Japan Honjo International Scholarships 2012/ 2013

“Japan Honjo International Graduate Course Scholarships 2012/ 2013”

Honjo International Scholarship Foundation (HISF) is currently seeking scholarship applications from foreign students who are planning to attend a graduate school at a Japanese university after April 1, 2012. A total of 15 to 20 scholarships are available for the courses commencing 2012.

HISF provides scholarships to bright students who are struggling to study under different conditions in developing nations as well as to those Japanese students studying abroad, to help them learn advanced technologies and improve their good intentions will serve as a bridge connecting Japan with the rest of the world in culture and mutual friendships.

Eligibility
This scholarship is open to foreign students who will attend a graduate school at a Japanese university after April 1, 2012. Number of Scholarships Available 15 to 20 students Requirements (To be considered for the scholarship, the student must satisfy ALL of the requirement criteria below.)

1. The student is registered to attend a graduate school in Japan and does not possess Japanese citizenship. His or her academic achievement as well as moral character is exemplary. He or she must be considered to be in need of financial aid due to extenuating financial circumstances.
2. The student must be registered to attend or have been accepted to attend a graduate school after April 1, 2012. He or she must be able to provide any of the following documentation: a certificate of enrollment, letter of admission or a letter attesting to the fact that the student has been accepted.
3. To be eligible, students enrolled in a PhD Program must have been born after March 31, 1976. Those enrolled in a Master’s Program must have been born after March 31, 1981.
4. The student must be able to assure the committee that he or she will be able to secure employment in his or her home country after graduating from a graduate school.
5. The student must have a deep understanding of international friendship and goodwill, and be committed to make his or her contribution.
6. The student must be able to carry an everyday conversation in Japanese. Interviews will be conducted in Japanese.

Other Rules

1. The student is not permitted to receive any other scholarship in conjunction with the scholarship offered by the Honjo International Scholarship Foundation.
2. The student cannot gain employment other than part-time work related to his or her studies such as teaching assistant, research assistant, translator or interpreter while receiving this scholarship.

Amount and Duration of Scholarships

1. Scholarships
(1) ¥200,000 per month for1 or 2 years
(2)¥180,000 per month for 3 years
(3) ¥150,000 per month for 4 or 5 years – The period is set in accordance with the shortest period of time required to complete the intended degree. The student, once awarded the scholarship will be able to choose either option 1 or 2.
– An extension will not be given on the pre-determined scholarship period nor would the student be allowed to change his or her courses after the scholarship period has commenced.

2. Others
(Travel expenses for conferences, other expenses will be covered regarding to the scholarship rules
Selection Process)

• Applications are accepted between October 1, 2011 and November 30, 2011.
• First selection: The first selection will be conducted with documents submitted by applicants. The results of the first selection will be announced by January 1, 2012.
• Second selection: Interviews will be conducted between February 1 and 15, 2012, in Tokyo. Its detailed schedule will be communicated at a later date directly to those who passed the first step of the selection process.
• Scholarship awarded: Mid-March, 2012.

How to Apply

1. Please visit the website below and write a form, and get your application number. http://www.hisf.or.jp/english/index.html
2. Write down the application number you got on the application form and send by post mail the documents listed below to the Administration Office.

• Scholarship application form (provided by the Foundation). Please make sure to write your application numbers and attach your photo to the form as instructed.
• Your resume (provided by the Foundation)
• Personal information form (provided by the Foundation)
• Academic transcript: Please provide the transcript i) from the university where you graduated AND ii) any other courses that you are currently taking or have taken in the past. If you transferred into the university, the transcript from the previous school is needed. Photocopies are acceptable.
• Research plan: In Japanese, describe focusing around following four points; i) an outline of your research; ii) projected schedule between now and graduation; iii) plans and goals for the future; iv) research you have conducted in the past (if any). There is no limit on the number of pages or style. Typed or hand-written.
• One letter of recommendation from a professor. (This confidential letter should mention the applicant’s academic achievements, character/personality, and his or her potential for the future.) There is no limit on the number of pages or style.
• A certificate of enrollment or a letter of admission. (Photocopies are acceptable.)

3. Your application package will be not returned to you.
4. Your personal information provided by you for the purpose of applying for our scholarship will be not used for any other purposes than for the scholarship selection process except for the following cases.

• During the scholarship selection process, individuals on the selection committee may obtain/view your application package.
• In order to avoid awarding multiple scholarships to an individual, we provide a list of the names of the students who were awarded the scholarship to the universities and other foundations also offering scholarships.

5. Please make sure you enclose all the necessary documents listed above as your application package will not be eligible if it was found to be incomplete.
6. We will announce the results of the first selection on January 31 by posting on our web site the application numbers of the students who will continue to the next step of the selection process.

Application Deadline: Postmarked on/by November 30, 2011.

Receiving the Scholarship
1. The payment of the scholarship money will be issued starting from April, 2012.
2. The scholarship winners are under no obligation to repay the amount they receive from the Foundation.
3. Scholarship payment will be stopped if circumstances listed below arise.

• Due to sickness or other reasons, the student is no longer able to continue his or her studies and/or research.
• When the supervising professor of the student deemed him or her unsuitable for his or her studies and/or research.
• When the student suffered from low academic achievement or displayed dishonorable behavior.
• When the student behaved in a way that endangers the reputation of the Foundation and the other scholarship winners.

4. In case the serious fraud or malicious acts are found in the application process or during the study or the research, Honjo International Scholarship Foundation may request the scholarship student to return the scholarship that has already paid.

Others

1. You need to come for an individual interview every month; we would like you to participate to events that we will hold.
2. After you graduated, please come to our alumni events.
3. We have the Research Fellowship program for alumni scholars.

For more information, klik http://www.hisf.or.jp/bosyuu_file/youkou/2012/2012_youkou_E.pdf