Some of the information is not directly applicable to MEXT scholarship students, but After-Arrival information for exchange students is also useful, so please also refer to this page.

Scholarship

Fees Covered by the Scholarship

1. Monthly stipend
2. Tuition fees
3. Return air ticket to your country

Monthly Stipend

A monthly stipend 146,000 yen will be paid once each month on the designated day, but only if you sign the Monbukagakusho Student list at the Center for Global Education and Discovery during the designated period of each month. If you fail to come in and sign by the final prescribed day, you will not receive the stipend for that month. For details, please refer to the PDF below.

When You Cannot Finish Your Study within the Standard Residence Period

If you pass the entrance exam and become a degree student, we advise you to graduate from the Master’s Program within 2 years or from the Doctoral Program within 3 years.
If you postpone graduation (Ryunen), you will not be eligible to apply for an extension of the scholarship.

Extension of the Period of the Scholarship

If you pass the entrance examination for a Graduate program at Sophia and become a degree student, you can apply for an extension of the scholarship period (High marks are required to apply). Please note that depending on the government national budget, an extension application is not always accepted by Monbukagakusho. Also, please keep in mind that the policy of the scholarship may change in the future. It is best to take the entrance exams and be admitted as a degree student as soon as possible within your current period of scholarship. (You should proceed within one and a half years or two years including the period of the Japanese language training.) 

When you pass the entrance exam and your extension is granted from the Monbukagakusho, the application fee for admission will be reimbursed by the scholarship. On the other hand, as a degree student you will need to pay the Alumni Association fee, Disaster & Accident Insurance for Student Education and Research fee, etc., which will be billed to you directly from the University.

Life

Student Discount Commuting Pass & JR Train Discount Tickets

No student discount is offered to research students for purchasing a train/bus commuting pass or JR tickets. Such benefit is limited only to degree students. But we advise you to buy a train/bus “commuting pass” between your place of residence and the University as it will still be cheaper.

Change of Contact Information

If you change your present address, telephone number or email address, please inform the Center for Global Education and Discovery. You also need to update your information on Loyola (Course Registration System).

Extension of the Period of Residence Card

If the expiration date of your residence status on your Residence Card is approaching, you will need to renew the “Period of Stay.” You can apply for this renewal starting three months before the expiration date.

Immigration Services Agency: Residence Status “Student”
Application form for extension of period of stay
https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/student.html?hl=en

In principle, you should prepare the required application documents yourself and submit them to the Immigration Services Agency. For some forms that the university needs to fill out, please request the Academic Affairs Center to prepare them for you.
https://piloti.sophia.ac.jp/eng/academicrecords/Certificates_Transcripts/current/

During this time, if you are a MEXT scholarship student, you may need a certificate issued by Center for Global Education and Discovery. We recommend obtaining this in advance.

Certificates for MEXT Scholarship Students

Center for Global Education and Discovery issues the following certificates for MEXT Scholarship Students. The fee is 200 JPY, payable at the counter. You can also specify in advance via email which form you need (and for past periods, if necessary).

1. Certificate of Award of the MEXT Scholarship
   • This states the period you are enrolled as a government-sponsored international student and the amount of the scholarship you are receiving. It is primarily used to prove that you are personally covering your living expenses.
2. Certificate of Enrollment for MEXT Scholarship Students
   • This verifies your status and the period you are enrolled as a government-sponsored international student. For regular proof of enrollment at Sophia University, please use the certificate-issuing machine. This is primarily used when you specifically need to prove that you are a government-sponsored international student.

About the Renewed Residence Card

Once your period of stay has been successfully renewed and you have received your new Residence Card, please submit a photo or scan of it to both Center for Academic Affairs and Center for Global Education and Discovery.

Return

Necessary Procedures Before You Return to Your Country

When your scholarship period is complete, you will need to apply for your air ticket to return to your country. The application forms will be provided by e-mail. After submitting the application forms, you will be requested to contact the agency directly to confirm your ticket. Please do not close your Yuucho Ginkou (Japan Post Bank) account before you leave because there may still be money transferred from Monbukagakusho. Lastly, you will be required to submit a questionnaire on your research period to Monbukagakusho (form provided).