JSPS Summer Program: Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan
by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), with SOKENDAI
What it covers
Round-trip airfare, a maintenance allowance of 534,000 JPY, and overseas travel insurance. A research support allowance of up to 158,500 JPY is optional and is applied for by the host researcher through their institution. The program lasts 2 months in summer and includes an orientation on Japanese culture and Japanese language lessons.
Who can apply
You must be a citizen of the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada or Sweden. Applicants from other countries with equivalent status may apply if a nominating authority approves. You must be enrolled in a graduate program or have received a doctorate within the past six years (on or after April 2, 2021). People living in Japan or holding Japanese nationality are not eligible. You need prior acceptance from a host researcher in Japan and must aspire to become a researcher. Previous JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship recipients are not eligible. You must follow the program's arrival and departure schedule.
The JSPS Summer Program is a two-month research stay in Japan. The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) runs it with SOKENDAI. It suits graduate students and recent PhD holders from North America and Europe who have a host researcher in Japan.
What you get
- A round-trip air ticket.
- A maintenance allowance of 534,000 JPY.
- Overseas travel insurance.
- An optional research support allowance of up to 158,500 JPY. Your host researcher applies for it through their institution.
- An orientation on Japanese culture and Japanese language lessons.
The program lasts 2 months in summer. It is open to all fields in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.
Who can apply
- You must be a citizen of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada or Sweden.
- Applicants from other countries with equivalent status may apply if a nominating authority approves.
- If you have more than one nationality, you may apply through only one nominating authority.
- You must be enrolled in a graduate program, or have received your doctorate on or after 2 April 2021.
- You need prior acceptance from a host researcher in Japan.
- You must want to become a researcher.
- You must be able to arrive and leave on the dates set by the program.
You cannot apply if you have a residential address in Japan at the nominating authority’s deadline, or if you hold Japanese nationality. You also cannot apply if you have held a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan before.
How to apply
- Find a host researcher at an eligible Japanese university or research institute. Get their prior acceptance.
- Apply through the nominating authority in your country: CNRS, DAAD, the Embassy of Canada/NRC, or the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education.
- See the Application and Selection Procedures page on the official site for the list of nominating authorities.
Key dates
- Deadline: each country’s nominating authority sets its own. Deadlines vary.
- Opening date: not announced. Check the official page.
- Next round: not announced yet. Check the official page or your country’s nominating authority.
Before you apply
- Contact your nominating authority early to learn its deadline and its steps.
- Write to possible host researchers well before the deadline. You need their acceptance first.
- Read the full official rules, including the list of eligible host institutes.
- Check the deadline time zone. Submit a few days early.
StudyFree is independent. JSPS makes all decisions. Read the official JSPS Summer Program page before you apply.
StudyFree is independent and not the provider of this opportunity. Rules, amounts and deadlines are set by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), with SOKENDAI and can change: always confirm on the official page before you apply.