Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology | Research Internship 2027
The OIST Graduate School offers education and research opportunities through our Research Internship Program in STEM fields. A research internship at OIST gives students experience working in a research environment directed by OIST faculty.
Program Description
The research internship program at OIST is a short-term placement of 4-6 months in a laboratory of their choice given the suitability of the intended research, academic background, available funding, and available space in the desired host unit.
Students may choose their short-term research project from a diverse range of research fields, such as physics, chemistry, mathematical and computational sciences, marine sciences, neuroscience, molecular, cellular, and developmental biology, environmental and ecological science and quantum science.
Students who would like to top up their current research by learning a specific technique will benefit from access to our cutting-edge research equipment and supervision from our world class faculty members.
As OIST actively fosters and supports interdisciplinary research, the research internship is a great opportunity for students who would like to explore a different research field or would like to add an interdisciplinary approach to their current research interest.
With more than 1,100 employees from more than 70 countries and territories, the study environment at OIST is highly internationalized and students who are eager to expand their international academic network will benefit from forming connections with people from all over the world early in their academic career.
For students who value diversity, equity, and inclusion as OIST strives to create and maintain an inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment that does not discriminate against gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, medical condition, race, ethnicity, ancestry, culture, national origin, religion, or marital status. Applications from women and other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.
Selection Schedule
| Application Round | Application Deadline | Result Announcement | Period of Internship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 Internship | October 15th, 2026, 23:59 (JST UTC+9) | Mid-December 2026 | Between April 1st, 2027 - September 30th, 2027 |
An internship duration can be a minimum of 4 months (120 days) to a maximum of 6 months within one Period of Internship. The schedule is tentative and subject to change.
Eligibility
Those who are currently enrolled in their last two years of a bachelor’s degree, enrolled in any year of a master’s degree in universities, colleges, junior colleges, and vocational schools in Japan or overseas, or those who have graduated with a bachelor’s or master’s degree, are eligible to apply for the Research Internship at OIST.
If you will be in your final two years of a bachelor’s degree by the start of the proposed internship duration, you are also eligible to apply.
Currently enrolled students must have approval from their home institution. The academic background of applicants should be appropriate to their desired host unit(s) at OIST.
Our Research Internship is intended for those who need more research experience and who are interested in joining OIST’s PhD Program later. Current or graduated PhD students are not eligible, and those who wish to collaborate with OIST should look for other opportunities such as Workshops or Careers at OIST.
Research Interns who belong to a Japanese university/institution are required to prepare and bring their own insurances when accepted to the OIST Research Internship Program. Acceptable insurances are the combination of Gakkensai and Gakkenbai, or other insurances with similar coverage.
Application
We only accept application documents online. To apply for the program, you must create an account. Please prepare all required documents in English, save them as a PDF file, and upload them to the application website. You can complete the application in one session or save your progress and return to finish it later.
Note: We recommend using a computer when preparing the online application. If you prefer using a mobile device, please make sure to have the latest operating system for the application website to work properly.
The application fee for the Research Internship Program is 5,000 JPY. It is not refundable on any circumstances, nor are fee waivers offered for personal financial situations at this time.
Source and application: https://www.oist.jp/admissions/research-internship/program-description
