The scheme provides funding for early career postdoctoral researchers to conduct cooperative research in Japan, with leading research groups in Japanese universities and other institutions, under the guidance of a Japanese host.

The British Academy is an overseas nominating authority for this scheme, which is funded entirely by the JSPS. In this capacity, the British Academy nominates a designated number of candidates each year.

Eligibility: Candidates from all fields of the humanities and social sciences are eligible to apply. Applicants must:

  • Be ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands;
  • Hold a doctorate degree when the Fellowship goes into effect, which must have been received within six years prior to the award, or be scheduled to receive a doctorate degree before the Fellowship goes into effect;
  • Have arranged in advance a research plan with a Japanese host researcher employed at a Japanese university/research institution.
  • Submit applications in time for them to be considered before the research is due to begin – awards will not be made retrospectively.

Level of funding: Costs covered include a round-trip air ticket for the Fellow; a monthly maintenance stipend of ¥362,000; a settling-in allowance of ¥200,000; a research grant (‘Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research’) for cooperative research-related expenses, applied for by the Japanese host researcher through their host institution.

Additional information: Awards are for a period of between 12 months minimum to 24 months maximum.


Key dates

  • 13 November 2023: applications close at 17:00 GMT