External opportunties

Research Opportunities in Japan: JSPS Summer Programme 2019

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) is an independent administrative institution, established by way of a national law for the purpose of contributing to the advancement of science in all fields of the natural and social sciences and the humanities. JSPS plays a pivotal role in the administration of a wide spectrum of Japan's scientific and academic programmes. While working within the broad framework of government policies established to promote scientific advancement, JSPS carries out its programmes in a manner flexible to the needs of the participating scientists.

JSPS provides a fellowship for young foreign researchers, namely the Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan. This fellowship offers opportunities for such researchers to pursue collaborative research at Japanese universities and research institutes, thereby allowing them to advance their own research while promoting scientific progress in both Japan and their respective countries. 

“JSPS Summer Programme” is implemented as a component of the Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan. It provides opportunities for young researchers from North American and European countries to receive an orientation on Japanese culture and research systems and to pursue research under the guidance of host researchers at Japanese universities and research institutes over a period of two months during the summer.

For the 2019 Programme, 18 fellowship places are available for UK nationals who are enrolled in PhD or M.Phil. programmes at UK universities at the time of application. 

Application guidelines and form are available on the website. 

Programme dates: 11 June through 21 August 2019

Award includes round-trip airfare, maintenance allowance and research support allowance. 

UK-China PhD Placement Programme (Newton Fund)

This programme is a sponsorship opportunity for UK and Chinese PhD students and their supervisors to spend a period of study of three to 12 months (for PhD students) and up to three months (for supervisors) at higher education institutions in China or the UK. The focus is on research areas that reflect the common interests and demands of both countries, including: 

• health and life sciences
• food and water security
• environmental technologies
• energy
• urbanisation
• education and creative economy for economic development and social welfare

Please note, applicants must find a host institution in their target country and placements must start between January and December 2019.

Please click here for more details and how to apply