Hi, I just posted this on the japanesepod101.com forum, thought I'd ask here too. I'm not sure if this is the right section though.

I'm looking to apply for a MONBUKAGAKUSHO scholarship. I was told that the first step is to pick an university (or more) and start communicating with them. I don't plan to apply for high profile universities like University of Tokyo or Kyoto University. I think this would rather reduce my chances of actually getting there. I study IT, and you can study IT anywhere, so I don't really care as long as it is in Japan (and not in Hokkaido, I hate cold).
So I thought I'd pick my schools based on their location. I'd like for the school to be as close to the town of Iwama (now part of Kasama) as possible.
I've done some searching, there doesn't seem to be an university in Kasama, though there is one in Mito - actually a campus of Ibaraki University.
What other schools are in the area? Which ones would you recommend to me?
Any other advice regarding scholarship or study in Japan is welcome.
Thank you.

Don't know about IT, but Tsukuba University, north of Tokyo (easy by Tsukuba Express right into Akihabara) is renowned for its strength in scientific research and engineering.

I don't know if Tsukuba is near Iwama, but at least it's in Ibaraki-ken.
Good luck.

Tsukuba University is close enough to Iwama to make training regularly at the Ibaragi dojo a possibility-- I looked into this when I was in grad school.

Of course you could have some other reason for wanting to be near Iwama, but in my experience, that is usually why Westerners are interested in what is otherwise a pretty boring, out-of-the-way little town.

joxn_costello, you nailed it. But I'm aiming for the Shinshin Aiki Shurenkai dojo But so far my research shows that the Mito campus of Ibaraki University is closer. Can you tell me anything about Ibaraki University? Any other tips?

I don't know anything about Ibaraki University. Tsukuba is a world-famous institution when it comes to science and supercomputing, and that's why I was interested in it. (Also, when I was interested in it there was only the Ibaragi dojo, and no need for a Shinshin Aiki Shurenkai, so my information is not exactly up-to-date.)

I do have some other general tips, but they fall into the realm of "aikido politics" and so are therefore not on-topic for these forums.