The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan – Standard Program offers outstanding early-career researchers from around the world an opportunity to spend 12 to 24 months conducting collaborative research at universities and eligible research institutions in Japan.

The fellowship is one of Japan’s major international postdoctoral research programmes and is open across an exceptionally broad range of academic disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. Successful Fellows work under the guidance of an eligible Japanese host researcher and join an established research environment in Japan while developing an international collaborative research project.

Financial support under the Standard Program includes a JPY 362,000 monthly maintenance allowance, a round-trip international air ticket under JSPS rules, a JPY 200,000 settling-in allowance, overseas travel insurance and access to a separate Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research for eligible collaborative research expenses.

For FY2027, JSPS has scheduled two open-call recruitment rounds, with approximately 120 Fellowships planned in each round. The first round deadline was 28 August 2026 at 5:00 PM Japan Standard Time, while the second-round deadline is 23 April 2027 at 5:00 PM JST.

This deadline information is important because some third-party posts circulating online state that the application deadline is 15 November 2026. That date does not appear in the official JSPS FY2027 Standard Program open-call schedule. Applicants using an overseas nominating authority may face separate deadlines set by that nominating organization, but those deadlines vary by country and should not be presented as the universal JSPS deadline.

The official FY2027 Standard Program should therefore be understood as a host-based, highly competitive international postdoctoral fellowship, not a direct individual online application in which a researcher simply submits independently to JSPS.

Official programme information: JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan; JSPS International Fellowships for Research in Japan 2026

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About the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science operates several international fellowship programmes designed for researchers at different stages of their careers.

These include programmes for:

• Pre-doctoral researchers
• Postdoctoral researchers
• Early-career researchers
• Experienced international researchers
• Short-term research visitors

The Standard Program, however, is specifically designed to give young overseas postdoctoral researchers an opportunity to conduct collaborative research with leading research groups at Japanese universities and other eligible research institutions.

The programme emphasizes genuine research collaboration rather than simply providing a researcher with funding to work independently.

Before an application is submitted, the overseas candidate and Japanese host researcher are expected to:

• Establish contact
• Develop a concrete research plan
• Agree on the proposed collaboration
• Identify an appropriate host institution
• Demonstrate how the collaboration will advance the proposed research

These factors are explicitly considered during the JSPS selection process.

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Fellowship Duration

The Standard Program runs for:

12 to 24 months.

This gives successful Fellows enough time to become meaningfully integrated into the host research environment rather than undertaking only a short academic visit.

Depending on the project, a Fellow may therefore spend:

• One year
• 18 months
• Two years

conducting research in Japan.

The precise tenure is proposed through the application and should match the needs of the research collaboration.

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FY2027 Number of Fellowships

The official FY2027 open-call schedule lists approximately:

120 Fellowship awards in the first recruitment round

and another:

120 Fellowship awards in the second recruitment round.

Therefore, the frequently advertised figure of “120 awards” is broadly correct for each FY2027 open-call recruitment round, rather than necessarily representing the total number of all Standard Program awards through every application route.

JSPS also receives Standard Program applications through overseas nominating authorities in selected countries and organisations.

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FY2027 First Recruitment Round

The first FY2027 Standard Program open-call round had the following schedule:

Application deadline from host institution to JSPS:
28 August 2026 at 5:00 PM JST

Expected results:
Late December 2026

Permitted fellowship commencement period:
1 April 2027 to 30 September 2027

Approximate number of Fellowships:
120

As of September 2026, this first recruitment deadline has already passed.

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FY2027 Second Recruitment Round

Researchers who missed the first round have another opportunity under the FY2027 Standard Program.

The second recruitment schedule is:

Application deadline from host institution to JSPS:
23 April 2027 at 5:00 PM JST

Expected results:
Early August 2027

Permitted fellowship commencement period:
1 September 2027 to 30 November 2027

Approximate number of Fellowships:
120

Prospective applicants should note that this is the deadline by which the Japanese host institution must submit the application to JSPS.

Universities may impose their own internal deadlines significantly earlier.

Candidates should therefore begin identifying a host researcher well in advance.

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Important Clarification About the 15 November 2026 Deadline

A social-media version of this opportunity states:

15 November 2026

as the application deadline.

That date does not match the official FY2027 Standard Program open-call schedule published by JSPS.

The official deadlines are:

• First round: 28 August 2026
• Second round: 23 April 2027

However, JSPS also accepts some applications through overseas nominating authorities, and those organisations establish their own procedures and deadlines.

For this reason, a November deadline could potentially refer to a particular nomination route, but it should not be advertised as the general JSPS Standard Program deadline unless the relevant nominating authority specifically confirms it.

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Difference Between the Standard Fellowship and Other JSPS Programmes

This distinction is particularly important because JSPS operates several programmes with different deadlines.

For example, the FY2027 Short-term Program (PE) currently has an official first-round deadline of:

25 September 2026 at 5:00 PM JST

and approximately 20 Fellowships are planned for that round.

That is a different programme.

The Short-term PE programme should not be confused with the:

Standard Program

which lasts 12–24 months and has approximately 120 places per FY2027 open-call round.

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Fields of Research

One of the strongest features of the JSPS Standard Fellowship is its disciplinary breadth.

JSPS states that applications can be submitted in:

All fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

This makes the fellowship relevant to researchers working across areas such as:

• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• History
• Languages
• Literature
• Philosophy
• Political science
• International relations
• Economics
• Sociology
• Law
• Education
• Psychology
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Engineering
• Computer science
• Informatics
• Biology
• Agriculture
• Environmental sciences
• Medicine
• Dentistry
• Pharmacy

The FY2027 review structure similarly covers disciplines including humanities, social sciences, mathematical and physical sciences, chemistry, engineering, informatics, biology, agriculture/environmental sciences, medicine, dentistry and pharmacy.

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Who Is the Fellowship Designed For?

The Standard Program is intended for:

Young overseas postdoctoral researchers

who want to conduct collaborative research in Japan.

Applicants should normally be at an early stage after completing their doctorate.

The fellowship is not intended primarily for:

• Undergraduate students
• Master’s students
• Researchers without an expected PhD by the fellowship start
• Senior professors looking for short visiting appointments

Other JSPS programmes may serve some of those categories.

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Doctoral Degree Requirement

For the Standard Program, an overseas candidate must normally have:

Obtained a doctoral degree within six years of the date the Fellowship begins

or:

Be expected to receive the PhD before the Fellowship begins.

The candidate’s employment status is not decisive.

JSPS explicitly states that whether the applicant currently holds a full-time position is not considered for this eligibility requirement.

This means applicants may potentially include:

• Postdoctoral researchers
• Research associates
• Lecturers
• Researchers between appointments
• PhD candidates close to graduation

provided all other requirements are satisfied.

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Applicants Who Have Not Yet Completed Their PhD

A candidate does not necessarily need to hold the doctorate when the application is submitted.

Researchers expected to obtain the doctoral degree before the Fellowship begins may apply.

If selected, they must submit documentation confirming the doctoral degree before their fellowship starts.

This can make the programme particularly valuable to final-stage PhD candidates planning the transition directly into postdoctoral research.

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Maternity and Parental Leave Adjustment

JSPS also recognizes career interruptions connected with:

• Maternity leave
• Parental leave

The six-year post-PhD eligibility period can be adjusted by subtracting qualifying periods of maternity or parental leave when calculating the time elapsed since the doctorate was awarded.

This provision helps prevent researchers from being disadvantaged simply because they temporarily interrupted their academic careers for family responsibilities.

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Nationality Requirement

Standard Program candidates must generally be citizens of a country that:

Has diplomatic relations with Japan.

JSPS also treats researchers from:

• Taiwan
• Palestine

as satisfying this requirement.

This makes the Standard Program broadly international.

It is therefore open to researchers from a very large number of countries across:

• Africa
• Asia
• Europe
• North America
• Latin America and the Caribbean
• Middle East
• Oceania

provided the nationality requirement and all other eligibility conditions are satisfied.

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Japanese Citizens and Permanent Residents

Persons who are:

• Japanese citizens, or
• Foreign nationals permitted permanent residence in Japan

are not eligible for the Standard Program under the published candidate rules.

The programme is specifically designed to bring overseas researchers into Japanese research institutions.

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Previous JSPS Fellows

Applicants should also note an important restriction.

Researchers who previously received and started a Fellowship under the:

• JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan – Standard
• Pathway to University Positions in Japan

are not eligible again under the Standard Program.

Applicants who were previously selected but did not actually begin the Fellowship should consult the detailed eligibility rules applicable to their circumstances.

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Financial Support

The JSPS Standard Fellowship provides an extensive support package intended to allow researchers to concentrate on their collaborative research in Japan.

The main components include:

1. Monthly maintenance allowance
2. International airfare
3. Settling-in allowance
4. Overseas travel insurance
5. Potential research funding through KAKENHI

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Monthly Maintenance Allowance

Standard Fellows receive:

JPY 362,000 per month.

For a 12-month Fellowship, that corresponds to approximately:

JPY 4,344,000 in maintenance allowances

before considering other benefits.

For a 24-month Fellowship, it would correspond to approximately:

JPY 8,688,000

at the currently published monthly rate.

The actual total received depends on the approved fellowship duration and programme rules.

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Settling-In Allowance

Successful Fellows may receive a:

JPY 200,000 settling-in allowance.

This is intended to help with costs associated with beginning a temporary research stay in Japan.

Possible relocation-related costs can include:

• Initial housing expenses
• Essential household setup
• Local transportation
• Administrative arrangements

Applicants should follow the formal JSPS rules concerning eligible circumstances and payment.

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Round-Trip International Airfare

JSPS provides:

A round-trip air ticket

in accordance with its programme regulations.

This considerably reduces the cost of relocating internationally for a long research fellowship.

However, candidates who are already living in Japan with a mailing address before the Fellowship starts are not entitled to the outbound airfare or settling-in allowance under the conditions described by JSPS.

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Overseas Travel Insurance

The programme also includes:

Overseas travel insurance.

The specific coverage is governed by JSPS programme regulations.

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Research Funding Through KAKENHI

In addition to the personal Fellowship support, a:

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research

may be available for cooperative research-related expenses.

The host researcher submits the research grant application through the Japanese host institution.

This research funding is separate from the Fellow’s:

• Monthly maintenance allowance
• Airfare
• Settling-in allowance

and is intended to support the research project itself.

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Is This a Fully Funded Fellowship?

The programme can reasonably be described as a fully funded postdoctoral research fellowship because it provides:

• Monthly living support
• International airfare
• Relocation support
• Insurance
• Potential research funding

However, applicants should avoid interpreting “fully funded” as meaning that JSPS separately reimburses every possible personal expense.

The official terms of support should always govern financial expectations.

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Is There an Application Fee?

JSPS’s official FY2027 Standard Program materials do not list an application fee as part of the normal open-call submission process.

The more important challenge is that applicants cannot simply apply independently.

They must build a relationship with an eligible host researcher and have the formal application submitted through the Japanese host institution.

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How the Application Process Works

The Standard Program uses two principal application routes:

1. Open Call through a Japanese host institution
2. Nomination through an approved overseas nominating authority

These routes should not be confused because their procedures and deadlines can differ.

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Route 1: Open Call Through a Japanese Host Researcher

For the open call, the overseas researcher first needs to identify:

An eligible researcher in Japan willing to serve as host.

That host researcher then becomes the formal applicant in the JSPS system.

JSPS states that the application is made through the:

Japanese host institution

using the JSPS Electronic Application System.

The overseas candidate therefore cannot simply submit the complete application independently to JSPS.

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Why Finding a Host Researcher Is Crucial

The relationship between candidate and host is central to the selection process.

JSPS expects the two researchers to have:

• Established contact before applying
• Created a concrete research plan
• Identified the value of the collaboration

A weak application based only on the prestige of the overseas candidate is therefore unlikely to be enough.

The proposal needs to explain why conducting the research with this particular Japanese researcher and institution adds value.

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Who Can Serve as a Host Researcher?

The host researcher generally needs to be affiliated with an institution eligible under Japan’s KAKENHI framework.

Eligible institutions include categories such as:

• Universities
• Inter-university research institutes
• MEXT-affiliated research institutions
• Colleges of technology
• Other institutions designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

The host researcher normally needs to be eligible to apply for KAKENHI funding and capable of providing an appropriate research environment for the overseas Fellow.

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Host Researchers Can Submit Several Applications

Each eligible Japanese host researcher can submit up to:

Three applications

under the programme.

Where the host submits applications for more than one candidate at the same time, priorities must be indicated.

Prospective Fellows should therefore discuss the host’s application situation clearly before beginning substantial proposal preparation.

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Route 2: Overseas Nominating Authorities

JSPS also accepts Standard Program candidates through approved:

Overseas nominating authorities.

The list includes organisations in countries such as:

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Czech Republic
• Estonia
• France
• Germany
• Hungary
• Italy
• New Zealand
• Poland
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• Ukraine
• United States

as well as the United Nations University.

Candidates using this route need to contact the relevant authority directly because:

Application procedures and deadlines are determined by the nominating authority.

This is another reason not to publish one third-party deadline as though it applies universally.

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Required Application Materials

The FY2027 application page provides separate forms completed by the:

• Japanese host researcher
• Foreign candidate
• Recommender

The candidate completes Form 2, while the host researcher completes the information submitted through the JSPS Electronic Application System.

A recommendation letter is also required and may be written in:

• English
• Japanese

Applicants should download the current FY2027 materials rather than reusing forms from an earlier year.

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Selection Process

Applications under the Standard open-call route undergo a:

Two-stage competitive review process.

The stages are:

1. Document review
2. Panel review

The evaluation is undertaken by the JSPS International Program Committee, consisting of researchers in Japan.

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Six Examiners Review Each Application

During the initial document-review stage:

Six examiners review each application.

Experts are assigned according to the research field.

Applications are scored on a five-point scale:

• 5 – Superlative
• 4 – Excellent
• 3 – Good
• 2 – Fair
• 1 – Poor

The averaged document-review score becomes an important basis for determining which applications progress through panel review.

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What Reviewers Evaluate

Reviewers consider factors such as:

• Research achievements
• Quality of the research plan
• Estimated research capacity
• Future potential
• Ability to establish new research networks

This means candidates should not treat the application as simply another academic CV competition.

The proposal itself matters substantially.

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Importance of the Proposed Collaboration

JSPS explicitly wants the collaboration to contribute to:

• Advancement of science in Japan
• Advancement of science internationally
• Development of the proposed field
• The candidate’s research
• The host researcher’s research

The proposal should therefore explain:

Why does this research need to be conducted collaboratively in Japan?

A strong answer to that question is essential.

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Diversity in Selection

JSPS also states that it seeks, as far as possible, to avoid excessive concentration of selected Fellows by:

• Nationality
• Host institution
• Area of specialization

and seeks to enable researchers from a diverse range of countries to come to Japan.

There is nevertheless no country quota guaranteeing selection.

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How Competitive Is the Fellowship?

The Standard Program is highly competitive.

For the FY2026 first recruitment round, JSPS reported:

• 1,868 applications
• 145 selected Fellows
• 7.8% selection rate

For the second FY2026 recruitment:

• 2,231 applications
• 125 selected Fellows
• 5.6% selection rate

These historical figures demonstrate that meeting the eligibility criteria alone is far from sufficient.

Applicants need a strong research record, convincing host relationship and carefully designed research proposal.

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Preparing a Competitive Application

1. Start by Finding the Right Japanese Host

Do not approach the host search as an administrative formality.

Look for researchers whose work genuinely intersects with yours.

Review:

• Recent publications
• Current projects
• Research group expertise
• Available facilities
• Institutional strengths

Then explain specifically why collaboration would create research value.

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2. Contact Hosts Early

The official JSPS deadline is not necessarily your practical deadline.

The sequence usually involves:

candidate → host researcher → host institution → JSPS.

Japanese universities may establish internal application deadlines weeks or even more than a month before the JSPS deadline.

Beginning host outreach only shortly before April 23, 2027 would therefore be risky.

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3. Build a Concrete Research Plan

JSPS explicitly evaluates whether the candidate and host have developed a concrete collaborative plan.

A strong proposal should explain:

• Research question
• Academic significance
• Methodology
• Research schedule
• Host institution resources
• Division of collaboration
• Expected outcomes
• International significance

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4. Explain Why Japan Is Necessary

Avoid a proposal that could be conducted anywhere.

Identify what Japan offers that is specifically relevant, such as:

• Unique archives
• Laboratories
• Datasets
• Research facilities
• Field sites
• Intellectual traditions
• Technical expertise
• Host research network

This strengthens the logic behind the Fellowship.

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5. Show Future Research Potential

The fellowship is intended for early-career researchers.

Reviewers therefore consider not only what candidates have already accomplished but also their:

Future potential.

Your proposal should demonstrate how the fellowship will help build:

• A coherent academic trajectory
• New international collaboration
• Future publications
• Sustainable research networks
• New methodological expertise

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6. Highlight Research Achievements Strategically

Your publication list matters, but quantity alone is not enough.

Prioritize evidence demonstrating:

• Research independence
• Scholarly quality
• Relevance to the proposed project
• Ability to complete ambitious research

Applicants from fields where journal publication is less dominant should present the strongest appropriate research outputs in their discipline.

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FY2027 Timeline at a Glance

Remember that these are host institution-to-JSPS deadlines.

Internal university deadlines may occur earlier.

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Key Fellowship Benefits at a Glance

Programme: JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan – Standard

Country: Japan

Research level: Postdoctoral

Fields: Humanities, social sciences and natural sciences

Duration: 12–24 months

Monthly maintenance allowance: JPY 362,000

Settling-in allowance: JPY 200,000

International airfare: Round-trip ticket under JSPS rules

Insurance: Overseas travel insurance

Research expenses: Separate Grant-in-Aid may be available

FY2027 awards: Approximately 120 in each open-call recruitment round

Next official FY2027 Standard open-call deadline: 23 April 2027 at 5:00 PM JST

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Official Application Links

Main JSPS international fellowship portal:

JSPS International Fellowships for Research in Japan

Standard Program:

JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Standard Program

FY2027 application forms and guidance:

FY2027 JSPS Application Guidelines

FY2027 Standard Program schedule:

FY2027 Standard Fellowship Application Schedule

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Conclusion

The JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan 2027 – Standard Program is one of the most substantial opportunities available to early-career international researchers seeking to build a sustained research collaboration in Japan.

The programme is open across the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences and offers 12 to 24 months of support, including a JPY 362,000 monthly maintenance allowance, JPY 200,000 settling-in allowance, round-trip international airfare and overseas travel insurance, with separate research funding potentially available through KAKENHI.

Candidates must generally be nationals of countries with diplomatic relations with Japan, with Taiwan and Palestine treated as eligible for this purpose, and must have obtained their doctorate within the relevant six-year period or be expected to receive their PhD before the Fellowship begins. Japanese citizens and permanent residents of Japan are not eligible under the Standard overseas-researcher programme.

The application process is built around collaboration. Candidates need an eligible Japanese host researcher and a concrete research plan, and open-call applications are submitted through the host institution rather than directly by the overseas candidate.

For FY2027, JSPS plans approximately 120 Standard Fellowships in each of two open-call rounds. The first deadline was 28 August 2026, while the second-round host-institution deadline is 23 April 2027 at 5:00 PM JST.

Applicants should therefore disregard claims that 15 November 2026 is the universal Standard Fellowship deadline unless that date comes from a specific overseas nominating authority relevant to them.

For researchers who can develop a strong partnership with a Japanese host and articulate a compelling collaborative project, the JSPS Standard Fellowship offers substantial financial support, international research exposure and the opportunity to build long-term academic networks in Japan.

To discover more global fellowships, VISIT HERE.