Japanese Government (MEXT) Postgraduate Scholarships

MEXT Alumni Personal Experiences

Nicholas Chapman, PhD candidate in International Relations
Japanese Government (MEXT) Super Global University scholarship
The International University of Japan, Niigata from September 2015 – June 2018

I first came to Japan in 2008 to do a Japanese Language exchange programme at the Nagoya University of Foreign Studies. Despite having little Japanese language knowledge beforehand, this immense experience allowed me to elevate my Japanese level very rapidly. After finishing my exchange programme, I wanted to pursue a master’s in International Relations and found the perfect school in the International University of Japan (IUJ), located deep in the Snow Country of Niigata. IUJ is unique since it attracts students from all over the globe and hosts them in an intimate, beautiful campus located near the famous Mount Hakkaisan.

Whilst at IUJ I met a lot of international friends and I forged a deep friendship with the Vietnamese community. During my research for my undergraduate thesis regarding the Vietnamese War, I interviewed many Vietnamese immigrants who had fled Vietnam. IUJ had a sizable Vietnamese community so I was very interested to gain greater perspective from those that had grown up in Vietnam in the post-war years. I ultimately wrote my master’s thesis entitled Vietnam-Japan Relations: Benefits of a Strategic Partnership which looked at the political, economic, and social benefits of the 2006 Strategic Partnership signed between the two countries. I am extremely grateful to the Mitsubishi UFJ Scholarship Foundation, who sponsored me during my master’s programme. After completing my studies in 2012, I began working for a local company.

Having long held ambitions to pursue a PhD I was happy to learn that IUJ was beginning a PhD programme, starting in the fall of 2015. MEXT has designated IUJ as a Super Global University, and I was graciously recommended for the MEXT Super Global University scholarship by my current supervisor Maung Aung Myoe. The first year of my PhD programme was focused on taking core curriculum classes and narrowing down my research proposal. At the end of the year I had to take three PhD comprehensive examinations in International Politics, International Political Economy, and Human Rights and Global Justice. Thanks to my excellent supervision, I could pass them all. My second year is now focused on research for my PhD thesis.

My research is about explaining the workings of Vietnamese Foreign Policy since it initiated reforms in 1986. Being proficient in Japanese and Vietnamese has enabled me to access beneficial sources that lead a more rounded, comprehensive explanation of Vietnamese Foreign Policy. In December 2016, I presented a Chapter of my PhD thesis entitled: "Multidirectionalism in Vietnamese Foreign Policy: Achieving Vietnam's Strategic Goals Through Integration and Diversification" at the 5th International Conference on Vietnamese Studies. This conference attracts top scholars on Vietnamese studies across the globe including many from Japanese universities. Whilst there, I was able to listen to research papers presented by Vietnamese scholars form the University of Hiroshima, University of Tokyo, and Waseda University among others.

Vietnam is a key political partner for Japan and Vietnam is a favourable destination for Japanese Official Development Aid and Foreign Development Investment. Similarly, Vietnam is a leading destination for Japanese tourists and a greater number of Vietnamese are choosing Japan to study and work in. I hope to utilize my knowledge of both countries to contribute to their strong relationship as well as foster greater understanding of both countries back in the UK.

Thanks to MEXT I have been able to fulfil a lifelong ambition. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience in Japan and have developed a deep and meaningful understanding of the culture, language, and people. It is a country that I would recommend to anyone seeking to study abroad.