MEXT scholarship with Embassy Reccomendation

1. What is MEXT scholarship with Embassy Recommendation

In this category, students must apply to the Japanese Embassy or a consulate in the country of citizenship, and follow their selection procedures as the preliminary stage. Only those who pass the preliminary stage will be able to proceed to the University selection. ILO will announce information about the University selection procedures on the ILO website in June for enrollment in the following year. In GSFS, every department and the Graduate Program in Sustainability Science accept applications from those who are applying for a MEXT scholarship with Embassy Recommendation.

2. Application procedures

	Step1:	Apply for a MEXT scholarship at the Japanese Embassy or a consulate in the country of your citizenship.
	Step2:	Only those who pass the preliminary selection at the Japanese Embassy or a consulate will be able to apply for admission to GSFS. Application guidelines will be announced on the ILO website in June. The due date for application material submission will be the end of August.
	Step3:	Successful candidates will receive an acceptance letter in September from the university.
	Step4:	Enroll in April or in September in the following year.

● Guidelines for those applying as a research student:

Research student is classified as a non-degree student. In order to matriculate to a degree course, i.e., master course or doctoral course, students must sit for the examination of the department you wish to enter. Only those who pass the examination will be admitted to degree courses in the following semester. If research students want to change their status to a degree student by the April enrollment time, students should take the examination held in February. If you pass the February examination for enrollment in April, GSFS will change your status to a degree student accordingly. For more information, please check the guidelines below and the FAQs.

Application Guidelines – Research Student

Designated Application Form – Research Student

Designated Recommendation Form

● Guidelines for those applying as a degree student:

Only a few departments accept international students directly into degree courses. Additional documents are required depending on the department you are applying to.

Application Guidelines – Degree Student

Designated Application Form – Degree Student

Designated Recommendation Form

3. FAQs

	Q1:	Should I contact the professor I prefer to have as my supervisor directly?
	A1:	Yes. Please obtain consent first from the professor(s) to become your supervisor, and send a complete set of application forms with the name of professor whom you have contacted.

	Q2:	I have received consent from more than one professor. What should I do next?
	A2:	Please decide on one professor as your supervisor before you send ILO your set of application forms. Also please inform all the professors you have contacted of your decision.

	Q3:	If I enroll in a department in the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences as a research student, can I automatically matriculate to a degree course from the next semester?
	A3:	No. In order to become a degree student, you must pass the examination of the department you hope to enter. GSFS has entrance examination twice a year, in August and February. If you enroll in April, for example, the first possible entrance examination is in August. If you pass, you can matriculate to a master or doctoral course in October. If you enroll in October, the first possible entrance examination is in February. If you pass, you can matriculate to a master or doctoral course in April.

	Q4:	What if I fail the entrance examination?
	A4:	The period that you can stay in Japan at The University of Tokyo as a research student varies depending on your situation. If you want to matriculate to a master course: … and your field of study is science, you are expected to matriculate within 18 months. … and your field of study is social science, you are expected to matriculate within 24 months. If you want to matriculate to a doctoral course: … and your field of study is science, you are expected to matriculate within 12 months. … and your field of study is social science, you are expected to matriculate within 18 months. If you do not pass the entrance examinations in the designated period, a MEXT scholarship will be just terminated in two years, which is the original scholarship duration. Most departments hold entrance examination twice a year, in August and February. In August, all departments conduct examination and students can take them in English. In February, fewer departments conduct exams. We suggest you check how often you can take examination during the designated period. For details, see here.

	Q5:	I want to study as a degree student without having been a research student, but the department I want to apply accepts students only as research students. Aren’t there any other options available?
	A5:	Apply for research student status in August in accordance with the guidelines. This cannot be changed. After you receive an acceptance letter in September, you may want to think about taking a department examination in February. If you pass the February examination, then GSFS can change your status from a research student to a degree student by your enrollment time in April so that you can directly start as a regular degree student. However, please be informed that most departments require applicants to come to Japan to sit for their entrance examination. Only applicants to the Graduate Program in Sustainability Sciences are not required to come to Japan. The Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies and the Department of International Studies also do not require applicants to come to Japan for the February examination only, while the two departments accept applications to start their degree course directly. If you want to take the examination, please send an inquiry to ILO. For details, see here.

	Q6:	Are there any additional procedures I have to do other than taking the examination to matriculate to a degree course?
	A6:	Yes, you must apply for extension of your scholarship period after you enroll in the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, because the original scholarship duration is two years. By the time of application you and your supervisor are expected to discuss your study plan to decide when you are going to take entrance examination and which department you are going to apply.

	Q7:	GSFS requires to submit a recommendation letter in the GSFS format. But I have already obtained two recommendation letters from my academic supervisors in the MEXT scholarship application format, and I am sending the two copies to GSFS. I have no other professor who knows my academic performance than the two. What should I do?
	A7:	You are exempted from submitting another recommendation letters, because you are going to submit us two letters. If your application package includes only one recommendation letter, then please prepare another one in the GFFS format. GSFS requires at least two recommendation letters in total, and at least one of them must be prepared by faculty staff who knows your academic performance.

The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Frontier Sciences International Liaison Office