Matsumae (MIF) Fellowship 2027 in Japan (Fully Funded)

The Matsumae (MIF) Fellowship 2027 in Japan is a fully funded research opportunity for international candidates. This six-month fellowship aims to provide researchers with a unique chance to advance their work, build international networks, and gain valuable experience in Japan's leading research environments. The fellowship period will commence between June 2027 and March 2028. The program's goal is to offer research opportunities to overseas applicants, contributing to academic development in Japan and fostering international friendship and goodwill.

This is a fully funded fellowship. It provides a monthly allowance, an arrival fund, round-trip air transportation, and insurance. Additionally, successful applicants will participate in a study tour and gain access to world-class research facilities in Japan. The financial support is intended for necessary living expenses and research activities in Japan and is not transferable.

Applicants must be non-Japanese citizens. They are required to hold a PhD degree at the time of application and be 45 years old or younger. Candidates must be employed full-time in their home country and commit to returning to their home country after completing the fellowship. Sufficient English or Japanese language proficiency is essential. A crucial requirement is to obtain acceptance from a host institution in Japan (such as a university, national research institution, or equivalent private sector facility) *before* applying to the Matsumae International Foundation. Applicants must not have previous long-term residence experience in Japan, though short visits for conferences or tourism are acceptable. Strong academic and research achievements are expected.

The application requires the submission of several documents as separate PDFs via email. These include a Research Plan, the official Application Form, a statement of Reason for Application, soft copies of publications, a CV and list of publications, a recommendation letter from the applicant's employer, and soft copies of academic transcripts and diploma/degree. An invitation letter from a host Japanese professor or scholar is also mandatory. All documents must be typed in English, except for one specific document (not clearly specified in the provided text, but implied to be potentially non-English if applicable).

Applications cannot be submitted online. All applicants must submit their complete application and required documents via email to [email protected]. It is critical that applicants secure an acceptance letter from a host institution in Japan before submitting their application to the Matsumae International Foundation.

Approximately 15 fellowships are awarded. Emails exceeding 5 MB in size, containing attachments with file extensions other than ".PDF", including attachments in compressed formats (such as ".zip" or ".rar"), or containing any program files or downloadable links will be automatically rejected without notice. The application deadline is June 30, 2026, Japan Standard Time.