Open Call UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme 2026, Launched in 2001 through the Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Capacity-Building of Human Resources, the UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme, also known as the UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowships Programme, is a prestigious initiative funded by the Government of Japan. The programme aims to strengthen the research capabilities of young scholars while fostering international academic collaboration in areas that support UNESCO’s mission.

Since its inception, the fellowship has supported 291 young researchers from 101 countries, enabling them to undertake postgraduate research that advances global knowledge, promotes academic cooperation, and builds research capacity across a wide range of disciplines.

For the 2026 fellowship cycle, UNESCO and the Government of Japan will award 10 fellowships to outstanding young researchers from Africa, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Ukraine, and Türkiye. The programme will fund innovative postgraduate research focused on heritage conservation and management, sustainable development, and artificial intelligence, with special emphasis on interdisciplinary studies that explore their social, ethical, governance, and contextual aspects.

Selected fellows will conduct their research at leading Japanese universities and research institutions, gaining access to Japan’s world-class academic environment while expanding international research partnerships and enhancing their professional expertise.

If you’re interested in this prestigious fellowship program, we encourage you to read the article carefully and follow the application guidelines closely. Make sure to review all eligibility criteria and submit your application within the specified timeline.

Last Date of Application: 30^th September 2026

UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme 2026 – At a Glance

Open Call UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme 2026 Invited Member States and Associate Members

AFRICA – 47 Member States:

Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

ARAB STATES – 1 Member State:

Bahrain

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN – 16 Member States, 7 Associate Members*:

Anguilla*, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba*, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands*, Cayman Islands*, Cuba, Curaçao*, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat*, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten*, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago

EUROPE – 2 Member States:

Türkiye, Ukraine

Research areas

Research proposals submitted under the 2026 cycle should fall within one of the following research areas. Applicants should refer to Annex 2 for the full list of indicative sub-areas and select one primary research area and one corresponding sub-area that best reflect the focus of their proposed research.

Heritage Conservation and Management (4 sub-areas)

AI for Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Climate Action （5 sub-areas)

Ethical, Inclusive, and Human Centred AI for Sustainable Development (6 sub-areas)

AI for Sustainable Cities, Infrastructure, and Societal Resilience (6 sub-areas)

AI and Education (7 sub-areas)

Open Call UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme 2026 Eligibility requirements

Applicants must:

• be nationals of one of the invited Member States or Associate Members listed in Annex 1;
• be no more than 40 years old at the time of application;
• hold at least a Master’s degree or equivalent in a field relevant to the proposed research and demonstrate strong academic and research potential;
• demonstrate sufficient proficiency in reading and writing in the language of instruction or supervision at the proposed host institution in Japan;
• have obtained acceptance from an academic supervisor at a Japanese university or research institution, who will oversee the proposed research.

Fellowship grant and eligible costs

Selected fellows may receive a fellowship grant of up to US$10,000. The grant will be provided as a lump-sum contribution and is intended to cover costs directly related to the approved research stay in Japan.

The grant may cover:

• international and domestic travel for the approved itinerary;
• accommodation;
• medical insurance;
• personal subsistence in Japan, including meals, local transportation and incidental expenses;
• other research-related expenses, where applicable.

The grant does not cover tuition fees, the purchase of equipment, including computers, publication costs or participation in conferences, unless such participation can be clearly justified as an integral part of the research and makes a direct and significant contribution to the project.

Medical insurance is mandatory for all selected fellows and will be arranged by UNESCO on their behalf. The cost of medical insurance will be deducted from the total fellowship amount before disbursement.

Open Call UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme 2026 How to apply?

Follow these steps to apply for the UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme 2026:

Step 1: Review the Application Guide

Carefully read the Application Guide to understand the eligibility criteria, required documents, and application procedures before starting your application.

Step 2: Contact Your National Commission for UNESCO

Get in touch with the National Commission for UNESCO in your home country to learn about the national application process and submission requirements. Click here for the contact information of the National Commissions for UNESCO.

Step 3: Prepare the Required Documents

Complete your application package by gathering all the necessary documents, including:

• Completed application form (Annex 3)
• Academic transcripts and certificates
• Recommendation letter
• Acceptance letter from the host institution in Japan
• Language proficiency certificate
• Research proposal (Annex 4)

Step 4: Submit Your Application Nationally

Send your complete application to the National Commission for UNESCO in your home country at least two weeks before its internal submission deadline.

Step 5: Submit Documents to UNESCO (For Nominated Candidates Only)

If your National Commission informs you that you have been nominated, email your completed online application form and all supporting documents to keizoobuchi.fellowships@unesco.org.

Note: UNESCO will only accept applications officially nominated by a National Commission for UNESCO.

Step 6: Final Submission by the National Commission

The National Commissions for UNESCO must submit nomination letters and all application documents to UNESCO no later than 30 September 2026 (midnight, Paris time). Incomplete applications or submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee comprising experts from UNESCO and the Government of Japan. The committee will assess applications based on:

• Academic excellence and research potential
• Quality and originality of the proposed research
• Relevance of the research to the programme’s priority areas

The final fellowship recipients will be selected by the Government of Japan, taking into account the committee’s recommendations while ensuring gender equality and diversity in the selection process.

Learn more about the Fellowship Program

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UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme 2026 FAQs

1. Who is eligible to apply for the UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme 2026?

Applicants must be nationals of the invited Member States or Associate Members, be 40 years of age or younger, hold at least a Master’s degree, obtain acceptance from a Japanese host institution, and meet the language proficiency requirements specified by the programme.

2. What is the fellowship amount under the UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme 2026?

Selected fellows may receive a grant of up to US$10,000 to cover eligible expenses such as travel, accommodation, medical insurance, living costs, and research-related expenses during their research stay in Japan.

3. What research fields are supported by the UNESCO/Japan Fellowship 2026?

The fellowship supports postgraduate research in Heritage Conservation and Management, AI for Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Climate Action, Ethical and Human-Centred AI for Sustainable Development, AI for Sustainable Cities and Societal Resilience, and AI and Education.

4. What is the application deadline for the UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme 2026?

The final deadline for National Commissions for UNESCO to submit nominated applications to UNESCO is 30 September 2026 (midnight, Paris time). Applicants should submit their documents to their respective National Commission well before its internal deadline.

5. How can I apply for the UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowships Programme 2026?

Applicants must first contact their National Commission for UNESCO, prepare all required documents, secure an acceptance letter from a Japanese university or research institution, and submit their application through the National Commission. Only candidates officially nominated by their National Commission will be considered by UNESCO.

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