GUIDANCE
FOR
JAPANESEGOVERNMENT(MONBUKAGAKUSHO:MEXT)SCHOLARSHIPFOR2015
YOUNGLEADERS'PROGRAM(YLP)STUDENT
CONTENTS
I InformationConcerningRecruitmentofStudents
1 NumberofScholarship Recipients･･･････････････････････････････････････････････････････1
2 EligibilityRequirements andApplication Procedures･････････････････････････････････1
3 NoticePeriodandMethod･････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････1
4 AcceptanceofApplicationForms･･･････････････････････････････････････････････････････1
(1)Thelanguageusedandtheattachedtranslations･･････････････････････････････････････････1
(2)Applications･･････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････1
(3)Reasonsforapplyingandfutureplans･････････････････････････････････････････････････2
(4)Transcriptoflastattendedinstitution･･････････････････････････････････････････････････2
(5)Certificateofgraduation(Please attachanEnglishtranslation)････････････････････････････2
(6)Medicalcertificate･････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････2
(7)Incompleteapplicationforms････････････････････････････････････････････････････････2
5 ConditionsforRecruitment････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････2
6 ApplicantsStayinginJapan････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････2
7 ApplicantWhoHasAlreadyBeentoJapan････････････････････････････････････････････････2
II SelectionOutline
1MethodofScreening･････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････3
2 CriteriaforSelection･････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････3
III RecommendationOutline
IV SelectionandAnnouncementofResult
1 FirstScreening･･････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････5
2 SecondScreening････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････5
3 AnnouncementofResults･･････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････5
4 NoChangeofAssignedUniversity･･････････････････････････････････････････････････････5
5 WaitingList････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････5
V ProceduresafterSelection
1 Visa･･･････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････5
2 AirlineTicket･･･････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････5
3 DateofDeparture････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････････6
4 WithdrawalorRevocationofAcceptance･････････････････････････････････････････････････6
5 StudentsAccompaniedbyFamilyMembers･･･････････････････････････････････････････････6
6 GuidancebeforeDepartureDate････････････････････････････････････････････････････････6
VI Year-LongSchedule
I INFORMATIONCONCERNING RECRUITMENT OF STUDENTS
1 Numberof Scholarship Recipients
Therearefivedifferentcoursesavailableto applicants,andeachcoursewillacceptfrom10to20applicants atthemaximum,foratotalof around80studentsintheProgram for one year.
However, due to the current severe financial situation in Japan, the number of overseas students selected for the Program and the scholarship conditions may not necessarily be in exact accordance with the conditions described in this Program Guidance.
2 EligibilityRequirements andApplication Procedures
(1)Applicantsmusthavegraduated withexcellentgrades fromauniversityandbeable tostudyinJapanforoneyear.
(2)Applicantsmustmeetallqualifications and requirementsstatedintheapplication requirements.Pleaseobservetherequirementsstrictly.
(3)Thenumberofstudentsacceptedintothisprogramiskeptdowntoaminimum.Allcandidatesforthisprogramwillbeevaluated comparatively.Therefore,candidateswhomeetallqualificationsstillmightnotbeselected.(Itisalsopossiblethatnoneofthecandidatesfromyourinstitutionwillbeselected.) Pleasetakethispointintoconsiderationwhenrecommendingcandidates.
(4)Somestudentsinthepastgaveupstudyinginthemiddleoftheprogramduetomentalandphysicalproblems. Moreover, some students require long-term treatment due to their previous contracting of infectious diseases like tuberculosis, hepatitis, typhus, malaria, dysentery, and so on. With due consideration given to the fact that the students will be staying for a long period in a country with a very different environment from that in the home country, please make very sure of the student’s medical condition (including past medical history), and try to ensure that any student with an illness requiring treatment receives such treatment before coming to Japan.
(5)Servicemembersorcivilianemployeesregisteredonthecountry’s activemilitarylistatthetimeofthegrantee'sarrivalinJapanarenoteligible.
3 NoticePeriodandMethod
Eachinstitutionis free to decidehowtonotifystudentsaboutrecruitmentforthisScholarship.However,recruitmentshould bedoneinaneffectivewayinordertoensure thatoutstandingstudentsareselected.
Applicationmaterialsmaybeobtained fromtheEmbassyofJapan,orcanbedownloadedfromtheEnglishwebsiteofMEXT(
Inaddition,applicantsshouldbeinstructed toseekinformationabouttheacceptinguniversitiesthroughtheirbrochuresorwebsites. (Pleaseseetheapplicationmaterialsfortherelevant URLs.)
4 AcceptanceofApplicationForms
Applicantsmustobservetheapplicationperiodstrictlyandsubmitthenecessarynumberofdocuments(includingcopiesofdocuments).Itshould beverifiedwhetherornotallapplicationsarecompletedfullyandcorrectlyandifanynecessarydocuments are lacking.Studentswillbeaskedtomakecorrectionstotheirapplicationifproblemsarefound.Afterany required correctionsaremade,theapplicationformswillbeacceptedonceagain.Thefollowingmattersconcerningacceptanceneedtobeconsidered.
(1)Thelanguageusedandattachedtranslations
Documentsmustbefilled out or written inEnglish.AttachanEnglishtranslationiftheyarewritteninanotherlanguage.
(2)Applications
a.The prescribedformsfor each year mustbeusedtoapply.Please fillouttheformsclearly(especiallythe applicant’sname)andputeachapplicationformandallothernecessarydocumentsintooneenvelopespecified byMEXT.
b.AcademicRecord–Inthespacesdesignatedfor:
1)elementaryeducation
2)secondaryeducation
3)highereducation,
pleasewritethenamesoftheschoolsorinstitutionsthatthe applicant attendedwhichcorrespondtotheJapaneseeducationsystemof:1)elementaryschool
2)junior/seniorschool
3)undergraduate/graduateuniversity
*N.B.:Pleasewritetheexactnumberofyearsthat theapplicantwasenrolledineachinstitution.Ifanapplicantskippedayearinanyschoolorinstitution,itmustbementioned.
(3)Reasonsforapplyingandfutureplans
Theessayconcerningtheapplicant’sreasonforapplyingaswellasfutureplansafterthecompletionofYLPshould beexplained concisely andconcretelywithinthreepagesorso.
(4)Transcriptoflastattendedinstitution
Atranscriptofallcreditedcoursestakeneveryyearatthestudent'sundergraduateorgraduateuniversity
isnecessary(Neitheradegree certificatenoradiplomashowingwhatrankingthestudentreceivedwhenthe
applicantgraduatedwillbeconsideredasatranscript.Thesystemofgrading/evaluationshouldbeclearly
writtenoutonthetranscript.).
(5)Certificateofgraduation(PleaseattachanEnglishtranslation)
Anyofthefollowingmay besubmitted:Acertificateofgraduationofthelastattendedinstitution,acertificateofuniversityentrancequalification(forexample,acertificateshowingthe student tooka highschoolequivalencyexam)anda degreecertificate(maybeacopyofdiploma).
(6)Medicalcertificate
Studentsmustusethedesignatedformandfillout(orhavethedoctorfillout)alloftheform.Recommendinginstitutionsmustspecify medicalinstitutionsforthephysicalexamination.
Regardingpreviousillness,forexample,tuberculosis,mental disorder,etc.,pleasepayattentiontothefactthatsomestudentsbecomesickaftercomingtoJapaneventhoughtheydidnotstateanyproblemsbeforehand.Pleaseconsiderthispointcarefullywhenrecommendinginstitutionsfor interviewing/examiningapplicants.Ifcandidatesaredisabledandneedspecialcare,itmustbementionedintherecommendationletter.
(7)Incompleteapplicationforms
Applicationformsthat arenotcompletedfullyandcorrectlyorthatarelackingnecessarydocumentswillnotbeaccepted.
Ifapplicantscannotgetthenecessarydocumentsbecauseofthe circumstances in the home country,certificatesconfirmedbytheissuingauthority,thegovernmentintheirhomecountry,orthe EmbassyofJapanmay beusedinstead.
5 ConditionsforRecruitment
Applicantsmustmeet allapplicationrequirements.Personalexceptionswillnotbeadmitted.
6 ApplicantsStayinginJapan
Applicantsresidingintheirowncountryhavefirstpriority.However,ifastudentisalreadystayinginJapanforsomereason(exceptforthosestudyinginJapanprivately)andwishestoapplyforthisprogram,theapplicantcanbeincludediftherecommendinginstitutiondecidestochoosetheapplicantasacandidate.
7 ApplicantWhoHasAlreadyBeentoJapan
ApplicantswhohavebeentoJapanandcausedproblemsinthepastshouldnotberecommendedascandidates.
II SELECTIONOUTLINE
ThecandidatesrecommendedtoMEXTthroughthe EmbassyofJapanandtheJapaneseMinistryofForeignAffairsshouldbeselectedin accordance withthefollowingmethod.
1 MethodofScreening
Eachrecommendinginstitutionis free to choosethecandidatesit wishes to butis asked to examineaccuratelyeachapplicant’sEnglishability,personality,reasonsforapplying,etc.
2 CriteriaforSelection
Candidatesmustmeetthefollowingcriteriaalongwiththerequiredqualifications.
(1)Candidatesmusthaveexcellentgradesandhavetheabilitytostudyintheirdesiredfield.
(2)Candidatesmustbephysicallyandmentallyhealthy.
(Thestudentswhohavedeveloped symptoms ofmentalproblems,malaria,tuberculosis,diabetes,hepatitis,etc.,aftercomingtoJapanhaveusuallysufferedfromthesamediseaseinthepast.Pleasetakethisintoconsideration.)
(3)Candidatesmusthaveaverifiableidentity.
(4)Candidatesmustbeabletoeasilyadapttoanewenvironmentandadifferentculture.
(5)Candidatesmusthavearichinternationalculturalunderstanding.
(6)CandidatesmustnothaveJapanesenationalityor dualnationalitybetweenhis/hercountryandJapan.
(7)Candidatesmustnotbeaservicememberoracivilianemployeeregisteredonhis/her country’s activemilitarylist.
Pleasedonotrecommendstudentswho:
・arealreadyenrolledinaJapaneseuniversityprivately.
・willobviouslyhavedifficultyincontinuingtheirstudiesforthe required periodoftimeaftercomingtoJapan(forexample,thosewhohavetodomilitaryservice,thosewhoarepregnant,etc.).
III RECOMMENDATIONOUTLINE
Therecommendationletterbyeachrecommendinginstitution should include detailed comments on the applicant'spersonality,learningability,eagernesstostudyinJapanandlearnJapanese,experienceofstudyingabroad,etc.
RecommendinginstitutionsmustsubmitallthenecessarydocumentstoMEXTthroughthe EmbassyofJapan/JapaneseMinistryofForeignAffairs.
Thefollowingisalistofthenecessarydocuments.
NecessaryDocuments / NumberofSets1ApplicationforAdmission(prescribedforms) / 1Originaland4Photocopies(exceptphotographs)
Photographs(takenwithinthepast6months,
6x4cm,full face,nohats/headwear) / 5Photographs(Pasteoneachapplication)
②Transcript(ofallyears)oftheinstitutionlastattended / 1Originaland4Photocopies
③Recommendation
Letters
③Recommendation
Letters / Onewrittenbythe recommendingauthority / 1Originaland4Photocopies
OnewrittenbytheEmployerorfromtheSupervisingProfessoroftheuniversitytheapplicantattended / 1Originaland4Photocopies
④MedicalCertificate / 1Originaland4Photocopies
⑤Certificateoftheuniversitylastattendedora copyoftheapplicant’sdiploma / 1Originaland4Photocopies
⑥Essayexplainingtheapplicant'sreasonforapplyingandfutureplansafterthecompletionofYLP / 1Originaland4Photocopies
⑦CopyofFamilyRegister
orCertificateofCitizenship / 1Originaland4Photocopies
⑧CopyofPassport / 5Photocopies
⑨EnglishProficiencyCertificate / 5Photocopies
⑩ReplytotheEssayQuestionnaire / 1Originaland4Photocopies
⑩ReportofthemeandbackgroundforthepreparationofResearchPaper(Onlyapplicabletothe MedicalAdministrationCourse) / 1Originaland4Photocopies
⑪BusinessAdministrationCourse applicants may submit GMAT scoresorcertificatesofequivalentexaminations if they have them. / 5Photocopies
*N.B.:
1ThesedocumentsmustbewritteninEnglishorwith an attachedEnglishtranslation.
2Pleaseinsertallnecessaryapplicationform documentswithphotographs intooneenvelopespecified byMEXTforeachcandidate.Pleaseinsertcopiesoftheproofcertificateswiththeoriginalcopiesinoneapplicationform.
3Fortheapplicationmaterial,candidatesarerequestedtonumberthedocumentsintheupperright-hand corner.Incasethisisnotdonebythecandidate,therecommendinginstitutionshouldnumberthedocumentsaccordingly.
Deadlineforrecommendations
ThenominationofcandidatestoMEXTshouldbemadebytherecommendinginstitutionby thedatespecifiedbytheEmbassyofJapan.Itistheresponsibilityoftherecommendinginstitutiontoensurethatallnecessarydocumentslistedaboveareprovided by the deadline.
ItispreferredthatallthenecessarydocumentsforeverycandidatearesubmittedtotheEmbassyofJapanalltogether.Incasesome ofthenecessarydocumentsarelackingforacandidateandneedtobesubmittedlater,pleasemakesuretoconfirmthedeadlinewiththediplomaticmission.Ifthedocumentisnotsubmittedbythedeadline,orcannotbeexpectedtobeready,thecasewillbetreatedas“unaccepted”(notpossibletonominate).
IV SELECTIONANDANNOUNCEMENTOFRESULT
1 FirstScreening
Thecandidateswhoarerecommendedbyeachrecommendinginstitutionareselectedbytheacceptinguniversities in the First Screening.Theselectionwillbebasedonthesubmitteddocumentsandaninterviewto beheldinthehomecountry.Ifaface-to-face interviewisimpossible,the interviewwillbeconductedbytelephone.AcceptinguniversitieswillrecommendcandidatestotheYLPcommitteeestablishedinMEXT,basedontheresultsoftheFirst Screening.
2 SecondScreening
TheYLPcommitteeconductstheSecond Screening.
3 AnnouncementofResults
TheresultsoftheSecondScreening willbenotifiedtoeachrecommendinginstitutionthroughthe EmbassyofJapanandtheJapaneseMinistryofForeignAffairs.
4 NoChangeofAssignedUniversity
Achangeoftheassigneduniversitywillnotbepermitted.Thismustbeexplainedintheresultnotificationandduringtheorientationtoallcandidates.
5 WaitingList
Whenthenumberofsuccessfulcandidatesislessthanthefixednumberbecauseofoffer declines etc.,itwill bepossibletoselectfromthe Waiting List successfulcandidateswhowereselectedbeforehandattheSecondScreeningbytheYLPcommittee.
However,pleasenotethattheYLPcommitteewillnotchooseanymorecandidatesasalternatesaftertheSecondScreening.
V PROCEDURESAFTERSELECTION
Manycaseshaveoccurredin whichselectedstudentsexperienced various problemsaftercomingto
Japanbecauseoftheirlackofknowledgeormisunderstanding of procedures.Pleasepay particular attention to thefollowingpoints.
1 Visa
JapaneseGovernmentScholarshipstudentsmustobtaina"CollegeStudent"visa inhis/herhome
countrybasedontheinstructions fromtheMinisterofForeignAffairs.
2 AirlineTicket
(1)Eachgranteewillbeprovided,accordingtohis/heritineraryandrouteasdesignatedbyMEXT,withaneconomyclassairlineticketfromtheinternationalairportclosesttohis/herplaceofresidencetoNaritaInternationalAirport(orfollowingtheroute normallyusedbytheuniversitywherethegranteeisplaced).Achangeinthedepartingairportduetoachangeofaddresswillnotbepermitted.
(2)TheairlineticketsentbyMEXThasafixeddateandflightnumber.Stopping for visits to
relativesorfriends,sightseeing,researchorvisitsforstudy,etc.,onthewaytoJapanarenotpermitted.
(3)Thedeparturedateandflightarefixedduetohotel arrangementsatastopoverlocation,flight
transfercircumstances,arrivalprocedures,andresidencyarrangements.Therefore,changesoftheticketdatemadebytheapplicantinthehomecountrywillnotbepermitted.
(4)TheairlineticketsentbyMEXTtothegranteemay notbetransferredtoanotherperson,norcanit
beexchangedformoney.Furthermore,MEXTisonlyresponsibleforsupplyinggranteeswithanairlineticketandwillnotpayforcostsassociatedwithexcessbaggage,airporttaxesorinsurancefees.
(5)Aticketwillonlybeprovidedforthegrantee.Familymembersorotherswhomay accompanythe
granteetoJapanwillnotreceiveanyfunding.
3 DateofDeparture
(1)The departure date, specified by the accepting university, will be two weeks or so before or after the first day of the course conducted by the accepting university.
(2)Should the grantee arrive in Japan before the arrival date specified by the university, the scholarship amount for that month will not be paid.
(3)Theflightfeewillnotbecoveredforanygranteewhowishestocomebeforethedesignateddate setbyMEXTwithoutpermissionfromMEXT.Therewillbenorefundafterarrival.Insuchcasethe granteewillnotbeconsideredasastudentofthisprogram at that time.
Therefore,ifa studentcomesbeforetheappointeddate,thetravelarrangements,entrance
proceduresandlivingarrangementsafterarrival(allnecessaryprocedures)willbethegrantee’sresponsibility.
(4)Departuredateandflightchangeswillnotbe permitted.However,ifanychangeisrequiredduetopersonalillness,pleasecontactMEXTthrough theEmbassyofJapan.Insuchacase,thegranteemustwaitfor thecontactfromMEXTafteralltheproceduresincludingresidence arrangements,etc.,arerescheduled.InJapan,allcourseswillbeginrightafterthearrivaldate.Incaseofanyarrivaldelay,theapplicantsacceptancetothisprogrammightberevoked.
(5)Ifthetravelagencydemandspaymentforthedifferenceofflightfeeduetoanydepartureorflightchangesandifthegranteepaysatthemomentofdeparture,norefundwillbegivenafterarrival.Therefore,whenanychangesoccur,pleasealwayscontactJapantofindoutthenecessaryproceduresbeforedeparture.
4 WithdrawalorRevocationofAcceptance
(1)Ifagranteecannotarrivewithinthedesignatedarrivalperiod,itwillbeagreathindrancetothegrantee’seducationattheuniversityaswellastheresearchprogram.Therefore,theacceptancetothisprogramwillberevoked.
(2)Ifagranteewithdrawsfromtheprogramafterreceivingtheairlineticket,MEXTwillcollectitthroughthetravelagency.
(3)Ifa recommendinginstitutionsendsmanygranteeswhowithdrawfromthisprogramorreturntotheirhomecountryduetopersonalreasonsinthemiddleoftheprogram,theinstitution’sparticipationitselfwillbereconsidered.Therefore,whenrecommendingapplicants,pleasemakesureapplicantswillnotwithdrawfromthisprogramforanyreason.
5 StudentsAccompaniedbyFamilyMembers
(1)Ifagranteewishestobeaccompaniedbyhis/her spouseoranyother familymember,the grantee mustinform theacceptinguniversitybeforedeparture.If thespousewishes to accompany thegrantee, they mustbeinformedthattherewillbenoincreaseofthescholarshipandtravelingfee for the spouse.
(2)Allentry proceduresforthespousewillbecompletelydifferentfromthoseforthegrantee.Therefore,pleasemakesuretoobtainavisaforthespousebeforedeparture.
6 GuidancebeforeDepartureDate
(1)Allgranteesshouldlearn as much about theiracceptinguniversities’educationsystems as possible before coming to Japan.GranteesshouldalsolearnbasicJapaneselanguagenecessaryfordailylife and about theJapaneseclimate,legalsystem,culture, and so onbeforedeparture.
(2)AllgranteesstudyinginJapanshouldbringappropriately$2,000USortheequivalent thereoftocoverimmediateneedsafterarrivalinJapansincethescholarshipwillbepaid at a datesomewhat after the arrival.
(3)Ifanypersonalproblemsoccurafterarrival,suchmattersshouldalwaysbediscussedwiththe grantee’ssupervisingprofessorfirstandthenwith theInternational Affairs Officeattheuniversityif necessary.
(4)Recently,therearemanystudentswhoreturntotheirhomecountrywithoutpermission.Somemustreturnduetomentalproblems.Athoroughinterviewandorientationbeforedepartureisveryimportanttoprevent these unauthorized returnsfromhappening.However,ifan unfortunate occurrence should arise in the home country duetoanaccidentwhile the grantee isstudyingabroad,measures will be taken to ensure fast contact withfamilymembersofthestudentandappropriateauthoritiesinthehomecountrybasedondirectionsfromthe Japanese side.Allproblemsshould bedealtwith throughclosecontactbetweenJapanandthe student’shomecountry.Allcircumstances andresultsconcerningsuchmattersshouldbereportedtotheacceptinguniversityandMEXT.
(5)TheJASSOprovidesageneralcomplimentarypamphlet"StudentGuidetoJapan."
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VI YEAR-LONGSCHEDULE
2015
July.Sendingofapplicationforms
ByOct.30thRecommendationofcandidatesbyrecommendinginstitution,
Documentstobesubmitted
EarlyNov.FirstScreeningbyacceptinginstitutions
2016
March.SecondScreening(ConductedbytheYLPCommitteeinMEXT)
April.Announcementofresults
Aug.-Sept.Airlineticketstobesent
Sept.-Oct.Studentsarrive in Japan
*N.B:Thisscheduleispreliminary.DetailedscheduleswillbeannouncedseparatelythroughtheJapaneseMinistryofForeignAffairsandEmbassyofJapan.
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