Japanese Studies Fellowship Program

Institution: The Japan Foundation

Country: Japan

Applicant Eligible Countries: Worldwide

Type of Opportunity: Fellowships

Study Levels: PhD

Subjects: Humanities, Social Sciences

Duration: 2 - 12 months

Application Deadline: December 1, 2017

Regular Applications Decision Notifications: April 1, 2018

Funding: Round-trip airfare, Stipend and other allowances.

Japan Foundation

The Japan Foundation invites qualified scholars and researchers conducting original studies in the humanities and social sciences to apply to its competitive fellowship. This program is for long-term research, and will last for a period of anywhere between two to twelve months.

Applicants should be conducting research related to Japan (including comparative studies) in the humanities and social sciences. The nature of these projects should necessitate that students conduct research in Japan, and travel there to conduct studies, gather materials and interviews, etc. The program is designed for Ph.D. candidates who have completed (or will have completed by the beginning of the fellowship) the necessary coursework and documentation to begin this research. The experience in Japan should serve as a completing activity for their dissertations.

The program provides leading foreign scholars and researchers with the opportunity to conduct original research in Japan, with the overarching goal of promoting Japanese Studies overseas. Applicants who intend to research natural science, medical science, and engineering may not apply.

The applicant must be a national or permanent resident of a country that has positive diplomatic relations with Japan. It should be noted that Taiwanese applicants may apply for “Scholars and Researchers (Long Term)” or “Doctoral Candidates. “Previous recipients of a Japan Foundation fellowship may apply, but only if a full three years has elapsed since the completion of their most recent fellowship. This should be based on a date of April 1, 2018. Applicants who have lived in Japan for more than a year may not apply.

In addition, successful applicants will be proficient in Japanese or English enough to research and communicate. A research advisor must also be secured. Students who are undertaking graduate or undergraduate coursework may not apply, nor may students undertaking coursework in language, technical skills, teaching, art, or traditional culture.

The fellowship provides full round-trip airfare, along with a stipend and other financial allowances. Applications from mid-career or young researchers will be given preference. Some consideration will be given to country of origin, but students who have already received Japan Foundation fellowships will be given lower priority. Applications must be received by December 1, 2017, and results will be announced in April 2018.

To learn more and apply, click here.