Vulcanus in Japan 2026-2027 - A training programme for students in engineering and other scientific fields

The Vulcanus in Japan 2026-2027 program offers a unique opportunity for students in engineering, science, technology, and mathematics from EU member states and countries associated with the Single Market Programme (SME pillar) to engage in an intensive eight-month industrial internship in Japan from August 2026 to March 2027. This program targets students who are between their fourth year of undergraduate studies and the final year of their PhD studies. Eligible applicants must be enrolled in relevant university programs and provide proof of enrollment until at least late June 2026. Fluency in English is essential.

Participants receive financial support through a stipend of up to €9,200 to cover internship-related costs, including a compulsory two-month Japanese language course and cultural seminar, along with a six-month paid internship. This amount consists of €8,200 for the main traineeship and €1,000 for an optional business analysis assignment called "Eyes on Japan." The total program budget is €322,000, allowing for a maximum of 35 applicants. Host companies in Japan provide accommodation during the internship period.

The application process involves two stages: a dedicated Word form and an online web form, with a closing date for applications on January 20, 2026, at 23:00 (Brussels time). The selection is competitive, focusing on academic performance, motivation, and adaptability, with priority given to candidates without prior experience in Japanese companies or at native speaker proficiency in Japanese. The program aims to nurture EU-Japan relations and enhance student employability in global contexts.

Success rates are estimated based on an evaluation process that shortlists approximately four times the expected participants, resulting in an estimated shortlist success rate of around 25%. The program does not formally require financial co-funding from students but may imply personal expense contributions. It combines financial support with significant non-monetary benefits, enhancing both cultural understanding and professional experiences in leading Japanese industries.

Overall, the Vulcanus in Japan program is a structured initiative designed for advanced students who aspire to deepen their knowledge in STEM fields while gaining substantial international experience in a Japan-based industrial setting. The program's continuation is dependent on securing EU funding, and detailed guidelines and application information are available through the EU funding portal.

The Vulcanus in Japan 2026-2027 program offers training and industrial placement opportunities in Japan for students in engineering, science, technology, and mathematics from EU member states or countries associated with the Single Market Programme (SME pillar). The program starts in August 2026 and ends in March 2027, lasting eight months.

The program includes a seminar on Japan, a two-month intensive Japanese language course, and a six-month traineeship in a Japanese company. The objectives are to study advanced technologies in a Japanese company, learn Japanese, understand Japanese culture, and improve career prospects for interacting with Japanese businesses.

The EU-Japan Centre covers costs related to lectures on Japan and the Japanese language course. The host company provides accommodation. A maximum of €9,200 is provided per student for the period from August to March. €8,200 is for the traineeship and compulsory activities, and an additional €1,000 is for participation in an optional ‘Eyes on Japan’ assignment. The grant includes insurance coverage, but the cost will be deducted if the EU-Japan Centre arranges the insurance.

To be eligible, applicants must be citizens of an EU Member State or a country associated with the Single Market Programme (SME Pillar), registered as a student at a university in the EU or a country associated with the Single Market Program (SME Pillar), and be a student in engineering or a field related to science, technology, or mathematics. Examples include computer science, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electronics, biotechnology, electrical engineering, physics, telecommunication, nuclear engineering, civil engineering, production systems (e.g., metal, ceramics), and global navigation satellite systems. Applicants must be enrolled at a university between the fourth official year of studies and the last year of PhD when applying, be enrolled at a university and undertaking a current cycle of studies at least until late June of the departure year, and be able to provide a certificate of enrolment valid until at least late June 2026. They must also be able to participate in the entire eight-month program and communicate fluently in English. The status of associated countries can be checked at the provided link, referring only to countries listed under the “COSME strand” or participating in the “Competitiveness of SMEs” strand with a signed and enforced agreement by the application deadline.

The main selection criteria include the quality of the application, adaptability/resilience to experience abroad, academic career and records, interest in an industrial experience in Japan and EU-Japan relations, the quality of the motivation letter, the quality of the recommendation letter, overall accuracy of the application, grades, and compatibility level with one or more internships offered by a host company in Japan.

Applications will be evaluated to create a shortlist of about four times the expected number of participants. Priority is given to applicants with no experience in a Japanese company and whose knowledge of Japanese is not at native speaker level. Extra points are assigned to candidates matching traineeships with which no top-scored applicants are compatible, and these candidates cannot apply to a different traineeship once shortlisted. The EUJCIC aims to ensure a balance in the profile of participants, considering the underrepresentation of certain profiles, countries, or genders. Japanese host companies have the final say in selecting participants based on their internship position's needs and expectations. The match-making procedure operates on a 'first come first served' basis.

Vulcanus in Japan 2026-2027 will welcome a maximum of 35 students. The program's organization is pending the receipt of an EU grant by the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation. The call is subject to the award and signature of an EU Grant Agreement and may be adjusted or cancelled if needed.

Applicants should consider whether they can handle the potential stress of the program due to loneliness, cultural differences, and work pressures.

Applications must be submitted through a dedicated Word form (first step) and a web form (second step). Instructions on compulsory supporting documents and how to apply are available via a provided link. A list of FAQs and the Privacy Policy are also available. More information can be found at the provided URL.

The task description includes organizing the eight-month Vulcanus in Japan programs, including a two-month language course and a six-month industrial internship for EU science and engineering students in Japan, and the "Eyes on Japan" assignment, involving business plan analysis and the creation of 8-12 reports.

The opening date for applications is November 3, 2025, and the deadline is January 20, 2026, at 23:00 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is eight months. The total funding available is €322,000. The project acronym is EUJCIC 2024-2026, and the full name of the EU-funded project is EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation - Activities 2024-2026. The grant agreement number is 101189953, and the topic is SMP-COSME-2024-EUJAPAN-IBA-01 - EU-Japan Centre for industrial cooperation.

In summary, the Vulcanus in Japan program is a comprehensive initiative designed to provide European students in STEM fields with a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in Japan. It combines language and cultural immersion with an industrial internship, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of Japanese technology and business practices. The program is highly competitive, with specific eligibility criteria and a multi-stage selection process. Funding is provided to cover various expenses, including language training, accommodation, and a stipend for participants. The program's continuation is contingent upon the EU-Japan Centre receiving an EU grant.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicants are students who are citizens of an EU Member State or a country associated with the Single Market Programme (SME Pillar). They must be registered as students at a university based in the EU or in a country associated with the Single Market Program, SME Pillar. The students must be in engineering or a field related to science, technology, or mathematics, such as computer science, mechanical engineering, chemical, electronics, biotechnology, electrical engineering, physics, telecommunication, nuclear engineering, civil engineering, production systems (e.g., metal, ceramics), and global navigation satellite systems. They must be enrolled at a university between the fourth official year of studies and the last year of their PhD when applying. They must also be enrolled at a university and undertaking a current cycle of studies at least until late June of the departure year, and able to provide a certificate of enrollment valid until at least late June 2026. Applicants must be able to participate in the entire 8-month program and communicate fluently in English.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant provided to the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, which then provides funding to selected students in the form of a stipend. The stipend covers costs related to the internship, lectures on Japan, and a Japanese language course.

Consortium Requirement: This opportunity is for single applicants, specifically individual students.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes citizens of EU Member States and countries associated with the Single Market Programme (SME pillar). The students must also be registered at a university based in the EU or in a country associated with the Single Market Programme (SME pillar).

Target Sector: The program targets students in engineering and fields related to science, technology, and mathematics. Specific fields mentioned include computer science, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electronics, biotechnology, electrical engineering, physics, telecommunication, nuclear engineering, civil engineering, production systems (e.g., metal, ceramics), and global navigation satellite systems.

Mentioned Countries: Japan, EU member states.

Project Stage: The program is designed for students enrolled in university programs, specifically between their fourth year of studies and the last year of their PhD. The project stage involves training and industrial placement, suggesting a development and validation stage for the students' skills and knowledge.

Funding Amount: A maximum of €9,200 will be given in total per student for the period spanning from August to March. €8,200 is for participation in the traineeship and its compulsory activities. An additional €1,000 is provided for participation in an optional ‘Eyes on Japan’ assignment. The total funding available for the project is €322,000.

Application Type: The application is submitted through a dedicated word form (first step) and a webform (second step). The call is a single-stage application process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries receive money in the form of a grant/stipend. They also receive non-monetary services such as accommodation provided by the host company, lectures on Japan, and a Japanese language course provided by the EU-Japan Centre.

Application Stages: There are two application stages: filling out a dedicated word form and filling out the webform. After this, there is an evaluation stage, and then a final selection by the Japanese host companies.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the text indicates that applications will be evaluated to create a shortlist of about 4 times the expected number of participants. Vulcanus in Japan 2026-2027 will welcome max. 352 students. This suggests that the initial selection rate is around 25%, but the final selection depends on the Japanese host companies. Therefore, the final success rate is likely below 25%.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is not explicitly required from the applicant. The EU-Japan Centre and the host company cover the costs of the program.

Summary:

The Vulcanus in Japan 2026-2027 program is a training and industrial placement opportunity for European Union students and students from countries associated with the Single Market Programme (SME pillar) studying engineering, science, technology, or mathematics. The program, which runs from August 2026 to March 2027, includes a seminar on Japan, a two-month intensive Japanese language course, and a six-month traineeship in a Japanese company. The EU-Japan Centre covers the costs of lectures and the language course, while the host company provides accommodation. Students receive a stipend of up to €9,200 to cover their expenses, including insurance.

To be eligible, applicants must be citizens of an EU Member State or a country associated with the Single Market Programme (SME Pillar), be registered at a university in one of those countries, be studying a relevant field, be between their fourth year and last year of PhD studies, be enrolled at the university until at least late June of the departure year, be able to participate in the entire program, and be fluent in English.

The selection criteria include the quality of the application, adaptability, academic record, interest in Japan, quality of the motivation and recommendation letters, grades, and compatibility with internship offers. Priority is given to applicants with no prior experience in a Japanese company and limited knowledge of Japanese. The Japanese host companies have the final say in selecting participants.

The application process involves submitting a word form and a webform. The program aims to provide students with the opportunity to study advanced technologies, learn Japanese, understand Japanese culture, and enhance their career prospects by interacting with Japanese businesses. The program is subject to the EU-Japan Centre receiving an EU grant for the period covering the 2026-2027 cycle.