The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) brings pre- and post-doctoral researchers linked to ASEAN or African countries to Japan for cooperative research under a Japanese host, in any field.
There is no open call: candidates apply through a regional nominating authority, which recommends them to JSPS. Fellows spend 1 to 12 months at a Japanese university or other eligible research institution.
Benefits & funding
- JPY 362,000 a month if your PhD diploma or degree certificate reaches JSPS before the start; JPY 200,000 otherwise
- Round-trip airfare under JSPS rules and overseas travel insurance
- JPY 200,000 settling-in allowance for stays of 3 months or more; it and the flight to Japan are not paid to those already living in Japan
- The host can request up to JPY 70,000 a month for research costs
- Amounts may change for budget reasons
Eligibility
- Citizen or permanent resident of an eligible country (list below)
- Or a national of a country with diplomatic relations with Japan (or Taiwan, Palestine) with at least three years of continuous research at a university or institute in an eligible country
- A PhD from a university outside Japan within six years of 1 April of the fellowship year, or doctoral enrolment outside Japan with the PhD due within two years of starting; parental leave extends both periods
- Not eligible: anyone who started a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan before; holders of a Japanese resident card with a Japan address at the deadline; Japanese citizens who are permanent residents of an eligible country
- ASEAN: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam; the JSPS Bangkok FY2027 call also lists Timor-Leste
- Africa: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Cabo Verde, Seychelles, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
“Also eligible are persons who have been engaged in research continuously over a period of at least three years** at a university or research institution in one of the eligible countries. … Have obtained their doctoral degree at a university outside Japan within six years*** of the date (1 April) the fellowship goes into effect, or currently be enrolled in a doctoral course at a university outside Japan, and scheduled to receive a Ph.D. within two years from the time that their research starts in Japan.” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
Brunei · Cambodia · Indonesia · Myanmar · Laos · Malaysia · Philippines · Singapore · Thailand · Vietnam · Timor-Leste · Algeria
Residents of Brunei · Cambodia · Indonesia · Myanmar · Laos · Malaysia · Philippines · Singapore · Thailand · Vietnam · Timor-Leste · Algeria · Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Republic of the Congo · DR Congo · Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Egypt · Eswatini · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Ethiopia · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Kenya · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Nigeria · Cabo Verde · Seychelles · Rwanda · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sudan · Tanzania · Togo · Tunisia · Uganda · Zambia · Zimbabwe can also apply.
+ 53 more
Angola · Benin · Botswana · Burkina Faso · Burundi · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Comoros · Republic of the Congo · DR Congo · Côte d'Ivoire · Djibouti · Egypt · Eswatini · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Ethiopia · Gabon · Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Kenya · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Madagascar · Malawi · Mali · Mauritania · Mauritius · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Niger · Nigeria · Cabo Verde · Seychelles · Rwanda · São Tomé and Príncipe · Senegal · Sierra Leone · Somalia · South Africa · South Sudan · Sudan · Tanzania · Togo · Tunisia · Uganda · Zambia · Zimbabwe
Education required
PhD Enrolled · PhD
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Application process
- 1Find a host researcher in Japan yourself and get their letter of acceptance or invitation.
- 2Apply to your region’s nominating authority: JSPS Bangkok Office with the ASEAN University Network (ASEAN), JSPS Cairo Research Station (North Africa), JSPS Nairobi Research Station (Sub-Saharan Africa), or E-JUST for its own researchers.
- 3The Nairobi call asked for a research proposal, the host letter and a recommendation letter from your doctoral supervisor; procedures vary by authority.
- 4The authority nominates candidates to JSPS, which appoints fellows.
Program timeline
ASEAN deadline (FY2027, via AUN)
Nov 16, 2026
ASEAN results expected
April 2027
ASEAN start window
Jul 1, 2027 to Mar 31, 2028
Sub-Saharan deadline (FY2027, via JSPS Nairobi)
Oct 15, 2026