Polytechnical University of Madrid - Tokyo Institute of Technology Summer Exchange Research Program Scholarships

What the SERP scholarship gives you

You will spend 3 months over the summer carrying out practical research in a laboratory at Science Tokyo – the university formerly known as the Tokyo Institute of Technology – in Japan. A professor will supervise your work. Your tuition and programme fees are fully waived, so there are no costs involved in taking part. Your home university may contribute towards your travel and living expenses. In addition to your research, you can take part in optional courses such as ‘HighTech Japan’ (an introductory session plus four company visits) and ‘Survival Japanese’ (a language course for beginners). In August, you will present your findings at an international student workshop, where prizes will be awarded for the best presentations. Science Tokyo does not award official credits, but will issue a certificate so that your home university can recognise the work.

Who can apply

• Where you study now: You must be enrolled at a partner university that has signed a SERP agreement with Science Tokyo, such as the Polytechnic University of Madrid, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, RWTH Aachen University or the Sorbonne.
• Study level: You are a PhD student, a Master’s student or a Bachelor’s student in your final year of study.
• Field of study: You are studying an engineering subject, as the degree programme is offered by the engineering faculties at Science Tokyo.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. The key requirement is that your university is a SERP partner.

How to apply

You do not apply directly to Science Tokyo. Instead, you apply via the SERP coordinator at your own university, who will forward your application. The application deadline is 18 November, and each partner university may send only 2 to 3 students.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a strictly limited exchange programme. Only students from the few partner universities can apply, and each of these sends only 2 to 3 students per year. The pool of applicants is therefore small, but there are also only a limited number of places available. Your chances depend mainly on your research achievements and how well you are suited to a host laboratory. If you are studying engineering at a partner university and involve your coordinator at an early stage, you have a genuine chance of success.