About OIST (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology)

The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology or OIST is a private graduate University as well as interdisciplinary graduate school based in Onna, Japan. A five-year PhD program is offered at the university. All education and research at the University is conducted in English, with more than half of the faculty and students hailing from abroad. 

Japan’s government provides public subsidies to OIST. OIST receives two types of government subsidies: operations subsidies and facility subsidies.

OIST Japanese Research Internship Program 2022

Interested students in a Bachelor’s or Master’s program or recently graduated individuals interested in a PhD program at OIST might be eligible for educational activities at OIST as a research intern. Research internships at OIST provide students with the opportunity to work in a research setting under the guidance of OIST faculty members.

The positions of research interns are offered twice a year. The selection process is very competitive and influenced by an applicant’s research interests, academic background, available space and financial resources. However, all positions available may not be filled.

OIST works to promote a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment that is nondiscriminatory with regard to gender, age, gender expression, gender identity, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, medical condition, culture, ancestry, religion, national origin, or marital status. Applicants from underrepresented groups, such as women, are especially encouraged to apply.

Who can apply?

OIST Japanese Research Internship programs are open to outstanding students in the final two years of undergraduate or postgraduate studies in colleges, universities, vocational schools, or junior colleges, whether in Japan or foreign countries, or graduates of these institutions. The home institution must approve currently enrolled students. Applicants should have academic credentials that are appropriate to the host unit at OIST.

All research interns affiliated with Japanese universities/institutions must have their own insurance when accepted for the OIST Japanese Research Internship program. A combination of  Gakkensai and Gakkenbai, or another insurance policy offering a comparable level of coverage, can be considered acceptable. 

How can I apply?

Application to the program can be made through the Application Form 

• You must apply for the program online.
• Only after receiving at least one recommendation letter will you be able to submit your application.
• A notification will be sent to you when your application is received. (Ensure your email settings allow you to get emails from @oist.jp domain.)
• The screening of applications and selection will take place after the application deadline.
• Three months after the application deadline, the results will be announced on your application platform. A notification will be sent to you when the results are announced. (There are instances when applicants’ email settings/services prevent them from receiving the notifications. Please check that your mailbox is configured to get mail from the @oist.jp domain.) 
• All necessary arrangements will be made after the internship offers are confirmed, in coordination with the interns. You must cooperate to complete the internship logistics in a timely manner, including preparing any necessary visas and other documentation required by the Japanese government.

Note: The online application should be prepared on a computer. For the application to work properly on your mobile device, please be sure you have the most recent operating system. 

Documents Required

Applying to the program requires opening an account. Please remember your login credentials. Your application may be completed in a single session or multiple sessions. To apply to the program, please complete the following documents and submit them:

1) Statement of purpose

On the online application form, you will find the Statement of Interest form.

Include the following points in the statement of 400 words or 2500 characters:

• What skillsets and expertise do you possess that relate to OIST and your preferred research unit(s)? You may briefly describe in one statement your interest and fit for each of the research units you are interested in.
• What is your goal at OIST?
• How a research internship with OIST fits into your long-term career goals?
  

2) Transcripts of Academic Records

You should submit a scanned copy of your current transcript with any other official transcripts you may have (e.g., BSc, MSc.). If the transcript is not in English, an explanation in English is required.

3) A letter of recommendation

A letter of recommendation from a scholar or researcher who knows your work is required. An applicant must have a minimum of one and a maximum of three recommendation letters from reliable sources. Using the email contact information that you provide in the web application form, the application will contact your recommenders directly for the letter. Be sure to obtain your referee’s consent before submitting their information. Letters sent via email are not accepted. As soon as OIST receives a recommendation letter, applicants will be notified automatically in the application system.

4) Photo identification

Please upload a recent picture of your face. It should be in the passport size orientation.

Application Deadline

The last date of application is 15 April 2022.