The Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation is offering PhD Research Grants in Japanese Studies for 2026, see details below.

Call for applications: Research Grants for PhD Candidates in Contemporary Japanese Studies

Research grants are provided for PhD candidates enrolled at Nordic institutions/ universities in all subjects within the broad field of contemporary Japanese studies, to cover costs for conducting research activities in Japan for up to one year. Contemporary Japanese Studies are defined as fields within the humanities and the social sciences such as anthropology, art, architecture, economics, education, history, law, linguistics, literature, political science, sociology, and the interdisciplinary study and research of various aspects of Japan, its society, history, and culture, with a view to deepening and enhancing an understanding of the country. In exceptional cases the grant can be provided for PhD research activities in Japan in areas such as science, technology, health and medicine, or other subjects outside of humanities and the social sciences, if there are compelling reasons why the PhD candidate must go to Japan for the PhD dissertation research.
Costs covered by the grant: The grant covers the costs of conducting research activities in Japan only. Typical costs that can be covered are those for: travel, accommodation, meals, access to research databases or research materials, or other direct costs for procured services necessary to perform the research. The maximum amount that can be awarded per person is EUR10,000.

Grant period: The grant period is from January to December 2026. Continuation of funding is possible, pending a successful year-end review, but priority is given to those who are applying for the first time.

Duration of stay: The duration of stay in Japan is from one month up to one year.

Eligibility: The applicant should be enrolled as a PhD student at an institution/ university in a Nordic country (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, or Sweden) within any academic field, but focused on studies of contemporary Japan. The applicant’s purpose of travel to Japan must be for conducting research for the PhD dissertation.

How to apply: There is one application round for the 2026 Japanese Studies Research Grants.

– The application round opens on September 2, 2025 and closes on November 1, 2025.

Decisions will be communicated to applicants approximately 6-8 weeks after each application deadline.

Applications for the “2026 Japanese Studies Research Grants” are to be made on the online application platform: http://apply.se/sjsf before the deadline.

CLICK HERE for GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING:  GUIDELINES 2026 PhD Research Grant application

Enquiries: Send an e-mail to the Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation at the e-mail address: [email protected].