The Panasonic Scholarship Program in Japan was established in 1998 in commemoration of the Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. or MEI’s 80th anniversary for the purpose to provide scholarship opportunity to the privately financed students from Asian countries to pursue master’s course in Japan. This program offers financial assistance to bring up the highly educated experts who can contribute to the development of their countries in the 21st century and to promote the mutual friendship between their home countries and Japan. Through the application programs in nine (9) countries/area and in Japan since 1998, 180 people have been awarded as Panasonic Scholars as of April 1, 2004. Originally planned to run from 1998 to 2002 only, MEI has committed to continue the program for another five years, as its continuing commitment to excellence in education. Applicants from the Philippines have been accepted since 2000. The Panasonic Group of Companies in the Philippines through the Panasonic Scholarship Office spearheads the annual search in the country. To date, 23 Filipinos have receive the scholarship grant.

MEI will accept applications for “2008 Panasonic Scholarship in The Philippines” from October 16, 2006 to March 17, 2007 under the terms and conditions stated below.

Eligibility

A privately financed student from The Philippines, who wishes to pursue a master’s course in Japan, should fulfill the following requirements and qualifications:

1. Nationality: Applicants must be a citizen of The Philippines.

2. Eligible Student: Applicants must be within four years after completing a bachelor degree as of the application due date. (over 21 years old but below 28 years old as of April, 2007)

3. Enrollment as Research Student in Japan: Applicants must have obtained or be able to obtain approval or informal consent from academic adviser for admission to graduate school in Japan as a research student by the end of 2007. Applicants must be enrolled as research students at universities in Japan in April, 2008.

4. Japanese Language Requirement: Applicants must have adequate proficiency and knowledge in Japanese language for studying at master’s course in Japan, which is Level-1 of Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) or equivalent. Applicants must pass at least Level-3 of Japanese Language Proficiency Test in December, 2007 or 2008.

5. Master’s Course: After being nominated as a Panasonic Scholarship Student, applicants must enroll at graduate schools in Japan and be able to take master’s course in April, 2009.

6. Application Site: Applicants must apply for this program in The Philippines and must be able to take all procedures for selection in The Philippines. Applications may be submitted to:

EXTERNAL LINKAGES OFFICE
Yuchengco Hall Room 309
De La Salle University-Manila
2401 Taft Avenue, Malate
Manila 1004
c/o Mr. Reodel Masilungan

7. Educational Background: Applicants must be a graduate and belongs to the top 5% of his/her batch must have completed at least 15 years or 16 years of school education.

8. Specialization: Applicants must major in any one of the following disciplines [Science, Engineering, Bio-technology and Information technology] Note: Except medical science, pharmacology and dentistry

9. Health : Applicants must be medically fit.

10. Applicants must be interested in and have the desire to contribute to the development of The Philippines and to promote friendship between The Philippines and Japan.

11. Arrival in Japan : Applicants must arrive in Japan by the designated day from the end of March through beginning of April, 2008.

12. Non-eligibility: Those who are under the following category are NOT eligible for Panasonic Scholarship.

a) those who are receiving, will receive or will apply for other scholarship including Japanese Government Scholarship.
b) those who are already enrolled at graduate school in Japan.

Number of Students to be accepted: Three (3) students

Duration of Panasonic Scholarship

Panasonic Scholarship will be provided for max. three (3) years program, including max. one (1) year of Japanese language training and study as a research student and max. two (2) years for master’s course;

a) Year One – Enrollment as a research student at a university in Japan and Japanese language training.

b) Year Two & Three – Register and complete a master’s course in Japan.

The entire period shall not exceed three years in any circumstances. The scholarship will be terminated if a scholarship recipient fails to gain admission to master’s course in Japan within one year after arrival in Japan (by March, 2009.)
Contents of Panasonic Scholarship

a) Research Student at Graduate School (for max. one year)

1) Monthly Scholarship : ¥150,000 per month

2) Arrival Allowance : Max. ¥200,000 (or equivalent amounts to local currency) will be paid. (The payment system depends on each country and area.)

3) Tuition Fee Assistance : Max. ¥250,000 will be paid in each semester. Note: The actual amount will be paid in case the tuition fee is less than ¥500,000 per year.

b) Master’s Course at Graduate School (for max. two years)

1) Monthly Scholarship : ¥180,000 per month

2) Matriculation Fee Assistance: Max. Â¥200,000 will be paid in the first year of master’s course.

3) Tuition Fee Assistance : Max. ¥250,000 will be paid in each semester.

Note: (i) The actual amount of matriculation fee will be paid to the student whose fee is less than the above amount. (ii) The actual amount will be paid in case the tuition fee is less than ¥500,000 per year.

*Above contents of scholarship are subject to change without notice.

Selection and Notification

* Oct 16 – Mar 17 ‘07 Promotion/Application Period/Submission
* Apr 1 – May ‘07 (1st week) 1st Screening(By documents)
* May 2007 (3rd/4th week) 2nd Screening (By interview)
* Jun 2007 (2nd week) 3rd Screening (By interview) / Psychological Test
* July 2007 (1st week) Final Selection (By Interview)
* July 2007 (2nd week) Notification of the results
* July 2007 (3rd week) JLPT Application / Panasonic Scholarship Initial and Pre-departure Orientation
* Aug 2007 (1st/2nd week) Awarding Ceremony

Forms and Applications

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