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International Summer Program (ISP)
The Graduate School of Science is pleased to announce the International Summer Program in 2026.
About the International Summer Program (ISP)
The ISP at the Graduate School of Science (GSS) is an intensive research internship for overseas students majoring in natural sciences and related fields in sciences. This program will provide students with an opportunity to acquire an experience of research-based studies in assigned research groups of the GSS. For the students who are interested in enrolling in the GSS international graduate programs (*), particularly, the ISP program is a good opportunity to experience research life prior to enrollment. Also, a limited number of participants will receive scholarships.
Thematic studies will be conducted under close supervision by the host professors through experiments, discussions, and group work among the team members at the GSS. This program will be a platform for students to train their ability for research in the future. In addition to an opportunity for a leading research work experience in science, the program includes social and cultural activities to promote a better understanding of Japanese culture and build good relationships with students at The University of Osaka.
At the end of the program, the students make oral presentations about their achievements in the program. Participants who successfully completed the program will be awarded a certificate from the GSS.
(*) Graduate education program at GSS:
Graduate Degree Programs in English (Education and Research Conducted in English)
– SISC for Chemistry, Biological Sciences, and Macromolecular Science
– IPC for Physics and Earth and Space Science (limited to a specific research group)
– Double Degree Program
For more information: Graduate Admission
Application details for 2026 ISP
■ Program Period
July 16 (Thu)– August 27(Thu), 2026
■ Application Period
1 pm on December 8, 2025 – 1 pm on January 13, 2026 (Japan Standard Time)
■ Key Dates for 2026 ISP (Japan Standard Time)
| Application period Opens | 1 pm on December 8, 2025 |
| Application Deadline | 1 pm on January 13, 2026 |
| Notification of Results | End of March to end of April 2026 |
| VISA arrangement | Late April – June 2026 |
| Arrival in Osaka | July 15, 2026 |
| Program period | July 16-August 27, 2026 |
| Final Presentation & Farewell (*) | August 26, 2026 |
| Departure from Osaka | August 27 or August 28, 2026 |
| Submission of Assignment | September 3, 2026 |
■ Eligibility
- You must be a current undergraduate or graduate student (Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program) at a university outside of Japan.
- You should have a strong interest in natural sciences and related fields, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, macromolecular science, and earth and space science.
- You must be enrolled at your university throughout the duration of the summer program and attend ALL orientation during ISP (i.e. orientation on 17 July, Student Exchange event, Final Presentation & Farewell party.)
Please note students graduating before or during the program, or transitioning between degree levels during the program, are NOT eligible.
■ Research Groups
Choose three research groups or faculty members you would like to belong to from the following brochures or websites.
| Department of Mathematics | Choose Prof. or Assoc. Prof from Mathematics, Graduate School of Science (Toyonaka Campus) |
| Department of Physics | Choose Research Group from URL on the left. Also, to review research topics, please visit “Research Groups” website. |
| Department of Chemistry | Choose laboratories from the website on the left except for “Cooperative Adjunct Division” and “Concurrent Division”. |
| Department of Biological Sciences | Choose laboratories located on either the Toyonaka or Suita campus. Please note that laboratories composed solely of assistant professors cannot be chosen. |
| Department of Macromolecular Science | Choose research groups from the website on the left except for “Polymer Reaction Chemistry”, “Polymeric Materials Design”, “Protein Crystallography”, “Supramolecular Crystallography”, and “Chemistry for Environment and Safety”. |
| Department of Earth and Space Science | Choose Research Group from website on the left. |
■ Application Procedures
1. How to Apply
Apply online by January 13, 2026 (JST). The online application system opens at 1 pm on December 8, 2025 (JST). You must upload the following PDF documents, each smaller than 2.0 MB:
All documents 1) – 5) must be submitted through the “Online Application” by the applicant. For details, please refer to Tips for application documents.
| 1) | Application Document Package (2026 ISP Application-Document Package) |
| 2) | 2026-ISP Nominator’s information & Declaration (2026 ISP Nominator’s information & Declaration) |
| 3) | One Recommendation Letter |
| 4) | Current Official Transcript (or copy) for previous academic year (One year) (Click here (*) How to calculate GPA & GPA Formula Sheet ) |
| 5) | Proof of English (TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC, etc) |
| 5′) | Japanese Language Proficiency (if applicable) |
(*) Enter your cumulative GPA in the Online Application. Your cumulative GPA must be more than 2.1 out of 3.0.
Your application package and recommendation letter will be used to select your host lab and supervisor(s) at GSS.
For details of each document, please refer to the Tips for application documents.
Online Application: https://reg.sci.osaka-u.ac.jp/lm/index.php/556547?lang=en
Application period: 1 pm on December 8, 2025, to 1 pm on January 13, 2026 (JST)
< Submission Confirmation >
Within five business days after the submission in the online application, we will send a confirmation e-mail to the applicant’s e-mail address. Applicants who do not receive any reply from us, please contact our office (ri-daigakuin@office.osaka-u.ac.jp and ri-summerprogram@sci.osaka-u.ac.jp).
2. Notification of Results
All applicants will be notified of the results by email. Your nominator will receive an email with success result only if selected. Please make sure the applicant and the nominator can receive emails from the following email address (ri-daigakuin@office.osaka-u.ac.jp and ri-summerprogram@sci.osaka-u.ac.jp). Please note, at this stage, the successful students will receive further information about visa, accommodation, scholarships etc.
■ Fees
| Tuition Fee | 57,600 JPY (*) |
| The Bench Fee | Fully waived |
| Dormitory fee | 20,000 – 100,000 JPY per month (**)Depends on the accommodation |
| Transportation fee (From Accommodation to Lab) | 5,000 – 10,000 JPY in total (Depends on the location of the accommodation) |
| Travelling and living expenses | at the participant’s expense |
| Personal Accident Insurances for Students Pursuing Education and Research (Gakkensai & Gakkenbai) | Approx. 1,500 JPY + bank transfer fee |
| 1 day excursion | Additional Fee of about 5,000 JPY |
(*) Tuition fees are waived for students from partner universities with existing inter-faculty agreements with the Graduate School of Science, The University of Osaka, and who are officially nominated through the student exchange MOU. See the List of Universities with tuition waivers (Inter-faculty agreement, Coming soon) This waiver does not apply to inter-university agreements.
To request a tuition waiver, please check the appropriate box in Section 5 of your application package. Tuition waivers will only be processed for students accepted into the 2026 ISP. Submitting a request does not guarantee approval.
(**) Dormitory Information : https://www.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/international/inbound/support/residence.html
Please note that it is not always possible to move in depending on availability.
■ Scholarship
A limited number of scholarships are available. Selected students will receive a fixed monthly stipend during the program. If you are interested in a scholarship, please check “Yes” in Section 3 of the application package. We will notify scholarship recipients between April and June 2026.
The total scholarship amount is 50,000 JPY or more (subject to change).
■ Program Contents
- Hands-on Research work in the Lab.
- Oral Presentations by all ISP participants
- Certificate
- Welcome reception and Farewell party
- Social and cultural activities with current students at The University of Osaka
- 1 day excursion (additional fee of about 5,000 JPY)
- Course & Credits (FrontierLab Mini 4 (Four Credits (= 7.2 ECTS Equivalent)) at The University of Osaka
- Submission of assignment at the end of the program
Please contact your home university for information on credit transfer.
Please also refer to the “2025 ISP Report” and “2025 ISP Report” for program content.
■ Back Number
2025 ISP Application 2025 ISP Report
2024 ISP Application 2024 ISP Report
2023 ISP Application 2023 ISP Report
2022 ISP Online
2021 ISP Online
2019 ISP Application
2018 ISP Application
■ Further Information
2026 ISP Overview & FAQ
2026 ISP Poster
ISP Facebook
If you have any inquiries, please feel free to contact us by email. Email address:
ri-summerprogram@sci.osaka-u.ac.jp
(Information as of November 26th, 2025)