To promote international scientific cooperation, the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) encourages highly qualified researchers from the world over to come and conduct joint research activities with colleagues at Japanese universities and research institutes.

The JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Standard 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.

JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship

Course level: Postdoctoral fellowship

Fields of study: All fields of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Scholarship period: 12 to 24 months

Institution and country: Any university and research institution in Japan

Sponsor: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

Scholarship inclusions:

  • A round-trip air ticket to/from Japan
  • Maintenance allowance of ¥362,000 per month
  • A settling-in allowance of ¥200,000
  • Overseas travel insurance

For the candidate (invited overseas researcher) who has been living in Japan (and has a mailing address) before the fellowship starting date, the “airfare” of outbound and a “settling-in allowance” will not be paid.

A Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellow) is available to cover cooperative research-related expenses. Application for these grants is made by the applicant (host researcher) through his/her institution.

Eligibility criteria for the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship:

  • Be a citizen of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan (JSPS treats Taiwanese and Palestinian researchers in this manner).
  • Candidates must have obtained their doctoral degree within six years of the date the fellowship goes into effect.

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.

Persons who are Japanese citizens and foreigners who are permitted permanent residence in Japan are not eligible.

A person who was selected as a fellow needs to submit an original copy of the doctoral degree certificate or a copy of the diploma before the fellowship starting date (Not required when submitting the application).

Application deadline:

  • 1st Round of Recruitment: 4 September 2020
  • 2nd Round of Recruitment: 7 May 2021

How to apply for the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship:

The application for the program should be submitted through the institution (Individual applications are not accepted). The institutions must submit the complete documents to JSPS by the end of the application period.

Please note that your institution may give you an early deadline to compile all application forms that will be submitted to JSPS (it could be more than a month before the deadline set by JSPS, depending on the procedure each institution takes).

Other useful links:

JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship