Study In Japan & The MEXT Scholarship Program

Fascinated by bullet trains, anime, and Godzilla movies? Japan it is as your study-abroad destination!

Japan is an expensive country. No doubt about it. But is it an expensive country for students? I would say no. The tuition fee in Japanese Universities is about 1/3rd of Western countries while maintaining a similar standard of education. In the past decade, the Japanese government has taken various initiatives to internationalize higher education in Japan.

One such measure was the introduction of various courses in English (while the Japanese language was made optional to study. Popularly known as Teidai (帝大) refers to a group of seven Japanese Universities that were founded and run by the Imperial government of Japan before the second world war. These Imperial Universities are often regarded as Japan's equivalent of the Ivy League in the United States or the Golden Triangle in the United Kingdom. The 7 Imperial Universities are as listed below: the University of Tokyo Kyoto University Tohoku University Kyushu University Hokkaido University Osaka University Nagoya University.

MEXT: The Japanese Government Scholarship

Pursuing my master's degree in Artificial Intelligence from the Kyoto Institute of Technology, Japan; I was fortunate to avail this opportunity through the MEXT scholarship. Provided by the Government of Japan to students all over the world, it covers not only the tuition and admission fees but also provides the awardee with a generous monthly stipend. There are 2 tracks through which this scholarship can be accessed. The first is the Embassy track and the other one is the University track. I applied through the embassy track, a year-long process consisting of a multiplicity of steps like a preliminary exam, interview, written exam, and contacting the university. The process might appear lengthy and tiring but the benefits and opportunities that accrue from it make it worth the wait. A link to a few YouTube videos relating to the MEXT scholarship process has been posted here for the benefit of applicants (https://tinyurl.com/YoutubeMEXT).

Japanese Universities and Indian Students

A question that keeps recurring in the minds of the students pertains to the kinds of excellent colleges that they should apply to, in Japan. In this context, the top-ranking universities include the Universities of Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Tohoku, Waseda, and more but if you are keen to apply for a Master's and Ph.D. It is recommended to research further about labs and professors in the domain you want to conduct your specialization. Also, there should be a vision alignment between your area of interest and the expertise brought to the table by the concerned research professor. This is because the academics here are mostly research-driven than course-based, especially if you apply through MEXT.

Learning Japanese

A working knowledge of Japanese would certainly be helpful as most undergraduate courses are taught in it. Of course, many Japanese universities do offer courses in English but the Queen's tongue so deployed is of a rudimentary level. Hence, it is recommended that trying some Japanese beforehand would make it easier for you to socialize in your workplace/university. As Japan is a homogenous society, the natives are shy when it comes to approaching foreigners so if you are a bit conversant in Japanese they will find it easier to communicate and exchange pleasantries with you

Living in Japan

As an Indian student in Japan, I encountered cultural shocks of both the pleasant and unpleasant types. Initially, one would surely encounter isolation here only to realize later that this is not deliberately the case. The Japanese like to be by themselves and do many activities alone. For example, if you go to Japanese Ramen or Sushi shops you can conclude that dining out alone in Japan is quite common. Citizens can be spotted solitarily going to cafes, and tourist locations and enjoying their own company. One more difficulty that many Indian students regularly face is in terms of finding Indian food. Pure Vegetarianism is almost an alien concept to the Japanese, but there surely are a few vegetarian outlets sprinkled across Tokyo and Kyoto.

Closing Message

In terms of academic opportunities, Japan thrives in many aspects. The student can access a wide menagerie of academic programs and research opportunities. Japanese educational institutions place a strong emphasis on innovation, technology, and research, particularly in fields such as engineering, technology, science, and business. Overall, studying in Japan offers a unique cosmopolitan experience that allows one to immerse in a rich and vibrant culture, witness centuries-old tradition and explore a country that seamlessly combines its ancient heritage with modern innovation.

Video About a MEXT Scholar Undergraduate Student Studying Animation in Japan: https://tinyurl.com/MEXTyoutube

For more information please contact the Japanese embassy:

Higher Education Counselling Cell,

MOSAI (Monbusho Scholars Association of India)

https://mosai.org.in/

at Flat No. 104, 1st Floor,

New Delhi House, 27, Barakhamba Road,

New Delhi 110001

Tel: 2375 2964

email: mosaidlh_hecc@yahoo.com