KUT Special Scholarship Program (SSP) 2027 in Japan

The Special Scholarship Program (SSP) at Kochi University of Technology is a research-focused doctoral programme established to support advanced research by highly capable PhD students. The programme runs for three years and is conducted in English. KUT normally admits selected SSP doctoral researchers across a wide range of research areas.

The programme combines doctoral education with intensive supervised research. Successful candidates work under a designated KUT professor according to an approved research plan and report their research progress to the Graduate School of Engineering at the end of each semester.

The current SSP supervisor list includes research opportunities across Intelligent Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Electronic and Photonic Engineering, Architecture and Infrastructure Design, Engineering Science, Informatics, Data and Innovation, and Economics and Management, among other specialised areas. Availability varies by supervisor and intake.

KUT officially describes SSP as offering a tuition waiver and full financial assistance. Successful students receive exemption from entrance examination, enrolment and tuition fees, together with a ¥150,000 monthly scholarship for three years. Eligible international students entering Japan from overseas also receive ¥150,000 for travel and initial living expenses.

The application process is unusual because candidates cannot directly submit the full formal application first. They must identify one or two potential SSP supervisors, submit the official online pre-application, and obtain a supervisor's permission. Only then can they send the complete formal application package to KUT.

Applicants must meet all of KUT's general SSP eligibility conditions:

• Obtain permission from a preferred SSP supervisor before submitting the formal application.
• Hold a degree from an accredited institution comparable to a KUT Master’s degree after 18 years of education, or be scheduled to obtain such a degree before enrolment.
• Be 35 years old or under at the time of enrolment, in principle.
• Have an excellent academic record.
• Have strong Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from reputable universities.
• Have sufficient knowledge and research skills for the proposed research field.
• Demonstrate high English proficiency.
• Meet any additional research-background, technical-skill or knowledge requirements specified by the selected supervisor.

For English proficiency, applicants normally require one of the following:

• IELTS Academic: minimum 5.5 overall, including Writing 5.5
• TOEFL iBT: minimum 72, including Writing 17
• CET-6 or WSK/PETS-5 where applicable.

An English-test certificate may be waived under specified conditions, including applicants who completed an eligible English-medium high-school programme in certain English-speaking countries, or applicants who completed an entire Master’s programme in English and wrote their Master’s thesis in English. Documentary evidence is required for an exemption.

Successful SSP students receive:

• ¥15,000 entrance examination fee exemption.
• ¥300,000 enrolment fee exemption.
• ¥535,800 annual tuition fee exemption for three years.
• ¥150,000 per month scholarship for three years to support living expenses.
• ¥150,000 travel and initial living allowance for eligible international applicants living outside Japan who have, or intend to obtain, Student residence status.
• English research-writing support.
• Japanese-language classes.
• Tutor support for newly arrived international students.
• Access to university cultural and international-student activities.
• Assistance with finding suitable single accommodation.

Only applicants who have first obtained permission from their preferred SSP supervisor can submit the formal application.

Required documents include:

• Copy of an email or other communication showing the supervisor's permission to apply.
• Printed and signed copy of the online pre-application request.
• Official Bachelor’s academic transcript in English or Japanese.
• Official Master’s academic transcript in English or Japanese.
• Official Master’s degree certificate, or expected-degree documentation for applicants still completing the degree.
• Copy of the Master’s thesis in English; if written in another language, an English abstract is required.
• For candidates still completing their Master’s, a description of the thesis and current research progress.
• Approximately one-page research outline explaining the proposed three-year doctoral research plan.
• Two signed recommendation letters in English or Japanese using the KUT SSP form.
• One recommendation must be from the applicant's Master’s programme supervisor.
• Health certificate issued within the previous six months.
• English-language test certificate where an exemption does not apply.

Optional documents, where applicable, include:

• Bachelor’s/Master’s class-rank certificate.
• Copies of previous publications.
• Passport or another identification document.

KUT does not publish a numerical scoring rubric, but its official admissions information confirms that selection considers:

• Permission and suitability assessment by the preferred SSP supervisor.
• Academic record.
• Strength of the applicant's Bachelor’s and Master’s academic background.
• Knowledge relevant to the proposed research area.
• Research ability and suitability for the selected research field.
• English proficiency.
• Quality and completeness of submitted application documents.
• Interview performance.
• Performance in the specialised-subject examination.

• Complete a three-year PhD in an international research environment in Japan.
• Receive tuition exemption and substantial monthly financial support.
• Conduct research under direct supervision from a KUT academic.
• Access specialised laboratories, research infrastructure and academic expertise.
• Work in English throughout the doctoral programme.
• Develop research-publication and academic-writing skills.
• Gain international research and cultural experience in Japan.
• Work towards a Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering or Doctor of Philosophy depending on the research field.