We are pleased to announce that the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Standard) is now open for applications.
The JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan (Standard) provides opportunities for post-doctoral researchers from other countries to conduct cooperative research under the guidance of their hosts with leading research groups in universities and other Japanese institutions.This program is intended to help advance the overseas researchers’ research activities while advancing science and promoting internationalization in Japan.
Please refer the details of this program as follows:
Fields of Research
All fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences are included under this program. The candidate must either be majoring or conducting research in a related field.
Duration of Fellowships
From 12 to 24 months
This fellowship is provided in full month units.
Starting date
Fellows must start their Fellowship in Japan between mid-May 2026 and 30 November 2026.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet all the criteria below.
1) Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
2) Have obtained a doctoral degree within six years of the date the fellowship goes into effect (on or after 2 April 2020). Whether or not the candidate is employed in a full-time position is not considered.
*Those who have previously been awarded a fellowship under the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan are not eligible.
Financial Support
The amounts of financial support are as follows. They are subject to change for budgetary reasons.
(1) Airfare: A round-trip air ticket (economy-class) (based on JSPS’s regulations)
(2) Maintenance allowance of JPY362,000 per month
(3) Miscellaneous: A settling-in allowance of JPY200,000, overseas travel insurance
Note 1: For candidates who have been staying in Japan (and who have a mailing address in Japan) before the fellowship starting date, the “airfare” for the flight to Japan and the “settling-in allowance” will not be paid.
Note 2: A Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellows) is available to cover cooperative research-related expenses. Application for this grant is made by the host researchers through their institution. For details, please see the application guidelines for the Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Research Fellows.
Required documents for the application
Please download and carefully read the following documents before starting your application.
Guideline
FY2026 Application Guidelines
List of Eligible Host
*Institute of Science Tokyo （東京科学大学/12608）is an eligible host, even though it is not on this list.
Forms to be submitted:
Please submit the following application package to the following e-mail address:
was-short-termfellowship@overseas.jsps.go.jp
1) FY2026 Application Form for JSPS International Fellowships for Research in Japan, Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan (Standard), for Application through Overseas Nominating Authorities. The application form is to be completed by candidates.
Please download here
FY2026 Instructions for the application form
2)Letter of acceptance/invitation from the candidate’s prospective host researcher in Japan, stating that they accept the candidate at their institution during the period of the fellowship tenure. The letter should be signed by the host themselves. It is preferable that the letter be written on letterhead paper.
3) Letter of recommendation signed by the candidate’s doctoral supervisor (etc.) (The writer of the letter must be a person other than the candidate’s prospective host researcher in Japan). It is preferable that the letter be written on letterhead paper.
4)The candidate’s Ph.D. degree diploma or Ph.D. degree certificate. If the degree has not yet been awarded at the time of application, a letter is required from the candidate’s institution stating the date* that they will officially be awarded the degree. The letter should be signed and preferably on letterhead paper. In that case, the candidate should submit to JSPS the Ph.D. degree certificate or the Ph.D. diploma promptly before starting their fellowship. The diploma or certificate should be signed or stamped with an official seal.
When you submit the application package, please choose your field from the list below and write it in the email.
1. Science/Mathematics/Engineering
2. Biological/Medical Sciences
3. Humanities/Social Sciences
Application Deadline
Friday, October 31st, 2025(EDT)
The number of Fellowships Awarded in the US
a few
