The JSPS Standard Postdoctoral Fellowship supports recent PhD researchers from overseas for 12–24 months of collaborative research at eligible Japanese universities and research institutions. The first FY2027 recruitment has closed, while the second is scheduled to close on 23 April 2027 at 5:00 p.m. JST.
¥362,000/Month
12–24 Months
All Academic Fields
Its deadline was 28 August 2026. The second FY2027 open-call recruitment is already scheduled for 23 April 2027 at 5:00 p.m. JST, but the electronic application system is not expected to open until roughly two months before the JSPS deadline.
The Japanese host institution may impose its own internal deadline more than one month before the official JSPS submission deadline.
JSPS Standard Postdoctoral Fellowship FY2027 at a Glance
The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Standard Postdoctoral Fellowship enables early-career researchers from overseas to undertake collaborative research with leading groups at eligible universities and research institutions in Japan.
The Standard programme is distinct from JSPS Short-Term PA and PE fellowships. It is intended for longer postdoctoral appointments of 12–24 months.
Monthly Allowance
Fellowship Duration
Settling-In Allowance
Next Open-Call Deadline
| Programme | JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan — Standard |
|---|---|
| Current cycle | FY2027 |
| Current status | Programme active — current open-call round closed |
| Research fields | Humanities, social sciences and natural sciences |
| Duration | 12–24 months |
| Application model | Japanese host researcher / host institution or designated overseas nominating authority |
FY2027 Standard Open-Call Schedule
| Recruitment | JSPS deadline | Results | Fellowship start window | Planned awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 28 Aug 2026, 5:00 p.m. JST | Late Dec 2026 | 1 Apr–30 Sep 2027 | 120 |
| 2nd | 23 Apr 2027, 5:00 p.m. JST | Early Aug 2027 | 1 Sep–30 Nov 2027 | 120 |
The deadlines above are the deadlines for the Japanese host institution to submit the completed application to JSPS.
Japanese universities and research institutes set their own internal deadlines, which can precede the JSPS deadline by several weeks or more than one month.
Who Is Eligible?
Nationality
Candidates must be citizens of a country having diplomatic relations with Japan. JSPS also treats Taiwanese and Palestinian researchers as eligible under this provision.
Japanese citizens and foreign nationals who hold permanent residence in Japan are not eligible.
Doctoral degree
For FY2027, researchers who already hold a PhD must normally have obtained it on or after 2 April 2021.
Researchers who have not yet formally received the doctorate can also be nominated if they are expected to receive it before the fellowship starts.
Career breaks
JSPS can deduct qualifying maternity and parental leave when calculating the six-year post-PhD eligibility period.
Current employment
Holding a full-time position does not by itself disqualify a candidate.
Previous JSPS awards
Researchers who previously received and started a JSPS Standard Fellowship or the former Pathway to University Positions in Japan fellowship are not eligible for another Standard award.
Financial Support
| Support | Current Standard benefit |
|---|---|
| Monthly maintenance allowance | ¥362,000 |
| Settling-in allowance | ¥200,000 |
| International travel | Round-trip air ticket under JSPS rules |
| Insurance | Overseas travel insurance |
| Research expenses | Separate Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research mechanism |
The Standard programme does not use the fixed “up to ¥70,000 × fellowship months” research-support formula described for the Short-Term programmes.
Research grant
A Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research for JSPS Research Fellows may be available for cooperative research-related expenses.
The Japanese host researcher applies for this research funding through the host institution.
Applicants already living in Japan
If a selected candidate is already living in Japan and has a mailing address there before fellowship commencement, the incoming airfare and settling-in allowance are not paid.
Japanese Host Researcher Requirements
A committed Japanese host researcher is essential for the Standard open-call route.
The host must normally:
- be affiliated with a KAKENHI-eligible Japanese research institution;
- be eligible to apply for KAKENHI funding;
- be able to provide the research environment, facilities and support needed by the fellow; and
- remain able to carry out host responsibilities throughout the fellowship.
Hosts are normally full-time researchers, although an institution may approve another employment arrangement if it is satisfied that the researcher can fulfil all hosting responsibilities without interruption.
How many candidates can one host submit?
A host researcher may submit up to three Standard applications in one recruitment. If more than one candidate is proposed, the host must assign priorities.
FY2027 Application Forms
JSPS uses a prescribed application structure rather than a generic fellowship-document checklist.
| Document | Prepared by |
|---|---|
| Form 1 | Japanese host researcher through the JSPS electronic system |
| Form 2 | Foreign candidate |
| Recommendation letter | Candidate’s recommender; one page, English or Japanese |
Candidates should use the FY2027 prescribed forms and should not alter their format.
How JSPS Selects Standard Fellows
Document review
Each open-call application is reviewed by six examiners with subject-area expertise.
Reviewers use a five-point scale and consider factors including:
- research achievements;
- quality and feasibility of the collaborative research plan;
- estimated research capability;
- future research potential;
- scientific value of the Japan collaboration; and
- quality of the proposed host environment.
Panel review
Document-review scores and reviewer comments then feed into the panel-review stage, where final selections are made within the relevant review sections.
How to Apply for the Next FY2027 Standard Round
- Confirm that your nationality and PhD timing meet Standard eligibility.
- Identify an appropriate researcher at a KAKENHI-eligible Japanese institution.
- Establish contact and agree on a concrete collaborative research plan.
- Ask the host researcher about their institution’s internal FY2027 deadline.
- Prepare the candidate’s prescribed Form 2.
- Arrange the required one-page recommendation letter.
- The Japanese host prepares Form 1 in the JSPS Electronic Application System.
- The host institution reviews and approves the complete application.
- The institution submits the application to JSPS by 23 April 2027 at 5:00 p.m. JST.
Overseas Nominating-Authority Route
In addition to the Japanese open-call route, JSPS accepts Standard nominations through designated overseas authorities in selected countries.
Each authority sets its own procedures and deadlines, so candidates using that route must contact the authority in their country directly.
India is not currently included in JSPS’s published list of Standard overseas nominating authorities. Eligible Indian candidates would therefore normally pursue the Japanese host-institution open-call route.
CareerAidHub Applicant Guidance
Start with the host, not the deadline
The official April deadline is the final institutional transmission deadline. A realistic preparation schedule starts months earlier with host identification, research-plan discussion and university internal approval.
Show genuine bilateral scientific value
JSPS explicitly evaluates whether the collaboration will advance both the candidate’s research and research in Japan. Avoid writing a proposal that could be conducted equally well without the proposed Japanese host.
Separate the Standard and Short-Term programmes
Standard is a 12–24 month postdoctoral programme with a separate research-grant mechanism. Short-Term PA and PE use different eligibility rules, durations, application routes and research-support structures.
Use the correct FY2027 forms
Do not recycle an old Standard application template. JSPS publishes cycle-specific Form 1, Form 2 and recommendation formats.
Researchers comparing other opportunities can review CareerAidHub’s
postdoctoral fellowships,
JSPS Short-Term PA Fellowship guide,
and
Postdoctoral Fellowships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the JSPS Standard Fellowship FY2027 open now?
The programme is active, but the first FY2027 open-call round closed on August 28, 2026. The second deadline is April 23, 2027, and the electronic system normally becomes available around two months before the JSPS deadline.
What is the next JSPS Standard deadline?
The second FY2027 host-institution deadline is April 23, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. JST. Your Japanese host institution may impose a substantially earlier internal deadline.
How much is the monthly fellowship allowance?
The current Standard maintenance allowance is ¥362,000 per month.
How long does the Standard fellowship last?
The Standard Fellowship lasts from 12 to 24 months.
Can I apply before my PhD is formally awarded?
Yes. The doctorate must be obtained by the fellowship start date, and a selected fellow must submit proof of the degree before commencement.
Do I submit the application directly to JSPS?
No. Under the open-call route, the Japanese host researcher submits through their institution, and the institution transmits the approved application to JSPS.
Does the Standard Fellowship provide ¥70,000 per month for research?
No. That fixed research-support formula applies to certain short-term programmes. Standard fellows use a separate Grant-in-Aid mechanism for eligible cooperative research expenses.
Can researchers from India apply?
Yes, eligible Indian researchers can pursue the Standard open-call route through a Japanese host researcher and host institution. India is not currently listed among the Standard programme’s overseas nominating authorities.
Official Sources and Current Schedule
| Programme | JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Research in Japan — Standard |
|---|---|
| Programme status | Active |
| Current cycle | FY2027 |
| Latest call status | Closed |
| Latest deadline | 28 August 2026, 5:00 p.m. JST |
| Next open-call deadline | 23 April 2027, 5:00 p.m. JST |
| Next result period | Early August 2027 |
| Next arrival window | 1 September–30 November 2027 |
| Duration | 12–24 months |
| Last verified | 15 September 2026 |
Candidates should coordinate with their proposed Japanese host well before the official JSPS deadline because each host institution sets its own internal submission timetable.
