Grants for study and research in Japan and Iceland

The Watanabe Trust Fund at the University of Iceland is now accepting grant applications for the academic year 2022-2023. The application deadline is January 15, 2022.

The objective of the Watanabe Fund is to strengthen the ties between Iceland and Japan. The Watanabe Fund supports students and staff of the University of Iceland to study and work in Japan, and the same applies to students and researchers at universities in Japan who can apply for grant for a stay at the University of Iceland.

On one hand, there are scholarships available for a study abroad period for undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Iceland or at a Japanese university, and on the other hand, travel and subsistence grants for postdocs and academic staff for a research period in Japan or at the University of Iceland. Students and academic staff from all disciplines can apply for a grant.

Travel and subsistence grants are available for up to nine months. Subsistence allowance amounts to up to ISK 200,000 per month for stays in Iceland and up to 150,000 JPY per month for stays in Japan. For stays exceeding one month a travel grant for up to ISK 200,000 is also available. Tuition fees or other costs are not funded. Postdocs and academic staff can also apply for a grant for up to ISK 500,000 for a shorter stay, up to one month for research work or research collaboration between the University of Iceland and universities or research institutes in Japan.

The Board of the Watanabe Trust Fund evaluates the applications and selects recipients. The Board reserves the right to reject a grant application.

Final reports of former grantees can be found on the fund's website.

Application forms can be found on the fund's website. Please submit a filled in application form together with supporting documents to the e-mail address watanabe@hi.is before midnight on 15 January 2022.

Inquiries about the Watanabe Trust Fund and the application process can be directed to the e-mail address watanabe@hi.is, or to Hafliði Sævarsson, project manager, tel. 525-4311.

Please note that, due to COVID-19, the grants for the next academic year will be awarded only on the condition that travel between Japan and Iceland is permitted by the respective countries.