JSPS Summer Programme in Japan for Early-Career Researchers
A fully funded two-month summer research fellowship in Japan for young pre- and post-doctoral researchers from North America and Europe, implemented by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and SOKENDAI.
Quick Facts
Status
Funding
Fully FundedDeadline
Varies by overseas nominating authority
Country
JapanAll Japan guidesEvery Japan scholarship in one place→About the JSPS Summer Programme in Japan for Early-Career Researchers
The JSPS Summer Programme is implemented as a component of the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan. Carried out in partnership with The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), the program provides opportunities for young pre- and post-doctoral researchers from North America and Europe to receive an orientation on Japanese culture and Japanese language lessons and to pursue research under the guidance of host researchers at a Japanese university or research institute over a period of two months during the summer.
JSPS seeks cooperation from its overseas partners in recruiting candidates for the program. In implementing this program, our overseas partners are Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France), Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (Germany), the Embassy of Canada in Japan/National Research Council Canada (NRC), and the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (Sweden).
The historical roots of the program trace back to two separate schemes transferred to JSPS in 2003, namely the MEXT Research Experience Fellowship for Young Foreign Researchers and the MEXT/NSF Summer Program. Today, host institutions have expanded to include national, private, and public universities along with national laboratories and other MEXT-specified institutions.
Financial support provided to successful fellows covers major travel and living costs during the two-month period in Japan, including airfare, maintenance allowances, overseas travel insurance, and optional research support allowances applied for by the host researcher.
Eligible Levels
Eligible Fields
Why Choose This Scholarship?
Fully funded two-month research experience at a Japanese host institution during the summer
Includes introductory orientation on Japanese culture and Japanese language lessons
Open to all fields across humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences
Partnership with prominent funding bodies across the US, UK, France, Germany, Canada, and Sweden
What the Scholarship Covers
Eligibility Requirements
7 requirements
Documents Checklist
2 documents required
How to Apply - Step by Step
Contact the designated overseas nominating authority in your country to confirm detailed application procedures and deadlines.
Secure prior acceptance from a host researcher in Japan who is employed full-time at an eligible university or research institution.
Submit the application form and required documents directly to the overseas nominating authority of your home country.
The overseas nominating authority evaluates and nominates candidates to JSPS.
JSPS confirms placement with the prospective host institution and issues a formal letter of invitation to successful applicants.
Application Timeline
Varies by Nominating Authority
Application Submission
Contact your country's specific nominating authority for exact dates.
Conducted by JSPS and Nominating Authorities
Selection and Notification
JSPS confirms host acceptance and issues formal invitation letters.
Insider Tips & Pro Tips
Contact your country's specific nominating authority early because deadlines and guidelines vary significantly by region.
Initiate contact with potential Japanese host researchers well in advance to secure formal acceptance before applying.
Check if your host institution requires additional documentation for the optional Research Support Allowance.
Verify that your PhD completion date or graduate enrollment status precisely meets the six-year eligibility window.
Ensure you do not hold a Japanese residential address or resident card at the time of the nominating authority deadline.
Important Links & Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questions - click any to expand
Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the US, UK, France, Germany, Canada, or Sweden, and must either be enrolled in a university graduate program or hold a PhD obtained within the past six years.
The program provides a round-trip air ticket, a maintenance allowance of 534,000 JPY, overseas travel insurance, and an optional research support allowance of up to 158,500 JPY.
Applications are not submitted directly to JSPS by the candidate. Instead, you must apply through the designated overseas nominating authority in your home country after securing a host researcher in Japan.
Check the Official Website
This scholarship typically opens around Varies. Confirm the current cycle and deadline on the official portal.
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