This page introduces "tips for a fulfilling research life" that will be useful to as many people as possible, as well as financial support systems for graduate students such as SPRING GX, the WISE Graduate School Program, and JSPS Research Fellowships

Research Life Checkpoints

Make a research plan

Research begins with deciding on a research topic. It is especially crucial to create a multi-year "research plan" that is feasible during graduate school. Ideally, this plan should also be positioned within the scope of research after graduation.
To develop a research plan, first examine existing research. Identifying shortcomings in that research will lead to defining a specific and novel research topic. For example, in theoretical research, identifying and correcting inconsistencies in existing theories might be a concrete research topic; in experimental research, increasing the yield of a particular substance might be a suitable research goal.

Participate in seminars and research groups

In many graduate schools, seminars that involve presentations and discussions are called "seminars." Most graduate students plan their coursework around seminars rather than lectures.
In addition to regular seminars, many independent research groups are also held. These research groups have fewer participants than seminars and bring together researchers with similar areas of expertise. While seminars are limited to about 90-100 minutes, research groups can allow for in-depth discussions lasting from two hours to sometimes more than five hours. Exchanging information and commenting on each other's research through such forums is extremely beneficial. Take part in these research groups to hone your research skills.

Enjoy your research life

Although it's often overlooked, it's also important to maintain an attitude of "enjoying research life." If you come to university solely for research, you'll be mentally overwhelmed, which could ultimately have a negative impact on your research. Another major feature of graduate school is that you often learn from senior students in addition to faculty. Senior students also have the experience of growing from their own experiences, so they will be happy to offer advice. In particular, when you write a paper or an application for the JSPS Research Fellowship, be sure to show it to your senior and ask for their comments. If you become personally friendly with your senior students, you'll be able to hear about their passion for research and their long-term research goals, which you won't be able to learn from just their research presentations

Join a Society

Academic conferences generally serve three main functions. Firstly, they provide a platform for presenting one's research. Secondly, they are a place for gathering information. Thirdly, they are a place for researchers to network with each other. Therefore, while there are obviously benefits to presenting your research, even attending a conference without presenting can be very rewarding. Check the websites, posters, and word of mouth within your research lab for information on each conference.
Some are large international conferences that attract researchers from all over the world, while others are intimate conferences with only a few dozen attendees each time. Generally, the main appeal of large conferences is that they attract many leading researchers. On the other hand, smaller conferences have the advantage of making it easier to deepen friendships among researchers.

Literature search recommendations

Regardless of whether you're in the sciences or humanities, "literature searching" is one of the most important skills in research.the University of Tokyo's OPACYou can find the books you need for your research and studies usingEZproxy. Below are some of the major literature search sites, but there are also specialized search sites for each field, so first ask your professors or seniors to find out the search methods mainly used in your field. Citation counts and impact factors are indicators of important papers in your research field. Mastering literature searching and reading many papers will be the starting point for your research.

Introduction to major literature search sites

Often used when searching for Japanese papers

CiNii

A University of Tokyo website for cross-sectional searches of academic information such as literature

Literacy

A Google service specializing in academic papers

Google Scholar

It is often used mainly in science and engineering

Web of Science

Please note that access to resources such as Web of Science requires authentication from the University of Tokyo.EZproxyUsing a UTokyo Account via

Library Introduction

The University of Tokyo Library website not only allows you to search the University of Tokyo's collection, but also introduces many literature search sites. A convenient inter-campus ordering service (requires logging in to MyOPAC) is also available

University of Tokyo Library

Scholarships and research grants

Like undergraduate students, graduate students also have access to various scholarship and research grant programs. However, there are some differences from undergraduate students. For example, applicants may be required to submit a research plan and a letter of recommendation from their supervisor. On the other hand, depending on research achievements, graduate students may receive more substantial support than undergraduates, or may even be exempt from repayment obligations.
Here, we introduce some representative grant programs. In addition, some research laboratories may individually provide assistance such as assistance with teaching assistant/research assistant positions, travel expenses, and book expenses. Be sure to actively talk to senior students in your research lab.

Private Foundation Scholarships

The amount of grant, application procedures, whether or not there is an internal selection process at the university, etc. vary depending on the foundation. Please check with your department for details

Scholarship Index

Examples of scholarships from private foundations

100,000 yen per month (paid every six months, no repayment required), one year, deadline May 11th (2021 fiscal year)

Toyota-Dwango Advanced Artificial Intelligence Scholarship

Japan Student Services Organization Scholarship Program

There is an obligation to repay the scholarship. There are two types: Type 1 (interest-free) and Type 2 (interest-bearing). The former provides a monthly payment of 50,000 yen or 88,000 yen during the master's program, while the latter allows you to choose a monthly payment between 50,000 yen and 150,000 yen. Only Type 1 recipients are exempt from repaying all or part of the scholarship if they are recognized as having achieved particularly outstanding results (through an examination within their graduate school)

Japan Student Services Organization, Independent Administrative Agency

SPRING GX

The SPRING GX program, which develops highly skilled talent to lead the Green Transformation (GX), is a project being carried out at the University of Tokyo as part of the SPRING Program for Next-Generation Researchers, promoted by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). The program began in October 2021 and is open to doctoral students from all graduate schools, with approximately 600 students being accepted overall. Selected students will receive the SPRING GX core program as well as the advanced skills development program from the World Excellence Graduate School Program (WINGS) they selected during their application. They will also receive financial support, such as research grants and research expenses, until they complete their doctoral program or exceed the standard period of study

Financial support available to SPRING GX recipients

• Research Grants
  • 180,000 yen/month. Can be used freely for living expenses, etc. Under tax law, it is treated as miscellaneous income
• research expenses
  • A flat-rate of 340,000 yen per year will be provided, and additional funds will be provided after review for overseas travel expenses, etc. This can be used to purchase items and books necessary for research, travel expenses for business trips, and honorariums for collaborators

Senior's experiences

We will share the experiences of seniors who applied for and were accepted into SPRING GX

Mr. D (1st year doctoral student, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology) Hired in October 2021

WINGS I chose: International Graduate Program for Excellence in Intelligent Society.
​
I applied for the JSPS DC1 fellowship during my second year of my master's program and the DC2 fellowship during my first year of my doctoral program, but both were unsuccessful. Just as I received the rejection notice for DC2, the application period for the SPRING GX program for October 2021 began, so I decided to apply.

While the term "GX" might suggest that research must be directly related to energy or global environmental issues, this is not the case. The SPRING GX application guidelines state, "In this project, we consider Green Transformation (GX) to be a social transformation aimed at better managing the global environment, a shared asset of humanity, and handing it over to future generations." The scope of GX in SPRING GX is quite broad. My research field is more fundamental than applied, even within my major. However, I believed that it was deeply related to the broad definition of GX described in the application guidelines, and I submitted my application, which was accepted. In preparing my SPRING GX application, I based my research plan on the research plan I wrote in my DC2 application, while also being conscious of positioning my research within the broad definition of GX. Furthermore, after applying for DC2, my first paper as the lead author was accepted at a peer-reviewed international conference, and being able to include that in my SPRING GX application may have contributed to my success

When applying, please note that some types and amounts of other financial support you are receiving as of the reference date may make you ineligible to apply, and that after selection, there may be certain restrictions on overlap with other financial support from the university. Please read the application guidelines carefully, and if you have any questions, please contact the SPRING GX Business Management Office. Please be especially careful if you are currently working as a research assistant, teaching assistant, or part-timer on campus, or if you plan to work in such a position, and if you have any questions at all, it is a good idea to check with your laboratory secretary or the administrative office of the relevant department

Developing highly skilled human resources to lead the Green Transformation (GX)

Graduate School of Excellence Program

The Excellent Graduate School Program is one of the projects promoted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). Its goal is to "cultivate doctoral-level personnel (highly skilled 'knowledge professionals') who can lead the creation and application of new knowledge, create value that drives the next generation, and challenge social issues to bring innovation to society." The program offers integrated master's and doctoral education programs to universities. Some programs deal with issues spanning multiple specialized fields, and others require a high level of expertise that exceeds the level of general graduate schools.
After passing selection exams and document screening, students who are accepted into the program will take courses in the Excellent Graduate School Program. Many programs offer scholarships, and all or part of related research and training expenses are eligible for subsidies.
For master's students who are not eligible for JSPS fellowships, this is a valuable means of obtaining funding. Furthermore, many programs bring together students and faculty from different specialties, making it an extremely advantageous environment for reflecting on the significance of one's own research and re-examining problems from different perspectives. While there are significant burdens involved, such as the need to pass qualification exams to advance to the next grade or further studies, you should actively apply if you find a program that aligns with your research topic. Some programs hold information sessions and accept applications as early as the first year of a master's program, so be sure to gather information early.

Example of the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Excellence Program

The University of Tokyo offers multiple programs. Most programs limit application eligibility based on the department (graduate school) to which you belong. First, find programs in your department that you can apply for

The program is primarily aimed at the Graduate Schools of Law and Politics, and aims to "strengthen graduate education in the rapidly changing field of business law in a broad sense, in both theoretical research and the acquisition of practical knowledge, through close collaboration with practitioners."

International Graduate Program in Advanced Business Law

This program is aimed at students from the Graduate School of Science, Department of Physics, Department of Astronomy, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Department of Applied Physics, and Graduate School of Mathematical Sciences, Department of Mathematical Sciences. By utilizing cutting-edge physics and mathematics and through fundamental knowledge of physics and mathematics, students will acquire the skills and knowledge to break new ground and make breakthroughs that will change the world

Cutting-edge Physics and Mathematics Program to Drive Innovation

The program is open to students from certain majors within the Graduate Schools of Medicine, Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Science. It aims to cultivate "talent who can contribute to human health from a long-term perspective."

International Graduate School of Life Science and Technology

JSPS Research Fellowship Program

Finally, let me introduce the "JSPS" fellowship, which many graduate students apply for every year. The application process for the JSPS fellowship begins at the earliest in the second year of a master's program, but even those who have just entered a master's program should be familiar with it as background knowledge.
The JSPS Research Fellowship (commonly known as "JSPS") is a system established by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science to support outstanding young researchers. JSPS fellowships include "PD" for those who have completed a doctoral program and "DC" for doctoral students, with DC further divided into "DC1" and "DC2". "DC1" is for three years starting from the first year of the doctoral program, and "DC2" is for two years starting from the second year of the doctoral program, but the grant content is generally the same.
"DC" recipients can receive the following grants. None of these grants need to be repaid.

JSPS Research Fellowship Program

Subsidies available to DC recruits

Research grant of
200,000 yen per month. The funds can be used freely for living expenses, etc.

Research funding
is limited to a maximum of 1.5 million yen per year. This is restricted to specialized books, research equipment, and conference participation fees, and reporting of usage is required.

When applying for a JSPS, you will need to write a research plan. Some people say that this has helped them reexamine their own research. If you have a senior in your lab who has experience with JSPS, it would be a good idea to ask them for more detailed information, including how to create and present a research plan

How many people are employed?

2019Student Life Survey: Status of JSPS Fellowship Applications and Recipients among Doctoral Students

JSPS	25.1%
I applied but wasn't accepted	32.2%
Not eligible to apply	12.7%
No need to receive JSPS	10.7%
others	19.3%

From the data above, we can see that 43.8% of University of Tokyo graduate students who applied to the JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) were accepted.the JSPS websiteSince the acceptance rate for DC (Doctoral Candidate) fellowships published on

JSPS application process

This section introduces the application process for DC1 and DC2 for FY2022 in chronological order. Please note that the administrative schedule may vary depending on your department. For more information, please contact the administrative office of your department

Senior's experiences

We will share the experiences of seniors who applied for the JSPS and received job offers

Mr. K (2nd year doctoral student, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences), DC2 (Agriculture/Environmental Studies), hired in 2020

I had no intention of continuing my studies at the time of the DC1 application, so I did not apply. I applied for DC2 for the first time in my first year of doctoral studies, but was rejected. I was accepted on my second attempt. I would like to share my experience, including my previous rejection

Research Achievements

The main information to be filled in on the DC application form is "Research Results," "Research Plan," "Research Achievements," and "Qualities as a Researcher." (Note: The application form format has changed significantly from the 2022 recruitment period, and now consists of three sections: "Research Plan," "Self-Analysis of Research Execution Ability," and "Ideal Researcher.") While each section is important, it is said that achievements, especially the number of papers, have a major impact on whether you are accepted or not. In my case, last time I applied, I did not have a single paper published as lead author. Thankfully, with the support of my supervisor, I was able to submit a paper as lead author based on my master's thesis. I also believe that my steady achievements, such as presenting at academic conferences and winning awards, led to my acceptance

Easy-to-understand application documents

The DC (Doctoral Candidate) selection process is conducted by six reviewers from the "Special Research Fellowship Selection Committee, composed of leading researchers in Japan" (according to the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science website). The key is to write an application that effectively conveys what you want to communicate to the reviewers in a short amount of time. In my case, last time I only had my supervisor review it. I think it was a rough draft because I didn't have much time to write it. This time, I had senior and junior researchers in my lab, as well as friends who weren't familiar with my research, review my application. Getting feedback from many people helped me notice mistakes I hadn't noticed myself. I also attended JSPS seminars organized by academic societies, where I reviewed applications from successful candidates and learned techniques for writing a good application. Various groups seem to be holding seminars, so it would be a good idea to attend one before applying.
In addition to this, I took the University of Tokyo FFP (Further Research Program) course and spent a week conducting research at an overseas research institution, gaining various experiences. These experiences not only provided material to highlight in my application, but I also feel they contributed to improving my skills as a researcher.