Organization: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)
Host country: Japan
Degree level: Undergraduate, Masters
Funding: Fully Funded
Deadline: April 15, 2026
Eligible countries: All countries
Fields of study: All Stem Fields, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Neuroscience, Mathematics, Computational Science, Environmental Science, etc.
The OIST Research Internship Program offers a unique opportunity for students from around the world to gain experience in cutting-edge research at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University. Interns work under the direction of a Professor in a Research Unit for a period of 3 to 6 months. The program aims to recruit highly motivated students who are interested in pursuing a PhD at OIST in the future.
Benefits
Round-trip airfare to/from Okinawa, Japan
Daily allowance (Stipend) of 2,400 JPY per day (tax-free)
Free furnished on-campus or off-campus accommodation
Commuting allowance (OIST Shuttle Bus Pass)
Visa acquisition support
Travel insurance coverage
Eligibility
Must be enrolled in the final 2 years of an Undergraduate degree (Bachelor's) or a Master's program
Recent graduates are also eligible to apply
Must be a student at an accredited university, college, or vocational school in Japan or overseas
Must have an excellent academic background
Must have the approval of the home institution (if currently enrolled)
Requirements
Create an account on the OIST admissions website
Complete the online application form
Submit a Statement of Purpose (400 words)
Submit official academic transcripts (in English)
Provide a recommendation letter (submitted directly by the referee)
Upload a passport-style photo and ID/Passport copy
Required Documents
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Statement of Purpose (Interest in the program and specific research unit)
Academic Transcripts (Scanned)
Recommendation Letter (at least one)
Passport Photo (Digital)
Passport Copy (ID Page)
Programs of Study
Analysis and Partial Differential Equations
Integrative Community Ecology
Nonlinear and Non-equilibrium Physics
Evolutionary Genomics
Quantum Systems
Fluid Mechanics
Applied Cryptography
Femtosecond Spectroscopy
Computational Neuroscience
Complexity Science and Evolution
Neural Computation
Networked Quantum Devices
Electronic and Quantum Magnetism
Embodied Cognitive Science
Neural Coding and Brain Computing
Synapse Biology
Biological Systems
Qubits and Spacetime
Evolution, Cell Biology, and Symbiosis
Organic Optoelectronics
Coordination Chemistry and Catalysis
Evolutionary and Synthetic Biology
Quantum Dynamics
Optical Neuroimaging
Membrane Cooperativity
Marine Eco-Evo-Devo
Protein Engineering and Evolution
Geometric Partial Differential Equations
pi-Conjugated Polymers
Genomics and Regulatory Systems
Developmental Neurobiology
Cell Proliferation and Gene Editing
Quantum Engineering & Design
Organic and Carbon Nanomaterials
Quantum Gravity
Quantum Information Science and Technology
Light-Matter Interactions For Quantum Technologies
Quantum Materials Science
Biological Nonlinear Dynamics
Data Science
Human Evolutionary Genomics
Biological Complexity
Energy Materials and Surface Sciences
Marine Climate Change
Computational Neuroethology
Molecular Genetics
Complex Fluids and Flows
Marine Macroevolution
Marine Genomics
Plant Epigenetics
Theory of Quantum Matter
Micro/Bio/Nanofluidics
Quantum Wave Microscopy
Marine Structural Biology
Model-Based Evolutionary Genomics
Biological Physics Theory
Experimental Quantum Information Physics
Chemistry and Chemical Bioengineering
Memory Research
Cognitive Neurorobotics
Molecular Neuroscience
Shocks, Solitons, and Turbulence
Gravity, Quantum Geometry, and Field Theory
Human Developmental Neurobiology
Quantum Machines
Neuronal Rhythms in Movement
Evolutionary Neurobiology
Neurobiology Research
Machine Learning and Data Science (MLDS)
Cell Signalling
Neuronal Mechanisms for the Critical Period
Nucleic Acid Chemistry and Engineering
Neural Circuit
Analysis of Metric Spaces
Application Process
Create an online profile on the OIST admissions portal
Fill out the application form with personal and academic details
Select up to 3 desired Research Units/Supervisors
Upload all required documents
Request a letter of recommendation from a professor/supervisor
Submit the application before the deadline
How to Apply
Visit the official OIST Admissions website (admissions.oist.jp)
Click on the 'Apply to Research Internship' button
Register for an account and log in
Complete the profile and upload your Statement of Purpose, CV, and Transcripts
Enter the email address of your referee for the recommendation letter
Review and submit your application by April 15, 2026
Selection Process
Screening of application materials by the Admissions Committee
Review of academic record and research potential
Selection by the hosting Research Unit/Professor
Notification of results (approx. 3 months after deadline)