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Types of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Research Fellowships for Young Scientists

JSPS is an organization dedicated to supporting researchers in Japan, with a particular focus on cultivating young researchers. There are four categories of fellowship, DC1, DC2, PD, and RPD, and the DC1 and DC2 categories are those that cover the period of enrollment in a doctoral program.
DC1 provides support starting in the early stages of a doctoral program, while DC2 provided support from the midpoint of a doctoral program.
Keeping in mind the application period for DC1 and DC2 fellowships, you must engage with your research topic while you are still enrolled in the master's program and be able to make a strong case for your research in your application.
It should also be noted that the full-time employment rates for DC1 and DC2 recipients tend to be high for full-time postdoctoral positions in academia.

Type DC1 DC2
Research Subsidy
(Monthly)		 200,000yen 200,000yen
Research Funds
(FY)		 Up to 1.5 million yen Up to 1.5 million yen
Eligibility Equivalent to 1st year of the doctoral program~ Equivalent to 2nd year of the doctoral program~
Application Period Equivalent to spring of the 2nd year of the doctoral program Equivalent to or later than spring of the 1st year of the doctoral program
Award Period 3 years 2 year
Full-time Employment Rate 5 years later: 73.3%／10 years later: 79.0%

Number of Applicants and Hiring Rate

The number of applicants continues to increase every year, with approximately 4,000 DC1 and 6,000 DC2 applicants applying from every part of Japan. Approximately 650 to 700 DC1 fellows and approximately 1,050 to 1,100 DC1 fellows are expected to be hired, with the hiring rates for each type hovering in the 15% to 20% range. Therefore, given the large number of applications, you need to write an application that stands out and makes the reviewers want to hire you.
Furthermore, the number of fellows chosen is adjusted to avoid imbalances across the different fields.

  • 2024 Academic Year Data

Number of DC2 Applicants

Document-Based Deliberation Review Category Humanities Social Sciences Mathematical and Physical Sciences Chemistry Engineering Sciences Informatics Biological Sciences Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Male 312 339 746 426 1010 426 337 363 555
Female 282 336 113 104 206 83 187 215 327
Total 594 675 859 530 1216 509 524 578 882

Total number of applicants：6,367（Male 4,514／Female 1,853）

Number of DC2 Hires

Document-Based Deliberation Review Category Humanities Social Sciences Mathematical and Physical Sciences Chemistry Engineering Sciences Informatics Biological Sciences Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Male 64 71 127 78 180 81 54 56 99
Female 38 42 21 14 25 7 38 43 53
Total 102 113 148 92 205 88 92 99 152

Total number of applicants：1,091（Male 810／Female 281）、Acceptance rate 17.1%

Number of DC1 Applicants

Document-Based Deliberation Review Category Humanities Social Sciences Mathematical and Physical Sciences Chemistry Engineering Sciences Informatics Biological Sciences Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Male 242 235 551 371 668 314 301 267 360
Female 193 180 88 98 130 62 148 147 236
Total 435 415 639 469 798 376 449 414 596

Total number of applicants：4,591（Male 3,309／Female 1,282）

Number of DC1 Hires

Document-Based Deliberation Review Category Humanities Social Sciences Mathematical and Physical Sciences Chemistry Engineering Sciences Informatics Biological Sciences Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Medical, Dental, and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Male 32 35 88 56 96 47 43 45 56
Female 29 26 10 17 23 10 28 20 33
Total 61 61 98 73 119 57 71 65 89

Total number of applicants：694（Male 498／Female 196）、Acceptance rate 15.1%

Trends in the Number of Applicants for Special Research Fellowships 2018、Number of DC2 Applicants5,391、Number of DC1 Applicants3,375。2019、Number of DC2 Applicants5,513、Number of DC1 Applicants3,604。2020、Number of DC2 Applicants5,654、Number of DC1 Applicants3,711。2021、Number of DC2 Applicants5,728、Number of DC1 Applicants3,582人。2022、Number of DC2 Applicants5,833、Number of DC1 Applicants3,824。2023、Number of DC2 Applicants5,860、Number of DC1 Applicants3,991

Selection Process

The selection process for the Research Fellowship for Young Scientists (DC) consists of a two-stage document screening. First, applicants are divided into groups based on combinations of relevant screening categories. Then, several of the same reviewers from the Screening Committee for Research Fellowships for Young Scientists independently conduct document screenings for multiple applications within the same document review set in two stages.

  1. The university compiles the applications.

  2. First stage of document review.

    After assigning an absolute evaluation on a 5-point scale (1 to 5),
    a comprehensive relative evaluation is given within the document set.

    Six reviewers.

  3. Applicants who rank within the top 80% to 120% of the number of successful candidates proceed.

  4. Second stage of document review.

    Based on the evaluations of other reviewers,
    a new 4-point scale rating (A to D) is assigned.

    The same six reviewers as before.

  5. Final decision on the successful candidates.

First-stage document screening

Using an absolute evaluation, a score on a 5-point scale (5: Excellent, 4: Very good, 3: Good, 2: Fair, 1: Poor ) is assigned for each of the following two items:

  1. Conception and originality of the research plan;
  2. Qualifications as a researcher.

Next, based on the scores granted for these two items, a comprehensive evaluation score is assigned based on a relative evaluation within the document review set after making a general assessment of the applicant's qualifications and abilities as a researcher.
Based on the results of the first-stage document screening, applicants in the top 80% to 120% of the total number of applicants potentially receiving unofficial offers are designated as borderline applicants and are eligible for the second-stage document screening.

Second-stage document screening

Referring to the comprehensive evaluation scores assigned by the other reviewers and the opinions they presented in the first-stage document screening, another score is assigned on a four-point scale, (A: strongly recommended for adoption, B: recommended for adoption, C: acceptable for adoption, D: does not fall under A, B, or C).

Review Categories, Example of Document Review Set Image

Each set of document reviews generally includes six reviewers. Some of the reviewers may be from different fields of expertise.

Point

The document screening categories are bundles of subcategories, which means that the reviewers do not necessarily screen applications that fall squarely within their own research areas given the broader range of fields. Therefore, you must carefully determine which subcategory your research topic belongs to when you apply.
Moreover, given the large number of applications that each reviewer must screen (40 or more) and the fact that the comprehensive evaluation is a relative assessment, it is important to make the reviewers feel that your application is more worthy of adoption than the other applications.

Ensuring you can secure a JSPS Fellowship

In light of the above, when preparing your application for JSPS, you must know your own strengths and fully understand the attractiveness and essence of your research, and it is important to use visuals, clear and easy-to-read text, and a consistent logical structure to grab the attention of the reviewers.
In addition, you must continue to brush up your application by getting feedback from multiple perspectives, including those of your supervisor and other lab members.

The Ritsumeikan University Graduate Career Path Support Center provides a range of programs, including writing support to help students prepare better applications. Be sure to make use of these services!

JSPS support programs