GUIDELINES FOR APPLICANTS
FORTHE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT (MONBUKAGAKUSHO: MEXT)SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Human Resource Development Program for Locally
Producible and Usable Zero Emission Energy
Master’s program
Doctoral program- October 2024 Admission Graduate School of Frontier Science Initiative
Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology
KANAZAWA UNIVERSITY

Table of contents
1. Acceptable number of students and field of research ...................................................................... 2
2. Application qualifications and conditions ....................................................................................... 2
3. Application procedure ..................................................................................................................... 5
4. Selection and result announcement ................................................................................................. 6
5. Scholarship and benefits .................................................................................................................. 6
6. Unavoidable circumstances ............................................................................................................. 7
7. Notes................................................................................................................................................ 7
8. Contact information ......................................................................................................................... 8

1

Graduate School of Frontier Science Initiative and Graduate School of Natural Science andTechnology are pleased to announce a program for the master’s / doctoral degree with a special course
offered mainly in English and a scholarship for overseas students with outstanding scholastic ability.
The outline of the program can be found in the attached sheet.
Students who are accepted will be awarded a Japanese Government Scholarship through the financial
support of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Monbukagakusho:
MEXT). The details are as follows.

1. Acceptable number of students and field of research1) Number of students
Master’s program: 2 persons
Doctoral program: 1 persons
2) Field of research
Chemistry, Energy-related chemistry, Energy-related material sciences, Nano-sciences

2. Application qualifications and conditions
1) Nationality and Visa Requirement
Applicant must have the nationality of a country which has diplomatic relations with the Japanese
government and is designated by MEXT as a "country in the focus area" (see attached) and shall, in
principle, newly obtain a “Student” visa at the Japanese diplomatic mission located in the applicant’s
country of nationality, and enter Japan with the residence status of “Student.”
2) AgeApplicant must have been born on or after April 2, 1989.
3) Academic background
Master’s program: Applicant must satisfy one of the following requirements, or be qualified or
expected to be qualified by September 30, 2024 to enter in a master's program in Japan.
[1] has completed a 16-year school curriculum in a foreign country or is expected to complete it bySeptember 30, 2024.
[2] has been found eligible according to a qualification review by Graduate School of Frontier
Science Initiative or Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, and will reach the ageof 22 by September 30, 2024.
Doctoral program: Applicant must satisfy one of the following requirements, or be qualified or
expected to be qualified by September 30, 2024 to enter in a doctoral program in Japan.
[1] has a master's degree or a professional degree or is expected to acquire such a degree by
September 30, 2024.
[2] has been found eligible according to a qualification review by Graduate School of Frontier
Science Initiative or Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, and will reach the ageof 24 by September 30, 2024.

24) Academic record
Applicant must have a GPA (Grade Point Average)* of 2.3 or higher in the last program in which
they was or is currently enrolled, and be expected to maintain the GPA for the duration of thescholarship period.
*

GPA will be calculated by the method which is designated by MEXT as follows

Category

Evaluation Grade

5 gradesevaluation

SA
100-90

ExcellentA
100-80
A
B
89-80

GP

3

3

4 gradesevaluation

Good
B
79-70
B
C
79-70

Satisfactory
C
69～60
C
D
69-60

Fail
F
59F
F
59-

2

1

0

(Formula)(GP3 Number of Credits x3) + (GP2 Number of Credits x2) + (GP1 Number of Credits x1) + (GP0 Number of Credits x0)
Total Number of Credits Registered

Note 1: If the course is not credit system, the number of credits will be replaced with thenumber of courses.
Note 2: If the applicant is a transfer student, the calculation is based on only the number ofcredits after the transfer.
Note 3: Grades (e.g., "Certified", "Pass", etc.) that are not listed in the above table will be
excluded.
Note 4: If fractions appear in GPA, it will be rounded down to the third decimal place.
5) Language ability
Applicant must satisfy one of the following requirements.
[1] has a score of any test of English language ability equivalent to or higher than the Common
European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) B2 level. The score must show thatthe applicant has reached B2 level in the four skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing.
The test date must be after January 1, 2022.
[2] completed a curriculum which meets the qualification to enter to the program of their choice inJapan, with English as the mainly language.
[3] can be concluded that applicant has English ability equal to or higher than [1].
6) HealthApplicant must be physically and mentally fit to study in Japan.
7) Arrival in Japan
Applicant must arrive in Japan between September 17, 2024 and October 14, 2024.
Note: The enrollment date is October 1, 2024.
8) Non-eligibility
Those who meet any one of the following conditions are ineligible. If identified ineligible after
being selected as a scholarship student, they must withdraw from the scholarship.
3[1] Those who are military personnel or military civilian employees;[2] Those who cannot arrive in Japan by the date specified by MEXT or the accepting university;[3] Those who are previous grantees of Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship programs(including those who withdraw from the scholarship program after acquisition of student status).
However, this does not apply to those who wish to apply for Research Students program andmeet any one of the following conditions. In addition, since the Monbukagakusho Honors
Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students does not apply to the Japanese
Government (MEXT) Scholarship programs, the previous grantees can apply;
・those who have at least three years of educational or work experience following the end of thepayment of the previous scholarship and the start of this scholarship;・the past grantees of Japanese Studies Students program who have graduated or are going tograduate from universities in their home countries, Japan-Korea Joint Government Scholarship
Program for the Students in Science and Engineering Departments and Young Leaders’ Program;・those who have obtained or are expected to obtain a degree as undergraduate students of theJapanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship programs (university recommendation/special
selection).
[4] Those who are applying for other programs of Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship for2024;[5] Those who are planning to receive scholarship from an organization other than MEXT
(including a government organization of the applicant’s country) after the beginning of thepayment of Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship;[6] Those who are expected to graduate from a university at the time of application, and cannot
satisfy the qualifications and the conditions related to academic background by the deadline
given;[7] Holders of dual nationality at the time of application who cannot verify that they will give up
Japanese nationality by the time of the arrival in Japan (the acquisition of student states);[8] Those who are scheduling, at the time of application, long-term research activities (internship,
fieldwork etc.) outside of Japan or leave of absence.
[9] Those who have no intention to obtain a degree.
9) Others
MEXT Scholarship will be granted those who are willing to contribute to mutual understanding
between Japan and their home country by participating in activities at schools and communities during
their study in Japan while contributing to the internationalization of Japan. They shall also makeefforts to promote relations between the home country and Japan by maintaining close relations withthe university attended after graduation, cooperating with the conducting of surveys andquestionnaires, and cooperating with relevant projects and events conducted by the Japanesediplomatic mission after they return to their home countries.

43. Application procedure
1) Required documents
The following documents must be prepared in Japanese or English on A4-sized sheets. Documents
prepared in other languages must be attached by a Japanese translation. All submitted documents will
not be returned.
[1] Cover sheet (use the formats supplied)[2] Application form (use the formats supplied)[3] Field of Study and Research Plan (use the formats supplied)[4] The university diploma, the certificate of degree, or a certified letter from the university at
which the applicant is currently enrolled, stating the expected graduation date[5] Official academic transcript[6] A photocopy of a passport or birth certificate or certificate of citizenship of the applicant’s homecountry[7] A letter of recommendation written by the President, Dean or Director of the institution
addressed to the President of Kanazawa University (use the format supplied)[8] Master’s program: A summary of the Bachelor’s thesis (or research content) written in English
Doctoral program: A summary of the Master’s thesis (or research content) written in English[9] Acceptance letter written by a prospective academic advisor from Kanazawa University (an emailed one is also available)[10] Documents certifying that it meets the requirements of the language ability{1} A score of any test of English language ability such as TOEIC (both L&R and S&W),
TOEFL-iBT or IELTS{2} A certificate stating that the main instruction is English, from an institution the applicant
have completed / will have completed which meets the qualification to enter to the program of
their choice in JapanIf neither {1} nor {2} can be submitted, any documents showing the English ability must be
submitted.
[11] For those who are currently employed, a letter of release / recognition from their superiorauthorities, recognizing their right to apply and/or pursue further education in Kanazawa
University[12] Certificate of health (use the formats supplied, to be completed by the examining physician)[13] Pledge to the President of Kanazawa University (use the formats supplied, both sides printing)Note: 1: If the originals of [4], [5], or [10] cannot be submitted, a certified copy of the original
must be submitted.
Note 2: In order for the GPA to be calculated, the evaluation grade on all the subjects studied
must be indicated in [5]. If not, for example because the grade is judged only by pass /fail etc., [7] must include the information that applicant's academic record is in the top
30% of the faculty or the university.

52) Submission address and application deadline
The application documents must be submitted by e-mail with the subject header “[MEXT LocZEE]
applicant’s name”. The originals of the documents should be sent by registered air mail after receiving
instructions from Graduate School of Frontier Science Initiative Affairs Section (syugo@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jp).
Submission address: s-yugo@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Application deadline: 10:00 am [JST], January 15 (Mon), 2024
Applications that are incomplete, incorrect or not supported by evidence, or arrive even one minutelate to the deadline will NOT be accepted.

4. Selection and result announcement
Preliminary selection is carried out by the Committee of Human Resource Development Program for
Locally Producible and Usable Zero Emission Energy, based on the application documents. The
Committee may contact the applicant by e-mail for further information. Kanazawa University thenrecommends the selected candidates to MEXT, which will make the final decision of grantees.
Admission starts from the semester beginning on October 1, 2024.
Applicants will be notified of the results of the preliminary selection by March 2024. Final results ofthe selection authorized by MEXT will be announced by June 2024.

5. Scholarship and benefits
1) Scholarship
Master’s program: 144,000 yen per month will be paid from October 2024 to September 2026.
Doctoral program: 145,000 yen per month will be paid from October 2024 to September 2027.
Note: 1: If a grantee takes a leave of absence or is absent for an extended period of time, thescholarship will not be paid for that period.
Note: 2: The scholarship period will not be extended, except in the case of a master's program
grantee is certain to enter a doctoral program and is approved an extension of the period
for that.
2) Travel expenses
Transportation to Japan: The grantee will be supplied with an economy class air ticket from theinternational airport nearest to their “Current Address" or "Your address before departure for Japan"
as indicated in the application form to the first international airport they arrive at in Japan. All otherdomestic travel expenses, airport taxes, etc. will NOT be covered. Air travel from a country other than
the grantee’s nationality will not be covered. Travel expenses will not be paid for domestic
recommenders, regardless of any reasons. If applicants return to their country of nationality after
applying and re-arrive to Japan before scholarship payment begin, travel expenses will not paid for.
Transportation from Japan: The grantee who returns to their home country within the last-payment
month of their scholarship will be provided, upon application, with an economy class air ticket from6

an international airport in Japan to the international airport nearest to their home address. If a grantee
continues to stay in Japan after the scholarship period, they will not be paid travel expenses to returnto their home country. The same applies to travel expenses for temporary return.
3) School Fees
Examination fee /Admission fee: waived
Tuition fee: waived (during the scholarship period)

6. Unavoidable circumstances
In the event of unavoidable or unforeseen circumstances, Japanese Government reserves the right tochange or cancel the arrival date, scholarship, and contents of the application guidelines here within, at
any time before or after notification of the results of the final selection.
Unavoidable Circumstances are defined as events whose effects could not reasonably be prevented orcontrolled by MEXT including but not limited to acts of God, acts of government (including local
government, hereafter referred to as government), acts of government authorities (including limitations
on travel or immigration enacted by the Japanese government or other foreign countries’ government
due to the event of infectious disease), compliance with law, regulations or orders, fire, flooding andtorrential rain, earthquakes, acts of war (regardless of a declaration of war), revolt, revolution orrebellion, strike, or lockout.

7. Notes
1) Applicants must keep in close contact with their prospective academic advisors at Kanazawa
University.
2) Once an applicant has received the results of the preliminary selection and has agreed to accept thescholarship, they may not change their host institution in Japan.
3) In the following cases, MEXT will cancel the provision of scholarships. In these cases, the MEXT
may order the return of part or all of the scholarship funds that have been provided. In addition, the
MEXT may suspend the provision of the scholarship until a decision on the disposition is made.
1. Any information supplied with the application is later found to be false. Admission can becanceled any time after enrollment.
2. They violate the pledge declared to the MEXT.
3. They violate the laws and regulations of Japan and is punished by imprisonment for life or for adefinite term of not less than one year.
4. They have been expelled, suspended, given a warning or similar disciplinary action.
5. If it becomes definitive that they will not be able to complete the program within the standard
term of study due to poor academic achievement, suspension, leave of absence, etc.
6. They change the status of residence to one other than “student”.
7. They receive financial support from their government or other organizations (except for ascholarship designated for research expenses).
8. They enter a higher level program without receiving approval for an extension of the scholarship7

period.
9. They transfer to another university.
10. At each point in every one year, the grantee’s GPA fell below 2.30.
4) The grantees are advised to learn, before departing for Japan, the Japanese language and to acquire
information about Japanese weather, climate, customs, university education, and conditions of theuniversity to attend in Japan, as well as about the difference between the Japanese legal system andthat of his/her home country.
5) As the first installment of the scholarship payment will be made from one month to one and a halfmonths 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.

8. Contact information
Please contact by e-mail with the subject header “[MEXT LocZEE] applicant’s name”.
* Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. (Excluding holidays) 8:30 am to 5 pm [JST]
Graduate School of Frontier Science Initiative Affairs Section,
Student Affairs Division, Student Affairs Department
KANAZAWA UNIVERSITY
Address: Kakuma, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192 JAPANE-mail: s-yugo@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jp8