ELIGIBILITY:

Under the 2026 cycle, UNESCO and the Government of Japan will award 10 fellowships to highly qualified young researchers from Africa, Small Island Developing States, Ukraine, and Türkiye. 

Applicants must:

Be nationals of one of the invited Member States or Associate Members listed in Annex 1;

Be no more than 40 years old at the time of application;

Hold at least a master’s degree or equivalent in a field relevant to the proposed research and demonstrate strong academic and research potential;

Demonstrate sufficient proficiency in reading and writing in the language of instruction or supervision at the proposed host institution in Japan;

Have obtained acceptance from an academic supervisor at a Japanese university or research institution, who will oversee the proposed research.

BENEFIT:

Selected fellows may receive a fellowship grant of up to US$10,000. The grant will be provided as a lump-sum contribution and is intended to cover costs directly related to the approved research stay in Japan.

The grant may cover:

International and domestic travel for the approved itinerary;

Accommodation;

Medical insurance;

Personal subsistence in Japan, including meals, local transportation and incidental expenses;

Other research-related expenses, where applicable.