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2027 JSPS London BRIDGE Fellowship Call for Applications

21 October 2026

Closing date: 9:00 am (UK time), Monday 23rd November, 2026

Visit start period: Between 1st June 2027 to 31st March 2028


Outline

This award gives the opportunity for past Fellows of JSPS international programmes to revisit Japan to create, sustain and/or strengthen collaborative linkages with the Japanese academic community. The objective is to build strong networks between researchers in Japan and the UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) through a variety of academic activities.
These visits may include Fellows revisiting their past or new host institutions, holding meetings to plan or arrange joint research projects or seminars, training young researchers, giving lectures, and preparing or attending scientific conferences and research meetings.


Applicable Field

All fields of the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences are included.


Eligibility of Applicant

To be eligible, the researcher must meet all of the following requirements:

* Researchers who have conducted research in Japan under a JSPS International Programme and are registered with the JSPS Alumni Association of the UK & RoI as a regular member (not an honorary member).

*Researchers who are employed as an active researcher working at a university or a research institute in the UK or RoI.

* Researchers who have received a BRIDGE Fellowship within the last 5 years (from FY2022 up to and including FY2026) can not apply to this call. 

 * Researchers selected for the FY2019 - FY2020 call who were unable to visit Japan due to the COVID-19 pandemic and whose arrival was postponed are ineligible to apply for five years from the date they arrived in Japan. However, those who declined their fellowship offers during the FY2019 - FY2020 call are eligible to apply to this call.

 

Eligibility and Requirements of the Host Researcher

In principle, researchers who are employed full time or classified as such during the period June 2027 to the end of March 2028 at one of the Japanese research institutions listed below are eligible to host a BRIDGE Fellow:
(1)Universities, inter-university research institutes
(2)Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) affiliated facilities engaged in scientific research
(3)Colleges of Technology
(4)Institutions designated by MEXT


*Eligible institutions under (1)-(4) are listed here

*Definition of “full-time employment” is according to the regulations of the host institution.


*There are cases where researchers not employed in a full-time position may be eligible. Such persons must be eligible to apply for Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) and their affiliated institution must judge them able to implement the project and provide an appropriate research environment (e.g. laboratory, equipment, personnel) for it.

* A host researcher may not be changed during the fellowship tenure. At the time of application if it is known the host will retire before or during the proposed fellowship tenure, they should not be selected as a host.

* The host researcher must be in support of all 7 administrative clauses on Form B (Agreement by Host Researcher) and e mail correspondence must be provided as evidence.

*Before submitting an application, the host researcher should inform the candidate of the conditions at the host institution, including their status under the fellowship, and obtain the candidate’s agreement to these conditions.

*In cooperation with the administration office of the Host institution, the host researcher should assist the candidate with the immigration process (including applying for a “Certificate of Eligibility”), securing accommodation and other matters related to their stay in Japan.

For a full explanation of requirements of the host researcher, please refer to the guidelines issued by the JSPS Tokyo Head Quarters here


Requirements of BRIDGE Fellows

*JSPS Fellows are required to submit a report to the JSPS Tokyo Head Quarters and JSPS London within one month of completing their tenure. This report, including details of the affiliation of the host researcher and BRIDGE Fellow, may be given public access on the internet. Fellows may also be invited to take participate in surveys aimed at improving JSPS programmes.

*JSPS Fellows are asked to mention they have been invited under the JSPS BRIDGE programme when giving lectures and presentations in Japan.

* During their tenure, the Fellow is obligated to concentrate on creating, sustaining and strengthening research and academic networks related to the BRIDGE programme and should not be engaged in other paid or non paid activities. Only participating in the following types of activities are considered allowable, providing prior agreement from the host researcher has been given:

1) Research-related teaching to students at the host institution(s)

2) A research project closely related to the Fellow’s research title

3) Outreach activities relevant to the Fellow’s research title

4) Events organised by JSPS

 

For a full explanation of requirements of the BRIDGE Fellow, please refer to the guidelines issued by the JSPS Tokyo Head Quarters here


Commencement of Awards

JSPS London will make up to 4 recommendations for awards to the JSPS Tokyo head office in this call. This will be the only BRIDGE Fellowship call covering visits to Japan during FY2027.

Successful applicants will receive an award letter and pre-departure preparation documents from the JSPS Tokyo head office by late- March 2027. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing by JSPS London within 3 months of the closing date.

* Fellowships are awarded for a period of 14 to 30 consecutive days

* Successful applicants are asked to start their Fellowships in Japan between 1st June 2027 to 31st March 2028.

*All offices are officially closed between 29th December 2027 to 3rd January 2028 (6 days) in Japan and researchers may not be able to carry out their activities at Japanese universities/ research institutions during this period, therefore these 6 days should not be included in the BRIDGE Fellowship tenure.

 
Value of the Award

* Round trip air ticket (arranged by JSPS’ designated travel agent and based on JSPS regulations). JSPS can not reimburse BRIDGE Fellows for air tickets they have purchased by themselves.

* Overseas travel insurance coverage (medical only)

* Daily maintenance allowance of 13,000JPY

* Research Support allowance of 100,000JPY

(This allowance covers cooperative research-related expenses and can be applied for by the host researcher through their host institution to the JSPS Tokyo Head Quarters once award of a fellowship has been confirmed. The rules for using this research support allowance are in the Program Guidelines and additional notes issued with the award letter.)

* These terms of award are subject to change.


Application Assessment Criteria

* Provision a: Recruitment Policy

* Provision b: Screening Criteria

* Provision c: Rules for Nominating Committee Members

These documents can be found at the following URL:
https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-alumni/bridge/uk/index.html


Application Procedure

To apply for the scheme, please download and complete the application form and agreement by the host researcher, available below:

JSPS BRIDGE Fellowship Application Form 2027 (FORM A)

The applicant's hand written signature scanned (digital image) is acceptable.

Agreement by the Host Researcher 2027 (FORM B)
 

In addition, please submit the following:

  • CV (max, one A4 page)
  • List of selected publications (max. one A4 page)
  • E mail correspondence between the applicant and host (max. 10 A4 pages).

This correspondence should include discussion of the research to be undertaken during a BRIDGE Fellowship. Please provide e mail correspondence in English or a translation where necessary.

*Any additional information given will not be considered.

All completed application forms, e mail correspondence, CV and publication list should be e mailed to JSPS London at: 

lon-bridge@overseas.jsps.go.jp


Further Notes

* There is a limit of one application per person in any fiscal year, irrespective of whether the applicant may belong to more than one JSPS Alumni Association.

* A researcher may not be a candidate for the BRIDGE Fellowship and another JSPS Programme at the same time.

* A researcher may not be awarded a BRIDGE Fellowship and a fellowship from another funding organisation at the same time to fund the same research trip.

* Researchers who have been supported under any JSPS international programme are required to describe the results and its relevance, if any, in their application for a BRIDGE Fellowship.

* Applicants should be aware that all information provided will be dealt with in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Privacy Notice of JSPS London. Information will be held and processed at JSPS London, JSPS Tokyo and possibly other JSPS overseas offices and will be used exclusively for the implementation of JSPS programmes. Please see our Privacy Notice at the following link: https://www.jsps.org/about_us/privacy.html

* Should JSPS London determine any information provided is incomplete, falsified, plagiarized or otherwise flawed, the application will be rejected.

For other relevant matters, please refer to the application guidelines issued by the JSPS Tokyo Head Quarters here