2015 as follows.

1.　FIELDS OF STUDY

Those who wish to study in Japan as students at a college of technology must choose a field of specialization (major) from among (1) to (7) below.
(1) Mechanical Engineering;  (2) Electrical and Electronic Engineering; 
(3) Information, Communication and Network Engineering;  (4) Materials Engineering; 
(5) Architecture and Civil Engineering；  (6) Maritime engineering;   (7) Other Fields.

 

Note 1: Applicants must select a “Field of study” and “Majors and related key terms” from the Annex “Majors and Related Key Terms for Fields of Study” and enter in “5.Preferred fields of study in Japan” on the application form. Applicants may enter a first, second and third choice of field of study. For each of the three choices be sure to enter your desired subject of study, referring to the Annex “Majors and Related Key Terms for Fields of Study.”
Note 2: (4) Materials engineering may not be studied in combination with other fields of study. Applicants wishing to choose more than one major, should select their first, second and third choice of major from ones under “(4) Materials engineering.”
Note 3: Applicants for a major in the fields categorized as (7) Other Fields (International Communication, Management Information Engineering, etc.) may have difficulties in finding colleges of technology capable of accepting them.

2.　QUALIFICATIONS AND CONDITIONS

(1)　Nationality:

Applicants must have the nationality of a country which has diplomatic relations with the Japanese government. Stateless persons can be applicants, too. The applicant who has Japanese nationality at the time of application will not be eligible. Applicants screening will be made at the Japanese Embassy/Consulate General (hereinafter referred to as “Japanese diplomatic mission”) in the country of applicants’ nationality.

(2)　Age:

Applicants generally must have been born between April 2, 1993 and April 1, 1998.

(3)　Academic Background:

Applicants generally must have completed a school curriculum equivalent to an upper secondary school (a 11-year or longer curriculum starting at elementary school). Applicants who will meet the above qualifications by March, 2015 are included.)

(4)　Japanese Language:

Applicants must be willing to learn the Japanese language and receive college of technology education in Japanese language.

(5)　Health:

Applicants must be mentally and physically healthy enough to pursue study at a college of technology in Japan. An Applicant who wishes to major in maritime engineering must have 0.6 or more vision in either eye with or without glasses, and no color-blindness.

(6)　Arrival in Japan:

In principle, the selected applicants must be able to leave for and arrive in Japan between the 1st and 7th of April 2015.

(7)Visa Requirement：

In principle, the selected applicants must acquire “College Student” (ryuugaku, 留学) visas before entering Japan. It should be issued at the Japanese diplomatic mission, located in the country of applicants, nationality.
Note: Applicants who change their resident status to any status other than “College Student” after their arrival in Japan will lose their status of a Japanese government scholarship student.

(8)　Applicants who meet any or all of the following conditions are not eligible. If identified after acceptance of the scholarship grantees, the applicants will be required to withdraw from the scholarship:

［1］ If applicant is a service member or a civilian employee registered on the active military list at the time of his/her arrival in Japan;

［2］ Those who cannot arrive in Japan during the period designated by MEXT　or the accepting university;

［3］ If an 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, 2015 (In case where the student starts from the fall semester, the month of entrance.);

［4］ If Applicant is, in principle, currently enrolled in a Japanese university with the resident status of “College Student,” or will be enrolled in a Japanese university as another 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 courses of study and return to their countries before the end of the current year;

［5］ If an applicant is a grantee of a scholarship from any organization(including any governmental organization of his/her own country) other than the Japanese government (MEXT) (Prospective beneficiaries are included);

［6］ Applicants who are expected to graduate at the time of application and, cannot satisfy the qualifications and the conditions of academic background by the deadline given; or

［7］　Applicants of dual nationality who cannot prove their expatriation of the Japanese nationality by the time of arrival.

3.　TERM OF SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarship awards will be tenable for four years from April, 2015 to March, 2019 including one-year preparatory education in the Japanese language and other subjects due to be provided upon arrival in Japan. For scholarship grantees majoring in maritime engineering, the term of scholarship will be four and a half years up to September, 2019.
If a grantee graduates from a college of technology and is admitted for enrollment in an advanced course at a college of technology or 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. If a grantee completes an advanced course at a college of technology and satisfies the requirements established by the National Institution for Academic Degrees and University Evaluation, he/she may apply to the Institution for a bachelor’s degree in engineering.

4.　SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS

(1) School Fees:

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

(2)　Allowance:

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. The amount of allowance will be subject to change, however, 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 college of technology or the preparatory Japanese-teaching institution.

The scholarship will be cancelled for a grantee in the following cases. Furthermore, if scholarship payments were made during the period the following cases applied, the grantee may be ordered to return scholarship payments received during that period.

［1］ If any of his/her application documents is found to be falsely stated;
［2］ If he/she is in breach of his/her pledge made to the Minister of MEXT;
［3］ If he/she is subjected to disciplinary action such as expulsion or removal from register by his/her college of technology 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;
［6］ If he/she is provided with another scholarship (except for a scholarship designated for research expenses); or
［7］ If he/she proceeds to a higher level of education without receiving approval for an extension of the term of the scholarship.

(3)　Traveling costs:

［1］ Transportation to Japan:

Each grantee will be supplied generally, according to his/her itinerary and route as designated by MEXT, with an economy-class airplane ticket from the international airport nearest to his/her place of residence* to the New Tokyo International Airport or any other international airport that the preparatory school usually uses. Expenses such as inland transportation from his/her home address to the international airport, airport tax, airport usage fees, special taxes on travel, or inland transportation within Japan will NOT be supplied. *The address in the country of the recipient’s nationality stated in the application form is in principle regarded as the recipient’s “home address.”
Note: Those who cannot arrive on the day that is described in "2. QUALIFICATIONS (6) Arrival in Japan" shall not be paid the travel expenses coming to Japan.

［2］ Transportation from Japan:

The grantee who returns to his/her home country within the fixed period after the expiration of his/her scholarship will be supplied generally, upon application, with an economy-class airplane ticket for the travel from the New Tokyo International Airport (or any other international airport that the appointed college of technology uses as a normal route) to the international airport nearest to his/her home address.

Note 1: If a grantee returns home without an extension though having applied for extension of scholarship period, he/she will not be paid travel expenses to return home in general.
Note 2: Insurance premiums for travel to/from Japan shall be borne by the grantee.
Note 3: If a grantee stays in Japan and gets a job after the scholarship period has ended, he/she will not be paid travel expenses to return home as the temporary return.

5.　SELECTION

(1)　In cooperation with the governments of the applicants’ countries the Japanese diplomatic mission will conduct primary screening of applicants by means of submitted application documents, interviews and academic examinations.
[Examination subjects]
All applicants wishing to study (4) Materials engineering must sit examinations in Japanese, English, mathematics, and chemistry.
All applicants wishing to study in fields other than (4) Materials engineering must sit examinations in Japanese, English, mathematics, and physics.
(2)　Results of 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 conduct final selection of the recommended applicants and decide scholarship grantees.

6.　 EDUCATION AT COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

(1)　Preparatory Education prior to Placement at College of Technology:

Each grantee will be enrolled at a preparatory school designated by MEXT for a one-year intensive course in the Japanese language and other subjects necessary for preparation for proceeding to college of technology. The preparatory course lasts for one year, mainly consisting of education in the Japanese language as well as in Japanese Affairs, mathematics, etc. A grantee will not be allowed to proceed to college of technology 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 College of Technology:

A grantee who has completed the prescribed course at the preparatory school will go on to a college of technology designated by MEXT. The college of technology 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 college of technology operates under a five-year course requiring junior high school education for eligibility, but the grantees of this scholarship will be enrolled into a third-year class and receive specialized education for three years prior to graduation (or three years and a half for those who major in maritime engineering). A graduated grantee will be awarded a diploma and an associate degree.

(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 diplomatic mission by the required date. The submitted documents will not be returned.

			Original	Copy
(1)	1（circled number）	Application (by 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)	3（circled number）	Academic transcript for the past 3 years	1	1
(4)	4（circled number）	Recommendation from the principal or the adviser of the last school attended	1	1
(5)	5（circled number）	Graduation certificate of the last school attended (or certificate of expected graduation for an applicant due to graduate)	1	1
(6)	6（circled number）	Certificate of enrollment (for an applicant currently enrolled in a university)	1	1
(7)	8（circled number）	Medical certificate(on the prescribed form)	1	1

 

Note 1: These documents must be written in Japanese or English. A document written in any other language must be attached with an English or Japanese translation.
Note 2: For attached photo, copy of the paper medium is not acceptable. It is acceptable to paste the data of photo on each application form and print it. (To print your photos and paste it on the application form is not allowed.)
Note 3: For item (5) above, a photocopy of the graduation certificate and/or the qualification will do, provided that the copy is attested by the relevant school.
Note 4: Number the documents(134568（circled number）) 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, and colleges of technology education in Japan as well as about the differences in the Japanese legal system and the one in their home country before they leave for Japan.
(2) Grantees should bring the approximate equivalent of US $2,000 to cover immediate needs after their arrival in Japan　since the scholarship allowance will be paid a while later.
(3) Dormitory
 ［1］ In principle, each grantee will be able to live in a dormitory during the preparatory education.
 ［2］ After entering a college of technology a grantee will be able to live in the dormitory established by the college.
(4) The English texts attached to the Application Guildline and the Application Form are for convenience only. English expressions do not change
 the Japanese content, so if you have any questions about the content of the written text, you should inquire at the Japanese diplomatic
 mission.
(5) More detailed information on this scholarship program is available at the Japanese diplomatic mission in your country.