Vulcanus in Japan is run by the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation and co-funded by the European Union. It places engineering and science students in Japanese companies.
Participants attend a seminar on Japan and a two-month intensive Japanese course, then spend six months as trainees in a host company in Japan.
Benefits & funding
- Up to €9,200 per student (2026–27 edition): €8,200 for the traineeship and compulsory activities, plus €1,000 for the optional “Eyes on Japan” assignment.
- The host company provides accommodation for the whole stay; the grant only partly covers travel, insurance and living costs, and students buy their own return flight.
- Eight months, August to March.
- Sapienza University’s page still shows an older format (one year from September, up to ¥1,900,000).
Eligibility
- Citizen of an EU Member State or of a country associated to the Single Market Programme’s SME pillar (association agreement in force).
- Registered at a university in the EU or an associated country, and enrolled until at least late June of the departure year.
- Between the fourth official year of studies and the last year of a PhD when applying.
- Studying engineering or a science, technology or mathematics field.
- Fluent in English.
- Priority (not a bar) goes to applicants with no experience in a Japanese company and non-native Japanese.
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.
“Be registered as a student at a university based in the EU or in a country associated with the Single Market Program, SME Pillar … Be enrolled at a university in between the fourth official year of studies and the last year of PhD when applying” Eligibility
Eligible nationalities
Austria · Belgium · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Czechia · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Germany · Greece
+ 27 more
Hungary · Ireland · Italy · Latvia · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Malta · Netherlands · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Slovakia · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Albania · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Iceland · Kosovo · Liechtenstein · Moldova · Montenegro · North Macedonia · Norway · Serbia · Türkiye · Ukraine
Education required
Bachelor Enrolled · Master Enrolled · PhD Enrolled
Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.
We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.
Application process
- 1Complete the Word application form and the online webform, with the supporting documents in the centre’s How to Apply guide.
- 2Submit by 20 January (2026 edition: 23:00 CET).
- 3A shortlist goes to the Japanese host companies, which make the final choice.
Program timeline
3 November 2025
Applications opened (2026–27 edition)
Application deadline
20 January 2026
Programme starts
August 2026
Programme ends
March 2027