JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme for Research (UK)

Aims

• The fellowship provides the opportunity for excellent postdoctoral researchers to conduct cooperative research in Japan, with leading research groups in Japanese universities and other Japanese institutions, under the guidance of a host. The programme aims to help early career researchers to advance their own research while contributing to the progress of research in Japan and counterpart countries.

Funding Information

• The fellowship provides:
  • A round-trip air ticket (based on JSPS regulations)
  • A monthly maintenance allowance of 362,000 yen
  • A settling-in allowance of 200,000 yen
  • Overseas travel insurance
  • A research grant, “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 Japan host researcher through their institution
• The fellowship provides:
  • Approximate number of Fellowships offered: 6 (through Royal Society nomination)
  • Fellowships are expected to commence by November 2025.
  • Fellowships are tenable for a period of between 12 and 24 months.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must hold a doctorate degree when the Fellowship goes into effect, which must have been received within six years prior to 1 April 2025 (i.e. awarded on or after 2 April 2019).
• Time taken for maternity/paternity/adoptive leave will be deducted from the time elapsed since the applicant’s doctorate degree was received and should be clearly detailed in the application.
• Scientists in the final year of their PhD can submit an application. If successful, the award will only be given subject to the confirmation of the successful completion of your PhD at the time when the award is taken up.
• A copy of the original PhD certificate must be submitted to JSPS Tokyo. If the degree has not yet been awarded, a letter is required from the candidate’s institution stating the date that they will officially be awarded the degree. In that case, the candidate should submit to JSPS a copy of the PhD degree certificate or the PhD diploma promptly before starting the fellowship. The diploma or certificate should be signed or stamped with an official seal. Under the JSPS program, the date of degree award is the date that the issuing university awarded the degree. It is not the date that Fellows orally defended their dissertation (viva voce) or completed a doctoral course.
• Applicants must be a UK resident and citizen of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan.
• Applications will only be considered for bilateral (UK-Japan) projects.
• UK scientists who have held a PhD degree for a period of more than six years or have substantial professional experience may apply for the JSPS’s Invitation Fellowship Program for Research in Japan (Long Term). Please note that the Japanese host must submit the application on behalf of the UK applicant to JSPS.
• Those who have previously been awarded a fellowship under the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Standard) and (Pathway to University Positions in Japan) are not eligible.
• Medical Doctors (i.e. MD holders) without a PhD degree are not eligible.
• Host Organisation Eligibility:
  • It is the responsibility of the candidate to arrange in advance a structured research plan for their stay in Japan with their host researcher. Host researchers in Japan must be employed full-time at an institution of one of the types listed below:
    • Universities and inter-university research institutes;
    • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) affiliated institutions engaged in research;
    • Colleges of technology;
    • Institutions designated by the Minister of MEXT.
  • Under certain circumstances 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 their affiliated institution must judge them able to implement the project and to provide an appropriate research environment (e.g., laboratory, equipment, personnel).
  • A Fellow’s host researcher may not be changed during the fellowship period. Therefore, if it is known at the time of application that the host researcher will retire, due to reaching retirement age or another reason, they should not be a host researcher.

For more information, visit The Royal Society.