Okayama University Science, Technology, and Innovation Creation Fellowship (OU Fellowship) [Academic Year 2021] Application Guidelines
Okayama University is calling for applications for the Okayama University Science, Technology, and Innovation Creation Fellowship [Academic Year 2021]. The OU Fellowship was established to assist students enrolling in the doctoral degree program (second semester), five-year doctoral degree program, four-year doctoral degree program and to cultivate young researchers capable of promoting Okayama University priority research fields (see attachment) with the intention of cultivating researchers capable of playing important roles in science, technology and innovation creation in Japan.
Okayama University will provide and distribute the research support funding and research grant as well as provide a wide range of approaches to improve research capability and support career paths.
1.Planned Enrollment Capacity
Approx. 10 students
2.Qualification Requirements
Applicants for the OU Fellowship must fulfill the requirements listed below, be highly motivated to learn and concentrate on conducting research, and be younger than 30 years of age (younger than 32 years of age for applicants have taken time away from their academic pursuits to have and raise children or for other life events/ younger than 33 years of age for those who have enrolled in a medical field that requires clinical research).
However, those who fall under any of the following are excluded:
(1) Members of the workforce*
(2) Research Fellows (Young Scientists) of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
(3) Students from abroad receiving support through the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship and scholarships from their own countries
| Type | Title of Graduate Course | Requirements |
| Doctoral Degree Program (Second Semester) | Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology (Excluding Division of Earth and Planetary Materials Science) Graduate School of Health Sciences Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences) Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems |
Students who are scheduled to enter their third year in April 2021 and students who have been enrolled for 24 months or more and less than 36 months as of April 1, 2021 |
| Five-year Doctoral Degree Program | Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology (Division of Earth and Planetary Materials Science) | Students who are scheduled to enter their third year in April 2021 and students who have been enrolled for 24 months or more and less than 36 months as of April 1, 2021 |
| Four-year Doctoral Degree Program in the Fields of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences | Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Excluding Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences) | Students who are scheduled to enter their second year in April 2021 and students who have been enrolled for 12 months or more and less than 24 months as of April 1, 2021 |
* “Members of the workforce” here means (1) individuals engaged in a job that provides an ordinary income, (2) individuals who have retired from a job that provides an ordinary income, and (3) full-time homemakers. However, those who fall under category (3) may be qualified to apply depending on their individual circumstances.
If you have any inquiries about qualification, please contact us as shown in “10. Contact/Address to Send Your Application.”
3. Amount
OU Fellowship consists of research support funding and a research grant. The amount to be provided is as shown below.
(1) Research Support Funding: 1,800,000 yen per year (150,000 yen per month) [In principle, funding is paid every two months.]
* Research support funding is provided for living expenses with the intention of helping to enable successful applicants to concentrate on their research.
(2) Research Grant: Up to 600,000 yen per year [To be distributed after submission of the research plan to the secretariat every academic year.]
In the case that the applicant is the recipient of an Okayama University Scholarship to Support Students in Doctoral Degree Program (Second Semester), an Ohmoto Ikueikai Student Grant, or other scholarship provided by a graduate school or division (excluding one-time award for enrollment), the relevant scholarship amount shall be deducted from the 1,800,000 yen annual research support funding. Part of the research support funding may be classified as compensation for work as a research assistant.
4. Duration
The period of distribution of the research support funding and research grant is the period in which the successful applicant is enrolled in the doctoral degree program (second semester), five-year doctoral degree program, or four-year doctoral degree program, which is three years in principle, and must be within the standard period of completion. If the successful applicant takes a leave of absence from school, he/she will, in principle, no longer qualify for funding. However, if the recipient is expected to return to school to restart the research, the funding and grant may be temporarily suspended, and then restarted after the recipient returns to school.
5. Application Procedure
Students who have a desire to receive the OU Fellowship funding and grant must fill out and submit the designated Application Form to the OU Fellowship Secretariat via e-mail (ou-fellowship@adm.okayama-u.ac.jp) by March 12 17:00 JST. [No Exceptions]
Applicants must ask their individual advisors (planned) or someone familiar with their research to fill out and submit the designated Evaluation Form. (The Evaluation Form must be submitted directly to the secretariat by the person who completes the Evaluation Form.)
Please ensure sufficient time to complete the procedures for both forms.
- Application Form forOkayama University Science, Technology, and Innovation Creation Fellowship (OU Fellowship) [Academic Year 2021]
- Okayama University Science, Technology, and Innovation Creation Fellowship (OU Fellowship)[Academic Year 2021]Evaluation Form
6. Selection Process
Successful applicants will be determined through document screening and online interview conducted by the OU Fellowship Screening Committee. The results of the document screening will be announced to the applicants on Fri. 12, March (tentative). Applicants who have passed the document screening will receive details regarding the online interview. The online interview is scheduled as shown below. The results of the online interview will be announced to the applicants by the end of March.
[Scheduled Date and Time of Interview]
Mon. 22, March 17:00– 19:00 JST or Tue. 23, March 16:00-18:00 JST
It takes about 20 minutes per person.
7. Selection Criteria
Okayama University awards OU Fellowships to applicants who are highly motivated to learn and conduct research, and they are expected to promote research in the priority fields designated by Okayama University and to play important roles in science, technology, and innovation creation in Japan in the near future. Applicants are comprehensively evaluated in the following areas:
(1) The ability to set innovative research themes supported by creativity and deep insight
(2) Exceptional ability to pursue their research
(3) High communication ability
8. OU Fellowship Recipient Obligation
Successful OU Fellowship applicants are obligated to concentrate on research activities based on their own research plans and pursue the following items: (Details will be announced following selection.)
(1) Submission of research progress reports for each academic year (September and March, in the designated OU format)
(2) Periodical interviews with mentors (once every two months in principle)
(3) Participation in programs related to the improvement of research capability and support for career path (internship, meetings with companies, seminars, etc.)
9. Notes
(1) Successful OU Fellowship applicants are required to submit a pledge to concentrate on research activities, etc.
(2) Successful OU Fellowship applicants do not have an employment relationship with Okayama University; however, research support funding is listed as miscellaneous income under tax law and is considered taxable income. Therefore, successful applicants must file income tax returns.
(3) Research grants will be used appropriately under the supervision of the university (advisor).
10. Contact/Address to Send Your Application (OU Fellowship Secretariat)
Yoshida/Fukuhara, Research Support Office
Email: ou-fellowship@adm.okayama-u.ac.jp
Phone Number: 086 251 8462
