Your mentor / 講師
Learn from someone who actually did it
SI THU LIN
シトゥリンScholarStark Founder / MentorZero-cost study abroad in Japan — lived it, then wrote the book on it.
A 4th-year international student at Shizuoka University's Faculty of Informatics (静岡大学 情報学部), from Myanmar. He entered Japan in October 2022 through Shizuoka University's scholarship system, and has funded his degree through scholarships ever since — a full tuition exemption plus monthly stipends, applied for one round at a time, rejections included. In March 2025 he published a book on Amazon about his zero-cost study abroad in Japan (ゼロコスト日本留学).
What you learn from this mentor
- →How to plan and submit real scholarship applications — including the ones that don't win
- →How to cut the cost of studying in Japan: tuition exemptions plus monthly stipends
- →How international students actually enter and navigate a Japanese university
- →What student life in Japan looks like — from someone in his 4th year of living it
Scholarship track record
Awarded scholarships — 支給（月額） = monthly stipend
Shizuoka University ABP Full Scholarship
Awarded2022 Oct ~
Tuition exemption / 授業料免除
授業料全額免除
Tuition exemption — not a monthly stipend
JASSO Honors Scholarship
Awarded2022 Oct ~ 2023 Mar
支給（月額）
¥ 48,000 / month
Mabuchi International Scholarship
Awarded2023 Apr ~ Now
支給（月額）
¥ 100,000 / month
Shizuoka Innovation Scholarship
Awarded2026 Apr ~ 2027 Mar
支給（月額）
¥ 20,000 / month
挑戦した奨学金 — applications that didn't win
Same journey. The track record above was built through repeated attempts — these didn't land.
Kyoritsu International Scholarship
Not selected2022 Nov
¥100,000 / month
Hattori International Scholarship
Not selected2023 Feb
¥100,000 / month
経歴 — Career & Experience
Studied Japanese after high school graduation 🇲🇲
Myanmar
Entered Shizuoka University, Faculty of Informatics 🇯🇵
Through the university's scholarship system
3rd place — Japan Karate Association Shizuoka-West Championship 🇯🇵
Kumite & kata
Participated in MOVE ON (Entrepreneurship Education Program) 🇯🇵
Exchange Program to Ontario Tech University, Canada 🇨🇦
Bronze Award — International Student Essay Contest 🇨🇦
Endorsed by MEXT and MOFA
First entrepreneurship experience — snow-shoveling service trial 🇯🇵
Published a book on zero-cost study abroad in Japan 🇯🇵
ゼロコスト日本留学 — available on Amazon
Talk at Yangon University of Foreign Languages 🇲🇲
Sharing study-abroad experience — Myanmar
Started building ScholarStark platform for students who want to study in Japan 🇯🇵
Got selected to the Business Boost Program held by FUSE, with a trip to Silicon Valley🇯🇵
Got selected for the Entrepreneurship Program from JETRO 🇯🇵
1-on-1 Mentorship
昇学生 - Elevating your Academic Journey in Japan
Six months. Done with you, not by yourself.
A done-with-you program that takes you from confused to submitted applications in 6 months — with someone who has actually done it beside you the whole way.
Your six months, mapped out
Personalized Next Steps Plan
We map exactly where you are and what to do first — no more guessing.
Plan Execution
Gathering necessary documents, contacting the institution, and clearing the admin.
First SOP / Research Proposal Draft
Your first real draft, with direct feedback so it actually lands.
Continue or stop. Up to you.
Professor Outreach & Lab-Tailored Proposal Refinement
Reaching out to professors and sharpening your proposal for their lab.
Application Submission & Final Prep
Submitting applications and locking down every last detail.
Mock Interview Training
Real practice interviews so you walk in calm and prepared.
The investment
today — then $120 at month 4
or $240 paid in full
The split is intentional: a low barrier now, and the second payment only comes once you've seen real progress. You commit when it's working — not before.
This is for you if…
- →You're serious about applying to Japanese universities in the next 6 months.
- →You want accountability and direct, honest feedback.
- →You want someone in your corner, not just a checklist.
This is not for you if…
- →You're still exploring — start with the free Explorer tier.
- →You just want templates — Shingakusei covers that.
Ready? Secure your spot.
After payment you'll be contacted within 24 hours to schedule your kickoff call. Only 5 spots per intake — when they're gone, they're gone.