Program: CSEAS Fellowship 2027
Organization: Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University
Study Location: Kyoto, Japan
Fellowship Length: 3 to 6 months
Financial Support: Stipend, research funds, and possible domestic travel support
Application Deadline: April 30, 2026
The Kyoto University CSEAS Fellowship 2027 offers accomplished scholars the chance to spend a research term in Kyoto at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies. The fellowship supports research, writing, and other scholarly work, while also giving fellows access to the Center’s academic resources and multidisciplinary environment. It is intended for those working on comparative and regional issues from a multi-area perspective.
About the Kyoto University CSEAS Fellowship 2027
CSEAS explains that its visiting scholarship program began in 1975. The page adds that more than 450 researchers have already used the Center’s resources for path-breaking multidisciplinary work and for building comparative, historical, and global perspectives on Southeast Asia. The fellowship is part of that broader visiting scholarship tradition.
The program awards fourteen fellowships each year on a competitive basis. Fellowship periods last between three and six months. For the 2027 cycle, the page lists five fellowships, including one librarian position, with available dates shown as March 1, April 1, May 1, and June 1, 2027. CSEAS also states that a different period may be offered if the proposed one is not available.
Funding and Research Support
Successful applicants receive an appropriate stipend to cover international travel and living expenses in Kyoto. The fellowship also includes research funds to support academic work. Moreover, domestic travel funds may be provided in line with government regulations. The page further notes that Visiting Research Scholars are treated as employees of Kyoto University and must follow some University regulations.
Who Can Apply for the Kyoto University CSEAS Fellowship 2027
The source sets out several eligibility rules:
• Applicants must be accomplished scholars of high standing.
• They must be under 65 at the time of fellowship appointment.
• Applicants over 65 may be considered only in exceptional cases.
• Applicants without a PhD may apply only if they secure prior approval from a CSEAS faculty member to serve as their counterpart.
• The fellowship is not open to people currently enrolled in a graduate degree or engaged in postdoctoral studies.
• Only experienced librarians may apply for the librarian position.
• Former CSEAS fellows may reapply only after six years have passed since their previous fellowship ended.
What Fellows Do During the Term
During the fellowship, CSEAS encourages scholars to join conferences, seminars, and workshops. Fellows are also encouraged to submit work to the Center’s publications. In addition, fellows are expected to stay in Kyoto throughout the fellowship and give a public lecture during their term.
How to Apply
Applicants must complete the online application form. The supporting documents then need to be sent separately in PDF format by email to grants@cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp.
Documents to Prepare
• Completed online application form
• CV of up to 5 pages, including major publications
• A 2-page research plan for the fellowship term, prepared on the required form, double-spaced, and written with paragraph descriptions
• Two recommendation letters sent by referees directly to CSEAS by email on institutional letterhead
Important Dates
The application deadline for the 2027 fellowships is April 30, 2026. CSEAS also says it will not handle individual follow-up questions on results by email, fax, or telephone. Applicants can expect to receive their status notification by the end of July 2026.
