Publishing My Funai Foundation Scholarship Application!!
Translated from the Japanese original published September 7, 2021.
I am publishing my application from last year to the Funai Foundation for Information Technology (hereafter, the Funai Foundation), which supports my graduate study abroad!! If you are thinking of applying to the Funai Foundation this year, please use it as a reference! You can download the PDF from the link below! I also plan to publish the essay (SoP) I actually used in my applications to graduate schools abroad soon!
📄 funai-scholarship-application-kota-kondo.pdf
You can find the details of the Funai Foundation scholarship on the Funai Foundation’s official website here. The application guidelines and the support provided by the Funai Foundation scholarship are as follows.
Application Guidelines
2022 Funai Overseas Scholarship
Graduate (PhD) Study Abroad: Application Guidelines
1. Purpose
By providing scholarships to Japanese students who go abroad to study at graduate schools overseas and aim to earn a degree, the scholarship aims to foster young talent and thereby contribute to the development of science and technology in Japan.
2. Eligibility
In a broad range of science and engineering fields centered on information science and information technology, in the life sciences, and in economics and management: students who will go abroad to study at the graduate school of a research university overseas, aiming for a Ph.D.
Applicants must hold Japanese citizenship or have permission for permanent residence in Japan.
3. Number of Awards
About 10 people in total, mainly in science and engineering, together with the life sciences and economics and management.
4. Support Period
In principle 2 years (in principle 3 years for the UK)
5. Support Provided
① Tuition: full amount
② Medical insurance: full amount
③ Living expenses: US$3,000 per month
④ Preparation allowance: ¥500,000 (for those living in Japan)
⑤ Travel: round-trip airfare (actual cost)
6. Required Documents
Applicants submit the following documents to the Foundation. (Print application documents ①–⑤ single-sided and fasten them with a clip.)
① Application form (download it here)
② Three evaluation letters
(In Japanese or English. The evaluation letter form is on pages 7–8 of the application form file in ① above.)
Three people who know the applicant’s abilities, character and so on each write one and seal it.
However, if an evaluator lives abroad, the evaluator may attach the evaluation letter to an e-mail sent directly to the Foundation (send to: info@funaifoundation.jp).
These evaluation letters are important material for judging whether the applicant can be admitted to a graduate school abroad.
They are reviewed on the assumption that they say the same things as the letters of recommendation for the applicant’s intended schools, so we recommend asking people who can describe the applicant’s activities concretely.
③ Transcripts (from university entrance to the time of application)
④ Copies of peer-reviewed papers, if any
⑤ For foreign nationals with permission for permanent residence in Japan, a copy of the “residence card” or the “special permanent resident certificate”
※ Application documents will not be returned.
7. Application Period
Tuesday, June 1, 2021 – Thursday, September 30, 2021 (must arrive by the deadline)
8. Selection Process
The Foundation’s Scholarship Selection Committee screens the application documents (October 24, 2021), and those who pass are interviewed (October 30, 2021).
Depending on the COVID-19 situation, the interviews may be held online.
Based on the results, the Chairperson decides the provisional awardees.
Each applicant is notified of the result individually by e-mail.
9. Award Decision
Support under the Funai Overseas Scholarship is decided when a provisional awardee is admitted to the graduate school of their intended university and their study abroad is confirmed.
If the provisional awardee does not end up studying at the intended university, the provisional award is withdrawn.
10. Obligations of Scholars
① Those selected as scholars must submit to the Foundation the documents and other materials required by the Foundation’s regulations for Japanese overseas scholars.
② While studying abroad, scholars must regularly submit transcripts and reports on the progress of their study abroad.
③ After earning their degree, scholars must submit a report on their activities during the study-abroad period, what they studied, and so on.
11. Other
① While receiving the scholarship from the Foundation, scholars may not receive funding intended to support study abroad in the same way from their university, other foundations or similar organizations.
② The Foundation pays the travel costs needed to attend the interview at the Foundation.
12. Where to Send the Application
4-11-5 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0021
Attn: Secretariat, Funai Foundation for Information Technology (public interest incorporated foundation)
13. Inquiries
Foundation Secretariat. Phone: 03-3254-5635, Fax: 03-3254-0168
E-mail: info@funaifoundation.jp