OIST Research Internship Program 2024-25 in Japan (Fully Funded)

Those who are currently enrolled in their last two years of a Bachelor’s degree, enrolled in any year of a Master’s degree, or those who have graduated with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and are interested in joining the OIST PhD program may undertake educational activity at OIST as a Research Intern. A research internship at OIST provides students with experience working in a research environment under the direction of OIST faculty.

Research Intern places are awarded twice a year on a competitive basis. Selection is highly competitive and depends on the suitability of the intended research, academic background, available funding, and space. Not all available positions will necessarily be filled.

OIST strives to create and maintain an inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment that does not discriminate against gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, medical condition, race, ethnicity, ancestry, culture, national origin, religion, or marital status. Applications from women and other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged. For more details, please refer to the OIST Graduate School Three Policies.

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Application Procedure

1. Applications to the program must be made through the online form.
2. You can only submit your application after at least one recommendation letter is received in the application system.
3. You will receive an auto-notification that your application has been received. (Please check your settings to ensure you can receive emails from the @oist.jp domain.)
4. Following the application period, applications will be screened and selection will be completed.
5. The result announcement will be posted on your application platform 3 months after the application deadline. You will receive a notification when the result is posted. (In some cases, applicants’ email services/settings prevent receipt of our notifications. Please confirm that your inbox can receive emails from the @oist.jp domain.)
6. Following final confirmation of internship offers, all necessary arrangements will be made, in cooperation with the interns. Your cooperation is required for the timely completion of logistics to begin the internship, including possible visa preparations and other necessary Japanese government documentation.

ELIGIBILITY

Those eligible to apply for the OIST Research Internship Program include excellent students who are in the final 2 years of the undergraduate or Masters programs in universities, colleges, junior colleges, and vocational schools in Japan or overseas, or graduates of such institutions. Currently enrolled students must have approval from their home institution. The academic background of applicants should be appropriate to their desired host unit(s) at OIST.

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Application Deadline

Application Round	Application Deadline	Result Announcement	Period of internship
Spring 2025 Internship	October 15th, 2024, 23:59 (JST UTC+9)	Late December 2024	Between April 1st, 2025 – September 30th, 2025
Fall 2025 Internship	April 15th, 2025, 23:59 (JST UTC+9)	Late June 2025	Between October 1st, 2025 – March 31st, 2026

*Starting from the Spring 2025 Internship, the internship period must be 3 and 6 months consecutively.
*Selection results for the Research Internship Program will be announced via the Navii system.
*The schedule is tentative and subject to change.

You will need to open an account to apply to the program. Be sure to remember your username and password. You may complete the application all at once or in multiple sessions. Please fill out and submit the following materials to apply for the program:

1) Statement of purpose

The Statement of Interest form is provided on the online application form.

Please write a 400-word (2500 characters) statement including the following points:

• How do OIST and your desired research unit(s) fit with your current expertise and skill set? If you are interested in multiple research units, please explain your interest and fit for each briefly within one single statement.
• What do you hope to accomplish at OIST?
• How does a research internship at OIST fit into your overall career plans/aspirations?

2) Academic Transcript and Diploma

Scanned copies of your current academic transcript and any other transcript from your past degree  (BSc, MSc, etc.)

Diploma (BSc, MSc, etc.) in PDF format (if applicable)

• A scan of an unofficial transcript or other record of grades may be uploaded to the application website.
• English explanation is required for transcripts that are not written in English.
• If you have not graduated and do not have a diploma yet, please upload a certificate of enrolment from your institution (which preferably indicates your expected graduation date)

3) Recommendation Letter

A letter of reference from an academic or research professional familiar with your work is required. Each applicant is required to have at least one and no more than three letters of recommendation from appropriate recommenders. The application system will ask your recommenders directly for the letter(s), using the email contact details that you provide in the web application form. Please obtain the consent of your referee before submitting their details in the form. We do not accept any letters via email from applicants. Applicants will be automatically notified within the application system when OIST receives a recommendation letter.

4) ID Photo

Upload a recent photo, showing your face from the front in standard passport orientation. Once you have obtained/ prepared all the documents above, please apply to the program through this APPLICATION FORM