The Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) is offers education and research opportunities through a system of undergraduate and graduate placements as Research Interns. These 2-6 month placements give the opportunity to gain experience in a particular laboratory or to learn a specific technique. Interns work under the direction of a Professor at OIST and contribute to the research activities of OIST. Specific assignment of duties is at the discretion of the PI, and is subject to change.
Places for Research Interns are awarded twice a year on a competitive basis, with the application period months 
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1. Program Summary
- Interdisciplinary education – no departments, and cross-disciplinary research is encouraged
- Concentration of science disciplines include: 1) Chemistry, 2) Environmental and Ecological Sciences, 3) Marine Sciences, 4) Mathematical and Computational Sciences, 5) Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, 6) Neuroscience, and 7) Physics
- Coursework and research conducted entirely in English
- A customized program tailored to meet each individual student’s talents and requirements
- Access to cutting-edge equipment and facility
- Lab rotations allow students to broaden their scientific perspectives outside of their field
- Funding for your research is guaranteed, no matter which research unit you choose for your thesis work
- About 60 faculty with strongly international research backgrounds – 70% of the faculty come from overseas
2. Support
- Allowance
OIST provides living allowance, commuting support where necessary, and accommodation either on campus or nearby. Successful applicants will receive a Living Allowance of 2,400 JPY per day (weekends excluded) while at OIST.
- Travel Expenses
OIST will pay for one direct roundtrip travel for Research Interns between the home university or institution and the research unit or other facility where the internship will take place (primarily in Okinawa). The travel dates must be as close as possible to the term of the placement. Travel for successful applicants is arranged by the OIST Graduate School.
- Other Support
The Student Support Section of the Graduate School will provide support for Research Interns at OIST with matters such as housing, visa acquisition, insurance procedures, and local registration. OIST regrets that support for dependents, family members, and persons other than the student is not available.
- Regulations
Applicants who intend to import biological or hazardous material for their research are urged to insure that such import is in compliance with all regulations of their home country, any country of transit, and of Japan, and to complete all necessary paperwork for importation well ahead of time.
Detailed regulations pertaining to matters of payment, intellectual property rights, attendance, health and safety, and other matters have been drawn up and will be made available to successful applicants.
3. Application Deadline
| Application Round | Desired Starting Date Range (internship may extend beyond this period) |
Application Period
(~6-12 months ahead of start) |
Approximate Notification Date*
(for successful applicants) |
| Round 1 | Starting between October – March | March 15th – April 15th | July* |
| Round 2 | Starting between April – September | September 15th –
October 15th |
January* |
For details about the application process and deadlines, please see the section Apply to Research Internship
