JSPS


 

“JSPS International Fellowships for Research in Japan” consists of two programs: “Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan” for young researchers and “Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan” for mid-career and senior researchers.

1. JSPS for Postdoctoral Fellowship:

1-1. JSPS postdoctoral fellowship for research in Japan (Standard program)

The program provides an opportunity to conduct collaborative research for young overseas researchers under the guidance of their hosts in universities and other research institutions in Japan.

  1. History
    JSPS launched the “Postdoctoral invitees from the United Kingdom and West Germany” in 1979. 10 people from each country were invited for two years based on recommendations from the Royal Society in the UK and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in West Germany.
    The main idea of this invitation program was stated in the “Overview of FY 1979 JSPS Projects” as follows: In the view of many of our country’s brilliant young researchers have gained valuable experiences by courtesy of the developed countries, such as the UK, the U.S., France and other nations since the end of the WW-II, we initiate the government-funded program to contribute to the international academic exchange. The program begun to include France as an invitation subject country in 1983 and changed the program name into the “Postdoctoral invitees from the United Kingdom, West Germany and France”. They invited 179 young researchers from 1979 to 1987.
    Based on the success of the nine years of the program, it was decided to accept young researchers from the U.S.in 1988 as well as to renew the effort to improve the program by giving grantees the eligibility to apply for the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, and renamed the program as the “JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Overseas Researchers”.
    It began accepting applications once a year submitted individually by Japanese host researchers who belong to universities and other research institutions in Japan and wish to invite overseas colleagues (the domestic recruitment system).
    The number of public recruitment from subject countries was up to 12 countries in 1989 and 25 countries in 1991. As a result of continuous expansion, the eligibility was broadened for countries that have diplomatic relation with Japan in 1994. Additionally, it established a more flexible invitation system that issued a domestic public recruitment twice a year.
    Owing to the transfer of the “STA Fellowship”, which had been carried out by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), to JSPS in 2001, more research laboratories and institutions have joined as host institutions. At the same time, the number of the overseas nominating authorities increased to 35 and that of the recruit subject countries became 25.
    Moreover, the “JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Overseas Researchers” was merged with the “Invitation Fellowship for Research in Japan” and have been offered as the “JSPS International Fellowship for Research in Japan” since 2015. It has been implemented by providing the varied programs that enables an applicant to select the program that suits their career stage and desired invitation tenure.
  2. Fields of Research
    All fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.
  3. Duration
    12 to 24 months
  4. Fellow Eligibility
    (1) Be a citizen of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan (JSPS treats Taiwanese and Palestinian researchers in this manner).
    (2) Hold a doctorate degree when the Fellowship goes into effect, which must have been received within the past 6 years, or be scheduled to receive a doctorate degree before the Fellowship goes into effect.
    Note 1: Those who have previously been awarded a fellowship under the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Research in Japan ([Standard] , and [Pathway to University positions in japan]) are not eligible.
    Note 2: Persons who are Japanese citizen and foreigners who are permitted permanent residence in Japan are not eligible.
    Note 3: A person who are selected as a fellow needs to submit an original copy of the doctors degree certificate or a copy of the degree by the commencement date (Not required when submitting the application).
  5. Host Eligibility
    The applicant (host researcher) must, in principle, be a researcher who is employed full-time at a university or research institution as specified in Article 2* of the Procedure for the Handling of Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi), issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). However, there are cases when a researcher not employed in a full time position may be eligible. Such persons must be eligible to apply for a KAKENHI grant–in-aid and his/her affiliated institution must judge them able to implement the project and to provide an appropriate research environment (e.g., laboratory, equipment, personnel) for it.
    Each host researcher can submit up to three applications. If more than one overseas researchers apply as candidates for the fellowship at the same time, priorities should be given to them. *Eligible host institutions specified under the above MEXT Procedure are as follows:
    1) Universities and inter-university research institutes
    2) MEXT-affiliated institutions engaged in research
    3) Colleges of technology
    4) Institutions designated by the Minister of MEXT
  6. Term of Award
    (1) Airfare: A round-trip air ticket (based on JSPS’s regulations. See the “Program Guidelines”. )
    (2) Maintenance Allowance: ¥362,000 per month
    (3) Miscellaneous: A settling-in allowance of ¥200,000, Overseas travel insurance, etc.
    [Note] For the fellow who has been living in Japan (and has a mailing address) before the fellowship starting date, the “traveling expense” of outbound flight and a “settle-in allowance” will not be paid. A Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Tokubetsu Kenkyuin Syoure-hi) is available to cover cooperative research-related expenses. Application for these grants is made by the host researcher through his/her institution.
    Link for Application through Open Recruitment in Japan for FY2018:
    https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/application-18.html
    Link for Application through Open Recruitment in Japan for FY2019:
    https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/application-19.html

1-2. JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Pathway to University Positions in Japan)

The purpose of this program is to promote the employment of overseas researchers in full-time position at Japanese universities and research institutions. It offers the institutions a funded means of inviting postdoctoral researchers from other countries to do pre-employment research in their institutions.
The applicant must be the head of a university or research institution which must have a clearly defined vision for achieving the internationalization of its research and education programs by promoting the employment of overseas researchers.

  • History
    The “JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Pathway to University Positions in Japan)” has been started to provide a step in preparing overseas researchers to become full-time researchers at Japanese universities and other research institutions since 2013.
  • Fields of Research
    All fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.
  • Duration
    12 to 24 months
  • Fellow Eligibility
    (1) Be a citizen of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan (JSPS treats Taiwanese and Palestinian researchers in this manner).
    (2) Hold a doctorate degree when the Fellowship goes into effect, which must have been received within the past 10 years, or be scheduled to receive a doctorate degree before the Fellowship goes into effect.
    (3) Have a desire to continue engaging in research and education at the host institution in a full-time employment capacity.
  • Host Eligibility
    The host researcher must be a researcher who is employed full-time at a university or research institution as specified in Article 2 of the Procedure for the Handling of Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Kakenhi), issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). (Jokyo, assistant professor, and Joshu, research assistant, are excluded.) However, there are cases when a researcher not employed in a full time position may be eligible. Such persons must be eligible to apply for a KAKENHI grant–in-aid and his/her affiliated institution must judge them able to implement the project and to provide an appropriate research environment (e.g., laboratory, equipment, personnel) for it.
  • Term of Award
    (1) Air ticket (payment in kind, economy class)
    (2) Overseas travel insurance
    (3) Monthly maintenance allowance of ¥387,600
    (4) Settling-in allowance of ¥200,000
    (5) "Grant-In-Aid for JSPS Fellows" (Tokubetsu Kenkyuin Shorei-hi) of up to ¥1,500,000 per year (total of ¥3,000,000 for two years)
    Link for Application through Open Recruitment in Japan for 2018:
    https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-teicyaku/appliguidelines.html
    The recruitment of the Postdoctoral Fellowship (Pathway to University Positions in Japan) in the FY2018 has been suspended. The program will be reviewed. The time and date of restarting this program is undecided.

2. JSPS for Overseas Faculty Members (Mid-career to Professor Level):

This program is designed to enable Japanese researchers to invite their overseas colleagues to Japan to participate in cooperative work and other academic activities. Researchers of all countries having diplomatic relations with Japan are eligible. Applications are submitted by the inviting researchers who wish to host overseas researchers in Japan.
Applications must be submitted to JSPS by a host researcher in Japan via the head of his/her university or institution. Overseas researchers wishing to participate in the program are advised to establish contact with a Japanese or foreign-resident researcher in their field and to ask him/her to submit an application. They should make this contact well in advance of the host institution’s application deadline.
*JSPS does not find or introduce host researchers.
**JSPS does not accept applications submitted directly by overseas researchers or through diplomatic channels.
Link for 2019 Application guidelines for Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan:
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-inv/apply19.html

2-1. Long term invitational fellowships for research in Japan (2 to 10 month)

To invite overseas researchers with excellent records of research achievements to collaborate with Japanese colleagues in carrying out research through long-term visits.

2-2. Short term invitational fellowships for research in Japan (14 to 60 days)

To invite overseas researchers with excellent records of research achievements for short-term visits to Japan and provide them opportunities for discussions, opinion exchanges, lectures and other activities.

2-3. Short term invitational fellowships for research in Japan (7 to 30 days)

To invite overseas researchers with distinguished records of research achievements to Japan for purposes corresponding to those records, and to provide them opportunities to offer advice and cooperate in research activities throughout the host institution and also to give lectures or conduct other activities at other Japanese research institutions.

3. JSPS RONPAKU (Dissertation PhD) Program

The aim of JSPS RONPAKU (Dissertation PhD) Program is to provide tutorial and financial support for promising researchers in Asia and Africa or other specified countries who wish to obtain their Ph.D. degrees from Japanese universities through the submission of a dissertation without matriculating a doctoral course. This program is implemented in cooperation with JSPSs overseas nominating organizations in Asia and Africa.
Link for JSPS RONPAKU (Dissertation PhD) Program
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-ronpaku/applicationforms.html