Overview
UNESCO and Japan offer 10 Keizo Obuchi fellowships of up to US$10,000 for 3–9 month postgraduate research stays in Japan during 2027.
Complete fellowship details
The 2026 UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers' Fellowships Programme (UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships) is open for postgraduate research stays at Japanese universities and research institutions. Ten fellowships are available for research lasting 3–9 months between February and December 2027. Current themes include heritage conservation and management, sustainable development, and artificial-intelligence research connected to natural resources, climate, education, cities, infrastructure, governance, ethics and inclusion. Applicants must first secure acceptance from an academic supervisor at a Japanese host institution.
Eligibility requirements
Applicants must be nationals of a Member State or Associate Member invited for the 2026 cycle; be 40 or younger at application; hold at least a Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field; have sufficient proficiency in the host institution's working/supervision language; and obtain acceptance from an academic supervisor at a Japanese university or research institution. The invited group covers specified African states, SIDS and associated members, plus Türkiye and Ukraine; applicants must verify their country in UNESCO's current Annex 1.
Tips for this fellowship
Practical Job and Scholarship guidance. These tips do not replace official rules or create new eligibility requirements.
- Check eligibility, funding coverage, study/project level and every required document before investing time in the application.
- Prepare transcripts, references, language tests, proposal/motivation statement and proof documents early.
- Separate the scholarship deadline from any university/program admission deadline; they may be different.
- Treat “fully funded” as a source fact only when the official provider explicitly confirms the covered costs.
Verification notes
Verified against UNESCO's current cycle-2026 programme page, updated 7 July 2026. It confirms 10 awards, up to US$10,000, 3–9 months in Japan during February–December 2027, eligible-country restrictions, age 40 maximum, Master's minimum, Japanese host-supervisor acceptance and National Commission nomination. UNESCO gives 30 September 2026 at midnight Paris time for nominated submissions; national commissions may impose earlier local deadlines.
Job and Scholarship is the discovery and verification layer. Confirm eligibility, dates, salary/funding and application instructions on the original source before submitting anything.
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