Research Fellowship Program 2027 Announcement

Fellowship Announcement (PDF)

The MIF Booklet (PDF)

OVERVIEW

Eligibility Requirements	Applicants of non-Japanese nationality who meet all the following requirements are eligible to submit application documents. ● Applicants who empathize with the core values of the MIF. ● Applicants must have a full-time occupation in their home country, return there upon completing their fellowship tenure, and contribute to the development of their own country. ● Applicants must hold a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) at the time of application. ● Applicants must be 45 years old or younger at the time of application. (The birth year must be in or after 1981.) ● Applicants should not have past or current experience of staying in Japan (other than short-term stays such as for sightseeing or conferences). ● Applicants must obtain acceptance from a host institution in Japan before applying. ● Applicants must have sufficient English or Japanese languages ability.
Research Fields	Preferable research fields are natural science, engineering, medicine, and agriculture.
Fellowship Period	As a rule, six months between June 2027 and March 2028. Please indicate the commencing and ending month in your Application Form (#1). (E.g., From September 2027 and February 2028.)
Number of Fellowship Recipients	Around 15
Host Institution in Japan	Applicants may choose a host institution in Japan, such as a university or national research institution, to conduct their research. Please ensure to obtain acceptance from the host institution before applying. The MIF does not provide advice or recommendations to applicants regarding host institutions in Japan.

FELLOWSHIP DETAILS

The following financial supports are provided to successful applicants.
Fellowships are provided to the successful applicants only, and intended for necessary living expenses and research activities in Japan. Under no circumstances, this fellowship is transferable.

Monthly Allowance	JPY 220,000 to cover expenses for research activities (including materials) and living expenses in Japan.
Arrival Fund	JPY 120,000.
Round-trip Air Transportation	A round-trip economy class airfare ticket between the nearest international airport from a grantee’s domicile and Tokyo, Japan.
Insurance	Overseas travel insurance with medical treatment and death benefits.
Study Tour	The MIF organizes a study tour to Hiroshima to deepen knowledge of Japan and world peace.
Notices Concerning Fellowship Conditions	● The fellowship will be granted only within the period specified in the grant letter, which cannot be changed, extended, or shortened. ●Only the person named in the grant letter is eligible for the grant. The MIF will not be involved or assist in any way with the family or companions of the selected applicant.

APPLICATION

Application

Applicants must submit their application documents to the MIF via email. ● Email: application@mif-japan.org(*Only for Application) For inquiry → Contact Us ● Application Period: June 1, 2026, to June 30, 2026 (Japan Standard Time) Applications will not be accepted for any reason before or after the application period.

Screening Process & Announcement of the Results

● The MIF Screening Committee will evaluate applications. ● Successful applicants will be announced on the MIF website in late November 2026. ● The MIF will send a grant letter to successful applicants. ● It is the policy of the MIF to neither disclose the content of discussions by the Screening Committee nor accept inquiries about individual applications. ● The MIF will not comment on the reasons for the decisions made by the Screening Committee.

APPLICATION DOCUMENTS

The following documents must be submitted as PDFs via email to the MIF.
Please do not combine all documents into one PDF.
All documents must be typed in English (except for #7).
Inadequate documents will not be accepted or screened.
The following will be automatically rejected without notice.

● Emails over 5 MB in size.
● Emails with attachments with file extensions other than “PDF.”
● Emails with attachments in any compressed format such as “zip” or “rar.”
● Emails including any program files or downloadable links.

Application Form

Please download the application form from the link below. An ID photograph taken within the past three months must be attached. Ensure that the form is filled out precisely. Any application that does not use the prescribed form, which must be signed and dated, will not be accepted.  [Application Form(Word)] Any application that does not use the prescribed form,which must be signed and dated, will not be accepted.

Reason for Application

Please explain your reason for applying to the MIF research fellowship program within 500 words.   [Reason for Application(Word)]

Research Plan

You must submit the following research plan within 5 pages.  (a) The content, purpose and methodology of the research (b) The road map of the research project (c) The benefit the research project will bring to your home country (a) and (b) should be described in detail based on discussions with your host professor in Japan.

Curriculum Vitae (CV) and List of Publications

The list of publications must include the titles, authors, journal names, page numbers, and publication years. Also, clearly highlight in yellow the title of the publication related to your intended research project in Japan.

Recommendation Letter

The letter must be from your current home institution (employer) and written on its letterhead. Address it to the Chairperson of the Matsumae International Foundation. The letter should testify to your academic ability and achievements, as well as confirm that you will have study leave during your fellowship period.

A soft copy of the Academic Certificate for Ph.D.

If the document is unavailable in English, attach an English translation (Self-translation is unacceptable).

Letter of Acceptance from Host Professor in Japan

The letter must state the reason why the host professor has agreed to host you and confirm that he or she will arrange your accommodation during the fellowship if you are selected for the fellowship. The MIF will accept only a letter that is written on the host institution’s letterhead and signed by the host professor. < To host professors in Japan > Please write your letter in Japanese or English on your institution’s letterhead. (1) The letter should be addressed to the Chairperson of the Matsumae International Foundation. (2) Write your name and institutional affiliation in Japanese and English, including the department and faculty. (3) Include your contact information: postal code, address, phone number, and email. (4) Email the applicant your signed letter so that they can include it with their application documents. <指導教員の方へ＞ 以下内容にご留意の上、日本語もしくは英語で作成をお願いいたします。 (1) 宛先：松前国際友好財団 理事長 宛 (2) 貴研究機関のレターヘッドをご使用ください。 (3) 氏名及びご所属は、和英併記をお願いいたします。 (4) ご連絡先（郵便番号・住所・電話番号・メールアドレス）を必ずご記載ください。 (5) ご署名の上、当該書類（PDF）を応募者にお渡しください。