The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) has been carrying out the RONPAKU (Dissertation PhD) Program since 1978. The aim of this program is to provide tutorial and financial support for promising researchers in Asia who wish to obtain their PhD degrees from Japanese universities through the submission of a dissertation without matriculating a doctoral course.
Grantees under the program (RONPAKU fellows) are required to conduct their dissertation research under the joint supervision of a Japanese advisor and an advisor in their home country, and are expected to obtain their PhD degrees within a maximum period of five years. RONPAKU fellows are allowed to visit a Japanese university once a year to conduct research under the direct supervision of their Japanese advisor. The Japanese advisor may visit the RONPAKU fellow’s home university or research institution when deemed necessary to supervise the fellow’s research together with his/her home advisor.
Eligible Fields
All fields within the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences are included.
Applicable Countries
Candidates must be a researcher whose university/institution is in one of the following countries:
Whose university/institution is in one of the following countries:
Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand or Vietnam, which have JSPS nominating organizations
Other countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Georgia, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyz, Laos, Lebanon, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, UAE, Uzbekistan or Yemen
Eligibility of Japanese Advisor
The candidate’s Japanese advisor must be a full-time researcher who, as of 1 April 2009, is engaged in implementing a doctoral course at the Japanese university to which the prospective RONPAKU fellow will submit his/her PhD thesis.
Eligibility of RONPAKU Fellow
The candidate must be a researcher
Who has not obtained a PhD degree from a Japanese university
Who wishes to obtain a PhD degree from a Japanese university through the submission of a dissertation
Who has already achieved substantial research results and is likely through dissertation research under the program to successfully obtain a PhD degree
Who is employed full time at a university or research institution in his/her home country or will likely be appointed to such a position by April 1, 2009 (JSPS also treats Taiwanese and Palestinian researchers in this manner.)
Who is 49 years of age or younger as of April 1, 2009.
Number of Fellowships to be Awarded
Approximately 30
Fellowship Tenure
Maximum 5 years from 1 April 2009 |
