2025
The University of Tokyo
Graduate School of Information Science and Technology
Doctoral Student Special Incentives Program(IST-RA)
Application Guidelines
The goal of this program is to encourage outstanding doctoral students to take part in scientific researchat The Graduate School of Information Science and Technology at The University of Tokyo (hereafter“this Graduate School”). Within this, the program’s aims are the promotion of scientific research,fulfilling research programs, and education of doctoral students as young researchers.

1. Eligibility
Those who meet any of the following criteria (however, prospective entrants in October 2024 andcurrent students enrolled in September or October should replace “April 1, 2025” with “October
1, 2024”):① Individuals who are, at the time of application, enrolled in a doctoral program at thisGraduate School and plan to remain enrolled beyond April 1, 2025
② Individuals planning or desiring April 1, 2025 admission to a doctoral program at thisGraduate School.
However, students who fall under any of the following are not eligible:
・Students taking a leave of absence as of April 1, 2025
・Students whose will receive a salary for a total of more than three years
・Students who fit the exclusion criteria outlined in section #7 of this guideline regarding otherscholarships.
Additionally, students enrolled at this Graduate School who are employed and receiving a salary
are not eligible, but may apply for this program if they terminate their employment prior to themonth in which the payment period begins.

2. IST-RA: Number of Recipients and Monthly Salary Amounts
Number of recipients: Limited (number will be within the scope of the available budget)
Monthly salary amount: Outstanding Candidates Type A+ 120,000yenExcellent Candidates Type A 60,000yen

3. Selection Process
Selection will be conducted by a selection committee, with application documents (ApplicationForm, Evaluation Form from expected academic supervisor) and course results and records as
the basis for selection. Interviews may be required as well.

4. Payment Period(1) April admission (including expected admission):
April 2025 to March 2026(the first payment will be made in May 2025)(2) October admission (including expected admission):
October 2024 to September 2025 (the first payment will be made in November 2024)
However, no salary may be received for a total of more than three years.

5. Application Procedures(1) How to apply
Upload the application documents (refer to "(2) Application Documents" below) on IST-RA
Application System.
[Application period: June 7(Fri) - June 21(Fri), 2024(JST)]For details of Application System and application procedures, refer to following website.
Website of Graduate School of Information Science and Technology:
Doctoral Student Special Incentives Program (IST-RA)
URL https://www.i.u-tokyo.ac.jp/edu/financial-support/ist-ra/index_e.shtml(2) Application Documents*Download the format for Form1 and Form2 from the website above.
1. Application Form (Form 1)
Fill out and upload the form on IST-RA Application System.
*Neither seal nor signature is required.
2. Evaluation Form from expected academic supervisor (Form 2)
Request the Evaluator (expected academic supervisor as of April 1, 2025) to fill out the form andto upload it following the instructions on IST-RA Application System.
*Neither seal nor signature is required.
3. Academic Transcripts (in all undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs)
Upload electronic format of the transcript or scanned data of paper version on IST-RA Application
System.
If the applicant is unable to submit academic transcript within the application period due tounavoidable circumstances, a document explaining the reason for this, or in the case that thetranscript can be viewed online, a PDF version or a screenshot should be uploaded instead of theacademic transcript.
*In order to prevent false applications, uploaded transcripts may be cross-checked with theacademic records held by the University of Tokyo.

6. Selection Announcements and Acceptance Procedures(1) Regardless of whether accepted or not, selection results will be announced between late Julyand early August 2024, to applicant’s email address registered in IST-RA Application System.
(2) Accepted applicants will receive via e-mail both acceptance notification and acceptanceprocedures information. If the acceptance procedures are not completed within the specific time
period, the applicants will be considered to have declined.

7. Management with other scholarships and awards(1) Any student who falls under one or more of these criteria at the start of IST-RA program isineligible.
① Students receiving MEXT Scholarship for International Students② Foreign government-sponsored students (including international students in theChinese Government Graduate Student Overseas Study Program via the Chinesegovernment)③ Students receiving Scholarship from Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association④ Students supported by JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists(Tokubetsu Kenkyuin)⑤ Students receiving Special Scholarship for International Student recipients,
University of Tokyo (The University of Tokyo Fellowships)⑥ Recipients of scholarships or RA for WINGS from “Program for Leading
Graduate Schools” or“International Graduate Program for Excellence”.
⑦ Fellowship students of “The University Fellowship Program for Science andTechnology Innovations”.
⑧ Students supported by SPRING GX (The “Fostering Advanced Human Resource
Development to Lead Green Transformation (GX)” project)⑨ Recipients of any other type of scholarship or stipend in the monthly amount of
120,000 yen or more, for which there is no obligation to return. (if paid as an
amount for one year, the amount divided by 12)Note) MEXT: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science & Technology
JSPS: Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceIf, at the time of application, you fall under one of these criteria, but you stop receiving
funds the month before IST-RA payment period starts, you may apply for IST-RA program.
Applicants in this situation should note this on their application form and report their statusduring the first month of payments for IST-RA program.
(2) Students receiving the following financial supports may also receive IST-RA scholarship,
except in the case that the regulations of each financial support program do not allow for cogranting.
① Students receiving JASSO loan,② Students receiving JASSO Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed
International Students (Gakushu Shoureihi),③ Students employed as technical or clerical assistants by the University of Tokyo,④ Individuals working as RAs via the University of Tokyo’s Research Assistant
Implementation Guidelines⑤ Persons who are exempt from full or half tuition based on paragraph 1, Article
39 of regulations at the University of Tokyo,⑥ Recipients of any other type of scholarships or stipend in the monthly amount of
120,000 yen or below, for which there is no obligation to return, and student loan
recipients.
Before applying for IST-RA, all conditions of each program should be verified. In particular,
students with scholarships/fund sources from public service organizations should
thoroughly examine conditions before applying.
For research assistants (RAs), the total salary in combination with IST-RA may not exceed

200,000 yen per month. If the total is in excess of 200,000 yen, IST-RA salary amount will
be reduced.

8. IST-RA Award Recipient Responsibilities(1) Recipient of IST-RA program must apply for the JSPS (特別研究員) Research Fellowship
for academic year 2026 in the spring of 2025. However, students who will complete adoctoral program between April 2025 and March 2026 (for individuals admitted inSeptember or October, this period is between September 2024 and September 2025) are
exempt from this rule.
Note: Individuals who neglect to complete this application may (upon failure to complete
the application) have their acceptance to IST-RA program revoked and may be asked toreturn the salary they have received. In addition, they will no longer be eligible to apply forIST-RA.
(2) Recipient of IST-RA program must submit a monthly report in specified format regarding
research progress and status of scholarships they receive every month. Additionally, if arecipient has decided to accept funds from another scholarship, RA program, etc., and thus
must withdraw from IST-RA program, the department office must be informed as soon aspossible, along with the monthly report.

9. Precautions and Notes(1) If the necessary documents are not completed within the specified period, the application will
not be accepted.
However, consideration will be given to applications that could not be submitted within theapplication period due to the impact of the spread of COVID-19.
(2) Recipient must comply with the items stipulated in The University of Tokyo Graduate Schoolof Information Science and Technology Doctoral Course Special Incentives Program (ISTRA) Guidelines.
(3) If a false application is found, acceptance to IST-RA program may be revoked or applicants
may be asked to return the salary they have received.
(4) Even if an applicant scheduled to enroll in April or October is accepted to IST-RA program
as a result of the selection, if the applicant fails to complete the admission procedures,acceptance to IST-RA program will be revoked.
(5) This guideline is based on the academic calendar in use at the time of drafting. If any changes
should occur in the academic calendar, payment periods and the related information will be
determined in accordance with those changes.
May 2024
Graduate School of Information Science and Technology
The University of Tokyo