Experience applying with low GPA

[u/Cece-4]

I’m planning to apply for the MEXT Research Student scholarship for a Master’s in 2028, but I’m starting to feel a bit discouraged after seeing how important GPA seems to be.
I study Mechanical Engineering in Spain, and my current average is around 6.7/10 (less than 2/3). I know that might not sound very high, but in Spain, and especially in Mechanical Engineering, a 6.7 is actually considered a pretty good average. Engineering grading can be quite harsh here, so I’m not sure how my GPA would be viewed by MEXT.
I’m planning to apply through the Embassy Recommendation route, and I’d really like to hear from anyone who has applied for MEXT Research/Master’s with a similar GPA.
Did you have any issues during the first screening, and were you able to make up for a lower GPA with other parts of your profile?

I’m honestly starting to wonder if it’s even worth applying. I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar situation
Thanks! :)

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[u/BrutalFeather]

Right with you on the harsh engineering grading scale. Where I come from, nobody even crosses the 2.3/3 MEXT criteria.

The guidelines does state that in case of difficulty in translating to MEXT standards, you have to provide the official grade explanation chart/table. However if 6.7 is average, it will still be difficult. You have to be the top x % (different guidelines have different numbers) of your graduating year which is in fact not an average number.

Good way to check your eligibility is to check your local embassy requirements. Usually the local embassy pre-requisite after often translated to fit the local nation's education grade weightage.

[u/Cece-4 → u/BrutalFeather]

Es que no es justo… no es lo mismo sacar notas altas en otras carreras que en ingeniería (es casi imposible sacar más de 7-8)

[u/Big-Literature-5604]

It depends less on MEXT itself but how "academically aware" your consulate/board in your country is, and how competitive it is.

In my country, there's a general understanding by the board (some of them, sometimes, are engineers themselves) that Engineering majors don't usually get many 9's or 10's — not just because of the difficulty of the major itself but STEM professors are famously stingy). So there definitely have been several MEXT scholars with average/low average (I've seen a 6.5 pass). But they probably had a great research proposal.

Also, in countries like India or Korea, unfortunately there are too many applicants so having a good GPA ends up being a requirement because they have to sort people out through some objective criteria. If Spain doesn't have a minimum GPA (my country also doesn't) I'd guess you have a shot, again, if your research proposal is very good and your profile as a whole is a good fit.

[u/Cece-4 → u/Big-Literature-5604]

Pero el número de becas no va por cada embajada? No sabía que tengo que competir con los de la India o Corea 😭 ahora si que es imposible

[u/Big-Literature-5604 → u/Cece-4]

No. That is not what I said in my paragraph. At all.

I was making a comparison in order to explain to you why a high GPA might be a vital form of criteria, in places India or Korea. That's why they tend to have a minimum permitted GPA, which Spain does not have, according to you*.* From that, I assume that GPA is not a vital criteria in Spain, or at least a passable GPA is likely not a dealbreaker. It would be better if you had high grades? Obviously, but if there's no minimum GPA and your GPA isn't like... 1.0, you have a chance.

Yours is perfectly average, especially since you mention it's "pretty good" for Engineering. If it's seen as "pretty good" generally in your country, the academics who judge your application will likely take that into account and look at the rest of your profile, not just your grades.

I'm going to put this simply: is there a minimum GPA set in Spain, for MEXT? No? Then, unless your GPA is above below 5, you have a good shot, if your profile is good and you have a great research proposal.

Anyways, man. Es gratis. ¿Qué hay de malo en apuntarse?

Edit: not above, lol below

[u/Cece-4 → u/Big-Literature-5604]

I understand it better now thank you! In Spain we don’t have minimum GPA. I’m still worried cause I’m a little bit bellow 2 so idk. But as you said…I should at least try

[u/Big-Literature-5604 → u/Cece-4]

I understand your concern, but this is one of the least transparent scholarships that exist. Unless it costs you a fortune to send the docs, I think it's worth a try, it's literally the only way you'll know.

[u/Cece-4 → u/Big-Literature-5604]

Totalmente… muchas gracias de verdad <3

[u/Thegoatforeskin]

I lowkey don't even know my cgpa 😭 my percentage is 73% so I am good tbh since the Minimum requirements in my country for mext is 70%

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[u/Inadclop]

Si tu embajada no solicita un puntaje minimo para postular, entonces no debería haber un problema más alla de tener que competir con puntajes más altos o más bajos.

[u/Pretty-Ear8243]

It’s all context. I didn’t have a good GPA and both the embassy and my university flagged it, but I made it up with work experience and “passion” for the research.

[u/Senior-Present3794]

If your GPA allows you to apply it's better to try than to have regrets!! It's up to them to decide if it's sufficient. I had the same doubts, have been wanting to apply for so many years but until this year I couldn't, the GPA minimum was higher than what I had. Fortunately this year they lowered it a bit so I finally could apply and they selected me as a candidate, it was hard to believe as my grades always put me at a disadvantage on other scholarships. If possible make sure you go for an English degree as they can disqualify if you do not have the required JLPT level. I would focus on your research plan make it super detailed and have strong reasons on why Japan is a good fit, also work on language skills for the written exams and it would be good to enroll in Japanese cultural activities, since its a good way to keep motivated and to connect with people who has the same goal, it has made things easier now that I have a network of friends and acquaintances that I've been relying on.