Okayama University Science, Technology, and Innovation Creation Fellowship (OU Fellowship) [Academic Year 2023] Application Guidelines
Okayama University established the Okayama University Science, Technology, and Innovation Creation Fellowship (OU Fellowship) in April 2021 to assist students enrolling in the doctoral degree program and to cultivate young researchers capable of promoting Okayama University priority research fields with the intention of cultivating researchers capable of playing important roles in science, technology and innovation creation in Japan.
We will start accepting applications for the 2023 academic year from September. At that time, we will accept applications for both Type A and B in the same schedule.
OU Fellowship Information Session
・Information Session Materials
・Information Session Video
・Questions and Answers (received at the information session)
※Please refer to this FAQ when applying
Application Documents (Academic Year 2023) *Applications have been closed.
- Application Guidelines（2022/8/23 Update）
- Application Form
- Certificate of Estimated Income
- Evaluation Form
※Okayama University priority research fields
1. Planned Enrollment Capacity
Type A
1st year student (2nd year student for four-year doctor’s course): Approx. 10 students
2nd year student (3rd year student for four-year doctor’s course): Approx. 1 student
3rd year student (4th year student for four-year doctor’s course): Approx. 1 student
Type B
1st year student: Approx. 8 students
2nd year student: Approx. 2 students
＊Please see the application guidelines for details.
2. Eligible Graduate Programs and Students [Doctoral degree program only]
Type A
| Program | 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 enroll in April 2023 (Including individuals planning to take entrance examinations for graduate programs) *1 ・Students who are scheduled to enter their second year in April 2023 *2 ・Students who are scheduled to enter their third year in April 2023 *2 |
| 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 2023 *2 ・Students who are scheduled to enter their fourth year in April 2023 *2 ・Students who are scheduled to enter their fifth year in April 2023 *2 |
| 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 enroll their second year in April 2023 *2 ・Students who are scheduled to enter their third year in April 2023 *2 ・Students who are scheduled to enter their fourth year in April 2023 *2 |
Type B
| Program | 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 enroll in April 2023 (Including individuals planning to take entrance examinations for graduate programs) *1 ・Students who are scheduled to enter their second year in April 2023 *2 |
| 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 2023 *2 ・Students who are scheduled to enter their fourth year in April 2023 *2 |
| 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 enroll in April 2023 (Including individuals planning to take entrance examinations for graduate programs) *1 ・Students who are scheduled to enter their second year in April 2023 *2 |
*1 Including students admitted in October 2022.
*2 Including those who entered the relevant year in October 2022.
3. Amount
Type A
OU Fellowship Type A consists of research encouragement funding and research budget. The amount to be provided is as shown below.
(1) Research Encouragement Funding: 1,800,000 yen per year (150,000 yen per month)
* In principle, funding is paid every two months.
* Research encouragement funding is provided for living expenses with the intention of helping to enable successful applicants to concentrate on their research.
(2) Research Budget: 600,000 yen per year *To be distributed after submission of the research plan to the OU Fellowship Office every academic year.
Type B
OU Fellowship Type B consists of research encouragement funding, research budget and research grant (special category) which is additionally provided by the evaluations based on the proposal. The amount to be provided is as shown below.
(1) Research Encouragement Funding: 1,800,000 yen per year (150,000 yen per month)
* In principle, funding is paid every two months.
* Research encouragement funding is provided for living expenses with the intention of helping to enable successful applicants to concentrate on their research.
(2) Research Budget: 400,000 yen per year
* To be distributed after submission of the research plan to the OU Fellowship Office every academic year.
(3) Research Grant (Special Category): Up to 700,000 yen per year
This research grant is distributed to students who submitted their own proposals and received high evaluations in each academic year based on the submitted proposals.
* The research grant (special category) is additionally provided to OU Fellowship Type B recipients who submit their own approaches to increase their (1) international perspective, (2) research capability, and (3) career awareness.
Notes (For both Type A and B)
In the case that the applicant for OU Fellowship is the recipient of the following scholarships, the relevant scholarship amount shall be adjusted that the total annual amount of the scholarship and OU Fellowship will be maximum 2,400,000 yen.
(1) Ohmoto Ikueikai Student Grant
(2) Okayama University Scholarship to Support Students in Doctoral Degree Programs (Second Semester)
(3) Other scholarship provided by a graduate school or division of Okayama University (excluding one-time award for enrollment)
If you have any questions about handling of the applicants who have already received these scholarships for 2023 academic year, please contact to “10. Contact/Address to Send Your Application (OU Fellowship Secretariat)”.
4. Duration
April 1, 2023～ (within the standard period of completion)
※ [Type A] is for 3 years in principle.
5. Application Procedure
The application form can be filled out in English.
Students who have a desire to receive the OU Fellowship funding and budget must fill out and submit the following documents:
・Application Form (Submit as PDF)
・Certificate of Estimated Income (For working individuals, etc. who have a regular income)
・Evaluation Form (Submit as PDF and must be submitted directly to the OU Fellowship Office by the person who completes the Evaluation Form)
Application period: Thursday, September 1 – Monday, September 26
Submission Deadline: Monday, September 26 (17:00 JST) [No Exceptions]
Address to Send Your Application: OU Fellowship Office *Please submit via email.
ou-fellowship@adm.okayama-u.ac.jp
*Please submit your e-mail with the title “2023_application_Name”.
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 OU Fellowship Office by the person who completes the Evaluation Form.)
In principle, Application Form and Evaluation Form cannot be replaced once submitted, even if it is submitted before the due date. Please ensure sufficient time to complete the procedures for each form, and submit them in consultation with your individual advisor.
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 by the end of October. Applicants who have passed the document screening will receive details regarding the online interview. The online interview is scheduled for early November. The results of the online interview will be announced to the applicants by the end of November.
If a successful applicant declines the OU Fellowship, the Fellowship will be awarded to another applicant.
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 recipients are obligated to take research ethics education classes specified by Okayama University, concentrate on research activities based on their own research plans, and pursue the following items to form their particular career paths after the acquisition of the degrees: (Details will be announced following selection.)
(1) Submission of research progress reports for each academic year (September and March, in the designated OU format)
*Type B requires the recipients to report the progress of research supported by the research grant (special category).
(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.)
(4) Report any changes in the information provided in the “Confirmation of Eligibility to Apply” section of the application form.
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 encouragement funding is listed as miscellaneous income under tax law and is considered taxable income. Therefore, successful applicants must file income tax returns.
(3) Research budget and research grant (special category) must be used appropriately under the supervision of the university (advisor).
(4) The OU Fellowship is a government program, and the OU Fellowship is provided on the premise that the research encouragement funding (equivalent to living expenses) and research budget provided by the fellowship will support “research activities in Japan,” as determined by the government system. Therefore, please note that the fellowship cannot be provided to those who have not been able to come to Japan due to the status of the COVID-19 infection or other reasons.
10. Contact/Address to Send Your Application (OU Fellowship Office)
Yoshida/Kanemoto, Research Support Office
Email: ou-fellowship@adm.okayama-u.ac.jp
Phone Number: 086 251 8462
※Please contact us by email as much as possible.
