JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research: The JSPS programs offer excellent researchers from other countries opportunities to conduct collaborative research, discussions, and opinion exchanges with leading research groups in universities and other Japanese institutions. These initiatives aim to advance the research activities of overseas researchers while also promoting science and internationalization within Japan.
| Eligibility/Qualifications | – PhD or equivalent degree obtained within the last five years. – Must have a research proposal aligned with the host institution’s focus. – Must have proficiency in English or Japanese. |
| Job Description | – Conduct independent and collaborative research. – Engage in research activities as guided by the host institution. – Contribute to academic publications and presentations. – Participate in seminars and workshops. |
| How to Apply | – Applications must be submitted through the JSPS Electronic Application System by the host researcher. – Complete the application form provided on the system and ensure endorsement from the institution head. – Obtain a letter of recommendation. |
Research Area
All fields of the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences are included under these programs.
Location
Research will be conducted at universities and other Japanese institutions.
Designation
The fellowships are categorized as follows:
| Categories | Purposes (Duration of Fellowships) |
|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Fellowships: Standard [P] | Provides opportunities for excellent postdoctoral researchers from other countries to conduct cooperative research under the guidance of their hosts with leading research groups in universities and other Japanese institutions. (12 to 24 months) |
| Postdoctoral Fellowships: Short-term [PE] | Provides opportunities for pre-/post-doctoral researchers from the US, Canada, and Europe to conduct cooperative research under the guidance of their hosts with leading research groups in universities and other Japanese institutions. (1 to 12 months) |
| Invitational Fellowships: Long-term [L] | Provides opportunities for overseas researchers with excellent records of research achievements to conduct collaborative research with Japanese colleagues through long-term visits. (2 to 10 months) |
| Invitational Fellowships: Short-term [S] | Provides opportunities for overseas researchers with excellent records of research achievements to visit Japan short-term for discussions, opinion exchanges, lectures, and other activities. (14 to 60 days) |
Eligibility/Qualification
Applicant (Host Researcher) Eligibility:
Applicants must meet the following criteria at the time of application, selection, and throughout the fellowship period:
- Be affiliated with a research institution 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), and be eligible to apply for a KAKENHI grant.
- Express a desire to host an overseas researcher.
- Be a full-time researcher. Researchers not employed full-time may be eligible if their host institution deems them capable of consistently fulfilling their responsibilities throughout the fellowship, including providing a suitable research environment.
Candidate (Invited Overseas Researcher) Eligibility:
1. Postdoctoral Fellowships (Standard) [P]:
- Must be a citizen of a country with diplomatic relations with Japan (Taiwanese and Palestinian researchers are included).
- Must have obtained a doctoral degree on or after April 2, 2020 (within six years of the fellowship start date).
- Individuals who have previously started a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Standard [P] or Pathway to University positions in Japan [PU]) are not eligible.
- Foreigners who received a doctoral degree from a Japanese university or reside in Japan with a Residence Card are eligible. Japanese citizens or foreigners with permanent residency in Japan are not eligible.
- Consideration is given for maternity/parental leave when calculating the six-year doctoral degree timeframe.
2. Postdoctoral Fellowship (Short-term) [PE]:
- Must be a citizen or permanent resident of the US, Canada, European Union countries (as of April 1, 2025), the UK, Switzerland, Norway, or Russia.. Also eligible are those who have continuously conducted research for at least three years at a university or research institution in one of the eligible countries (including Taiwan or Palestine) and possess an excellent research record.
- Must have obtained their doctoral degree at a university outside Japan on or after April 2, 2020, OR be currently enrolled in a doctoral course outside Japan and scheduled to receive a Ph.D. within two years from the start of their research in Japan.
- Individuals with a resident card and mailing address in Japan at the time of the application deadline are not eligible.
- A Japanese citizen who is also a permanent resident of an eligible country is not eligible.
- Maternity/parental leave and continuous research periods are considered.
3. Invitational Fellowship (Long-term) [L]:
- Must be a citizen or permanent resident of a country with diplomatic relations with Japan (Taiwan and Palestine are included). Japanese nationals are eligible if they have resided abroad for 10 years or longer at the time of application and are recognized by a host research institution as having actively contributed to that country’s scientific community.
- Must be a full-time researcher or hold a full-time researcher status at a foreign university or research institution, with a position equivalent to a professor, associate professor, or assistant professor in Japan (including professor emeritus).. Researchers with other statuses may apply if they obtained their doctoral degree six years or longer ago and have continuously conducted research at a foreign university or research institution.
4. Invitational Fellowship (Short-term) [S]:
- Must be a citizen or permanent resident of a country with diplomatic relations with Japan (Taiwan and Palestine are included). Japanese nationals are eligible if they have resided abroad for 10 years or longer at the time of application and are recognized by a host research institution as having actively contributed to that country’s scientific community.
- Must be a full-time researcher or hold a full-time researcher status at a foreign university or research institution, with a position equivalent to a professor, associate professor, or assistant professor in Japan (including professor emeritus). Researchers with other statuses may apply if they obtained their doctoral degree six years or longer ago and have continuously conducted research at a foreign university or research institution.
Job Description
Selected fellows will engage in cooperative research, discussions, opinion exchanges, lectures, and other activities aligned with their fellowship category, under the guidance of their host researchers at Japanese universities and research institutions. This involves deep collaboration with Japanese colleagues to advance both the candidate’s and applicant’s research work. Fellows are expected to reside in Japan continuously during their tenure, focusing primarily on their research.
Terms of Financial Support
The financial support provided (subject to budgetary changes) includes:
- Airfare: A roundtrip economy-class air ticket based on JSPS regulations.
- Maintenance Allowance:
- Postdoctoral Fellowships (Standard [P]): JPY 362,000 per month.
- Postdoctoral Fellowships (Short-term [PE]): JPY 362,000 per month for Ph.D. holders at fellowship start; JPY 200,000 per month for non-Ph.D. holders.
- Invitational Fellowships (Long-term [L]): JPY 387,600 per month.
- Invitational Fellowships (Short-term [S]): JPY 18,000 per day.
- Miscellaneous:
- Postdoctoral Fellowships (Standard [P]): A settling-in allowance of JPY 200,000 and overseas travel insurance.
- Postdoctoral Fellowships (Short-term [PE]): A settling-in allowance of JPY 200,000 (applicable for tenure of 3 months or more) and overseas travel insurance.
- Invitational Fellowships (Long-term [L] & Short-term [S]): Overseas travel insurance.
- Research Support Allowance:
- Postdoctoral Fellowships (Standard [P]): Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellows) is available for cooperative research-related expenses.
- Postdoctoral Fellowships (Short-term [PE]): Up to JPY 70,000 per month of tenure.
- Invitational Fellowships (Long-term [L] & Short-term [S]): Up to JPY 150,000.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted by an applicant (host researcher) in Japan via their host institution using the JSPS Electronic Application System. Individual applications from applicants or candidates are not accepted.
- Obtain Forms: The applicant (host researcher) obtains the required application forms and a letter of recommendation from the candidate (invited overseas researcher).
- Electronic Application: The applicant logs in to the JSPS Electronic Application System, completes Form 1 online, and uploads other required documents (e.g., Form 2, Letter of Recommendation).
- Host Institution Approval: The host institution verifies the application content and, upon approval by the head of the institution, submits it to JSPS by the specified deadline.
- JSPS Electronic Application System: https://www-shinsei.jsps.go.jp/topkokusai/top_kokusai.html.
- Form Downloads and Instructions: https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-fellow/application.html (Postdoctoral Fellowships). and https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-inv/application/guideline.html (Invitational Fellowships).
Last Date for Apply
The deadlines for host institutions to submit applications to JSPS are as follows. Note that each host institution may have its own internal deadlines, which can be earlier than those set by JSPS.
Postdoctoral Fellowships (Standard) [P]:
- 1st Recruitment: August 29, 2025 (by 5 p.m. JST).
- 2nd Recruitment: April 28, 2026 (by 5 p.m. JST).
Postdoctoral Fellowship (Short-term) [PE]:
- 1st Recruitment: September 26, 2025 (by 5 p.m. JST).
- 2nd Recruitment: January 9, 2026 (by 5 p.m. JST).
- 3rd Recruitment: June 5, 2026 (by 5 p.m. JST).
Invitational Fellowship (Long-term) [L]:
- August 29, 2025 (by 5 p.m. JST).
Invitational Fellowship (Short-term) [S]:
- 1st Recruitment: August 29, 2025 (by 5 p.m. JST).
- 2nd Recruitment: April 28, 2026 (by 5 p.m. JST).
