December 19, 2025

SOKENDAI Special Researcher Program

1. Overview

The SOKENDAI Special Researcher Program is designed to develop future leaders who will contribute to science, technology and innovation in Japan by appointing SOKENDAI students as ‘SOKENDAI Special Researchers’ and providing financial support as well as various opportunities for developing a wider scope of researches and carrier paths to them.

General Category is subsidized by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) under “SPRING: Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation” and Special Category (BOOST) is subsidized by JST under “BOOST: Broadening Opportunities for Outstanding young researchers and doctoral students in STrategic areas.”

2. Requirements for applicants

Requirements for General Category

Applicants are required to meet all of the following conditions as of April 1, 2026.）^*1

1. They meet one of the following enrollment conditions:
   • enrolled in SOKENDAI’s 5-year doctoral course and have been enrolled for:
     • 24 months or more but less than 30 months, or
     • 36 months or more but less than 42 months; or
   • enrolled in the 3-year doctoral course and have been enrolled for:
     • less than 6 months, or
     • 12 months or more but less than 18 months.）^*2
2. They must not be receiving a scholarship under the government-sponsored international student system, a research grant from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) for special researchers）^*3, any foreign government-financed scholarship, or a scholarship from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
3. They must not be receiving stable income such as salary or executive remuneration at a level sufficient to cover living expenses (JPY 2.4 million/year (before tax) or more) from SOKENDAI, a parent institute）^*4, or a company.

Requirements for Special Category (BOOST)

Applicants are required to meet all of the following conditions as of April 1, 2026. ）^*1

1. They meet one of the following enrollment conditions:
   • enrolled in SOKENDAI’s 5-year doctoral course and have been enrolled for 24 months or more but less than 36 months, or
   • enrolled in the 3-year doctoral course and have been enrolled for less than 12 months）^*2
2. They must not be receiving a scholarship under the government-sponsored international student system, a research grant from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) for special researchers）^*3, any foreign government-financed scholarship, or a scholarship from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
3. They must not be receiving stable income such as salary or executive remuneration at a level sufficient to cover living expenses (JPY 2.4 million/year (before tax) or more) from SOKENDAI, a parent institute*4, or a company.
4. They must be planning to conduct research in the field of AI or the emerging/integrated fields with AI.

※ “Research in the field of AI or the emerging/integrated fields with AI” refers to a variety of AI-related R&D that contributes to the creation of innovation and enhancement of industrial competitiveness, including the followings:

• Advanced research and development in AI
• Application of AI to other fields
• Fusion research between other fields (biotechnology, materials, socioeconomics, medicine, etc.) and AI
• Research and development that contribute to resolving social problems using AI

Requirements for Collaborative Research Type

Applicants are required to meet all the following conditions as of October 1, 2026. ）^*1

1. They meet one of the following enrollment conditions:
   • enrolled in SOKENDAI’s 5-year doctoral course and have been enrolled for 24 months or more but less than 48 months, or
   • enrolled in the 3-year doctoral course and have been enrolled for less than 24 months）^*2
2. They must not be receiving a fellowship under the SOKENDAI Special Researcher Program (Field-specific Type, Pioneering Research Type, General Category or Special Category (BOOST)), a scholarship under the government-sponsored international student system, a research grant from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) for special researchers）^*3, any foreign government-financed scholarship, or a scholarship from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
3. They must not be receiving stable income）^*4 such as salary or executive remuneration at a level sufficient to cover living expenses (JPY 2.4 million/year (before tax) or more) from SOKENDAI, a parent institute, or a company. ）^*4
4. The application must be coordinated to obtain the PhD degree based on co-creation with fields different from the applicant’s own, such as other scientific disciplines or different sectors and industries.
5. They are currently conducting or planning to conduct any of the following:
   • "Internal Joint Advising Program" that you receive joint research guidance from your current supervisor and a faculty member of another program (department). ）^*5
   • "International Collaborative Degree Program" based on agreements with overseas universities. ）^*6
   • Collaborative Research” with researchers from other programs (courses), universities, institutes, companies, etc. (It must be coordinated toward the PhD degree under the joint supervision by the advisor of his/her own course and the research collaborator(s). It does NOT include simple research guidance, short-term visit, provision of knowledge, technology, or equipment, etc.)

*1 The period of a leave of absence (calculated by rounding up to the nearest month) is not counted within the enrollment period. Students in the long-term course system are not eligible to apply.

*2 Those who have completed (or are expected to complete) a master’s degree course at a university other than SOKENDAI and have passed or are currently applying for the entrance examination for a 3-year doctoral course at SOKENDAI (expected enrollment on April 1, 2026) are also eligible to apply.

*3 Those who intend to apply for JSPS DC Research Fellowship (DC2) are eligible to apply. However, if selected for DC2 in FY2027, financial support under the SOKENDAI Special Researcher Program will end at the end of FY2026.

*4 Parent Institute: The Inter-University Research Institute, where the program of SOKENDAI is located.

*5 Reference URL (Japanese text only): http://kitei.soken.ac.jp/doc/gakugai/print/582.html

*6 Reference URL: https://www.soken.ac.jp/en/education/curriculum/cotutelle-program/

3. Period of appointment

The period obtained by subtracting the period of enrollment up to the day before the start of appointment from the standard period of study stipulated in Article 16 of the School Regulations.

Note: If you complete the doctoral course and obtain a doctoral degree during the period, the appointment will be terminated at the end of month in which you obtain the degree.

4. Scholarship

1) Fellowship (for living expenses)

2) Research grant (for research expenses)

*Please note that the above scholarship amounts are subject to change depending on the budget situation.

5. April 2026 Recruitment

Application Guidelines and Forms

6. Others

Forms

8. Past SOKENDAI Special Researcher Program

• SOKENDAI Special Researcher (Field-Specific Type)
• SOKENDAI Special Researcher (Pioneering Research Type)