Established in 2001 under 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 long-standing initiative supported by the Government of Japan to strengthen research capacities and promote international knowledge exchange in areas aligned with UNESCO’s mandate.

Since its establishment, the Programme has enabled 291 young researchers from 101 countries around the world to pursue postgraduate research, contributing to academic cooperation, capacity-building and the development of knowledge in fields of shared global importance.

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.

📍 Location: Japan

📅 Program Period: From February 2027 onwards, to be completed no later than December 2027.

⏰ Application Deadline: 30 September 2026, midnight Paris time

✅ Eligibility Among the eligible countries, Singapore and Timor-Leste from ASEAN Member States are eligible for the programme.