International Cooperative Graduate Program (ICGP)
NIMS accepts doctoral students from partner universities in International Collaborative Graduate Program for research stays of up to one year.
International Collaborative Graduate Program (ICGP) is a program that promotes collaborative research between NIMS and overseas universities. Under this program, NIMS hosts Ph.D. students from partner universities for up to one year to promote collaborative research between faculty members of the partner universities and NIMS researchers. The research results obtained during the stay at NIMS can be used in the doctoral dissertation. Candidates who wish to participate in this program must discuss their research plans with their advisors and the host NIMS researchers.
Application information
The 2025 Application is closed.
Application Deadline at NIMS : December 2, 2024
Document Screening : December 2024 - January 2025
Announcement of result : Late February - Mid-March 2025
Training Start : After June 2025
Related files
List of institutions with ICGP agreement
Related files
Key Information of ICGP
- Eligibility: Open to students recommended by the partner universities, as per the agreement.
- Call for application: NIMS announces new ICGP rounds on the website and via email to the relevant university offices.
- Application: Students submit their application through the relevant offices at NIMS's partner universities.
- Program duration: Flexible, ranging from 6-month to 1-year
- Participant position: Trainee with visa sponsorship
- Thesis completion: Students complete doctoral thesis at their home universities.
Program Support Offered by NIMS
- Financial assistance: Living allowance and accommodation in Tsukuba
- Working language: English
- Additional supports: Visa arrangements, Japanese language program, culture experience, and living assistant service for foreign researchers
Application Process
- Explore research interests: Visit the NIMS Research Directory site "SAMURAI" (link below) to explore the research interests of NIMS researchers.
- Ensure alignment: Make sure that your research interests fit within the relevant research field, before contacting a NIMS researcher.
- Confirm Support: Once a potential supervisor is identified, contact them and confirm their willingness to support your application.
- Applying: Submit the application documents (filled application form and bachelor's and Master's transcripts) to the relevant offices of the partner universities.
- Notification: You will be notified of the outcome of your application by the relevant offices of the partner universities.
Before applying for ICGP, obtain approval from their university supervisor. Additionally, we may contact the university supervisor directly to request a reference letter and to schedule a teleconference interview.
Selection Process
- Application review: Applications are reviewed based on the submitted documents (including transcripts). NIMS may contact the applicant's supervisor directly for a reference letter.
- Interviews: Shortlisted candidates may be invited to participate in individual or group teleconference interviews with potential supervisors, which may also involve their university supervisors. During the interview, the applicant, university supervisor, and potential supervisor must reach an agreement on the research topics.
Contact information
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Graduate Program Section, Academic Collaboration Office
Division of International Collaborations and Public Relations
National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) -
1-2-1 Sengen Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0047 JAPAN
E-Mail: nims-graduate=nims.go.jp(Please change "=" to "@")