NSERC Japan Taiwan

NSERC Summer Programs in Japan or Taiwan

Official Site
Organizer: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

Official Program Objective: "The Summer Programs in Japan or Taiwan provide graduate students in science and engineering with a hands-on research experience and an introduction to a different culture, language, and university research system."

Program Eligibility: "At the time of application, you must:
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
- be enrolled in a graduate program in the natural sciences or engineering at a Canadian institution; and
- have received advance acceptance from a potential host researcher in Japan or Taiwan."

Program Duration: "Awards are held for approximately eight weeks, from June to August. Exact start dates vary each year; successful candidates will be informed of the final program schedule."

Cost: None. A scholarship of $3,000 CDN plus travel and living expenses for eight weeks, is given.

Admission Difficulty: "An NSERC Selection Committee will evaluate the applications according to the following criteria:
- Academic excellence
- Research ability or potential
- Communication, interpersonal, and leadership abilities
- Linkage between the proposed research in Japan or Taiwan and your current studies, as well as future research and career goals

For the Taiwan program, approximately eight awards are available.

For the Japan program, top-ranked applications will move forward to a joint competition including applicants from NSERC, CIHR, and SSHRC. A total of approximately 15 awards (divided between NSERC, SSHRC, and CIHR) is available for all Canadian applicants to the Japan program."

Repeat Participants? Unknown.

The Low-Down: The application deadline for study-in-Taiwan applicants has been known to be extended in the past. This suggests the competition for positions is less intense for study in Taiwan compared to study in Japan.