The JSPS RONPAKU (Dissertation Ph.D.) program aims to support and mentor promising researchers from Asia, Africa, and specified countries who desire to obtain their Ph.D. degrees from Japanese universities by submitting a dissertation without enrolling in a doctoral course.

Selected grantees, known as RONPAKU fellows, will conduct their dissertation research under the joint supervision of an advisor in Japan and an advisor in their home country. The expectation is that they will complete their Ph.D. degrees within a maximum period of three years.

RONPAKU fellows will be required to visit a Japanese university to conduct their research under the direct guidance of their Japanese advisor. In certain cases, the advisor may also visit the fellow's home university or research institution to provide supervision.

Benefits:
1. Funding for the Japanese host university: Up to a maximum of 3.6 million yen (1.2 million yen per fiscal year)
2. Covered expenses include travel costs (for RONPAKU fellow's visits to Japan and advisor's visits to the fellow's country), materials, and other dissertation-related expenses.
3. Payment procedure: JSPS will establish a contract with the Japanese host institution to oversee the operation of the RONPAKU program. Payments will be made based on the annual budget, aligned with the Japanese fiscal year (from April 1 to March 31).

By participating in the JSPS RONPAKU program, researchers can receive the necessary support and resources to pursue their Ph.D. degrees in Japan, fostering academic collaboration and international research connections.

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