Guidelines for Application 2020

MEXT Scholarship Application

International Graduate Program

Graduate School of
Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences
Kyushu University
CONTENTS
1. Study Areas and Numbers of Applicants … 1
2. Eligibility … 1
3. Duration of the MEXT scholarship … 2
4. Benefits of the MEXT scholarship … 3
5. Regarding “Innovative Asia Program” … 3
6. Application Method … 5
7. Announcement of the Final Decision … 7
8. Notice … 7
9. Remarks … 7
10. Correspondence … 8
11. Contact Information … 8
Requirements for MEXT and ADB Scholarships … 9

Guidelines

1. Study Areas and Numbers of Applicants

The International Graduate Program of the Graduate School of Bioresource and
Bioenvironmental Sciences comprises four departments: (i) Bioresource Sciences, (ii)
Agro-environmental Sciences, (iii) Agricultural and Resource Economics, and (iv) Bioscience and
Biotechnology.
For details of each department, please refer to
http://www.agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp/english/international/graduate/outline/.

The MEXT scholarship is a Scholarship of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
Technology, Japan; MEXT: Monbu-Kagaku Sho.

2. Eligibility
(1) Nationality: Applicants must be nationals of a country that has diplomatic relations with the
Japanese government. (Applicants who already live in Japan before October 2020 are
ineligible to apply.)

st nd
(2) Age Limit: Applicants must be under 35 years as of April 1 , 2020 (i.e., born after April 2 , 1985).

(3) Academic Requirements

(a) Master’s course eligibility requirements:
(i) Applicants who have completed (or expect to complete) 16 years of academic education and
who hold (or expect to receive) a bachelor’s degree from a university outside of Japan by
th
September 30 , 2020 (including applicants who obtain a bachelor’s degree through 3-year
course).

1
 (ii) Applicants who do not hold a bachelor’s degree but have equal or higher academic attainment
than individuals with a bachelor’s degree*.

(b) Doctoral course eligibility requirements:

(iii) Applicants who hold a master’s degree, or expect to receive one, from a university outside of
th
Japan by September 30 , 2020.
(iv) Applicants who do not hold a master’s degree but have equal or higher academic attainment
than individuals with a master’s degree*.

*Individual Evaluation of Academic Ability

Those who wish to apply in accordance with the above qualification (ii) or (iv) are required to
undergo an individual evaluation of their academic ability, according to an Individual Screening of
Requirements for Admission by the Kyushu University Graduate School of Bioresource and
Bioenvironmental Sciences. First, they must notify the Student Section
([email protected]) and then send all of the required documentation to the
st
same e-mail address by October 31 , 2019. Applicants will be notified of the results of the
th
evaluation by November 29 , 2019.

(4) Health: Candidates must be certified as healthy both physically and mentally by a qualified and
recognized physician.

(5) Language: Nonnative English speakers must possess a sufficiently high official English score by a
qualified body, namely TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, or Cambridge Certificate (a photocopy of the
applicant’s scores must be attached).

th
(6) Time of Arrival: Students must arrive in Japan before September 30 , 2020.

(7) Others: Applicants who already live in Japan before October 2020 are ineligible to apply.

MEXT Scholarship Applicants:

1) Military personnel and civilian military employees are ineligible while on active duty or
under employment.
2) Candidates who do not arrive by the above date will be subject to scholarship
cancellation.
3) Persons already receiving financial support for study from other groups or
organizations are not eligible.
4) Students who attended a Japanese college or university in the past year must wait at
least one year before applying, regardless of whether they received a scholarship.
Furthermore, such students cannot have resided in Japan during this one-year interim
period. Students who have received a MEXT scholarship within the past three years
must wait at least another three years before becoming eligible for this course.
Similarly, they cannot have resided in Japan during this three-year interim.
th
5) Applicants who fail to receive a master’s or bachelor’s degree by September 30 ,
2020, will be subject to scholarship cancellation.

2
 3. Duration of the MEXT scholarship
(1) Master’s course: Two years, from October 2020 to September 2022.
(2) Doctoral course: Three years, from October 2020 to September 2023.
4. Benefits of the MEXT scholarship
(1) A monthly stipend of 146,000JPY for the master’s course and 147,000JPY for the doctoral course
The stipend amount is subject to changes depending on the annual budget. The stipend will be
suspended during periods of leave, absence, or when the student remains off campus for
prolonged periods of time without authorization.
(2) Travel Expenses
(a) Inbound travel: an economy class air ticket from the international airport closest to the student’s
home to Fukuoka International Airport.
(b) Return travel: an economy class air ticket from Fukuoka International Airport to the international
airport closest to the departing student’s home, or the equivalent amount of cash will be provided
to those leaving after the scholarship period, but before expiry of the time limit designated by
MEXT.
* Travel insurance fees for both inbound and return trips are to be paid by the student.
(3) Fees for the entrance examination, admission, and tuition will be waived.

Selection Procedure for MEXT scholarship Applicants

1) Kyushu University will select applicants based on their application documents and
qualifications.
2) Based on the recommendations made by Kyushu University, MEXT will then screen
and authorize the admission of applicants.

Applicants will be notified of the final decision by mid-July 2020. Successful applicants will be
enrolled as full-time graduate students.

5. Regarding “Innovative Asia Program”

The Innovative Asia Program is a scholarship program jointly conducted by MEXT and JICA.
Students of this program are required to conduct at least one internship either during or after
completion of the program. In addition to the benefits of the MEXT scholarship, the scholars will also
receive financial support for their research and internship activities as part of the Doctoral course.

[Note]
1) The scholar will receive a certificate of completion from JICA.
2) The internship period is from one week to a maximum of six months.
3) The main contents of internship are as follows:
1. Strengthen on-site skills such as communication skills and project management skills which should
be acquired as someone that actively engage in industry and academia.
2. Build a human network within Japanese industry.
3. Understand Japanese corporate culture and business customs, business strategy, and business
management methods so that you can have a concrete image of your career, including employment in
Japan.

3
 Applicants for a MEXT scholarship who meet the following conditions can also apply for the
Innovative Asia Program.
(1) Applicants whose field of study is one of the following.
1. Growth strategy 2. Engineering 3. Medicine 4. Agriculture
(2) Applicants who are applying for the Doctoral Course
(3) Applicants who come from one of the following 12 countries.
India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Vietnam,
Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos
(4) Applicants who hold or expect to receive Master’s degree from one of in the following 60
Universities.
India(9) Indian Institute of Technology of Kharagpur
Indian Institute of Technology of Kanpur
Indian Institute of Technology of Guwahati
Indian Institute of Technology of Delhi
Indian Institute of Technology of Hyderabad
Indian Institute of Technology of Madras
Indian Institute of Technology of Bombay
Indian Institute of Technology of Roorkee
Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design, and Manufacturing:
IIITDM-J
Indonesia(7) Universitas Indonesia
Universitas Gadjah Mada
Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember
Universitas Darma Persada
Universitas Hasanuddin
Institut Teknologi Bandung
Bogor Agricultural University
Cambodia(2) Royal University of Phnom Penh
Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC)
Sri Lanka(2) University of Colombo
University of Peradeniya
Thailand(12) Asian Institute of Technology
Kasetsart University
Khon Kaen University
Thai-Nichi Institute of Technology
Thammasat University
Chulalongkom University
Chiang Mai University
Burapha University
Prince of Songkla University
Mahidol University
King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi
King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang
Pakistan(3) National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Islamabad
University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore
NED (Nadirshaw Eduljee Dinshaw) University of Engineering and
Technology, Karachi
Bangladesh(2) Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET)
University of Dhaka
Philippines(4) Ateneo de Manila University
De La Salle University
University of the Philippines – Diliman
Mindanao State University – Illigan Institute of Technology
Vietnam(5) Vietnam-Japan University
Hanoi University of Science and Technology
4
 Hanoi University of Industry
Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology
Malaysia(10) Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
Universiti Malaya (UM)
Universiti Putra Malaysia
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM)
Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS)
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia / The National University of Malaysia
(UKM)
Universiti Teknologi Petronas
Management and Science University (MSU)
Myanmar(3) Mandalay Technological University
University of Yangon
Yangon Technological University
Laos(1) National University of Laos

6. Application Method
(1) Submission of the Entry Form
st th
The Entry Form must arrive between November 1 and November 30 , 2019.
st th
Please use our secure online form (available only between November 1 and November 30 ,
2019 24:00 (Japan time)) to have your submission processed.
All necessary documents must be sent to the potencial supervisor.
More information is available at
http://www.agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp/english/international/graduate/entry/
(2) An Internet interview or oral examination (personal interview, call or video call) by the potential
supervisor will be performed before the official application is completed. If an interview cannot be
conducted in one of the forms described earlier, professors from the education course will conduct
an interview via e-mail.
(3) After the preliminary screening, only successful applicants will be contacted via email and provide
you the required documentation for an official application. If you do not hear from the potential
th
supervisor by December 25 , 2019, you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

(4) Submission of the application documents in full to your potential supervisor:

Applicants who pass the online interview/oral examination must submit all of the documents listed
on p. 4-5 to the potential supervisor. All of the documents should be delivered to the Student
th
Section by the potential supervisor no later than January 15 , 2020.
(5) If you become successful candidate for the Scholarship, the student section notifies you by
mid-March 2020.

NOTE
You must send the required documents to your potential supervisor well in advance of this date to
give your supervisor ample time to review and send these documents to the Student Section.
Please ask your potential supervisor about his/her preferred deadline.

5
 List of Required Documents
If you pass the document screening of the application, your potential supervisor will provide you the
forms of the documents below.

(1) Completed Application Form (use the form supplied by the potential supervisor)
* Both a paper document and a Word file are required.
* Please print both sides of the page for the paper document.
(2) Completed Field of Study and Study Program Form (use the form supplied by the potential
supervisor).
* Both a paper documents and a Word file are required.
* Please print both sides of the page for the paper document.
(3) Diploma or certificate of graduation or completion (*Refer “NOTES 3”)
For master’s course applicants, a Bachelor’s Degree Certificate is required.
For doctoral course applicants, a Bachelor’s Degree Certificate and Master’s Degree
Certificate are required. If applicants are currently in school and working toward obtaining the
relevant degree(s), a certified letter from the applicant’s university stating the expected
graduation date is required.
(4) Official Academic Transcript (*Refer “NOTES 3”) of all applicable undergraduate and
graduate course work from the university/universities to which the applicant belongs/belonged.
Submission of academic records with grade point averages (GPA) or quality points (A, B, C, or
Excellent, Good, Average, etc.) along with academic rank order and a description of the
academic grading system (e.g., A: 90% above) is required. If academic rank order of the
candidate among his/her peers is not mentioned in the transcript, it has to be elaborated in the
Recommendation Form 1.
(5) Two Letters of Recommendation (Please download these forms at
http://www.agr.kyushu-u.ac.jp/english/international/graduate/entry/)
Recommendation Form 1 must be completed and submitted to the President of Kyushu
University by the Dean or head of the university or institution/employing body to which the
applicant belongs/belonged. Recommendation Form 2 must be completed by a supervising
professor, another member of the teaching staff, or a workplace supervisor who knows the
applicant personally. Each letter must be provided in a sealed envelope to ensure confidentiality.
(6) A 2-page Summary of undergraduate/MA thesis in English on A4-size paper. Copies of any
academic publications in English can also be included with the thesis summary. Applicants not
required to submit a thesis to complete their bachelor’s/master’s degree must state this on their
application and submit a copy of any academic research papers they have written instead.
(7) Certificate of official English qualification (*Refer “NOTES 3”) such as TOEFL, TOEIC
Listening and Reading Test, IELTS, or the Cambridge Certificate, received within five years before
the application deadline, unless the applicant is a native English speaker. On-line score reports are
not acceptable. It sometimes takes as long as two months for a score report to reach us after your

6
 order, so please make sure to give it enough time. Every year some applications are not accepted
due to the delayed arrival of their scores. A certificate showing the language of instruction in your
university is English may also be accepted.
(8) Completed Pledge Form (use form supplied by the potential supervisor)
(9) Certificate of Nationality or Proof of Residence in the applicant’s home country (e.g., census
register, passport (photocopy), or other positive proof of nationality).
(10) Two photographs (3.5 × 2.5 cm, and 4.5 × 3.5 cm), front facing without a hat, and taken within
the past six months before the application deadline. The 4.5 × 3.5 cm photo must be affixed to
the specified are on the application form. The name and nationality of the applicant must be
written on the reverse side of each photograph.

NOTES
1) All required documents should be typewritten in English and of uniform size (A4 format).
2) Applications will not be accepted if any of the required documents are missing, incorrectly
completed or lacking supporting evidence. Applications will not be considered if the documents
arrive after the abovementioned deadlines.
3) In principle original documentation or transcripts should be submitted. Further, no submitted
documents will be returned. However, if your original documentation or transcripts cannot be
reissued, you may submit a photocopy of the documentation or transcripts with a statement of
“certified true copy” or “attested” by the institution/organization administration office with official
seal.
4) Documents 1, 2, 5, and 8 must be provided on the forms supplied.
5) If the documents are in a language other than English or Japanese, an English or Japanese
translation must be attached.

7. Announcement of the Final Decision

Successful applicants will be notified of the final decision via email in mid-July.

8. Notice
(1) Payment of the MEXT scholarship to an enrolled student will be terminated if:
(a) Any of the information supplied with the application is later found to be false. Admission in
such a case can be canceled at any time after enrollment.
(b) The pledge to MEXT is broken.
(c) Disciplinary action is taken or the faculty judges the student unable to continue the program.
(2) The Entrance Examination Fee (30,000JPY), Admission Fee (282,000JPY), and Tuition Fee
(535,800JPY/year) will be waived for MEXT scholarship students.

9. Remarks
(1) Email/telephone inquiries regarding screening results will not be answered.
(2) All applicants should note that they are required to keep in close contact with their potential

7
 supervisor at Kyushu University to formulate a research plan.
(3) Successful applicants are expected to study and gain an understanding of the geography, climate,
customs, and habits of Japan, as well as the general features and conditions of Kyushu University.
(4) In principle the change of department and laboratory is not permitted after your application is
received by the university. Therefore you need careful consideration of research themes for the
selection of the department and the laboratory before applying.

10. Correspondence
All application-related correspondence should be sent via registered airmail such as DHL, FedEx,
OCS, or EMS, to the following address:

(Write your potential professor’s name)

Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences
Kyushu University
744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan

Note that the full set of documents should be sent to the potential supervisor by his/her stated
deadline.

11. Contact Information

Student Section
Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences
Kyushu University

744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan

E-mail: [email protected]

8
Requirements for MEXT and ADB Scholarships:

Differences between ADB and MEXT Scholarships

ADB Scholarship MEXT Scholarship

Scholarship
Master’s and doctoral courses Master’s and doctoral courses
coverage

Full-time working
At least TWO years required Not required
experience

Age limitation Born after January 15, 1985 Born after April 2, 1985

Current residency Applicant’s home country Outside of Japan

Income limitation Applied N/A

Overseas study
Not allowed N/A
experience
Degree Bachelor’s degree holders Bachelor’s and master’s degree
requirement only holders
Immediate return to home
Requirement upon
country after completion of N/A
course completion
your expected degree(s)