Kyoto University Short-Term Academic Research Program (KU-STAR) 2025

Application Guide

Key Dates
Application opens January 14, 2025
Application closes 5 p.m. (Japan Standard Time [IST+3.5 hrs.]), January 31, 2025
Notification of results The end of February 2025
Arrival in Kyoto By May 19, 2025
Program starts May 20, 2025
Program ends July 17, 2025

Program Overview
Students will participate in advanced research at one of Kyoto University’s graduate schools (see list
below) for a total duration of 59 days. Placements will be made based on student interests and available
spaces. Each student will be assigned for supervision by a specific faculty member. Lab information,
including eligibility requirements specific to individual labs, is detailed in the appendix.

Kyoto University Graduate Schools

Natural Sciences Social Sciences Interdisciplinary
- Agriculture - Asian and African Area - Advanced Integrated
- Biostudies Studies Studies in Human
- Energy Science - Economics Survivability
- Engineering - Education - Human and Environmental
- Informatics - Government Studies
- Medicine - Law - Global Environmental
- Pharmaceutical Sciences - Letters Studies
- Science - Management

In addition to the research positions, students will also take part in a variety of educational activities
(details subject to change). All students will engage in research and educational activities for
approximately 40 hours per week (8 hours × 5 days). Below are some examples of the educational
activities:
- Seminars and lab visits in which faculty will give presentations on relevant research fields and
careers. These activities will expose students to cutting-edge research and broaden their understanding
of opportunities in their graduate studies and academic careers.
- A poster session at the end of the program in which the participants will share their program
outcomes with a larger audience.

1 / 5
• Program period: 59 days commencing on May 20 and finishing on July 17, 2025

• Number of participants: 20-30 students

• In principle, 5 students per institution or university

Support
• Accommodation
Kyoto University will arrange accommodation for all participants for the program period.

• Scholarship
Students will receive JPY 5,000 per day (including weekends/holidays) as detailed below.
Amount received When it will be provided
150,000 JPY (5,000 JPY × 30 days) Day 1 of the program
5,000 JPY × the number of the remaining days Day 31 of the program

• Costs that must be covered by the students themselves

(1) Travel costs
Flight tickets and transportation fees between Kyoto University and the airport in Japan are
not included. Participants can choose their arrival and departure dates flexibly, provided they
are at Kyoto University for the duration of the program.
Note: Kyoto University only provides accommodation for the duration of the program. If
participants stay in Kyoto or Japan longer, they arrange their own accommodation.

(2) Visa application fee

A short-term visa is required to enter Japan. Successful applicants are responsible for paying
the visa application fee. Kyoto University can assist with the visa application process, but will
not cover the cost of obtaining the visa.

(3) Health Insurance/Liability Insurance

All students must arrange their own private health insurance. Kyoto University can assist with
enrolling in health insurance, but will not cover the cost of insurance. Additionally, upon
arrival, all students must enroll in personal Liability Insurance for students (Gakubai) provided
by the Kyoto University Co-op.

Eligibility Criteria and Requirements

• To be eligible for the program, applicants must:
- Be enrolled in an undergraduate or master’s program at a college or university in India.
Undergraduate students must have completed at least four semesters before the internship.

2 / 5
 - Not be scheduled to graduate before the program begins, and must resume their academic
program (undergraduate or master’s) for at least one semester or quarter after returning to India
after the end of the internship.
- Have a strong academic performance record; above CGPA 8.0 out of 10, CPI 8.0 out of 10 or
80% in overall academic achievement.
 For master’s students: The academic performance record of either your undergraduate or
master’s program must be above CGPA 8.0 out of 10, CPI 8.0 out of 10 or 80% in overall
academic achievement. (For integrated master’s students, the overall academic
performance must meet the above mentioned score.)
- Meet the requirements of the chosen laboratory, as specified in the laboratory list.
- Have a strong desire to pursue a doctoral program at Kyoto University.

• Participants of the KU-STAR Program must agree to:

- Apply for the appropriate visa(s) for entry to Japan in a timely fashion.
- Stay at the accommodation designated and provided by Kyoto University for the duration of
the program.
- Attend the orientation and all required conferences, activities, and cultural events, such as
Japanese language classes organized through Kyoto University.
- Undertake advanced research projects for a period of 59 days at one of the participating
laboratories.
- Fully participate in the academic activities of the laboratories to which they are assigned,
attending any relevant research seminars and workshops.
- Prepare a poster presentation on their work at the end of the program.
- Assign any intellectual property that results from their work during the program to their
supervisor in the first instance.
- Provide feedback on the KU-STAR Program.
- Agree to be photographed by Kyoto University during the program, and grant the university
the right to publish the photographs.
- Contribute to media and public relations-related requests from Kyoto University.
- Be present at Kyoto University for the full duration of the program. (Given the intensive nature
of the program, participants will be unable to engage in other work or study during the program
period. Applications from students who do not plan to be present at Kyoto University for the
full duration of the program will not be considered.)

Application Procedures
1- Online Application
Applications are only accepted through the online system. Once your application is submitted,
you cannot change any files or information.
Applicants must first create an account on the online application system.

3 / 5
 Please note that one applicant can submit only one application during this application period. If
the university finds more than one application from the one applicant, all applications won’t be
accepted.

Online application:
https://reg31.smp.ne.jp/regist/is?SMPFORM=nfkf-ljodog-16095f56c1e1bfd2fd0717b2a2ffc7e3

Documents to submit by applicants

(All files except ID documents must be submitted in PDF format)
• Statement of Purpose (SoP)
- The statement must be written in English and should not exceed 700 words. The file name
should be “First Name_sop.pdf” (e.g., Jane_sop.pdf for Jane Smith).
- The statement should include an explanation of why you have chosen a specific laboratory,
research group, or professor as your host. You should also describe what you expect to
accomplish through your research activities at Kyoto University.
- Clearly detail the background and purpose of your research, including the experimental
methods and expected results. Additionally, briefly describe the research plan that you
will follow at the host laboratory.
- Provide your future study and career plan, particularly your reasons for pursuing a
doctoral degree program at Kyoto University.

• CV
Although there is no specific format, your academic background, awards (if any), and
publications (if any) must be included. The file name should be “First Name_cv.pdf”

• Official academic transcript(s) of your college or university

- The file name should be “First Name_academic transcript.pdf”
- Master’s students must upload their official transcripts of both undergraduate and most
recent transcripts available in the master’s program.
- If the academic transcripts do not show CGPA or CPI, submit an official letter on
departmental letterhead stating your percentage in your academic performance along with
your official transcripts.

• ID
- A photocopy of the page of your valid passport with your portrait
- The file must be submitted in PDF, JPEG, or PNG format, and the name should be “First
Name_passport.pdf/jpg/jpeg/png”
- If you are unable to obtain a valid passport by the application deadline, other forms of
ID with your full name and date of birth are also acceptable.

4 / 5
Document submitted by an applicant’s recommender
• A Letter of Recommendation
- To request the letter, select “Request for Letter of Recommendation” after filling in your
recommender’s information including his/her email address in the online application
form during the application period. The recommender will receive automatic email
from the online system, which explains further instruction for its submission. The letter
must be submitted by the recommender directly to the online application system.
- The recommender must be a person who knows you well in your recent academic capacity.
- The letter should be written in English on departmental letterhead, and it must include
the recommender’s signature. It must be submitted in PDF format.
- Once your recommender submits your letter of recommendation online, you will be able
to confirm its submission on your account in the online system and ready to complete
your application with all other required documents from the applicants’ side. (The
recommender and respective applicant will receive a confirmation email once the letter
has been successfully submitted.)
- It is applicant’s responsibility to ensure that his/her recommender has submitted the letter
online earlier enough to complete your application by the deadline.

Application with all required documents including SoP, Academic Transcript(s), CV,
ID, and a Letter of Recommendation by your recommender, must be submitted
online by
5 p.m. (Japan Standard Time [IST+3.5 hrs.]) on January 31, 2025

2. Screening of Application Documents

The application documents will be screened by a committee of Kyoto University faculty
members.

3. Interview (if required)

An interview will be conducted, if required.
The interview will be a web-based interview. Details of the interview, such as the interview
method, date, and time will be determined by the university.

Contact
India Desk, Division of Graduate Studies, Kyoto University
Email: [email protected]

5 / 5