Bachelor’s Global Business (Economics and Management) Student Lanta from Thailand Shares Her Journey of Securing a Fully Funded Bachelor’s at the University of Hyogo, Japan

Hi! My name is Lanta, and I’m from Thailand. Currently, I am a 4^th-year Bachelor’s student at the University of Hyogo (Japan), enrolled in the Global Business Course (Economics and Management). My faculty includes both Japanese and International students, such as those from Zambia, Lithuania, Romania, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, and more. Importantly, all international students receive 50% off their tuition fees, and the top 30% of students may receive a full exemption from the second year onwards. My university has been selected and can nominate candidates for the MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) scholarship, which is the one I am receiving.

I decided to come to Japan for university because I have been eager to be in an international environment, and my curriculum during high school was English-Japanese. At that time, I also had my small online clothing store in Thailand, so Global Business is a perfect fit for me!

MEXT Scholarship Details

I am a recipient of the MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) Scholarship through University Recommendation. The scholarship is comprehensive. It covers my full tuition, provides a monthly allowance for living expenses (120,00 JPY), and even includes my round-trip flights between Thailand and Japan.

One detail to note is that while the scholarship covers the main international flights, students may need to cover domestic connections or specific transit costs. For instance, when I first arrived, my flight was booked to Tokyo, and I handled the domestic connection to Kansai Airport myself (the flights are not booked by you). Additionally, being a scholar gives you access to the MEXT Scholarship Association, a great network of seniors and friends who support one another

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

I didn't apply for other scholarships because MEXT is exclusive, though my university does offer JASSO for those who qualify.

Educational Background

I graduated from high school with a GPA of 3.98/4.00. Although I attended Thai schools my whole life, I went to a conversational English school, which helped me become a confident speaker. My high school curriculum was Japanese-English (taught in Thai). While my Japanese wasn't at its peak then, I have since progressed from N4 (last year of high school) to passing JLPT N2 this year (2026).

My biggest academic challenge was Mathematics, as my class focus was heavily on languages rather than STEM. This made the early days of my Economics and Management degree quite difficult, but through hard work and persistence, I successfully navigated those requirements.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the University of Hyogo?

I found this opportunity when a teacher shared the information in our class group chat. While standardized tests weren't strictly mandatory in my year (2022), as the university accepted English proficiency letters from teachers, I submitted my TOEFL scores to strengthen my application.

I prepared by practicing potential questions, and prepared what I wanted to ask the judges when they ask me if I have any questions, to show that I am interested in their university. Also, my English teachers (outside of school) helped check my SOP for the application essays, such as the grammar and the delivery.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the MEXT Scholarship?

Because I had little time, about one week, I practiced by speaking to myself and anticipating potential questions. Even though the interview was online, I made sure to dress professionally. I also talked about this scholarship in more detail on my YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/CK-h7zS80Uo) to help others through the process.

For the interview, I practiced until I had memorized my key points. My mother guided me on what to include, such as a concrete timeline, a SWOT analysis, and store details

My presentation theme was: "Ten years from now, as a CEO, pitch a project to market Japanese products to your home country." I chose to pitch a Japanese Curry store blended with Thai influences, inspired by my favorite curry spots in Thailand. I believe I stood out because I was genuinely passionate about the topic and focused on a field I loved.

How is Your Experience at the University of Hyogo?

The university staff is incredibly kind and helpful, particularly in the International Office. Academically, the experience varies. While the Humanities subjects are excellent, some core Economics subjects can be challenging because not all professors are fluent in English. This means self-study is essential for surviving final exams. While I understand the difficulty of finding subject-matter experts who are also fluent in English, a faculty that markets itself as international should ensure that core subjects are taught with a high level of English proficiency to meet students' academic needs.

The university supports international students through job fairs and internship shares, which are mostly conducted in Japanese. While many resources at the Career Center are in Japanese, the staff are very patient and willing to help non-Japanese speakers. Therefore, in my opinion, you must be proactive in seeking information and improving your Japanese skills if you plan to work in Japan after graduation. Also, you have to be extra careful, since the timeline for job hunting in Japan is different from many countries.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Japanese?

Classes are conducted in English. Nevertheless, if you choose Japanese Language classes, they are mostly in Japanese. Also, for the first year, all students have to take the mandatory Japanese Language classes, which would be divided into about three to four classes (A, B, C, and D) based on the learners' language proficiency. In the Intermediate level (C and D classes), classes are taught entirely in Japanese, including grammar explanations and exams. The classes include reading, speaking, listening, and writing.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Not Knowing Japanese?

Not necessarily, but there are moments where miscommunication can occur. There was a time when a professor conducted classes in English-Japanese in econ-related subjects. International students who understand Japanese realized that the teacher gave more details in Japanese compared to in English regarding the final exam because they are more comfortable in their native language.

Importantly, whenever there is a complaint about a subject backed by evidence, such as a group of students reporting together or a detailed report written by the students, my university always adjusts the subject for the next semester. This shows that they truly listen to the learners. Ultimately, I believe it is important to learn the local culture, such as the high-context and low-context aspects, and be confident enough to ask questions when you don't understand or if something feels off.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe it was my academic background combined with my extracurricular activities, such as English speech contests, Japanese dictation contests, and cheerleading. The judges were also very interested in the online clothing business I ran during my last year of high school. Apart from that, I think my confidence and the fact that I was being my authentic self helped me stand out. I even wore a very bright pink blazer to the interview! One of the professors joked about how colorful it was, but luckily, they appreciated the personality I brought to the screening.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I would definitely upgrade my presentation. Now that I am a 4th-year student and have taken classes in Business Models and International Marketing, I have much better presentation skills than I did in 2022. I would apply everything I’ve learned about professional pitching if I were to do it again. Also, I got asked about the Thai Northern curry during the scholarship interview, but I, who is from the central Thai and mostly has Southern curry, had no idea and was struggling to answer. So, I wanted to study more about curry in Thailand beforehand, if I can redo the presentation!

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Be sure to research the specific type of scholarship you are applying for. For example, MEXT scholarship has another way to apply, which is through Embassy Recommendation. In that track, you have to take an exam, and you select the university later, after you officially pass the screening. However, the university you rank first might not be selected for you, depending on your scores compared to those of others. Therefore, it is very competitive. The University Recommendation track is different from the Embassy Recommendation track because you are competing with other highly qualified applicants who have already passed the university entrance exam.

Research the timelines carefully, be yourself during the interview, and work on your critical thinking skills would be my advice!

My Application Timeline (2022)

• March 29: University Entrance Interview.
• April 14: Received University acceptance and MEXT eligibility notification.
• April 26: Deadline to submit MEXT application documents.
• May 12: Notified of passing the 1st Screening.
• May 12–16: Prepared business pitch and 6-minute presentation.
• May 19: Final MEXT 2nd Screening Interview via Zoom.
• May 25: Officially selected as one of the 8 MEXT finalists.