Japan
10 Open Study/Research Award for Graduate Students
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodFlexible StartGrant Length12 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
This award is intended to provide an opportunity for:
- students who are enrolled in a doctoral degree program at a U.S. university to conduct dissertation research at a Japanese institution of higher learning toward completing their U.S. doctorate.
- graduate students enrolled in a master's program pursuing a professional degree or graduates from a professional school to conduct independent research for their future career.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grants may begin at any date from July 2026 through March 2027. Awards for PhD dissertation grantees may be extended for a maximum of six months in two three-month iterations, depending on availability of funds and subject to satisfactory justification and progress. Applicants who think their work will require more than one year should include justification in their research proposals.
Orientation
Individual briefing upon arrival in Japan
Candidate Profile
The Commission provides grants to American applicants for proposed study or research in Japan in Humanities and Social Sciences. PhD dissertation research candidates, students enrolled in graduate schools pursuing professional degrees in fields such as law, business, journalism, international relations, public administration, and fine arts or graduates from the above-mentioned professional schools within three years of the time of application, are eligible to apply. Master's students who are pursuing academic degrees are not eligible to apply.
- Applicants proposing interdisciplinary study or research between any of the above fields are also eligible for grants.
- Applications will also be accepted in the fields of architecture, creative writing, design, painting, and sculpture.
- Applicants must have interests in Japanese culture and society in the broad sense, not limited within their proposed fields of study.
- Applicants demonstrating study or research plans/goals that are strongly related to furthering mutual understanding and cooperative pursuits between Japan and the United States will generally be preferred over those who lack such intent.
- Non-Japan Studies specialists or first-timers to Japan must show the feasibility of their proposals and indicate how a research experience in Japan will relate to their career plans.
This award is not for those who will concurrently enroll in a degree program at a Japanese university.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.
The third largest economy on Earth and Asia’s most prosperous democracy, Japan is home to world-leading universities and research institutions that have produced countless scholars of global distinction, along with cutting-edge innovations that have improved the lives of all.
Since 1952, generations of American Fulbrighters have immersed themselves to gain a deeper understanding of the culture and society that make Japan one of the most fascinating civilizations in history, as well as the most indispensable partner nation for the United States today.
Visiting students enjoy unsurpassed freedom to interact with the people and the land, to experience the beauty of four distinct seasons, and to appreciate the daily contrasts between ancient tradition and cosmopolitan modernity.
Eligibility
3 Months
Candidates living in Japan may apply only if they are studying Japanese language full-time and have not otherwise been studying or conducting research or been employed in the immediate past in Japan.
Applicants with completed doctorates at the time of the start of the award are not eligible.
Degree Level of Applicant
- Master's
- Doctoral
Special Application Instructions
- Translation of Statement of Grant Purpose Required
- Japanese Language Proposal: Applicants MUST submit a one-page Statement of Grant Purpose in Japanese in addition to the English version. Both documents should be uploaded in the correlating fields in the Fulbright online application. The translated document should be uploaded as a PDF document.
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form
If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.
Foreign Language Proficiency Level by Grant Start
If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Required, applicants must have the following proficiency level by the start of the grant period. If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Recommended, applicants are encouraged but not required to have the following level by the start of the grant period.
At least two years of college-level study, or equivalent, is required prior to commencing the grant. Higher level proficiency may be necessary depending on the requirements of the proposed project. Japan Studies specialists who plan to conduct advanced research must have the necessary language skills.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
Applicants must identify appropriate host institutions for their projects and include affiliation letters with their Fulbright applications. The Fulbright Commission will confirm final affiliations for candidates awarded Fulbright grants.
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
An allowance to cover the mandatory affiliation fees for one university will be provided.
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
Housing allowance will be provided separately as follows:
- single: ¥80,000
- with 1 dependent: ¥100,000
- with 2 dependents: ¥120,000
- with 3 dependents or more: ¥150,000
One-Time Allowances
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
- Research/Materials allowance
- Settling in allowance
- Settling-in Allowance: ¥80,000 *
- Baggage Allowance (round-trip): ¥100,000 and $500
- Research/Book Allowance: ¥400,000
- Research Travel Allowance: ¥100,000
* The amount of Settling-in Allowance is equivalent to one month's housing allowance. The rate varies according to the grantee's "dependents" status while on grant.
Additional Grant Benefits
[Fulbright - Glen S. Fukushima Fund (FGSFF)]
The Fund was established in 2022 through a private donation from American Fulbright alumnus Glen S. Fukushima, Vice President of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation and former President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan. Mr. Fukushima was a 1982-83 Fulbright Graduate Research Fellow to the University of Tokyo.
Following the selection of all American Fulbright grantees going to Japan, one Graduate Research Fellow per year will be competitively awarded the Fulbright-Glen S. Fukushima Fund grant, which will provide the full standard Fulbright Japan grant amount for Americans, plus an additional ¥1,000,000 in stipends.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Average of Monthly Expenditure per Household (One-person Households)
Including housing/foods/other goods and services.
- Hokkaido&Tohoku: ¥160,618
- Kanto: ¥180,411
- Hokuriku&Tokai: ¥154,223
- Kinki: ¥171,483
- Chugoku&Shikoku: ¥164,171
- Kyushu&Okinawa: ¥159,720
Reference: Statistics Bureau of Japan/2024 Yearly Average Survey Results
* NOTE: These are regional averages. Certain metropolitan areas within the regions will likely have higher costs of living than these average figures.
Dependents
The term "accompanying family dependent" includes the following: (a) spouse who is not on paid sabbatical from a position in the U.S., who is not on a separate grant scholarship or fellowship tenable in Japan, or who will not be working full-time or earning more than ¥150,000 per month (before tax) in or out of Japan; (b) unmarried children, under 21.
A monthly Family Allowance will be provided for the period spent in Japan with the grantee. The allowance will not be paid for periods less than 30 consecutive days.
- with 1 dependent: ¥45,000
- with 2 dependents: ¥60,000
- with 3 or more dependents: ¥70,000