Japan
6 Open Study/Research Award for Graduating Seniors
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodSeptember StartGrant Length10 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
This grant introduces recent American graduates to various regions of Japan to pursue language study and independent research at Japanese universities. The main purpose of the research project is to serve as a vehicle for immersion and engagement with the local community. Successful applicants will be chosen who demonstrate maturity, flexibility, and independence.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Grantees must arrive in Japan in September 2026 to participate in the orientation program.
Orientation
Fulbright group orientation upon arrival in Japan.
Candidate Profile
Applications will only be considered from graduating seniors who will receive bachelor’s degrees between December 2025 and August 2026. Future career and academic objectives are important considerations and should be addressed in the Personal Statement of the application.
- Applications in all disciplines will be considered.
- Applicants must have interests in Japanese culture and society in the broad sense, not limited within their proposed fields of study.
- Applicants demonstrating study or research plans/goals that are strongly related to furthering mutual understanding and cooperative pursuits between Japan and the United States will generally be preferred over those who lack such intent.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.
The third largest economy on Earth and Asia’s most prosperous democracy, Japan is home to world-leading universities and research institutions that have produced countless scholars of global distinction, along with cutting-edge innovations that have improved the lives of all.
Since 1952, generations of American Fulbrighters have immersed themselves to gain a deeper understanding of the culture and society that make Japan one of the most fascinating civilizations in history, as well as the most indispensable partner nation for the United States today.
Visiting students enjoy unsurpassed freedom to interact with the people and the land, to experience the beauty of four distinct seasons, and to appreciate the daily contrasts between ancient tradition and cosmopolitan modernity.
Eligibility
3 Months
Applicants who will reside in Japan more than 90 days between September 1, 2025 and August 31, 2026 are not eligible to apply for the 2026-2027 award. There is no exception for undergraduate study abroad regarding the restrictions on residency in Japan.
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
Special Application Instructions
- Translation of Statement of Grant Purpose Required
- Japanese Language Proposal: Applicants MUST submit a one-page Statement of Grant Purpose in Japanese in addition to the
English version. Both documents should be uploaded in the correlating fields in the Fulbright online application. The
translated document should be uploaded as a PDF document.
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form
If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.
Foreign Language Proficiency Level by Grant Start
If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Required, applicants must have the following proficiency level by the start of the grant period. If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Recommended, applicants are encouraged but not required to have the following level by the start of the grant period.
At least two years of college-level study, or equivalent, is required prior to commencing the grant. Higher level proficiency may be necessary depending on the requirements of the proposed project.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
In most cases, the Fulbright Commission arranges affiliations with academic institutions throughout Japan, taking the candidate's background and previous experience in Japan into consideration.
However, candidates in the hard sciences and creative arts must arrange affiliations with Japanese academic institutions, and include invitation letters from those institutions with their Fulbright applications. Candidates in other fields whose research projects require specific placements, i.e., a certain academic advisor or institution, must also provide invitation letters. Other than those two instances, preliminary contact with institutions is strongly discouraged.
Grantees do not enroll as degree students at Japanese universities. They structure their own programs, combining language study, selected course study according to their Japanese proficiency, and individual research under the guidance of an assigned professor. Fellows with prior experience in Japan will be strongly discouraged from returning to the locales of their prior studies or residence.
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
An allowance to cover the mandatory affiliation fees for one university will be provided.
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
Housing allowance will be provided separately as follows:
- single: ¥50,000
- with 1 dependent: ¥64,000
- with 2 dependents or more: ¥80,000
One-Time Allowances
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
- Language training allowance
- Research/Materials allowance
- Settling in allowance
- Settling-in Allowance: ¥50,000 *
- Baggage Allowance (round-trip): ¥100,000 and $500
- Research/Book Allowance: ¥150,000
* The amount of Settling-in Allowance is equivalent to one month's housing allowance. The rate varies according to the grantee's "dependents" status while on grant.
Additional Grant Benefits
- Mid-year seminar
Grantees are required to participate in a mid-year conference in March 2027.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
Average of Monthly Expenditure per Household (One-person Households)
Including housing/foods/other goods and services.
- Hokkaido&Tohoku: ¥160,618
- Kanto: ¥180,411
- Hokuriku&Tokai: ¥154,223
- Kinki: ¥171,483
- Chugoku&Shikoku: ¥164,171
- Kyushu&Okinawa: ¥159,720
Reference: Statistics Bureau of Japan/2024 Yearly Average Survey Results
* NOTE: These are regional averages. Certain metropolitan areas within the regions will likely have higher costs of living than these average figures.
Dependents
The term "accompanying family dependent" includes the following: (a) spouse who is not on paid sabbatical from a position in the U.S., who is not on a separate grant scholarship or fellowship tenable in Japan, or who will not be working full-time or earning more than ¥150,000 per month (before tax) in or out of Japan; (b) unmarried children, under 21.
A monthly Family Allowance will be provided for the period spent in Japan with the grantee. The allowance will not be paid for periods less than 30 consecutive days.
- with 1 dependent: ¥32,800
- with 2 dependents: ¥42,400
- with 3 or more dependents: ¥52,000