The Sweden-Japan Foundation - The Sweden-Japan Foundation Trainee/Graduation Thesis Grant

The Sweden-Japan Foundation Trainee/Graduation Thesis Grant

You get a travel grant for a stay of 3 months to 1 year in Japan. There you do your graduation thesis (your final degree project) or a trainee placement at a Japanese company, research institute or university. There is no fixed sum. You attach a budget to your application and request a specific amount, and the foundation grants at most what you ask for. It covers costs like the return flight (around 10,000 SEK, about 900 EUR), transport within Japan (around 2,000 SEK, about 180 EUR), insurance (around 250 SEK, about 22 EUR per month) and the higher cost of living, above all accommodation and food. The money comes from the Sweden-Japan Foundation, a non-profit based in Stockholm that promotes exchange between the two countries.

Who can apply

• Who you are: You are a student or early-career researcher at a Swedish university or higher education institution. Only individuals may apply; organisations are not eligible.
• Connection to Sweden: You are a Swedish citizen or a foreign national with close ties to Sweden.
• Field of study: Any subject is eligible, for example engineering, natural sciences, medicine, economics, law, humanities, social sciences and languages.
• Where you go: You will be spending your time at a company, a research institute or a university in Japan. Internships at companies are preferred to those at universities, and a longer placement with a single organisation is preferred to several short placements.
• A confirmed place: You are responsible for arranging your own Japanese host and must demonstrate that the project is feasible. A letter from the company or organisation confirming that they will host you is virtually essential.
• Grades: Your academic achievements will be taken into account in the selection process.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the Foundation’s application system. The application must be written in Swedish, although attachments may be in English. The application period runs each year from 1 December to 31 January. Decisions will be communicated by email approximately two months after the deadline.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme is very restrictive. You need a strong connection to Sweden and a confirmed invitation from a Japanese host, which is very difficult to secure on your own. This pre-selection process keeps the number of applicants small. If you already have a company or organisation in Japan that will host you, can demonstrate good academic results and apply early, your chances are good. An internship placement with a company further improves your chances.