- Be faculty members of one of the eligible universities stated below.
- Have been nominated by their university’s presidential office, with the approval and recommendation of the faculty and the department.
- Have received a specific and confirmed invitation from a professor at a Japanese university, who will act as the host professor to collaborate with and/or advise the applicant until graduation or the completion of the program.
Application and Screening
- Applicants to all programs must be faculty members at one of the eligible universities.
- English will be the common language used in most of the international conferences. Therefore,we strongly suggest that applicants have a good knowledge of English as a communication tool. A TOEFL score of 530 or above is preferred.
- The Foundation shall mail application forms every year in June to the presidential office of each university.
- Each applicant shall submit the application to his/her university’s presidential office with all requested information. The Foundation will accept applications and nomination letters from the presidential offices until the end of November. No direct application from individual will be accepted.
- The application form should be supplemented with a recommendation letter from the Head of Department and/or the Dean of Faculty, along with a confirmed certificate of acceptance from a Japanese host professor (Scholarship) or advisory professor/research counterpart (Research/Komai Fellowship).
- The selection committee of the Foundation initially screens applications received and identifies candidates to interview.
- Interviews with candidates shall be carried out individually, usually at candidates’ home universities, during the period from January to April.
- One of the most important points for evaluation is why the university has nominated the candidate and what kind of scenario the department or faculty has for the candidate in terms of academic collaboration after graduation. If the applicant’s department or faculty has been implementing specific cooperation/collaboration with the laboratory of the proposed host professor in Japan, this will receive positive consideration in the screening of the candidate.
- Following the interview, the Foundation may contact both senior advisors at the home university and the proposed host professor in Japan for further verification.
- Notification of final decisions will be made to the presidential offices, and award notices will be sent to each successful candidate in June.
