JSPS Fellowships Offer ¥362,000 Monthly, Return Flights and Settling-In Support

What Is the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship?

The JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme for Overseas Researchers is run by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). It supports early-career researchers who want to do cooperative research with top research groups in Japan.

For the humanities and social sciences, the British Academy nominates candidates from the UK. Every humanities and social sciences field is eligible, from history and philosophy to economics, law, politics and anthropology.

Fellows work alongside a Japanese host researcher at a university or research institution for 12 to 24 months.

Important Dates

| Application deadline | 2 December 2026, 17:00 GMT | | Fellowship start | Between 1 April and 30 November 2027 | | Duration | 12 to 24 months |

The deadline covers everything: your application, your reference, your host's statement and your UK institution's approval. The British Academy suggests submitting at least five days early.

Who Can Apply

• Researchers who normally live in the UK, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands
• Researchers who received their PhD on or after 2 April 2021, or who will receive it before the fellowship starts. Parental or maternity leave can extend this window.
• Researchers who have already agreed a research plan with a host researcher in Japan
• Researchers working in any humanities or social sciences field

Some people aren't eligible:

• Japanese nationals, including dual nationals
• People with Japanese permanent residency
• Previous JSPS Standard fellowship holders
• Medical doctors without a PhD

Good to know: This route is for UK-based researchers. If you live in another country, JSPS runs the same fellowship through other nominating bodies and directly through Japanese host institutions, so ask your prospective host in Japan about the route for your country.

What You Get

• ¥362,000 every month as a maintenance allowance
• A round-trip air ticket to Japan
• A ¥200,000 settling-in allowance
• Overseas travel insurance
• Research funding (a KAKENHI grant), which your Japanese host applies for through their institution
• 12 to 24 months of research with a leading Japanese research group

If you already live in Japan, you won't receive the flight or the settling-in allowance.

How to Apply

1. Find a host in Japan. Contact a researcher in your field at a JSPS-eligible university or institution, and agree a research plan with them. They must be employed full-time and must not be retiring during your fellowship.
2. Register on the British Academy's Flexi-Grant portal and start your application.
3. Add your contributors. In the Contributors tab, add your referee, who should be your current or previous supervisor, and your host. Check in with both to make sure they received their login details.
4. Gather your documents:
   • one signed reference on headed paper
   • one signed statement of support from your host
   • a copy of your PhD certificate, or a letter confirming when it will be awarded
5. Submit early. Your UK institution has to approve the application and forward it to the British Academy before 2 December 2026. You can't make changes after the British Academy receives it.

Simple Tips

• Start with your host. Everything depends on having a committed host, so reach out to potential hosts now. Their support statement carries real weight.
• Show why Japan. Explain clearly why your project needs this particular research group and the resources in Japan.
• Mind the internal deadline. Many UK universities set an earlier internal deadline for approvals, so check with your research office.
• Mention your language skills if they matter. If Japanese is essential to your research, show your ability. Otherwise it isn't required.
• Be realistic about the plan. Reviewers look at originality, method, feasibility and your career stage, so set out a clear and achievable timeline.

Apply Here

👉 British Academy – JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships 👉 Apply via the British Academy Flexi-Grant portal

World Opportunities Hub is an independent information platform. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the British Academy or the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). Please check all details on the official website before applying.

| Organization | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) via the British Academy | | Region | Japan (for UK-based researchers) | | Deadline | 2 December 2026, 17:00 GMT | | Level | Postdoctoral (PhD within ~6 years) | | Funding | ¥362,000/month + return flights + ¥200,000 settling-in allowance |