How a Pakistani Structural Engineer Secured the Fully Funded MEXT Scholarship for a Ph.D. in Structural Engineering at Nagoya University

I am Muhammad Abdullah, from the City of Saints, Multan, Pakistan. I completed my PhD in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Structural Engineering in September 2024 from Nagoya University, Japan (152nd in the World in 2025 QS World Rankings and 6th in Japan). I started my professional career as a Structural Design Engineer in Lahore, Pakistan, in 2014, just after graduation and later I joined the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, as an Assistant Engineer in 2016. My first job as a Structural Design Engineer pushed me to study more about Structural Engineering, and that push brought me to Japan.

MEXT Scholarship Details

I got acceptance in Nagoya University, Japan, under the MEXT university-recommended program for a PhD in Structural Engineering during my graduate studies. This was the time that totally changed my career, and I joined Nagoya University in October 2021. For the PhD program, MEXT provides living expenses in terms of a monthly stipend of 148,000 yen, full coverage of tuition fees, round trip to and from Japan at the start and end of the scholarship period. It also helps students to immerse themselves in the Japanese culture.

Educational Background

I completed my undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering in 2014 from one of the prestigious government Engineering universities in Pakistan, i.e., UET, Lahore, with a CGPA of 3.438/4.0. With three (03) years of professional experience (both design and managerial), I started my graduate degree with a major in Structural Engineering from UET Lahore, Pakistan in 2017. Due to doing a full-time job and the COVID-19 peak in 2020 and 2021, I completed my graduate degree in March 2021 with a CGPA of 3.408/4.0. My graduate degree, which also included research work, diverted my mind towards research and development and urged me to give a try at PhD studies abroad.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Nagoya University?

For MEXT and particularly in Japan, I was lucky because I had many friends and seniors who studied or were doing a job in Japan at that time. I got detailed guidelines from them and prepared all the documents and research proposals very carefully. One big advantage of studying in Japan under MEXT, there is no compulsion to have IELTS, TOEFL, or GRE. You can use an English proficiency certificate from your last institute, and it works. I also used that certificate and got the golden opportunity to study at Nagoya University, Japan.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think that my application was approved just because my graduate study research work aligned with the ongoing research work of a Professor in Nagoya University, Japan. That was the positive point, and also the prayers of my parents and family worked for me.

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

If I were going through the process again, I would dream even bigger and give myself more confidence that “yes, I can do it”. At the stage of applying for scholarships, students need confidence, dedication, and sincere guidance. Now, today, I firmly believe that “Nobody can stop you from reaching your dream university or company but only you, so trust yourself”.

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

The advice that I would give to those looking to apply for MEXT under a university-recommended program is to align your research proposal with the previous or ongoing research of the professors at different universities in Japan. Start emailing them with your research proposal and brief CV from April or May every year, because the applications for the university's recommended program usually open from October to December (varies from university to university). Don’t lose heart if you fail once, twice, or thrice, but try to target as many universities in Japan as you can. In this way, your chances of winning this scholarship increase.