MEXT Students

  • Pledge
  • Scholarship Conditions
  • Monthly Stipend
  • Flight Reservation



    • Pledge

    After being approved as a MEXT scholarship student, you must submit a designated pledge form to show you have understood the terms and conditions. Download the pledge, fill in, and return by email first, and then via airmail to DiRECT BEFORE the deadline.

    DiRECT will airmail you your Certificate of MEXT scholarship after we receive the original copy of your hand signed pledge.

    The Certificate is neccessary to apply your visa at the diplomatic office in your home country. (see Visa > Supporting Materials > Certificate of MEXT Scholarship).



    Download the Pledge form and check the deadline here.

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    Scholarship Conditions

    Scholarship Coverage

    1. Monthly stipend
    2. Exemption from application, admission, and tuition fees
    3. Airfare to Japan (when coming over to Japan for your enrollment)
    4. Airfare to your home country (after completing the program. Those who are going on to their doctoral program after their master's will only be covered after completeing doctoral in the stipulated period.)

    Duration of the Scholarship

    Master's students: 2 years

    (extension of 3 years for doctoral if sucussessfully pass the doctoral screening with a certain requirements for scholarship)

     

    Doctoral students: 3 years


    Extension of Duration

    The duration of the scholarship is the same as the stipulated period of programs you are going to enroll. (2 years for the master's and an additional 3 years for the doctoral program), and it will NEVER be extended more than that. Even if you fail to complete the program within the stipulated period, or take a Leave of Absence during the program, the last month of your scholarship is strictly fixed. But you will be eligible to keep your student status at school as a self-financed student.


    [NOTE]

    Master's¨Doctoral

    IGPAS master's students with MEXT scholarship will be able to receive the MEXT scholarship for the following 3 years in their doctoral program. But they'll need to meet a certain requirements as (as of 2013):


    • Grade Point Average of 2.5/3.0 or above for the first 2 semesters (as of 2013).
    • Successfully complete their master's program in the stipulated period of 2 years.


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    Monthly Stipend

    Amount (as of April 2014)
    Master's Students: 146,000 JPY/month
    Doctoral Students: 147,000 JPY/month

    Both include Sendai reigional allowance of 2,000 JPY/month.
    [NOTE]

    The above amounts are subject to change by notice from the Ministry.


    How
    Transferred to your Japan Post Bank account every month around the 25th.

    The very first Stipend
    Date of transfer October 29, 2014


    Confirmation of Enrollment

    To receive your monthly stipend on time, you must sign up on the Confirmation Sheet within the first THREE business days of each month. (This will usually be the first deadline, except for March and September. March and September will strictly be set on the VERY FIRST BUSINESS DAY, due to the term ending month)

    If you cannot make it by the first deadline, make sure to report it to our office in advance.
    Even if you could not make it, you may be able to meet the second deadline, so don't give it up.

    If you come sign up before the second deadline, it'll be in your bank account in around the middle of the next month.
    You'll totally miss your stipend if you didn't sign up AT ALL within the month for ANYreasons.



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    Flight Reservation

    A flight ticket to Japan will be arranged by the travel agency (hereafter referred as an "Agency") entrusted by the Ministry in around August.
    Information and instructions will be given by DiRECT around then.
    Do NOT reserve your flight on your own.



    How to Reserve the Flight

    1. Inform the following (1)-(4) to DiRECT via email entitled " MEXT Flight Reservation."
      *Check the deadline here.
      *It is possible to CHANGE the date & airport after submitting the request.
      • (1) Expected date of arrival in Japan
      • (2) Name of the airport you depart from your home country
      • (3) Name of the airport of arrival in Japan
      • (4) Any notes or requests (note here if you have changed your departing airport since in February when we first asked you)
    2. DiRECT will forward your information to the Agency, in the order of receiving.
    3. Agency sets an appropriate flights for you and return your itinerary to DiRECT.
    4. DiRECT will email you the itinerary for confirmation.
    5. With your confirmation, the reservation is completed.
    6. The Agency will directly email you your E-ticket, at least a week before your departure, unless otherwise informed.


    Connecting Domestic Flight to Sendai

    If your flight arrives at an international airport in Japan other than Sendai Airport (e.g. Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and Nagoya), you can request the Agency to arrange the connecting flight to Sendai Airport at the same time. Note that the domestic flight is basically NOT covered by the scholarship and the airfare will be charged you later on, but some flights are combined into international flight. Thus it is up to you to first ask for a domestic flight, and see how much it will cost, and cut it off later if it costs too much.

    A flight from Narita to Sendai generally costs about 14,000-18,000 JPY (or less if connected from an international flight with Star Alliance member airlines) and flys only twice a day.
    It's about an hour flight to Sendai Airport, and an additional 30 minutes to JR Sendai Station on a train. You can get more information at To Sendai Station or Sendai Airport Portal Site.




    Travel Expense

    The scholarship covers the airfare from the international airport in your country (the country of your nationality) to the airport you land in Japan. Some restrictions are imposed on the travel expense as follows:


    Restrictions on the Travel Cost

    • You'll have to arrive in Japan after September 18 (and beforeOctober 14), 2014..
    • The port of your departure MUST be in the country of your nationality.
    • No stop-over is allowed unless inevitable for your flight connection.
    • Economy-class only.

    What are NOT covered

    • Transportation to reach the departing airport in your country
    • Transportation after landing the airport in Japan
    • Travel insurance
    • Airport fee/taxes*
    • Other applicable charges* besides Fuel & Insurance Surcharges
    • Travel expenses of your family members

    *The fees will be paid by the travel agency first and the fees you're responsible for will be charged later in around November. They'll inform you the approximate amount at the time of your flight confirmation.


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