JSPS Short-Term PA Fellowship 2027: ¥362,000 Stipend, Eligibility & Deadlines

JSPS Short-Term PA Fellowship FY2027 at a Glance

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Short-Term Program (PA) supports early-career researchers from ASEAN and African regions who want to undertake collaborative research under the guidance of a host researcher at an eligible Japanese university or research institution.

All fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences are eligible.

Which Application Route Should You Use?

Each nominating authority controls its own application procedure. Applicants should therefore use the current regional call rather than relying on an old generic JSPS timetable.

Eligibility Requirements

Nationality or regional research affiliation

Applicants normally qualify by being a citizen or permanent resident of an eligible ASEAN or African country.

A researcher of another nationality may also qualify in certain cases if they have continuously conducted research for at least three years at a university or research institution in the eligible region and meet the programme’s other conditions.

Postdoctoral applicants

Applicants with a PhD must normally have earned the doctorate outside Japan within the programme’s six-year eligibility window.

The FY2027 African application materials specify a doctoral degree obtained on or after 2 April 2021.

Predoctoral applicants

Researchers currently enrolled in a doctoral programme outside Japan may apply if they are expected to receive the PhD within two years from the fellowship start date.

Career-break adjustment

Eligible periods of maternity or parental leave can be excluded when calculating the relevant research or post-PhD period.

Previous JSPS Fellowship

Researchers who have previously been awarded and started a JSPS Standard, Short-Term PE, Short-Term PA or former PU fellowship are not eligible for another PA fellowship.

Fellowship Duration and Starting Dates

The fellowship lasts from 1 to 12 months and is awarded in full-month units.

Fellows must remain continuously in Japan during the approved fellowship tenure. The award cannot be divided into several separate visits.

FY2027 regional start periods

• Sub-Saharan Africa: fellowship may start between 1 April 2027 and 31 March 2028.
• ASEAN: fellowship must begin between 1 July 2027 and 31 March 2028.

Applicants should use the timetable stated by their own nominating authority because regional implementation schedules can differ.

JSPS PA Fellowship Funding

If proof of the doctorate is submitted later, the monthly allowance may increase from the following payment period, but previous payments are not increased retroactively.

Research support allowance

The research support allowance is used for cooperative research expenses. The Japanese host researcher applies for this funding through the host institution.

Japanese Host Researcher Requirement

Applicants must identify a prospective host researcher at an eligible institution in Japan.

JSPS does not match candidates with host researchers.

The host must normally:

• be affiliated with a KAKENHI-eligible Japanese research institution;
• be able to provide the facilities and research environment required for the project;
• remain eligible throughout the fellowship period; and
• accept responsibility for hosting the fellow.

Host researchers generally cannot be changed during the fellowship period.

Application Documents

Document requirements vary somewhat between the ASEAN, Cairo and Nairobi routes.

ASEAN FY2027

The AUN call currently includes:

• academic transcripts from Bachelor’s degree onward;
• PhD certificate or doctoral-enrolment/expected-completion evidence;
• recommendation letter;
• Japanese host acceptance/invitation letter;
• major-publication list, maximum one page where applicable; and
• Research Plan in Japan, maximum two pages.

Research Plan in Japan

The two-page ASEAN research plan covers:

• background;
• research purpose;
• proposed research plan; and
• expected results and impact.

African routes

Current Nairobi materials require a research proposal, Japanese host invitation, recommendation letter and doctoral-degree or expected-degree documentation.

North African applicants should use the current Cairo application forms because its regional submission process is administered separately.

Selection and Results

Applications first pass through the relevant regional nominating authority and are then considered under the JSPS nomination process.

Current published timelines differ by route:

• Sub-Saharan Africa: result announcement expected in February 2027.
• ASEAN: result announcement expected in April 2027.

Applicants should follow correspondence from their own nominating authority for final selection timing.

How to Apply for FY2027

1. Confirm that you qualify under the relevant ASEAN or African route.
2. Check the post-PhD or doctoral-enrolment requirement.
3. Identify a suitable Japanese host researcher.
4. Discuss the research project and proposed fellowship period with the host.
5. Obtain the required host acceptance or invitation documentation.
6. Determine your correct overseas nominating authority.
7. Download the current FY2027 forms from that authority.
8. Prepare the research plan and supporting academic documents.
9. Arrange the required recommendation letter.
10. Submit through the regional portal or submission route before its deadline.

CareerAidHub Applicant Guidance

Secure host interest before spending heavily on the application

The fellowship depends on a genuine collaborative relationship with a Japanese researcher. A generic proposal without a committed host is unlikely to progress successfully.

Use the correct regional instructions

ASEAN, North African and Sub-Saharan African applicants do not necessarily submit identical forms or follow identical timelines.

Do not confuse PA with PE

Short-Term PA is the ASEAN/Africa nomination programme. Short-Term PE is a different JSPS programme for researchers from the United States, Canada and Europe and uses a Japanese host-institution open-call system.

Build the research plan around the host environment

Explain why the chosen Japanese laboratory, research group, archive, dataset or methodological expertise is necessary for the proposed project and what concrete research outputs should result from the stay.

Researchers comparing other opportunities can review CareerAidHub’s
current postdoctoral fellowships,
research funding opportunities,
and
research jobs.