The purpose of the UNU-IAS PhD Fellowship is to provide young scholars and policy-makers, especially from the developing world, with a multidisciplinarily context within which to pursue advanced research and training that are of professional interest to the applicant and of direct relevance to the research agenda of UNU-IAS. Research proposals for UNU-IAS PhD Fellowships should therefore relate clearly to one of the current research areas of the Institute, as well as aim to be policy relevant. Research proposals are invited in the following areas:
Science and Technology for Sustainable SocietiesSustainable Urban Futures
Biodiplomacy InitiativeSustainable Development Governance
Traditional Knowledge Initiative
Applicants must be at the dissertation writing stage of their PhD with a research proposal accepted by the candidate's university. Language proficiency in English is essential. Applicants from developing countries and women are particularly encouraged to apply.
UNU-IAS Ph.D. Fellowships are awarded for a period of 12 months. The starting date of the Ph.D. Fellowship Programme is 1 September. Successful applicants are required to be in Yokohama by this date. Residency in Yokohama for the full duration of the fellowship is required.
Fellows are provided with their own desk in a dedicated study room in the Institute, administrative support and desktop computing. Fellows have access to the UNU Library in Tokyo which includes an excellent collection of UN documents. They also have access via the UNU Library to various Japanese university libraries and computer databases. A limited range of other, more specialised computer hardware and software may also be available.
The fellowship provides a monthly stipend of JPY260,000 from which a monthly usage charge for accommodation is deducted (see below). A one-time-only settle-in-allowance of JPY 80,000 will be granted to each Fellow at the beginning of the programme for relocation, adjustment expenses, ground transportation and incidental costs. UNU-IAS provides Fellows with a return air ticket between his/her country of residence and Narita Airport. Settle-in-allowance and air tickets are, however, not provided for Fellows already residing in Japan before the commencement of the fellowship.
Fellows carry out their research in Yokohama under the supervision of a UNU-IAS faculty member and/or affiliated UNU-IAS network scholars. Fellows will spend about half of their working hours on their dissertation and the remaining half assisting the Institute’s projects and activities.
Fellowship Type | Eligibility | Duration | Residency |
| UNU-IAS PhD Fellowship | 1. Applicants must be at an advanced dissertation writing stage of the PhD with their research proposal accepted by the candidate's university.2. Proficiency in English is essential. | 12 months | UNU-IAS, Yokohama, Japan |
| UNU-IAS Postdoctoral Fellowship | 1. Applicants must have gained their PhD degree.2. Proficiency in English is essential. | 12 months (possiblity of renewal for another 12 months) | UNU-IAS, Yokohama or Kanazawa, Japan |
| JSPS-UNU Postdoctoral Fellowship | 1. Applicants must have gained their PhD degree on or after 2 April 2005 for the 2011 Fellowships. 2. Proficiency in English is essential. 3. Nationality: Citizens of a country that has diplomatic relations with Japan. (Japanese nationals who do not have citizenship or permanent residency of another country are not eligible.) | 24 months | UNU-IAS, Yokohama, Japan or UNU-ISP, Tokyo, Japan |
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