Japanese Government (MEXT) Undergraduate Scholarships

Gerard Glowacki
Japanese Government (MEXT) Undergraduate Scholarship
Preparatory Education at Osaka University 2021-2022
Bachelor student at School of Informatics, Nagoya University 2022 – present

It was the summer of 2019, and I had recently finished sixth form. Like many at that critical junction in life, I found myself not entirely sure what to do with my life. All I had was an idea about what I wanted to study and a deferred place at uni, as well as an internship in a related field during my gap year. About the same time, I had begun to study Japanese to fill in my free time and found myself more and more interested in both the language itself and potentially studying in Japan.

It was at this point that I came across the recently closed applications for the MEXT scholarship, and almost instantly I knew what I wanted to do. Half a year and a few forms later, I was biting my nails waiting to find out whether I would have an interview and sit exams. Due to COVID-19 there were no exams to be sat, only an interview. It was conducted in both Japanese and English, and though I like to think of myself as good at interviews my heart was racing by the end of it. Another few months spent waiting for the second screening decision from Tokyo alongside my studies at Imperial, and I was finally told that I was going to Japan.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, my flights would be delayed and so the first month of my preparatory education took place over Zoom. I was waking up at 10pm and taking classes until 6am, and had bought some nice fancy curtains and an eye mask to keep this impossible rhythm going until I got to Osaka. I got my flights in May, and after a quarantine period in a hotel near Narita airport I was finally in my dorm in Osaka, and taking classes in person.

I had Japanese classes every morning, with science and maths classes in the afternoons on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. These classes culminated in two tests in September and December, on which my university application was based. Feeling strong deja-vu from UCAS, I chose five universities and ranked them in order of preference, and wrote a personal statement about why I wanted to study there. I was granted my second choice at Nagoya University, and was over the moon. I did fairly poorly in September's science exams, and my determination to improve my results for December clearly came through. Education here is very different to what I was used to back home, and even this experience was a great learning opportunity for me.

Student life in Japan is also an absolute blast. Despite the coronavirus situation, there are still plenty of opportunities to make friends among both fellow scholars and normal students at university. Miki-san's bento shop just next to the university is a good place to strike up conversation with people, and he himself is very kind. The only part of my Japanese that I would consider strong is conversation, particularly in the Kansai dialect, so I took as many opportunities as possible to get around town, make some local friends and really enjoy the area I lived in. I started attending a volleyball club in Osaka, and it's a hobby I'm continuing in Nagoya.

Japan itself is beautiful, and whether you travel to some far-flung prefecture or just take a walk up to the local mountain, waterfalls and temple, there's no shortage of wonderful sights to be seen and experiences to be had. The centre of Osaka has vibrant streets and food that is to die for. The locals are very friendly, the food is cheap and life is good.

It is at this point that I would like to give some advice to anyone hoping to apply for this programme, and especially anyone who can find themselves relating to me. Firstly, just do it. Take that leap into the unknown because it's just worth it. If not now, and not for this amazing opportunity, then when? Secondly, speak as much Japanese as possible. It may be tempting to fall back into your comfort zone, and there is no shame if you do, but it will make your experience so rewarding if you're able to make Japanese friends in your first year there.

Lastly, study as much Japanese as you can. A professor of Japanese from the UK came to visit my advisor at Osaka a few years ago to find out just how they managed to get students from zero Japanese to taking courses at university. His remark to my advisor was that the course 'felt like the army'. Though the course is both rewarding and stimulating, I would best describe it with some combination of the words gruelling, exacting and intensive. There are no subtitles. You will come out at the end of it all with a high level of Japanese, a resilient character and comrades with whom you will have forged a strong friendship in this baptism of fire.

I'm told Nagoya University stands out among Japanese universities for its intellectual freedom and culture, exemplified by the university's stated aim to raise all of its students into「勇気ある知識人」 or "Brave intellectuals". The campus is wonderful, the facilities are good and the Informatics department is full of experienced professors.

At the time of writing, summer holidays are coming to an end at Nagoya University. I have so far managed to get through spring term with a good GPA and all my courses passed, and now I get to enjoy some interesting programming and Mathematics courses in my second term, as well as French language classes.

My experience in Japan has been nothing but amazing, and I am glad about even the most trying moments because they tell a once-in-a-lifetime story that I am so very grateful to be living through. I feel like I have grown as both a person and a professional, and am eagerly looking forward to whatever the next four years here have in store for me.