International Summer Program (ISP)

The Graduate School of Science is pleased to announce the International Summer Program in 2025.

 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 Osaka University.

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

2025 International Summer Program
July 17 – August 27, 2025

■ Program Period

July 17 – August 27, 2025

■ Application Period

1 pm on December 23, 2024 – 1 pm on January 20, 2025

■ Key Dates for 2025 ISP (Japanese Standard Time)

Application period opens：1 pm on December 23, 2024
Application deadline：1 pm on January 20, 2025
Notification of results：End of March to end of April 2025     
VISA Arrangement：Late April – June 2025
Arrival in Osaka：July 16, 2025
Program period：July 17 – August 27, 2025
Final presentation & Farewell (*) ：August 27, 2025
Departure from Osaka：August 28, 2025
Submission of Assignments：September 3, 2025
*The date of final presentation and farewell is subject to change.

■ Eligibility

The international summer program is designed for undergraduate or graduate students who have a sensibility and intellectual curiosity about natural sciences and related fields in sciences (mathematics, physics, chemistry, biological sciences, macromolecular science, and earth and space science). Applicants must be enrolled in Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree program in universities outside of Japan during the program period. Students who will progress from Bachelor to Master course, or graduate from Bachelor or Master courses during the program are not eligible to apply.

■ Research Groups

Choose three research groups or faculty members you would like to belong to from the following brochures or websites.

Website for Department of Mathematics
Choose professors or associate professors from Mathematics, Graduate School of Science (Toyonaka Campus)

Brochure for Department of Physics
Choose research groups from the above brochure

Website for Department of Chemistry
Choose laboratories from the above website except for “Cooperative Adjunct Division”.

Brochure for Department of Biological Sciences
Choose laboratories except for Biomolecular Machine Design Group, Laboratory of Biohistory, and Laboratory of Biomolecular Informatics.

Website for Department of Macromolecular Science
Choose research groups from the above website except for “Polymer Reaction Chemistry”, “Polymeric Materials Design”, “Protein Crystallography”, and “Chemistry for Environment and Safety”.

Brochure for Department of Earth and Space Science
Choose research groups from the above brochure

■ Application Procedures

1. How to Apply

The applicant must submit an online application with the following PDF files of 1) application-document package, 2) one recommendation letter, 3) a current official transcript or copy, and 4) evidence of English and/or Japanese language proficiency written in English or Japanese (if you have a certification/score). Each file size must be less than 2.0 MB. The “Online Application” will be activated from 1 pm on December 23, 2024, to January 20, 2025 (JST). A host lab or supervisor(s) at the GSS will be selected on the basis of 1) the application-document package, and 2) the recommendation letter of the applicant.

Online Application: https://reg.sci.osaka-u.ac.jp/lm/index.php/861582?lang=en
Application period: 1 pm on December 23, 2024, to 1 pm on January 20, 2025 (JST)

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< Application Documents >
All documents 1) – 4) must be submitted through the “Online Application” by the applicant.

1) Application-Document Package
2025 ISP Application-Document Package

1.1) A completed and signed Application Form (Form: Application Form)
1.2) Statement of Purpose and Study Plan (Form: Statement of Purpose)
1.3) Autobiography (Form: Autobiography)

NOTE: The package must be typewritten in English. No handwriting is allowed except for signatures of the applicant and the nominator. The completed application form must be submitted in PDF format. 1.2) The Statement of Purpose and Study Plan are the most important factors in determining your host lab (supervisor(s)), please be sure to fill them out clearly.

2) One recommendation letter written by your supervisor or faculty member (*) of the home institution.
The letter must be typewritten in English on the home institution’s letterhead. No handwriting is allowed except for signatures. The letter must be submitted in PDF format.
 (*) professor, associate professor, or assistant professor who is qualified to evaluate your academic ability, research skills, and usual conduct.

3) A current official transcript or copy of the applicant’s academic record written in English.
Please submit the transcript showing the evaluation criteria.
For example, on a 100-point scale, S = 90–100 (excellent), A = 80–89 (very good), B = 70–79 (good), C = 60–69 (fair), F = less than 60 (fail).

And please fill in your cumulative GPA in “Online Application”. Your cumulative GPA must be more than 2.8 out of 4.0.
Click here to check “How to calculate GPA”

4) Evidence of English and/or Japanese language proficiency written in English or Japanese (if you have a certification/score).
The documents should include scores. TOEIC, TOEFL iBT, and IELTS are preferable for the evidence of English language proficiency although the other evidence will be accepted.

< 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).

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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, scholarship etc.

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■ Fees

– Tuition fee: 57,600 JPY*
– The bench fee: fully waived
– Dormitory fee: 20,000–100,000 JPY per month (depending on the accommodation)
　　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.
– Transportation fee from the accommodation to the laboratory: 5,000–10,000 JPY in total
　　(depending on the location of the accommodation)
– Travelling and living expenses: at the participants’ expense
– Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education and Research (Gakkensai & Gakkenbai): approx.1,500 JPY + bank transfer fee
– 1day excursion (addtional fee of about 3,000 JPY)

NOTE:
*The tuition fee will be waived for students who belong to faculties of universities (research institutes) that have concluded inter-departmental agreements with the Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, and who are sent based on the MOU on Student Exchange. For more information, please click a list of universities with tuition waivers . The tuition waiver does not apply to inter-university agreement. If you wish to apply as a student who will not be charged tuition, please tick in the section 5 of your application-document-package. Only students who have been selected for the 2025 ISP will be processed. Please note that not all of students who apply for the tuition fee exemption will necessarily be exempt from tuition fees.

■ Scholarship

A limited number of qualified students will receive a scholarship. A fixed amount of scholarship per month is awarded during the program duration. Those who have ticked “Yes” in “Section 3: Scholarship” of the application-document package and have passed the document screening will be notified of whether or not they will receive a scholarship between April and June 2025.
Scholarship stipend: at least about 50,000 JPY in total (subject to change)

■ Program Contents

– Hands-on research work in the lab
– Oral presentations by all participants
– Certificate
– Welcome reception and farewell party
– Social and cultural activities with current students at Osaka University
– 1day excursion (additional fee of about 3,000 JPY)
– Course & credits
Course: Frontier Lab Mini 4
Four Credits (= 7.2 ECTS Equivalent) at Osaka University
Please contact your home university for information on credit transfer.

Please also refer to the “2023 ISP Report” and “2024 ISP Report” for program content.

■ Back Number

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

2025 ISP Overview & FAQ
2025 ISP Poster
ISP Facebook

■ Contact

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 December 4th 2024)