2026 Japan Foundation for UNU (jfUNU) PhD Scholarship in Sustainability Science

The scholarship is competitive and may be awarded to eligible students who have been accepted for enrolment in the PhD programme. There is no separate application form for the scholarship as it is part of the main online application form for admission. Interested applicants must provide the necessary information and documents when applying to the PhD programme. The Doctor of Philosophy in Sustainability Science Programme is a three-year programme that takes an innovative approach to sustainability, seeking to promote a better understanding of the issues by incorporating global change perspectives.

This programme will equip graduates with comprehensive, multidisciplinary knowledge of sustainability problems, and deepen their understanding of the role of environmental sustainability in addressing current issues related to global change, specifically those related to climate change and biodiversity. Students undertake problem-oriented research by playing an active role in UNU-IAS research projects, and acquire the quantitative and qualitative analytical skills necessary to understand the underlying principles of various systems involved in sustainability issues and debates. Students can select courses from those offered by UNU-IAS, while also enjoying the opportunity to take courses at other leading universities in Japan such as the University of Tokyo, Sophia University and International Christian University. 

• Table of Content
• About United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS)
• United Nations University PhD Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of United Nations University PhD Scholarship
• Requirements for United Nations University PhD Scholarship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

United Nations University PhD Scholarship

Aim and Benefits of United Nations University PhD Scholarship

• The jfUNU scholarship provides a monthly allowance of 120,000 JPY as a support package for a maximum of 36 months. The tuition fees may be waived for scholarship recipients.

Requirements for United Nations University PhD Scholarship Qualification

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Applicants must be from ODA recipient countries * who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance.
• Applicants who are currently living in Japan under a working visa are not eligible for the scholarship.
• Applicants who are already enrolled in other PhD programmes are not eligible. This includes those who have already obtained a PhD degree at an institution other than UNU-IAS.

*ODA recipients are included the latest OECD DAC list.

Additional Requirements 

• Recipients of the jfUNU Scholarship are required to write a short essay on their learning and experiences at UNU to be submitted to the donor organization. Before graduation, each recipient is requested to submit a note of appreciation to the donors with reflections on their future plans.
• Recipients agree to foster collaboration with jfUNU through participating in jfUNU activities, events and other opportunities offered to the student body.?

Applicants for the PhD in Sustainability Science are required to have met the following requirements by the application deadline in order to be considered:

1.? A completed master’s degree (or equivalent) from a recognized university or institution of higher education in a field related to sustainability and a minimum of two years of professional field experience related to UNU-IAS research themes which was acquired after obtaining a university degree (full time equivalent);

OR

Two completed master’s degrees, at least one of which must be in a discipline related to sustainability studies (those who expect to receive a second master’s degree before the entrance period of September 2026 may also apply);

2.? A GPA of 2.8 or above on a 4.0 scale (equivalent to 70% on a 100 % scale) for at least one of the master’s degrees earned; and

3.? English language proficiency.

The minimum score requirements for English language qualifications required by UNU-IAS are:

• 600 on TOEFL – Paper-Based Testing (PBT) OR
• 100 on TOEFL – Internet-Based Testing (IBT)** OR
• 7.0 on IELTS – Academic format

*?Please note that TOEFL and IELTS test scores are valid for two years. Invalid test scores will not be accepted.?UNU-IAS requires original TOEFL/IELTS score reports (no photocopies accepted). Applicants are expected to submit valid scores by the application deadline (27 February 2026).

** TOEFL IBT will introduce an updated score scale (1–6). For 2026 admissions, scores will be reviewed on the scale of 0–120.

• TOEFL: Please order an official score report using the institution code D317.  Please visit the TOEFL website for more information.?  
• IELTS: Please request an official report be sent directly to UNU-IAS. Please visit the IELTS website for more information.

Applicants meeting below criteria may submit a substitute document for the English language proficiency score:

• Applicants who have studied for at least two consecutive years in a degree-granting university programme taught entirely in English may submit substitute document for the English language proficiency score. If this is your case, you must provide a certificate from your university stating that English is/was your unique language of instruction. An original of the certificate must be submitted directly to UNU-IAS by 27 February 2026. 

Application Deadline

How to Apply

• Please refer to thePhD Application Guidelines for detailed instructions on how to apply.

For more information, kindly visit United Nations University.