Application Guidelines
A. Aims
This program enables students from six countries (Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Russia) wishing to enroll in a master’s course (at specified graduate schools in the sciences) at designated universities in Japan to secure scholarships before their arrival in Japan. It aims to cultivate individuals capable of leading Asia in the twenty-first century and to contribute to the development of Asia and the world as well as to mutual understanding between these countries and Japan.
B. Eligibility
Applicants who wish to enroll in a master’s course in one of the sciences (at specified graduate schools) at the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Nagoya University, Ochanomizu University, Waseda University and Kagawa Nutrition University (hereinafter “Universities”) and who fulfill the following requirements and qualifications.
1. The applicant must be a citizen of Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam or Russia.
2. The applicant must have graduated or be expected to graduate with an excellent academic record (with 16 years of education completed or expected to be completed) and must receive the recommendation of his/her university president or academic advisor or be otherwise qualified to enroll in the University.
3. The applicant must be under the age of 35 on April 1, 2019.
4. In principle, the applicant must be able to obtain approval of acceptance as either a postgraduate international research student (hereinafter “Research Student”) or a graduate school student (master’s course) (hereinafter “Master’s Course Student”) from the University and be registered as a Research Student or a Master’s Course Student for April 2019 or October 2019.
5. The applicant must acquire adequate Japanese language proficiency that is required in order to research and study in a master’s course, when enrolling as a Master’s Course Student.
6. The applicant must file an application and attend selection procedures in the country eligible for this program.
7. The applicant must be in good physical and mental health and have a strong motivation for learning.
8. The applicant must not be receiving other scholarships.
C. Scholarship Amounts
1. Research Student at graduate school: ¥150,000/month (for 1 year).
2. Master’s Course Student at graduate school: ¥180,000/month (for 2 years).
3. Examination, admission and tuition fees: covered in full.
4. Airfare to Japan: provide a one-way air ticket from one of the 6 countries (Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam or Russia) to Japan (economy class flight ticket, in principle).
D. Number of students to be accepted
One student from each of the 6 countries (Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Russia).
E. Period of Scholarships
Scholarships will be provided for max. 3 years: 1 year studying as a Research Student, and 2 years as a Master’s Course Student. The scholarship will be suspended when the scholarship recipient (who enters as a Research Student) fails to pass the entrance exam for a master’s course within a year after arriving in Japan. For Waseda University, in principle, scholarships will be provided for 2 years studying as a Master’s Course Student.
F. Application details of the Universities
Refer to Appendix 1 for details.
G. Application Deadline
Early March, 2018.
H. Application Documents
1. Application form and study program (specified form);
2. Transcript of scholastic record issued by the university or graduate school attended (or certified true copy transcript from the university, if the university does not issue copies of transcripts);
3. A letter of recommendation from academic advisor (specified form);
4. Photocopied documents proving Japanese proficiency of the applicant (such as results of JPLT, EJU and other tests provided by Japanese training institutions) when required by the University; TOEFL and GRE scores when required by the graduate school which the applicant wishes to enroll.
5. The documents submitted shall not be returned under any circumstances.
I. Selection Process
1. 1st screening The screening will be based on the received documents, such as research activities and study plans, university transcript and the letter of recommendation.
2. 2nd screening The screening for the successful applicants will be based on the following documents:
a) Necessary documents required by the graduate school which the applicant wishes to enroll – TOEFL score, etc. (refer to Appendix 2);
b) Certificate of graduation (or graduation letter) or student registration certificate. Note: An interview will be held for the 2nd selection (in English or in Japanese).
10. Suspension or Termination of Scholarship
The scholarship will be suspended or terminated, if any one of the following conditions applies to the scholarship recipient. According to the circumstances, the scholarship amount already disbursed may be subject to repayment in full or in part:
a) False information found in the application form;
b) Receives any other scholarship;
c) Fails to pass the entrance examination to a master’s course within one year after arriving to Japan (applicable to the recipient entering as a Research Student);
d) Fails to arrive in Japan by the appointed date;
e) Long-term absence due to illness or other health problems, dishonest act and poor academic performance including leaving the school and repeating a school year;
f) Violates the rules and regulations of the University or Ajinomoto Scholarship Foundation.
L. Selection and Notification
1st screening: Late March – April 2018
2nd screening: May 2018
Notification of the results: June 2018
Note: The nominated applicants who pass the 2nd screening must submit all the necessary documents designated by the graduate schools or the Universities they wish to enroll within the application period (refer to Appendix 2). The nominated applicants to enroll in October should pay attention to the application period and the date of issuance of the letter of acceptance, because they differ from those for the April enrollment. Please contact the graduate school you wish enroll for details.
