JAPANESE GOVERNMENT (MEXT) SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR 2021
DEGREE STUDENTS(UNIVERSITY RECOMMENDATION)- International Program for Frontier Informatics ‒(Masterʼs program in Computer Science / Doctoral program in Computer Science)
MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) offers scholarships to international
students who wish to study as degree students at the Degree Programs in Systems and Information
Engineering (Masterʼs Program in Computer Science and Doctoral Program in Computer Science) at theGraduate School of Science and Technology at the University of Tsukuba.
Application Guidelines for the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program for 2021 ‒ Degree
Students (University Recommendation) are as follows.
*The new guidelines for the MEXT scholarship commencing in April 2021 will be published in December 2020.
Should there be any changes to the application requirements, the University of Tsukuba will announce toeach applicant.
1. Qualifications and Conditions(1) Applicant
An applicant must be international students of graduate school level who are newly coming to Japan, andmust have demonstrated excellent academic achievement with a Grade Point Average of 2.30 (out of3.00) or above at the previous school, and the evaluation on the same level is expected during thescholarship payment period. And furthermore, an applicant must satisfy one of the conditions of "(6)Language ability" below.
(2) Nationality
Applicant must have the nationality of a country which has diplomatic relations with Japan. In principle,
an applicant who has Japanese nationality at the time of application will not be eligible. However, persons
with dual nationality who hold Japanese nationality and whose place of residence at the time of
application is outside of Japan are eligible to apply as long as they choose the nationality of the foreigncountry and renounce their Japanese nationality by the date of their arrival in Japan.
(3) Age
Applicant must be born on or after April 2, 1986. Exceptions are limited to cases in which MEXT deems
that the applicant could not apply within the eligible age limit due to the situation or circumstances in
the applicantʼs country (military service obligation, loss of educational opportunities due to disturbancesof war, etc.) Personal circumstances (financial situation, family circumstances, state of health,circumstances related to applicantʼs university or place of employment, etc.) will not be considered for
exceptions. However, the applicant from the Young Leaders Program can only apply for the doctoral
program within 5 years graduated in the same program.

(4) Academic BackgroundAn applicant must meet one of the following requirements to be accepted in the Masterʼs
Program/Doctoral Program in Computer Science from April 2021.
[Masterʼs Program]
1) A person who has completed sixteen years of education in a foreign country and earned a bachelorʼs
degree, or expected to graduate and receive the bachelorʼs degree by March 2021
2) A person who is 22 years of age or older as of March 2021, and whose qualification is recognized as
equivalent to a bachelorʼs degree as the result of the eligibility screening conducted by the Universityof Tsukuba[Doctoral Program]
1) A person who has a masterʼs degree or expected to receive one by March 2021
2) A person who has a specialized degree or expected to receive one by March 2021
3) A person who has a masterʼs degree or a specialized degree awarded by a university outside Japan asof March 2021
4) A person who is 24 years of age or older as of March 2021, and whose qualification is recognized as
equivalent to a master's degree or a specialized degree as the result of the eligibility screening
conducted by the University of Tsukuba
Note: As a general rule, a person who has completed a doctoral course may not apply unless he/sheseeks to obtain a degree.
(5) Field of Study and Number of Students to be accepted
Master's Program in Computer Science: 4 students
Doctoral Program in Computer Science: 4 students(6) Language Proficiency
An applicant must satisfy one of the following qualifications in Japanese or English:○ Japanese
1) Have passed N2 or higher level of the Japanese language proficiency test (JLPT) by the time ofenrollment in the regular course
2) Have completed a curriculum that meet the admission requirements for a masterʼs course/doctoral
course in Japan by using Japanese as the main language3) Judged by the University of Tsukuba to have a Japanese language ability equivalent to or better
than N2 of the Japanese language proficiency test (JLPT)○ English
1) Have B2 or higher level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
at the time of enrollment in the regular course
2) Have completed a curriculum that meet the admission requirements for a masterʼs course/doctoral
course in Japan by using English as the main language3) Judged by the University of Tsukuba to have an English language ability equivalent to or better thanB2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)(7) Health
An applicant must be physically and mentally healthy enough to pursue study at university.
2. Selection and Notification(1) Selection[Application Time Schedule]
Application Deadline
Application documents will be submitted in a two-step process.
1）November 13, 2020 5:00pm (JST)Submit the required documents show in No. A-1 to No. A-8 via e-mail (in PDF).
2）November 20, 2020 5:00pm (JST)Send the required documents by delivery service with tracking.
Note: The deadline is strictly observed. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

⬇
Examination
November 24 - 27, 2020
Recipient will be selected based on screening of the application documents and oral examination.
1) The oral examination will be conducted between November 24, 2020 ‒ 27, 2020, with a Zoom orSkype.
2) Follow instructions from your prospective supervisor, who will determine the date and locationof the oral examination.
3) Each applicant will be asked about his/her research plan and related knowledge and skills.
Note: Prospective applicant will be contacted via e-mail after the preliminary screening of thesubmitted documents.

⬇
Notification
Examination Result: Mid-December, 2020
The result of examination will be announced individually after the oral examination. The successful
applicants will be recommended to the MEXT as the scholarship candidates. Prepare in advanceso that you can submit the documents shown in No. B-1 to No. B-5 by the deadline.
Official Notification from MEXT: Late-February, 2021
Recipients will be notified individually via e-mail.

⬇

Entrance
April 1, 2021
Note: Date of transportation to Japan will be designated by University of Tsukuba.

(2) Required Documents
The required documents for application are as follows.
1) Submission Deadline[PDF format] November 13, 2020 5:00pm (JST)[Original] November 20, 2020 5:00pm (JST)Documents

No.

Instructions

Application Checklist [A]Use the prescribed form.

Application Form (for the

Use the prescribed form.

University of Tsukuba)* Before you apply, you have to contact a prospective

A-1

supervisor (a faculty member from whom you wish to receive
academic instruction) and obtain his/her consent to yourapplication in advance.
A-2〈Master's Program in Computer Science〉
Faculty member list（Computer Science）.pdf〈Doctoral Program in Computer Science〉
Faculty member list（Computer Science）.pdf
Field
A-3

of

Study

and

Use the prescribed form (both-sides printing).

Research Planof

Submit an academic transcript (the official transcript ofeach academic year of therecords) issued by a university or other educational institution

last universitythat meets requirements for admission to the Masterʼs

Academictranscript

program/ Doctoral Program in Computer Science.

If anycredits were transferred from other school(s), academic
A-4transcript(s) issued by the other school is also required. (Alldocuments must be in English or in Japanese.)*You must also submit (an) official document(s) that specifies
and explains the grading system(s) if it is not indicated in yourtranscript.

Graduation certificate and1) Applicants who graduated from a foreign university mustdegree certificate of thesubmit documents (certificate of graduation or certificate oflast university

expected graduation and degree certificate) to certify that they
have a degree equivalent to a bachelorʼs degree.
2) Applicants who completed a masterʼs program at a foreign

A-5

university must submit documents (certificate of graduation or
certificate of expected graduation and degree certificate) tocertify that they have a degree equivalent to a masterʼs degree.

Degree Thesis Abstract

If you have written a degree thesis, a brief summary of thecontent (both-sides printing) will be required.
If there are books, academic papers, reports or presentationmaterials

A-6

ofacademic

conference

that

show

your

achievements and abilities in research, the list of publication
will be also required.

Examination

Admission

Slip

Print the prescribed form.
The photo must be: sized 4.5 x 3.5 cm; taken within the last 6months; upper body; hat off; front side. Attach it as electronic

A-7

data.

Documents to certify theJapanese: Certificate for passing the exam of N2 or higher level

language proficiency

of JLPT
English: Score report of a language proficiency test that
corresponds to B2 or higher level of CEFR

A-8

*An applicant who have graduated or will graduate fromuniversity or a graduate school where English or Japanese is
the main language should submit an official document issued
by the university.

The successful candidates need to submit the documents B-1 to B-5 by the deadline.
*Should there be any changes to the documents for the MEXT scholarship, the University of Tsukuba will
announce to each candidate.

2) Submission Deadline[PDF format] December 18, 2020 5:00pm (JST)No.

[Original] January 05, 2021 5:00pm (JST)Documents

Instructions

Application Checklist [B]Use the prescribed form.

Application Form

Use the prescribed form (both-sides printing).

B-1(for the MEXT scholarship)
The applicantʼs photograph to be attached to the Application
Form should be of clear quality, taken within six months ofsubmission, and printed on paper specially for photographs.

B-2

The photograph should be 4.5 x 3.5 cm. upper-body, full-faced,no hats. Please write applicantʼs name and nationality on theback of the photograph. The photograph data can be pasted to
the Application Form and printed out.

Letter of Recommendation

The letter of recommendation should be dated and addressedfrom the dean or above ofto the attention of the President of the University of Tsukuba,

the university

and the recommender's name and Title/Position must be
stated therein.
If the academic performance cannot be quantified, it should be

B-3

indicated in the letter of recommendation that the applicantʼs
grade ranking at the university/faculty, or graduate school isconsidered to be within the top 30%.

Photocopy of your passport* If you do not have a passport yet, you are required to submit
a certificate of family register or a certificate of citizenshipissued by the government of your home country.

B-4

B-5

Any certificate indicating* The certificate must be the latest version and issued by an

the applicant's academic

academic institution.

excellence at the previous* You may omit the document if the necessary information (i.e.

university, such as GPA or

GPA or class rank) is included in your academic transcript.

class rank.

Note:
1. If your current name is different from that on the documents you submit (e.g., because of marriage),
you will be required to submit proof of your name change (e.g., copy of marriage license).
2. All the documents except for specified official documents must be created in A4 size paper (same sizeas the application form) in Japanese or English, preferably in typed and printed format. (If documents
are written in a language other than Japanese or English, please attach Japanese translation.)
3. All the documents should be original copies except No. A-8 and No. B-4.
4. If original documents cannot be submitted due to circumstances, photocopies which have official sealof a university or public facility are also acceptable. The copied documents without an official seal will
not be accepted.
5. Submitted documents will not be returned.
6. Your application will not be evaluated if the above documents are incomplete or not accurately
completed. Applications received after the deadline will not be processed.
7. Before you apply, you have to contact a prospective supervisor (a faculty member from whom you wish
to receive academic instruction) and obtain his/her consent to your application in advance.
3. Notes*Due to the COVID-19 situation, the schedule and the condition of traveling to Japan might be changed.
(1) Enrollment - Arrival in Japan
The period of enrollment will be scheduled in April 2021, and in principle, the student must be able toleave for and arrive in Japan on the date set by UT, which is normally the beginning of April. The departure
date from the place of residence will be April 1st.
Excluding cases in which MEXT deems as unavoidable circumstances, the student must withdraw fromthis scholarship program if the student cannot arrive in Japan by the end of the specified period above
which decided by MEXT or the UT.
(2) Visa Requirement
An applicant shall, in principle, newly obtain a “Student” visa at the Japanese diplomatic mission locatedin the applicantʼs country of nationality, and enter Japan with the residence status of “Student.”
Accordingly, even if the applicant already has other residence status (“Permanent resident,” “Long-term
resident,” etc.), the applicant must change it to the “Student” status and re-enter Japan. Moreover, theapplicant should be aware that after expiration of the status as a MEXT Scholarship student and even if
the student again applies for their original resident status of “Permanent resident” or “Long-term
resident,” such resident statuses might not be necessarily granted. The applicant should also be awarethat the scholarship will be cancelled if he/she arrived in Japan without a newly obtained “Student” visa.
(3) Non-eligibility
Those who meet any one of the following conditions are ineligible. If identified ineligible after being
selected as a scholarship student, he/she must withdraw from the scholarship.
1) Those who are military personnel or military civilian employees at the time of their arrival in Japan or
during the period of the payment of the scholarship;

2) Those who cannot arrive in Japan by the last date of the period 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 the arrival in Japan). This does not apply to:
those who have educational or work experience exceeding more than three years from the following
month of the period of the previous scholarship to the estimated first month of the payment of thisscholarship; and the past grantees of Japanese Studies Students program who have graduated or
are going to graduate from universities in their home countries, Japan-Korea Joint Government
Scholarship Program for the Students in Science and Engineering Departments and Young Leadersʼ
Program. The Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students is
not included in the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Programs;
4) Those who are currently also applying to another program under the Japanese Government (MEXT)
Scholarship system. This includes the programs for which scholarship payments will begin in FY2020,
although their final selection results have not been decided yet, and the programs for whichscholarship payments will begin in FY2021;
5) Those who are already enrolled in a Japanese university or other institution with a residence statusof “Student,” or who are going to be enrolled, or plan to enroll, in a Japanese university or otherinstitution as a privately-financed international student from the time of application to the MEXT
scholarship program in the applicantʼs country until the commencement of the period for payment of
the MEXT scholarship.
However, this stipulation does not apply to privately-financed international students who, eventhough they are enrolled, or are planning to enroll, in a Japanese university or other institution,verifiably complete their studies before the start of the scholarship payment period, return to theirhome country at the time of the scholarship application, and newly acquire the “Student” residence
status and come to Japan;
6) Those who are planning to receive scholarship money from an organization other than MEXT
(including a government organization of the applicantʼs country) on top of the scholarship money
provided by MEXT after the start of the scholarship payment period;7) Those who are expected to graduate at the time of application and cannot satisfy the condition ofacademic background by the deadline given;8) 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;
9) Those who change their residence status to that of other than “Student” after their arrival in Japan;
10) Those who plan to, from the time of application for the MEXT scholarship program, engage in longterm research (such as fieldwork or internship) outside Japan or plan to take a long-term leave ofabsence from the university;11) Those who have completed a doctoral course and have no intention to obtain a degree.
4. Term of Scholarship
The scholarship will be paid during the standard training period of each program in Japan.
Master's program: 2 years (From April 2021 until the end of March 2023)
Doctoral program: 3 years (From April 2021 until the end of March 2024)

5. Scholarship Benefits(1) Allowance
The amounts listed below shall be paid depending on the course enrolled in. A supplemental regional
allowance of 2,000 yen or 3,000 yen per month will be added to the monthly scholarship amount for the
grantees studying or conducting research in specially designated regions. Due to the situation of theJapanese Governmentʼs budget, the amount of payment may be subject to change each fiscal year. If a
grantee is absent from the university for an extended period, the scholarship shall be suspended forthat period.
Masterʼs program: 144,000 yen per month
Doctoral program: 145,000 yen per month.
(2) Traveling Costs
1) Transportation to Japan
In principle, MEXT stipulates the travel schedule and route, and provides an economy-class air ticket
for the flight from the recipientʼs residence (in principle, the country of nationality) to Narita
International Airport or to any other international airport on the normal route to the accepting university.
The grantee shall bear at his/her own expense all costs related to domestic travel from the granteeʼsresidence 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,
expenses related to baggage, unaccompanied baggage 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 is no embassy of Japan in his/her country or
there is no direct flight form his/her home country. In principle, MEXT or the university will only provide
an economy class ticket to the international airport that the host university will use in the domestic
route on ordinary routes from the visiting country. However, MEXT will not provide the air ticket in cases
when the grantee arrives in Japan from a country other than the country of nationality due to thepersonal issues that had moved to the country before the arrival in Japan.
("Residence place" of foreign students is in principle the 「current address」stated in the application
form. However, if the student moved to another place in the country of nationality before arrival, the
new address stated in the application form "address " column will be referred as "residence place ").
2) Transportation from Japan
Grantees shall graduate the accepting university and return to the home country by the end of the final
month of the period of scholarship designated by MEXT. Based on the Application by the grantee, MEXT,
in principle, shall provide an economy-class air ticket from Narita International Airport or theinternational airport used for the normal route to and from the accepting university to the international
airport (in principle, in the country of nationality) nearest to the returning granteeʼs residence. The
grantee shall bear at his/her own expense all costs related to travel from the granteeʼs residence 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,
expenses related to baggage, unaccompanied baggage etc. Due to personal reasons and the reason of

"3. Scholarship Benefits (4) Suspension of Payment of Scholarship", if you return from Japan before theend of the scholarship period, you will not be provided with the return travel expenses. In addition, if
you continue to stay in Japan after the scholarship payment period ends (for example, going to schoolor employment in Japan), you will not be provided with the return travel expenses when you return toJapan temporarily.
(3) Tuition and Other Fees
The recipient gets full tuition fee, examination fee and admission fee coverage from the University ofTsukuba. However, if you lose your status as a national scholarship student after enrolling, you will becharged the tuition fees from that semester.
(4) Suspension of Payment of Scholarship
Scholarship will be cancelled for a grantee in the following cases. Furthermore, if scholarship payments
were made during the period the following cases applied, the grantee may be ordered to returnscholarship payments received during that period. The scholarship payment may be suspended until
the disposition is decided.
1) When a false statement is detected in the information provided on the application or otherdocuments.
2) When a grantee has violated his or her pledge to the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Scienceand Technology.
3) When the recipient violates any Japanese laws and is sentenced to imprisonment with or withoutwork for life or for a period of exceeding 1 year.
4) A grantee is suspended from his/her university or preparatory educational institution or receives
other punishment, or is removed from enrollment; in accordance with school regulations of theaccepting institution.
5) When a grantee is deemed not able to complete his or her study during the standard duration
program due to deficiencies in academic performance or suspension.
6) When a grantee has changed his or her status of residence from “College Student（ryuugaku 留学）”or has come to Japan without acquiring a new residence status of " College Student（ryuugaku 留学）" which is defined in the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.
7) When a grantee has been awarded a different scholarship (excluding grants designated for researchexpenses).
8) When, following selection, a grantee has advanced to a higher program of study without obtaining
permission for an extension of the scholarship award period.
9) When a grantee has dropped out of the host university or transferred to a different graduate school.
10) When the annually Grade Point Average (GPA) is below 2.30 or below the grading standard set by
the university.
6. Enrollment Procedures(1) Successful applicants will receive a packet of Admission Procedure Documents (which containdocuments to be submitted before entrance). The documents will be sent in mid-February, 2021. Follow
the instructions in the documents.

(Note) Successful applicants need to notify us in advance via email at sysinfo.admisssion@un.tsukuba.ac.jp,
if they are moving permanently before the date above or going away when the documents are expected
to be delivered.
(2) The documents should be mailed in a designated envelope (which will be sent to you together with the
Admission Procedure Documents) by early March 2021. The deadlines will be shown in Admission
Procedure Documents.
7. Security Export Control
The University of Tsukuba has established the University of Tsukuba Rules on Security Export Control inaccordance with the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, and conducts strict examinations for
acceptance of international students. International applicants who fall under any of the conditions set
out in said regulations may be unable to enter their desired course or program.

Please review all of the documents carefully and submit them to the address below:<E-mail address >sysinfo.admission@un.tsukuba.ac.jp<Mailing Address>
Graduate School Affairs, Academic Service Office for Systems and Information
Engineering Area, University of Tsukuba
1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, JAPAN