Opportunities from UNESCO – Keizo Obuchi Fellowships

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.

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.