OIST RESEARCH INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Application Deadline for Spring 2027 Internship: October 15th, 2026, 23:59 (JST UTC+9)

LOCATION: Japan

The OIST Graduate School offers education and research opportunities through their Research Internship Program in STEM fields. The research internship at OIST gives students experience working in a research environment directed by OIST faculty.

ELIGIBILITY:

Those who are currently enrolled in their last two years of a bachelor’s degree; enrolled in any year of a master’s degree in universities, colleges, junior colleges, and vocational schools in Japan or overseas, or those who have graduated with a bachelor’s or master’s degree, are eligible to apply for the Research Internship at OIST.
If you will be in your final two years of a bachelor’s degree by the start of the proposed internship duration, you are also eligible to apply.

Currently enrolled students must have approval from their home institution. The academic background of applicants should be appropriate to their desired host unit(s) at OIST.

Our Research Internship is intended for those who need more research experience and who are interested in joining OIST’s PhD Program later. Current or graduated PhD students who wish to collaborate with OIST should look for other opportunities such as Workshops or Careers at OIST.

Research Interns who belong to a Japanese university/institution are required to prepare and bring their own insurances when accepted to the OIST Research Internship Program. Acceptable insurances are the combination of Gakkensai and Gakkenbai, or other insurances with similar coverage.

They only accept application documents online. To apply for the program, you must create an account. Please prepare all required documents in English, save them as a PDF file, and upload them to the application website. You can complete the application in one session or save your progress and return to finish it later.

Note: We recommend using a computer when preparing the online application. If you prefer using a mobile device, please make sure to have the latest operating system for the application website to work properly.

BENEFIT:

The following support is only available for the research intern and does not extend to dependents, family members, or others.

Travel Expenses: One direct round-trip air ticket (travel date will be closest date to the term of placement)

Accommodation: Furnished accommodation on or off campus, funded by OIST or the research unit

Administrative Support: Acquisition of Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) for your visa application as well as registration procedures

Internship Allowance: 2,400 JPY per working day

Transportation Support: OIST Shuttle Bus Pass

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