NIMS Internship Program
Provide undergraduate and graduate students with technical experience of cutting-edge research activities in the field of materials and science
2025.08.05 Update
This program is designed to provide undergraduate and graduate students from domestic and international universities with practical technical experience in the field of materials science at NIMS. It also aims to increase the visibility of NIMS and its Joint Graduate School Program.
Additional Applications for NIMS Internship Program 2025 are now open.
The application deadline is Friday, August 29, 2025.
The internship duration shall be up to ninety (90) consecutive calendar days, beginning any time from October 2025 and ending by March 31, 2026.
Features of NIMS Internship Program
NIMS is widely open to the world with many international researchers and students and provides a great personal network.
NIMS accepts about one hundred (100) students from over the world every year.
Eligibility:
Only current graduate and undergraduate students
Financial support for selected students:
Daily allowance and accommodation fees (excluding utilities)
Internship period:
Up to 90 consecutive calendar days for selected applicants in the 2025 round
*For internship requests exceeding 90 days, please contact the researcher you wish to apply to.
NIMS accepts about one hundred (100) students from over the world every year.
Eligibility:
Only current graduate and undergraduate students
Financial support for selected students:
Daily allowance and accommodation fees (excluding utilities)
Internship period:
Up to 90 consecutive calendar days for selected applicants in the 2025 round
*For internship requests exceeding 90 days, please contact the researcher you wish to apply to.
Important Notice:
- Applicants must be enrolled as undergraduate or graduate students for the entire duration of the internship.
- This program does not guarantee the acceptance of all applicants’ internship/financial support.
- If you receive a Japanese government-funded scholarship—such as MEXT, JSPS, or JST fellowships, please check with your scholarship provider to confirm your eligibility.
Number of Accepted Students
The NIMS Internship Program was launched in 2006 and has since welcomed over 2,000 students from universities and graduate schools around the world, with participants from approximately 60 countries.
This is an excellent opportunity to experience the appeal of research firsthand. We sincerely look forward to receiving applications from students who are eager to use world-class research facilities, participate in cutting-edge research projects, or interact with researchers from around the world.
For example, students from the following universities have participated in the NIMS Internship Program so far.
Asia
National Taiwan University, National Tsing Hua University, Seoul National University, Korea University, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Nanyang Technological University, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Chulalongkorn University
National Taiwan University, National Tsing Hua University, Seoul National University, Korea University, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Nanyang Technological University, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Chulalongkorn University
Europe
University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Delft University of Technology, University of Twente, KU Leuven, Sorbonne University, Grenoble Alpes University, University of Rennes, RWTH Aachen University, Warsaw University of Technology, Charles University, Budapest University of Technology and Economics
America
America
Johns Hopkins University, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Los Angeles, Northwestern University, Pennsylvania State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, McGill University, University of British Columbia, McMaster University, University of Waterloo, University of São Paulo, National University of La Plata
Oceania & Africa
Australian National University, University of Queensland, Flinders University, The University of Auckland, University of Tunis El Manar, University of the Witwatersrand
Australian National University, University of Queensland, Flinders University, The University of Auckland, University of Tunis El Manar, University of the Witwatersrand
Application Procedures
1. Search for your preferred host researcher
As the initial step, explore NIMS Researchers Directory Service “SAMURAI” website.
Important Notice:
Important Notice:
- Please avoid reaching out to multiple researchers simultaneously.
- Please note that positions such as ICYS Research Fellow or NIMS Postdoctoral Researcher are not available for accepting intern students.
2. Direct Communication with your preferred NIMS researcher
- Contact your preferred NIMS researcher directly via email. Send them the required documents listed in the 'Necessary documents for application' below. After the NIMS researcher receives your application documents, they may proceed to request a reference letter from your supervisor.
- Upon receipt of all the application materials, the NIMS researcher will review your candidacy. If they agree to accept you as an internship student, they will then submit your application documents to the Graduate Program Section, Academic Collaboration Office.
- Screening Result Announcement: The screening result will be communicated to you by the researcher. The final program start/end dates will be decided in consultation with the researcher.
Important Notice:
- The Graduate Program Section, Academic Collaboration Office can accept application documents only from NIMS researcher. Please note any documents sent from other sources will not be processed.
Necessary documents for application
Students are required to send the following documets to NIMS Researcher by E-mail.
- Student Application form for NIMS Internship Program (English)
- CV (English)
- Student enrollment/registration certificate (English, a scanned copy is acceptable.)* Within the last 3 months
* A diploma or certificate of Master's degree is not considered as a student enrollment/registration certificate. - Official academic transcript (English, a scanned copy is acceptable.)
* Only an officially issued academic transcript is acceptable.
* Doctoral and master's students are required to submit both undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
- NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship
- NIMS Internship Program