The JSPS Fellowship Japan 2027 offers Ph.D. holders ¥362,000 per month, plus round-trip airfare, insurance, and research support for research in Japan. Through the ASEAN University Network (AUN), eligible applicants can apply for the FY2027 JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan, Short-term (PA) for 1 to 12 months. Applications close on 16 November 2026, with fellowship starts available from 1 July 2027 to 31 March 2028. Here is the part that matters most. The generous stipend will attract attention, but a strong application depends on your Japanese host, doctoral-stage eligibility, and a focused research plan that clearly justifies the collaboration.
JSPS Fellowship Japan 2027 Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host Country | Japan |
| Funding Organization | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) |
| Nomination Route | ASEAN University Network (AUN) |
| Program | Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan, Short-term (PA) |
| Level | Doctoral researchers and recent Ph.D. holders |
| Monthly Stipend | ¥362,000 for Ph.D. holders; ¥200,000 for non-Ph.D. fellows |
| Other Support | Airfare, overseas travel insurance, eligible settling-in allowance and research support |
| Duration | 1 to 12 months |
| Starting Period | 1 July 2027 to 31 March 2028 |
| AUN Deadline | 16 November 2026 |
| Eligibility Route | ASEAN nationals plus qualifying researchers with an established research connection to an ASEAN country |
| Application Method | Prospective Japanese host + AUN nomination route |
JSPS requires fellows to stay continuously in Japan during their fellowship tenure. You cannot divide the award into several separate research visits.
Looking for the broader JSPS route? If this ASEAN-linked Short-term (PA) programme does not fit your profile, explore the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan covering the separate Standard fellowship route.
What Is the JSPS Fellowship Japan 2027?
The programme gives pre-doctoral and postdoctoral researchers the chance to conduct cooperative research with established research groups at Japanese universities and research institutions.
JSPS designed the fellowship to strengthen researchers’ work while supporting scientific exchange and international research collaboration in Japan.
- JSPS funds the Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan
- AUN provides the overseas nomination route for this ASEAN-focused call
- Japanese host researchers support the proposed cooperative research
- Short-term (PA) supports research stays of 1 to 12 months
This structure changes how you should approach the application. You do not simply prepare your documents and search for a host later. You should establish contact with a suitable Japanese researcher early because your host directly supports the proposed research arrangement.
Which Research Fields Can You Apply For?
The JSPS Fellowship 2027 does not restrict applicants to a narrow group of disciplines.
JSPS includes:
- Humanities
- Social sciences
- Natural sciences
That makes the fellowship relevant to researchers across science, engineering, medicine, technology, social research, and humanities fields.
Who Can Apply for the JSPS Fellowship 2027?
You can qualify through different routes. ASEAN citizenship provides the most direct pathway, but the programme also covers certain non-ASEAN researchers who have established a substantial research connection with an eligible ASEAN country. A detailed JSPS Short-term Fellowship eligibility is as follows;
Recent Ph.D. holders
You need a doctoral degree from a graduate school outside Japan.
As of 1 April 2027, you must remain within six years of receiving that Ph.D. The FY2027 guideline defines this as a degree officially awarded on or after 2 April 2021.
Current doctoral students
You can apply while enrolled in a doctoral course outside Japan if you expect to receive your Ph.D. within two years from your fellowship starting date.
JSPS does not use full-time employment status as an eligibility test for this requirement.
ASEAN-linked eligibility
The programme identifies these ASEAN member countries:
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam, and Timor-Leste.
Certain non-ASEAN nationals can also qualify if they have continuously conducted research for at least three years at a research institution in an ASEAN member country and satisfy the additional conditions in the programme guidelines.
Researchers who took maternity or parental leave can receive an adjustment to the relevant research-experience or post-Ph.D. calculation under the stated JSPS rules.
Who cannot apply?
You cannot qualify if you previously received and started a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship under the Standard (P), Short-term (PE), Short-term (PA), or Pathway to University Positions in Japan (PU) routes.
JSPS also excludes applicants who hold a Japanese resident card with a mailing address in Japan at the nominating authority’s application deadline.
If you have not yet reached the postdoctoral stage and want a fully funded Ph.D. instead, explore Commonwealth PhD Scholarship 2027, which supports doctoral study in the UK.
Required Documents for the JSPS AUN Application
Prepare your documents early. Several items depend on your university, supervisor, and Japanese host.
- FY2027 JSPS Fellowship application form
- Academic transcripts from bachelor’s level through your latest degree
- Ph.D. diploma or doctoral degree certificate, where applicable
- Expected degree documentation if you have not yet received your doctorate
- Signed recommendation letter from your doctoral supervisor or another appropriate referee
- Acceptance or invitation letter from your prospective host researcher in Japan
- List of major publications, maximum 1 page, if applicable
- Research Plan in Japan, maximum 2 pages
Your two-page research plan should explain:
- Background of the proposed research
- Purpose of the research
- Proposed research plan
- Expected results and impacts
JSPS requires documents in English. If an original document uses another language, you should attach an English translation. The candidate or host can prepare that translation.
AUN allows you to submit initially without the host acceptance letter. However, your application remains pending until you provide it, and you must submit the letter by 16 November 2026.
How to Apply for the JSPS Fellowship Japan 2027
Step 1: Find a suitable Japanese host
Identify researchers whose work directly connects with your proposed project.
JSPS does not find or introduce host researchers for applicants. You need to contact potential hosts yourself.
Step 2: Develop the cooperative research idea
Discuss your project, research period, facilities, expected results, and working arrangements with your prospective host.
Your host must belong to an institution that meets JSPS and KAKENHI eligibility requirements.
Step 3: Complete the host compliance process
Candidates need to submit the JSPS Compliance Requirements for Host Institution through their prospective host researcher.
Step 4: Prepare the application package
Complete your research plan, transcripts, doctoral documentation, recommendation, publication list, and host-related materials.
Step 5: Submit through AUN
Applicants using this route submit through the ASEAN University Network application system by 16 November 2026.
Step 6: Wait for nomination and JSPS selection
AUN conducts its scientific evaluation and nominates selected applicants to JSPS. JSPS then evaluates the nominations and communicates the results through the relevant institutions and authorities.
AUN lists April 2027 as the result announcement period.
If your goal is a degree programme in Asia rather than a short research stay, explore NTUST Taiwan Scholarship for Spring 2027 Admission for graduate study opportunities in Taiwan.
Careers Help Desk Competitive Edge: What Strong Applicants Should Do Differently
1. Choose the host before polishing the application
Average applicants can spend weeks perfecting their CV before seriously approaching Japanese researchers.
That order wastes valuable time. Your host shapes the feasibility and credibility of your research plan. Contact researchers early and develop a project that fits their expertise and facilities.
2. Make every line of the two-page plan work
Two pages leave little room for generic background.
Show the research problem, why the Japanese host matters, what you will actually do during the fellowship, and what results the collaboration should produce. Your proposal should look like a genuine cooperative project rather than research you could conduct anywhere.
3. Check technical eligibility before investing heavily
A strong publication record cannot fix an eligibility problem.
Verify your Ph.D. award date, previous JSPS fellowship history, residence status, ASEAN connection, and host eligibility before spending substantial time on the final application.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using your Ph.D. defense date instead of the university’s official degree award date
- Approaching a host too close to the deadline
- Choosing a host who expects to retire during your fellowship
- Applying through multiple nominating authorities or different hosts for the same programme in the same fiscal year
- Missing required signatures
- Using a handwriting-style font instead of an accepted signature
- Forgetting English translations
- Sending the host acceptance letter after 16 November 2026
- Planning to split the fellowship into separate stays
JSPS also advises applicants to consider copyright and confidentiality risks when using generative AI during application preparation.
JSPS Fellowship 2027 Stipend and Financial Benefits
The financial package makes this opportunity particularly attractive for short-term research in Japan.
JSPS schedules the following support for FY2027:
- ¥362,000 per month for fellows who hold a Ph.D. and provide the required doctoral certificate before starting
- ¥200,000 per month for fellows who have not yet obtained or documented their Ph.D.
- Round-trip economy airfare under JSPS regulations
- ¥200,000 settling-in allowance for fellowships lasting at least three months
- Overseas travel insurance
- Up to ¥70,000 per month of fellowship tenure for cooperative research expenses
The final item does not function as personal stipend money. Your host researcher applies for the research support allowance through the Japanese institution.
Your doctoral documentation also affects your payment. If you submit your Ph.D. certificate after the fellowship begins, JSPS increases your monthly allowance from the following month. JSPS does not retrospectively increase earlier payments.
Candidates already staying in Japan before their fellowship starts do not receive the inbound airfare or settling-in allowance.
If you already hold a Ph.D. and want another funded international research route, compare Commonwealth Fellowships 2027, including its Academic Fellowship pathway for eligible university researchers.
Ready to Apply JSPS Fellowships in Japan?
The JSPS Fellowship Japan 2027 gives eligible doctoral and postdoctoral researchers a substantial package: up to ¥362,000 per month, round-trip airfare, insurance, an eligible settling-in allowance, and separate research support. Start with your host. Then verify your doctoral timing and eligibility before building a focused two-page cooperative research plan. The AUN application deadline is 16 November 2026. Review the official ASEAN University Network JSPS Fellowship page and the FY2027 JSPS application guidelines carefully before you submit.
Official Source: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) International Fellowships for Research in Japan Call for Applications 2027
If you are targeting a fully funded master’s degree rather than doctoral or postdoctoral research, see Chevening Scholarship 2027 for one-year master’s study in the United Kingdom.
JSPS Fellowship Japan 2027 FAQs
Can Ph.D. students apply for the JSPS Fellowship 2027?
Yes. Doctoral students can qualify if they study outside Japan and expect to receive their Ph.D. within two years from the fellowship starting date.
Is this JSPS Fellowship only for ASEAN citizens?
No. Certain non-ASEAN researchers can qualify if they have conducted continuous research for at least three years at an eligible institution in an ASEAN country and meet the remaining programme conditions.
How much does the JSPS Fellowship pay?
¥362,000 per month applies to eligible fellows who provide their doctoral diploma or degree certificate before starting. Fellows without qualifying doctoral documentation receive ¥200,000 per month.
Do I need a Japanese host researcher?
Yes. You need to establish contact with a prospective host researcher. JSPS does not provide host matching.
Can I apply without the host invitation letter?
Yes. AUN allows an initially pending application, but you must provide the invitation or acceptance letter by 16 November 2026.
Can I split the fellowship into multiple visits?
No. JSPS requires continuous residence in Japan during the fellowship tenure and does not allow you to divide the award into multiple stays.
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