July 11, 2025

SOKENDAI Special Researcher Program (Collaborative Research Type)

1. Overview

This program aims to appoint SOKENDAI students who are conducting or are willing to conduct collaborative research with researchers from other programs (departments), institutions or companies as “SOKENDAI Special Researchers” and provide financial support as well as to broaden their perspective on research and careers.

2. Requirements for applicants

Applicants are required to meet all of the following conditions at the start of appointment (An estimation can be made at the time of application).

1）They should have been enrolled for 24 to 48 months (exclusive 48 months) in a 5-year doctoral course or have been enrolled for less than 24 months in a 3-year doctoral course. *1

※For the October 2025 callt, the above conditions shall be read as follows:

1) They should have been enrolled for 30 to 54 months (exclusive 54 months) in a 5-year doctoral course or have been enrolled for 6 to 30 months (exclusive 30 months) in a 3-year doctoral course.

2） They should have not received 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, or any foreign government-financed scholarship, or a scholarship from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). *2

3）They should not receive stable income*3 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 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).
  • "International Collaborative Degree Program" based on agreements with overseas universities.
  • "Collaborative Research” with researchers from other programs (courses), universities, institutes, companies, etc. (not include simple research guidance, provision of knowledge, technology, or equipment, etc.)

*1: 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 the entrance examination for a 3-year doctoral course at SOKENDAI are also eligible to apply.

*1 The period of a leave of absence (calculated by rounding up to the nearest month) is not counted within the enrollment period.

*1 Students on leave of absence and in the long-term course system are not eligible to apply.

*2 Those who are currently applying for JSPS DC Research Fellowship (DC2) are eligible to apply. However, if selected for DC2, financial support under the SOKENDAI Special Researcher Program will end.

*3 Temporary income from research assistant or other part-time works are not counted.

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

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)

JPY 190,000 per month

2) Research grant (for research expenses)

JPY 320,000 per year

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

5. October 2025 Recruitment

Application Guidelines and Forms

６. Contact

Promotion Office for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation

Email: jisedai-jimu(at)ml.soken.ac.jp  *Please replace (at) with @.

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