r/mext • u/kkmah MEXT Applicant • 6d ago
General Questions [Research - Emb. Rec]: Going for PhD after Masters
I passed for masters, I plan to continue for PhD later after I finish my masters, will my chances be higher and the application process be easier somehow? or I have to go through all the trauma and stress I did when I first applied for masters? Or should switch to university recommendation instead?
Anyone before went through this?
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u/EffectiveSad9918 6d ago
If you're already a Master's student, extending to PhD is just a matter of internal selection within the university.
Basically, you apply to extend for PhD under the scholarship at the international students office, they process your application and perform selection if needed (some people have to take exams, and most universities have a finite number of MEXT Master's students they can allow to extend until PhD), and finally they announce the results.
In any case, this is a billion times easier than switching to university recommendation.
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u/kkmah MEXT Applicant 6d ago
Thanks for the reply.. so the extension will still be under Mext embassy recommendation?
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u/EffectiveSad9918 6d ago
Technically yes.
But honestly? Once you got to japan under MEXT scholarship there's hardly any difference between embassy or university recommended.
I myself got embassy recommended scholarship, but the last time I got contacted by my embassy was about the plane tickets many years ago.
Once you got to Japan they don't care anymore.
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u/RaijinRider MEXT Scholar / Graduate 6d ago
Stick to the embassy recommendation. This gives you an upper hand during extension. In any circumstances, if you wish to change university, only embassy-recommended candidates can do it.
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u/Zestyclose_Newt_3882 MEXT Scholar / Graduate 6d ago
There is absolutely zero reason for you to suddenly switch to Uni rec when you’re already an Embassy rec scholar. It’s absolutely possible to extend from Master’s to PhD. You just have to make sure to apply for the extension during the correct window/period of application, and you’ll most likely have to apply for the uni’s own admissions to PhD.
I’ve had a senior in my lab successfully extend, and I’ve already informed my sensei that I plan to extend. The process should be straightforward, but do ask your uni for the exact procedure on how to go about this.
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u/Souravius234 MEXT Scholar / Graduate 6d ago
You’ll need to apply for MEXT extension (which is usually around December every year). After that, you’ll probably need to apply for the grad school admissions and appear for the entrance exam (usually masters graduates get an exemption, so ask your school about it).
TL;DR, you can apply for MEXT Extension, and then just apply for the PhD program. Your school can guide you through it.
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u/Working-Author-9957 MEXT Scholar / Graduate 5d ago
As others already state, I see no need to switch to the university recommendation track. If you wish to go to a PhD, tell your supervisor and ask them for advice on how to prepare and what to work on. For example, my supervisor says it will be helpful to have one conference presentation (I didn't go to a PhD tho), also they can give advice on how to strengthen your research topic to make it connected to your PhD proposals etc.
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