The best advice for getting a fully-funded Japanese scholarship, from a MEXT scholar

In June 2023, Japan pledged to continue supporting education for Cambodians, reported Khmer Times.

While Tokyo has helped more Cambodians go to school and university at home, its efforts go beyond that too — Chhay Lim can attest to that.

Born and raised in Cambodia, Lim graduated from the Royal University of Phnom Penh in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in international relations, with Honours and Distinctions thesis award.

Following his graduation, he spent three years at Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Cambodia, a non-profit German political think-tank that connects people worldwide in dialogue about current and future political topics.

There, Lim would dabble in strategic planning for foreign affairs and international relations projects, research publications, foreign affairs training programmes for Cambodian young generation, and more.

Aside from his work at KAS, Lim was also working as a Communications and Knowledge Management Intern at United Nations Development Programme Cambodia, an assistant and interpreter to the Royal Government Spokesperson of the Council of Ministers of Cambodia (Chinese to English), and a part-time research fellow at The EANGAGE Project.

Every part of it was fulfilling work, but Lim wanted more.

In early 2023, Lim applied for the Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship Programme, otherwise known as the MEXT Scholarship.

To his surprise, he found himself one of the handful of Cambodians who successfully secured one of the few fully-funded Japanese scholarships for international students. Lim himself managed to earn a place in Ritsumeikan University’s Master of Arts in International Relations programme.

“Japanese scholarships in Cambodia are not as popular as the UK and Australian scholarships,” says Lim. “One reason is due to the degrees offered for the scholarships. Many Cambodian students tend to think that MEXT only offers those in civil engineering, architecture, or any science majors — rarely social sciences.”

In comparison to major Western countries, Japan is also not a popular country for Cambodians to study abroad as it’s not an English-speaking country, but Lim wasn’t deterred. 

In addition to being a master’s student at Risumeikan Univery, Lim is also a visiting fellow for the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies of the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy (IISPP) and a young leader for the Pacific Forum International.

We had the opportunity to chat with Lim to share how he applied for one of the best Japanese scholarships for international students.

Born and raised in Cambodia, Chhay Lim’s childhood influenced his decision to further his education in international relations. Source: Chhay Lim

Was there an event that made you want to pursue a degree in International Relations, especially in Japan?

In high school, I was interested in politics and the history of my country, Cambodia. A lot has happened in Cambodian history, such as unstable regimes, civil war, the United Nations peace operation, and genocide. Only recently, in 1998, coincidentally the year I was born, did we fully achieve peace.

Looking at what had happened, I was young and needed to be more knowledgeable. I knew nothing about my country’s politics and history, which got me thinking, “Why did all this happen? What’s going to happen next? How’s our future going to look like? Why did Japan and Australia, alongside other major powers, get involved with us during the UN peace operation?” All these questions made me curious.

Additionally, in 2013, Cambodia was experiencing a political deadlock. I was in high school then, which spiked my curiosity even more. So, for university, I decided to apply for a political science degree to focus on domestic politics, but no universities offered the degree, and the closest was international relations.

While international relations focused on external political ties, I grew interested in foreign policy and relations with other countries, so I decided that would be a perfect fit. Additionally, doing my master’s in Japan allowed me to research Japan’s engagement in Southeast Asia.

What is the process of applying for the MEXT Scholarship, one of the only fully-funded Japanese scholarships for international students?

You would need to apply for the MEXT Scholarship through the Japanese Embassy in your country. It’s a Japanese government scholarship that supports international students looking to further their higher education in Japan’s universities on the recommendation of the Japanese Embassy/Consulate General, University, or Authority.

Documents needed

You don’t need anything; just complete a simple application form containing your personal information. Your application does not require a personal statement, CV, or transcript. However, you may need to submit them upon request in the latter stages of the application.

After the applications are closed, the Japanese embassy will take a few days to release a list of candidates who will advance to the next round, which is the language proficiency test.

Language and exams

When applying for a Japanese scholarship, specifically the MEXT Scholarship, you must choose between an English or Japanese programme. So, if you can’t speak Japanese, there are programmes that are entirely conducted in English.

Those taking the Japanese route must sit for a Japanese language exam. If you choose the English route, you are not required to sit for the IELTS or TOEFL, unlike other scholarships. However, we must sit for the scholarship’s personal written English test at the start of the application. If you pass the test, you will be moved to the next stage, the interview.

While the interview is often the next stage for applicants, if you’re a science student, you must complete an additional mathematics, physics, or chemistry exam.

The application process for the MEXT Scholarship is simple, according to Lim, and he encourages others to apply. Source: Chhay Lim

Interview

After the exams, the Japanese embassy will release a second list of names of those who have passed them, with a schedule for an interview. The interview can last for as long as 15 to 20 minutes. Based on my interview, here are a few questions they asked:

• Why are you going to Japan?
• Why are you applying for this school?
• How much do you know about your major?
• How is Japan going to help you with your research aspirations?

Applying for universities

The next stage for applicants who have passed their interview is applying to universities in Japan. You’ll receive a list of almost 100 universities in Japan. You’ll be tasked with going through the list and choosing the school you’re interested in, then filling out a form with three universities you would like to attend.

You must contact the university and inform them that the Japanese embassy in your country has recommended you and that you would like to apply for one of their courses. If the school accepts you, it will issue you a conditional or provisional acceptance letter.

However, those who were not accepted to their first choice will need to apply to their second and third choice. My first choice was the University of Tokyo, but due to the competitiveness, I was not accepted.

I recommend considering the university’s ranking and research flexibility. I rejected the University of Tokyo because it did not have a professor who specialised in the research I wanted to pursue.

Fees

The best part of applying to the MEXT scholarship is that it’s free, from the application to the language exams.

Lim’s paper for the 21st Asia-Pacific Conference in Beppu was awarded as “The Best Paper” in the Field of International Relations. The conference was co-hosted by Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and the Japanese Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office. Source: Chhay Lim

What’s included in the MEXT Scholarship?

As a MEXT Scholar, I receive full funding for my master’s degree at Ritsumeikan University, meaning my tuition is exempt.

I also received a round-trip airfare ticket for my first flight into Japan and my last flight out of Japan. Additionally, I am giving a monthly living allowance of US$1,000, often based on the living cost. It’s usually just enough to live off, but it may be a little hard to manage if you live a luxurious life.

But, if that’s the case, you can work part-time off-campus for about 28 hours a week.

The culture shock was what Lim struggled with the most when he moved to Japan, and is still something he is currently overcoming today. Source: Chhay Lim

Do you have any advice for Cambodians looking to study abroad?

Living abroad will initially be challenging, whether in Japan or any other country, as the cultures are often different.

I recommend talking to a senior or graduate of the university you’re applying to or even a friend who has lived in the country before. Ask them what it’s been like studying there and how it has been so far for them. Going to a country without knowing anything about it is not the best idea.

One mistake I made when moving to Japan was assuming that Japanese citizens could speak English. The assumption was based on the idea that the country has made its mark internationally, meaning its people would probably talk in English. However, that’s not the case.

Japanese are proud of preserving their culture, so they do not generally speak English. Many speak only Japanese, just like countries like South Korea and China. If you struggle with other languages, look for countries that speak English. 

Additionally, this may play a big part in how culture affects you. Ask yourself, “Will it be possible for me to adapt to that cultural environment?” It all depends on your personal experiences and goals.

For me, I’m open to learning more about a new culture and language by moving to Japan. However, if you’re looking to move to the US, Australia, or the UK, you will immerse yourself in a new culture without learning a new language.

It won’t be easy, but if you research well, you will be alright.