Guidelines for 2023 University Recommended Japanese Government Scholarship（PBL-AI Program）

Muroran Institute of Technology (MuroranIT)
Program name:
Project base AI learning program utilizing the cooperation with private corporations (PBL-AIprogram)
Overview:
 This program is financially supported by MEXT (Japanese Government).
 This program provides education and/or research through projects in which AI-technologies
are used.
 In this program, a multidisciplinary and practical education is conducted with supports ofprivate companies.
1. PBL-AI Program’s Qualifications
The candidates whom PBL-AI Program of MuroranIT recommends to MEXT should satisfy“(1)” and “(2)” in PBL-AI Program’s Qualifications in addition to “2. MEXT’sQualifications”.
(1) An applicant must belong to one of the following 3 categories.
a) An applicant who obtained or will obtain a master’s degree by the point of travel time toJapan and received an official recommendation from a university which has concluded an
academic agreement with MuroranIT.
b) An applicant who has received an official recommendation from the president or
department head (or higher position) of any university that has had academic exchanges
with MuroranIT.
c) An applicant who has received an official recommendation from the president ordepartment head (or higher position) of his or her university that does not have any
academic exchanges with MuroranIT and who will be recommended by the president of
MuroranIT as contributing to the improvement of education and research at the university.
(2) Acceptance permission from a PBL-AI Program faculty member (refer to “NOTE” at theend of this document)
Before an application to MuroranIT, the applicant should contact one of the PBL-AI
Program faculty members and receive an acceptance permission from his or her intended
supervisor at MuroranIT through a full discussion regarding research plan.
2. MEXT’s Qualifications(1) Who can apply for: An applicant should be an international student at university graduatelevel and newly study from abroad in Japan. In addition, applicants must havedemonstrated excellent academic achievement with a grade point average of 2.30 (out of3.00) or above in the last two academic years and meet certain criteria.
(2) Nationality: An applicant must have the nationality of a country that has diplomatic
relations with the Japanese Government.
(3) Age: An applicant must be less than 35 as of April 1 in 2023 (born on or after April 2 in1988)(4) Academic background: An applicant must have academic ability equivalent to or greaterthan that of a master’s degree of Japanese university by the point of travel time to Japan.
(5) Field of study: An applicant should apply for the field of study that they studied at theirprevious university or a related field (Concurrently, the research field should be covered
in PBL-AI Program).
(6) English or Japanese Proficiency
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Applicants must be proficient in the English or Japanese language and meet one of thefollowing conditions:
I. Japanese(1) Have obtained a Japanese language proficiency test score that is equivalent to havepassed N2 or N1 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) (Scores valid for 2years).
(2) Have been awarded or expect to be awarded by the time of MuroranIT enrollment anundergraduate or graduate degree from an institution where all instruction was inJapanese.
(3) Possess a level of proficiency in Japanese equivalent to that stated in (1) and be able
to provide supporting evidence.
II. English(1) Have obtained an English language proficiency test score that is equivalent to CEFR
level B2 or higher (Scores valid for 2 years).
* CEFR level B2: equal to TOEFLiBT 72, IELTS5.5, TOEIC L&R785 (above 400for listening test, above 385 for Reading test) etc.
(2) Have been awarded or expect to be awarded by the time of MuroranIT enrollment anundergraduate or graduate degree from an institution where all instruction was inEnglish.
(3) Possess a level of proficiency in English equivalent to that stated in (1) and be able toprovide supporting evidence.
(7) Health: An applicant must be physically and mentally healthy to pursue their studies atMuroranIT.
(8) Arrival in Japan:
October 2023 Enrollment: An applicant must arrive at MuroranIT between September 17and October 15 in 2023.
(9) An applicant shall newly obtain a student visa and enter Japan with the residence statusof “Student.”(10)
Exclusion: Applicants in the following categories are not eligible for this scholarship:①An active member of the military or a civilian employed by the military at the time of
their arrival in Japan or during the period of the payment of the scholarship② An applicant who is unable to travel to Japan within the designated period by
MuroranIT.
③A former recipient of a Japanese Government Scholarship is ineligible unless he or she
has had at least three years of research or teaching experience at the time of receiving thenew scholarship after the completion of their previous scholarship.
④ Those who are applying for another scholarship from Japanese government (MEXT)⑤Those who are already, or going to be, enrolled in a university or institution in Japan
with a visa status of Student as a privately-financed international student before thescholarship period starts.
⑥A recipient of scholarship from Japanese government (MEXT) or the Japan Student
Services Organization (JASSO) or other organizations (including his/her owngovernment) after coming to Japan.
⑦Those who do not meet the academic background qualifications by the admission date
⑧Those who hold dual nationality of Japan and another country at the time of applicationand cannot verify that they have given up Japanese nationality by the date of their arrivalin Japan⑨Those who are expecting to conduct long-term research activities outside Japan or takean extended leave of absence⑩Those who have already obtained a doctoral degree and do not plan to pursue a degree(11) Others: MEXT Scholarship will be granted those who are willing to contribute to mutual2

understanding between Japan and their home country by participating in activities atschools and communities during their study in Japan while contributing to theinternationalization of Japan. They shall also make efforts to promote relations between thehome country and Japan by maintaining close relations with the university attended after
graduation, cooperating with the conducting of surveys and questionnaires, and cooperatingwith relevant projects and events conducted by the Japanese diplomatic mission after they
return to their home countries.
3. Scholarships and other benefits (See 7. Additional Information for details.)(1) Amount of scholarship listed below will be granted to the recipients.
-Doctoral Course Student: ¥145,000 per month
If a grantee is absent from the university for an extended period, the scholarship shall besuspended for that period.
(2) Screening, Entrance and tuition fees will be exempted.
(3) Travel expenses:①Ticket to Japan: The student will be issued an economy class air ticket from theinternational airport nearest the student’s residence in his/her country to Narita
Airport or to New Chitose Airport if it is more economical.
②Return ticket: The student who has completed his/her study will be issued an economy
class air ticket from Narita Airport or New Chitose Airport to the international airportof his/her country nearest his/her place of residence.
(4) Scholarship Period:
For degree students: scholarship will be granted from October in 2023 for the regularperiod of degree course.
Because the purpose of this scholarship is to support your living expense at Japan,
you can’t receive the scholarship of the month before you come to Japan.
4. Required Application Documents(1) No1_2023 Application Form for Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship (ResearchStudents) (Make it in Excel and submit both of Excel and PDF)
(2) No2_2023 Field of Study and Research Plan (Make it in Word and submit both of Wordand PDF)
(3) Copy of passport (face photo page)(4) Copy of transcript from the applicant’s most recent academic institution attended(undergraduate or graduate degree program) and Grading System from Home University(5) Copy of certificate of graduation (or expected graduation) from the applicant’s most recent
academic institution attended (undergraduate or graduate degree program)(6) Copy of rank certificate specifying academic excellence of the applicant from theapplicant’s most recent academic institution attended (undergraduate or graduate degreeprogram) if it is not described on your transcript submitted. It must clearly show thestudent’s rank using a grading system such as GPA, A, B, C class divisions, or what
number the student placed in his class.
(7) Letter of recommendation from the head of the research department (or higher position) ofthe university the student last attended (should be addressed to the President of MuroranInstitute of Technology)(8) Abstract of graduation thesis (Summary of contents briefly)(9) Proof of Language Proficiency (English or Japanese) – copies of the results of objective
tests such as TOEFL, TOEIC, CEFR, IELTS, the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test
(JLPT), or the Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students(EJU) in the subject of Japanese as a Foreign Language.
*In case of English, an applicant is required to have a capability equal to or greaterthan CEFR B2 equivalent.
*In case of Japanese, an applicant is required to have a capability equal to or greaterthan JLPT N2 equivalent.
(10)
Photograph: JPG data of passport-type photo taken within the last 6 months (4.5 x 3.5
cm, upper-body, full-faced, without a cap).
3(11)No3_ Research achievements (Books, Papers, International conference proceedings,presentation at conference/meeting etc.)

5. Document Submission & Submission Deadline(How to submit)
Each applicant must send PDF files of all the documents listed above in “4 RequiredApplication Documents” to the e-mail address of the Center for International Relations.
*Note that documents of No1 and No2 have to be sent to us not only in PDF format but
also in Excel or Word format.
*The title of e-mail should be “ MEXT Scholarship recommendation (PBL-AIProgram)_ your university name”.
E-mail Address: kokusai@mmm.muroran-it.ac.jp (Center for International Relations)
Inquiries: Please do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail if you have any further inquiries.

Deadline: All documents must arrive no later than December 19 (Mon.), 2022
*In case it is difficult to submit the documents due to COVID-19, please inform us in advance.

6. Application Instructions
a. All documents must be written in Japanese or English, and be created in A4 format using
software such as MS Word and Excel. A document written in any other language must beaccompanied with a Japanese translation.
b. Submitted documents will not be returned.
c. The thesis abstract should be concise and to the point.
d. Incomplete or overdue documents will not be accepted.
e. Additional documents may be requested after the nominee is determined.
f. Non-disclosure agreements with cooperative companies are required after admission.
[ NOTE ] When you wish for an acceptance permission from a PBL-AI faculty member① Access to the below URL for intended supervisor’s research field, e-mail address, etc.
Associate Professor WATANABE Shinya: https://rdsoran.muroran-it.ac.jp/html/100000110_en.html
Associate Professor KURASHIGE Kentarou: https://rdsoran.muroran-it.ac.jp/html/100000178_en.html
Associate Professor SATO Kazuhiko: https://rdsoran.muroran-it.ac.jp/html/100000260_en.html
Associate Professor OKADA Yoshifumi: https://rdsoran.muroran-it.ac.jp/html/100000122_en.html② Contact one of the (PBL-AI Program)_ faculty members in pursuit of an acceptance permission
by e-mail titled “MEXT scholarship candidate_####_%%university ####=yourname, %%=name of your university”. In addition, please be sure to enclose the following
documents as reference materials for the applicant’s intended supervisor.
1. Your CV
2. Research field and research plan in MuroranIT*You can use the form named “Field of Study and Research Plan”.
3. Summary of Master’s thesis
4. A publication list if you have4

7. Additional Information(1) TRAVEL EXPENSES①Transportation to Japan: MEXT will provide an airline ticket to grantees who will arrive inJapan during the specified period. The airline ticket will be an economy-class ticket for theflight from the international airport closest to the grantee’s residence (in principle, the countryof nationality) to an international airport in Japan used on the normal route to the accepting
university. The grantee shall bear at his/her own expense all costs related to domestic travelfrom the grantee’s residence to the nearest international airport, airport taxes, airport usage fees,
special taxes necessary for travel, travel expenses within Japan (including airline transit costs),
travel insurance expenses, carry-on luggage or unaccompanied baggage expenses, etc. The
grantee shall also bear at his/her own expense travel and lodging costs incurred in a third
country if the grantee must travel to a third country before coming to Japan for visa purposes
because there are no Japanese diplomatic missions in his/her country, or if there are no directflights from the grantee’s country of residence to Japan. MEXT will provide an economy-classairline ticket from the grantee’s country of residence to the said third country, and from the third
country to an international airport in Japan used on the normal route to the accepting university.
In principle, the address given in the space for “Your address before departure for Japan” on theapplication form shall be recognized as the “residence,” and the airline ticket will be arranged
for a flight from the international airport nearest to that address. Except for cases when thegrantee must travel to a third country to obtain a visa, MEXT will not provide an airline ticket
for cases of travel to Japan from a country other than the grantee’s country of residence due tothe grantee’s personal circumstances.
② Transportation from Japan: Based on the application by the grantee, MEXT will provide anairline ticket to grantees who shall graduate the accepting university and return to the homecountry by the end of the final month of the period of scholarship designated by MEXT. MEXT
shall provide an economy-class airline ticket from the international airport in Japan used for thenormal route to and from the accepting university to the international airport (in principle, in thecountry of nationality) nearest to the returning grantee’s residence. The grantee shall bear at
his/her own expense all costs related to travel from the grantee’s residence in Japan to thenearest international airport, airport taxes, airport usage fees, special taxes necessary for travel,
travel expenses within the country of nationality (including airline transit costs), travel
insurance expenses, carry-on luggage or unaccompanied baggage expenses, etc. If a grantee
returns to the home country before the end of period of scholarship due to personal
circumstances, or reasons stated in “(2). SUSPENSION OF PAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP”,
MEXT will not pay for the returning travel expenses.
If a grantee continues to stay in Japan after the scholarship period has ended (ex. proceeding tofurther education or being employed in Japan, continuing to register at the university), travel
expenses for a temporary return will also not be paid.
(2) SUSPENSION OF PAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP
Payment of the scholarship will be cancelled for the reasons given below. Should any of thefollowing reasons apply, the grantee may be ordered to return a part of, or all of, the scholarship
paid up to that time. Payment of the scholarship may also be stopped during the period up to thedecision on the disposition of the matter.
① A grantee is determined to have made a false statement on his/her application;② A grantee violates any article of his/her pledge to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports,Science and Technology;③ A grantee violates any Japanese laws and is sentenced and imprisoned for an indefinite period
or for a period exceeding 1 year;④ A grantee is suspended from his/her university or preparatory educational institution orreceives other punishment, or is removed from enrollment; as a disciplinary action inaccordance with school regulations of the accepting institution;⑤ It has been determined that it will be impossible for a grantee to complete the course within
the standard period of study because of poor academic grades or suspension or absence fromthe university;
5⑥ A grantee came to Japan without newly acquiring the “Student” residence status, or changed
his/her residence status to one other than “Student”;⑦ A grantee has received another scholarship (excluding those specified for researchexpenditures);⑧ A grantee proceeds to a more advanced level of education without receiving approval for anextension of the period of the scholarship.
⑨ A grantee withdraws from the University or transfers to another graduate school.
(3) NOTES① The grantees are advised to learn, before departing for Japan, the Japanese language and toacquire information about Japanese weather, climate, customs, university education, andconditions of the university to attend in Japan, as well as about the difference between theJapanese legal system and that of his/her home country.
② As the first installment of the scholarship payment will be made from one month to one and ahalf months after the grantee’s arrival in Japan, the grantee is recommended to bring at least
approximately US$2,000 with him/her to Japan to cover immediate living expenses and othernecessary expenses.
③ The scholarship payments will be transferred to the bank account of Japan Post Bank (JPBank) opened by each grantee after the arrival in Japan. MEXT will not transfer the scholarshipto other bank accounts.
④ Grantees must enroll in National Health Insurance (Kokumin Kenko Hoken) upon arrival inJapan.
⑤ Accommodations:a. Dormitory for international students: The grantees may reside at these dormiroty undercertain conditions. However, due to the limited number of rooms, some of these facilities
may be unavailable. Expenses relating to accommodations will be borne by the grantee.
b. Private apartments: Those who are unable to live in the dormitory may live in private
apartments with student’s own expenses. It is difficult for grantees with dependents (spouseand children) to find appropriate housing in Japan. The grantee is requested to arrive in Japanalone first to secure housing before having his/her dependents come to Japan.
⑥ Information regarding the MEXT Scholarship Students (name, gender, date of birth,nationality, accepting university/graduate school/undergraduate school, field of specialty, periodof enrolment, career path after completion of scholarship, contact information [address,telephone number, e-mail address]) may be shared with other relevant governmentorganizations for the purpose of utilization for international students programs implemented by
the Japanese Government (support during the period of study in Japan, follow-up survey,
improvement of the international student system).
Information regarding MEXT Scholarship Students (excluding date of birth and contactinformation) may be included in publicity materials prepared by the Japanese Government for
promoting the acceptance of international students in Japan, particularly in order to introduce
former MEXT Scholarship Students who are playing active roles in countries around the world.
These matters are included in the Pledge stipulating rules and regulations which MEXT
Scholarship Students must comply with and submit when they have been granted theScholarship.
⑦ Other regulations shall also be determined by the Japanese Government.

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