Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan (Standard)

Postdoctoral Fellowships Standard

Supports Japan researchers with structured pathways in postdoctoral research from planning to deployment.

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Standard Postdoctoral Fellowship is Japan's principal government-funded mechanism for bringing overseas early-career researchers to conduct collaborative research at Japanese universities and research institutions. Administered by JSPS — a statutory funding organisation established under Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology — the program covers all academic disciplines, from the natural sciences and engineering to the social sciences and humanities. The program has operated continuously since 1979, when JSPS first invited postdoctoral researchers from the United Kingdom and West Germany, and now accepts candidates from any country that maintains diplomatic relations with Japan.

Fellows receive a monthly maintenance allowance of JPY 362,000, a one-time settling-in allowance of JPY 200,000, round-trip international airfare, and overseas travel insurance. Fellowship tenure runs between 12 and 24 months. Separately, the Japanese host researcher may apply to JSPS for a Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellow (KAKENHI) to fund the cooperative research work itself. Eligibility for the overseas candidate requires holding a doctoral degree obtained within six years of the fellowship start date, with parental leave periods subtracted from the calculation. Japanese citizens and permanent residents of Japan are excluded as candidates. Applications are submitted by the Japanese host researcher — who must hold a full-time appointment at a MEXT Article 2-designated institution — not by the overseas candidate directly.

The selection process operates through two channels: Open Calls, in which Japanese host institutions initiate the application, and Nominations, in which overseas nominating authorities recommend candidates directly. Each host researcher may submit up to three applications simultaneously. The FY2027 application guidelines have been published; prospective applicants should consult the JSPS Electronic Application System for current forms and submission schedules. The program is consistently regarded as one of the most accessible routes for non-Japanese postdoctoral researchers to gain extended research experience in Japan.