1. Eligibility and Conditions
Q: Qualifications (2) states that individuals must “be currently working in education, research, or government in their home country. (Employees of private businesses are not eligible.)” Does this include individuals in part-time positions?
A: Individuals in either full-time or part-time positions are eligible.
Q: I work at a private research institute; can I apply for the program?
A: A condition of the program is current employment in education, academic research or government in your home country. Applications will not be accepted from those employed in the private sector.
Refer to section 2. Qualifications (2)
Q: Do I need to have completed the thesis or full coursework component of a doctor’s degree to apply?
A: You may apply if you have completed the thesis or full coursework component of a master’s or doctor’s degree from a graduate school in Japan.
Refer to section 2. Qualifications (4)
Q: I studied in Japan for two years as a research student, but did not attain any credits. Can I still apply?
A: No. A master’s or doctor’s degree from a Japanese graduate school is a pre-requisite of the program.
Refer to section 2. Qualifications (4)
Q: I completed my doctor’s degree in March, 2022 in Japan and returned my home country. Since then I studied in USA from May 2022 to September 2023. Can I apply?
A: If the candidate has stayed for more than 90 consecutive days in other countries/regions after returning to his/her home country, the length of that stay must be excluded from the total length of period after returning home. You can’t apply because 1 year hasn’t passed in home country.
Refer to section 2. Qualifications (6)
2. Research Advisor
Q: How do I find a research advisor?
A: The teacher from your previous studies in Japan or any teacher who has taken over supervision of that laboratory may become a research advisor. Applicants are required to contact teacher themselves and seek approval for nomination as a research advisor.
Q: What does “during study in Japan” mean?
A: It means you stayed in Japan with the student visa. The period when you stayed in Japan with other visa is not regarded as “during study in Japan”.
Q: Is it possible to apply even if the teacher from my previous studies in Japan is no longer working?
A: You may apply for the program if a teacher involved with your tutelage during your previous studies in Japan or any teacher who has taken over supervision of that laboratory can accept your nomination as a research advisor.
Refer to section 2. Qualifications (7)
Q: Can I nominate someone as a research advisor from whom I did not receive tutelage during my previous studies in Japan?
A: The research advisor must be a teacher who was involved with your tutelage during your previous studies in Japan or has taken over supervision of that laboratory.
Refer to section 2. Qualifications (7)
Q: Can I nominate a university other than the one at which I previously studied?
A: As the research advisor must be the teacher from your previous studies in Japan, you cannot nominate a different university. However, where the teacher has transferred to a different university, you may nominate that university.
Refer to section 2. Qualifications (7)
Q: Are honorary professors eligible to apply to be research advisor?
A: Only individuals that are recognized by a university as full-time faculty members are eligible to become research advisor.
3. Period of Fellowship
Q: The period of stay is indicated as 90 days. When does this begin and end?
A: The period indicates the 90 days from the date of arrival in Japan to the date of departure from Japan.
4. Application
Q: What should I do with the completed application form?
A: The completed application form should be sent to your host university, which will then send it to JASSO. Applications sent directly to JASSO cannot be accepted.
Q: The instructions say to use file security. What does this entail?
A: See “For University Use: Cautions When Submitting Files.” The method for making settings differs according to the software version that is used. Refer to the manual provided with the software.
Q: In form 2-2' "the Outline of Research and Schedule" is required to be written in 500 words or less in English. What is the limit for Japanese?
A: In Japanese it is required to be written in 1000 characters.
Q: Is it possible to change the research plan and schedule of application form?
A: In principle, to change the research plan and schedule is not allowed. The research plan and schedule should be feasible.
