NIMS Internship Program 2027 in Japan: Eligibility, Allowance, Host Researcher and How to Apply

The NIMS Internship Program lets undergraduate and graduate students spend up to 90 days doing research at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Tsukuba, Japan. Selected interns receive a daily allowance and their accommodation fees. NIMS says the next application round is scheduled to open in December 2026.

This guide was checked on 15 October 2026 against the official NIMS Internship Program page.

The NIMS Internship at a glance

What is NIMS?

NIMS is a national research institute in Japan that works on materials science. The internship has run since 2006, and NIMS reports that it has hosted more than 2,000 students from about 60 countries.

What the internship covers

• A daily allowance
• Accommodation fees, not including utilities

The official page does not give the amount of the allowance, and it does not say that flights, visa costs or insurance are covered. Plan to pay for these yourself unless your host researcher tells you otherwise. NIMS also says it does not guarantee that every accepted intern receives financial support.

Who can apply

• Current undergraduate students
• Current master’s and PhD students
• Students at universities in Japan or in any other country

The page does not set a nationality rule, an age limit or a minimum grade. If you already hold a MEXT, JSPS or JST scholarship, check with your scholarship provider before you apply.

Documents you need

All documents must be in English.

• The NIMS student application form (an Excel file on the official page)
• CV
• Enrolment certificate issued within the last three months. A degree certificate is not accepted instead.
• Official academic transcript. Master’s and PhD students send both their undergraduate and graduate transcripts.

The host researcher may also ask your supervisor for a reference letter.

How to apply, step by step

1. Find a host researcher. Search the NIMS SAMURAI researcher directory for someone whose work matches your interests.
2. Contact one researcher at a time. NIMS asks students not to write to several researchers at once.
3. Send your documents to that researcher by email, in English.
4. Wait for the researcher’s decision. If they agree to host you, they send your documents to the NIMS Graduate Program Section. Documents sent by anyone else are not processed.
5. Agree your dates. The researcher tells you the result, and you set the start and end dates together.

Some NIMS researchers, such as ICYS Research Fellows and postdoctoral researchers, cannot host interns, so check the researcher’s position before you write.

Writing to a researcher

Your first email is the most important step, because no one at NIMS reviews your application unless a researcher agrees to host you. Keep it short and specific:

• Say who you are, your university, your degree and your year.
• Name one or two of the researcher’s papers or topics and explain why they interest you.
• Describe the skills or lab techniques you already have.
• Say how long you would like to stay and roughly when.
• Attach your CV and transcript.

Our research CV template shows how to present your projects and lab skills.

Key dates

NIMS has closed the 2026 round. The next round is scheduled to open in December 2026, and NIMS has not yet published a closing date. Because applications go through researchers, it helps to identify a researcher and prepare your documents before the round opens.

Is the NIMS internship right for you?

The NIMS Internship Program is a hands-on research stay at a national materials science institute. It suits you if:

• You study materials science, physics, chemistry, engineering or a related field.
• You are a current bachelor’s, master’s or PhD student at a university in Japan or abroad.
• You want lab experience, a research reference or a first look at research in Japan.
• You can spend up to 90 days in Tsukuba and cover costs the program may not pay, such as flights.

It is less suitable if you need guaranteed funding, since NIMS says it does not guarantee financial support for every accepted intern, or if your field has no link to materials research.

Finding the right host researcher

Everything starts with a researcher who agrees to host you. NIMS points students to its SAMURAI researcher directory. To use it well:

1. Search by keywords from your own work, such as a material, a technique or an application area.
2. Open the profiles of researchers who appear often, and read their research summary and recent papers.
3. Check their position. NIMS says some staff, such as ICYS Research Fellows and postdoctoral researchers, cannot host interns.
4. Make a ranked shortlist of three to five researchers, since you must contact them one at a time.

Choose researchers whose methods you already know a little or genuinely want to learn. A match in techniques, such as thin-film growth, electron microscopy or simulation, can matter as much as a match in topic.

A sample first email

Your first email decides whether your application goes anywhere. Here is a structure you can adapt:

Subject: Prospective NIMS intern, [your field], [university]

Dear Dr. [Name],

I am a second-year master’s student in materials engineering at [University], working on [one-line description of your project]. I read your recent paper on [topic] and was interested in [specific method or result], which relates to my work on [link].

I would like to apply for the NIMS Internship Program and would be grateful if you would consider hosting me for about [number] weeks, ideally between [months]. In my current project I use [techniques], and I would like to learn [technique] in your group.

I have attached my CV, transcript and the NIMS application form. Thank you for your time.

Kind regards,
[Name]

Keep it under 250 words, write in English, and send it to one researcher at a time. If you get no reply after about a week or two, send one polite follow-up before moving to the next name.

Preparing your documents

• Application form: download the NIMS student application form (an Excel file) from the official page and complete every field.
• CV: put research projects, lab skills and publications near the top. Our research CV template shows a clear layout.
• Enrolment certificate: it must be issued within the last three months. A degree certificate is not accepted in its place, so request a fresh enrolment certificate from your university.
• Transcripts: master’s and PhD students send both undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
• Reference: your host may ask your supervisor for a reference letter, so tell your supervisor you are applying.

All documents must be in English. If your transcripts are in another language, get official English versions or certified translations.

If you already hold a Japanese government scholarship

If you are a MEXT, JSPS or JST scholarship holder, check with your scholarship provider before you apply. Rules on combining support or taking time away from your main programme may apply.

Planning your budget

NIMS provides a daily allowance and pays accommodation fees, not including utilities. The official page does not give the allowance amount, and it does not say that flights, visa costs or insurance are covered. Before you accept:

• Ask your host what the daily allowance will be and how it is paid.
• Budget for flights to Japan, travel to Tsukuba, utilities, food and local transport.
• Arrange travel or health insurance for your stay.
• Check whether your home university or a funding body can help with travel costs.

A sample lab-skills section for your CV

Researchers scan CVs for skills they can use in their group. List techniques with a short note on how much you have used them:

• Synthesis: sol-gel synthesis of oxide nanoparticles (6 months, thesis project)
• Characterisation: X-ray diffraction (independent use), scanning electron microscopy (trained, supervised use)
• Computation: Python for data analysis; basic density functional theory calculations (coursework)
• Safety: chemical safety and cleanroom training completed

Replace these with your own skills. Being honest about your level helps the host plan your project.

If no researcher replies

Silence is common, because researchers receive many emails. If you do not hear back:

1. Wait one to two weeks, then send one short, polite follow-up.
2. If there is still no reply, move to the next researcher on your list. You must contact one at a time, so keep your list ready.
3. Review your email. Is the subject clear? Did you name their specific work? Is your CV easy to read?
4. Ask your own supervisor whether they know anyone at NIMS who could suggest a host.
5. Widen your search to researchers whose techniques match yours, even if their topic is slightly different.

Visa and travel

Depending on your nationality and the length of your stay, you may need a visa for Japan. Ask your host researcher which documents NIMS will provide and how much time the process takes, and allow plenty of time before your start date. Agree your exact dates with your host before you book flights.

How NIMS handles your application

The NIMS process is different from most internships, so it helps to understand who does what:

• You find a host researcher and send your documents to them by email, in English.
• The researcher decides whether to host you. If they agree, they send your documents to the NIMS Graduate Program Section.
• The Graduate Program Section processes applications only when they come from a researcher. Documents sent by anyone else, including students, are not processed.
• The researcher tells you the result, and you agree your start and end dates together.

This means the researcher is your main contact from start to finish. Be responsive, polite and organised in every message, because it shapes their view of you as a future intern.

Questions to ask your host before you arrive

Once a researcher agrees to host you, a short list of questions helps you prepare and avoids surprises:

• What project will I work on, and what should I read before I arrive?
• Which techniques or software should I practise in advance?
• What is the daily allowance, and how is it paid?
• Where will I stay, and what does the accommodation include?
• What safety training or paperwork do I need to complete in my first days?
• Which documents will NIMS send me for my visa, if I need one?
• Who should I contact if my travel plans change?

How a research internship helps your career

A few months in a national research institute can change your plans. A NIMS internship can help you:

• Test whether research is for you before committing to a master’s or PhD.
• Learn techniques that your home lab may not have, which you can list on your CV.
• Get a strong reference from a researcher who has seen your work directly.
• Build a network in Japan’s research community, which helps if you apply for graduate study there later.
• Contribute to a paper or conference poster, if your results are strong and your host agrees.

From internship to graduate study in Japan

If you enjoy your time at NIMS, you may want to return for a master’s or PhD. Talk to your host about it during your stay, and look at funded routes such as the MEXT scholarship, the OIST PhD programme and the Honjo International Scholarship. Our guide to scholarships in Japan compares them, with their closing dates.

Getting ready for the December round

NIMS has closed the 2026 round and plans to open the next one in December 2026. Because applications go through researchers, you can prepare now:

Check the official page in December for the closing date, which NIMS has not yet published. Remember that the enrolment certificate must be less than three months old when you apply.

Making the most of your stay

• Agree a clear project and goals with your host in the first week.
• Keep a lab notebook and back up your data.
• Join group meetings and seminars to learn about other work at NIMS.
• Before you leave, write a short report of your results and ask your host for feedback.
• If the stay goes well, ask whether your host would act as a referee for future applications.

Checklist before you email a researcher

• The researcher’s position allows them to host interns.
• Your email names their specific work and your relevant skills.
• The NIMS application form is complete.
• Your enrolment certificate is less than three months old.
• All transcripts are attached, in English.
• You are writing to only one researcher at a time.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Sending the same email to several researchers at once.
• Sending documents to the NIMS office instead of the researcher.
• Using a degree certificate instead of an enrolment certificate.
• Writing to staff who cannot host interns.
• Booking flights before your dates are agreed.

Frequently asked questions

Is the NIMS internship fully funded?

It includes a daily allowance and accommodation fees. The official page does not say that flights or insurance are covered, so it is partly funded.

Can bachelor’s students apply?

Yes. Current undergraduate and graduate students can apply.

Can I apply directly to NIMS?

No. You must apply through a NIMS researcher who agrees to host you.

How long is the internship?

Up to 90 consecutive days. For a longer stay, you need to discuss it with your host researcher.

When is the closing date?

It has not been published yet. The next round is scheduled to open in December 2026.

How many interns does NIMS take?

About 100 students a year. NIMS reports hosting more than 2,000 students from about 60 countries since the program began in 2006.

Do I need to speak Japanese?

The official page does not ask for Japanese, and all documents must be in English. Ask your host about the working language in the group.

Can I extend beyond 90 days?

The internship lasts up to 90 consecutive days. For a longer stay, discuss it with your host researcher.

Do I need a reference letter?

Not always. The host researcher may ask your supervisor for one, so tell your supervisor about your application.

Can I apply while finishing my degree?

Yes, as long as you are a current student. You need an enrolment certificate issued within the last three months, so you must still be enrolled when you apply.

Similar opportunities

For another funded research internship in Japan, see our OIST Research Internship guide. Our guide to scholarships in Japan covers degree funding.

Where to apply

Read the full instructions on the official NIMS Internship Program page. Our NIMS internship page keeps the key facts in one place.