Shida Scholarship Program
FY2024 Application and Eligibility Requirements【Background and Scholarship Program Objectives】
Dr. Mitsuzo Shida (1935-2018) was a graduate of the Faculty of Engineering at Kyoto University. Aftercontinuing his research and obtaining his Ph.D. in the United States, he remained in the U.S. where heachieved great success in the field of polymer science. It was his wish to create the Shida Scholarship Program
to provide students and researchers enrolled in the Faculty of Engineering and Graduate School ofEngineering at Kyoto University, with a scholarship opportunity to support their advanced studies and researchin the United States. The Shida Scholarship Program is made possible by a generous donation from the familyof the late Dr. Shida. To learn more about his amazing life and achievements, please access Dr. Mitsuzo
Shida’s biography from the link below.
(www.kyodai-collaborative.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Dr.-Mitsuzo-Shidas-biography.pdf)【Recipients of Scholarship】
Scholarship recipients must meet the following criteria:
・Have a clearly defined research focus and share high aspirations to continue research at a U.S. university
or research institution to produce advanced results;
・A willingness to maintain their relationship with Kyoto University thereafter by reporting research results
obtained in the US;
・Aspirations to play an active role in the international community at large, but especially in Japan and theU.S. in the field of their relevant research.

【Target Students・Tracks and Summary of the Scholarship Program】
There are three tracks of study abroad for students currently enrolled in the Kyoto University Faculty ofEngineering or Graduate School of Engineering. Each track has a different program length, number ofcandidates, and award amount.

＜Research Track＞① Doctoral candidates（for post-doctoral research）
This track is for those expected to finish a Ph.D. program in March of the following year, and who have theintention of pursuing a post-doctoral fellowship at a university laboratory or research institution in theUnited States.
② Students currently enrolled in a doctoral degree program (for joint research)
This track is for those who are currently enrolled in a doctoral degree program, and who intend to pursue
joint research with a university laboratory or research institution in the U.S. while they continue graduate
studies at Kyoto University.

＜Ph.D. Track＞③ Expected graduates of master’s degree or bachelor’s degree programs
This track is for those who are expected to graduate master's course or bachelor's course in March of thefollowing year, and who intend to continue their research in the form of obtaining a doctoral degree at auniversity in the United States.

Students who graduated from Kyoto University’s Graduate School ofEngineering and have already started studying abroad and are currently continuing their research in theU.S. or those who already graduated from Kyoto University and are continuing their research at KyotoUniversity are also eligible.

【Study abroad period, number of scholars, amount of scholarship】
Note that the scholarship amount can be used for any living expenses, research expenses, tuition, and travel
fees.

Awarding Period
Number of scholars① Post-doctoral② Joint Research③ Ph.D.

In principle, up to 2 years.

In principle, up to 1 year

In principle, up to 2 years.

2 persons

2 persons

2 persons

Up to USD $15,000

Up to USD $30,000

selected（expected）
Yearly scholarship

Up to USD $15,000

amount【Application Requirements】
The applicant must meet the following requirements:
・Be enrolled in or have graduated from Kyoto University’s Faculty of Engineering OR Graduate School ofEngineering at the time of their application.
・Be a Japanese citizen or permanent resident of Japan.
・Start their study abroad in the year of admission (for Ph.D. Track, the following year of admission) to thescholarship program. Students who graduated from Kyoto University’s Graduate School of Engineering andhave already started studying abroad and are currently continuing their research in the U.S. or those whoalready graduated from Kyoto University and are continuing their research at Kyoto University are alsoeligible.
・Intend to pursue research at a graduate school or an equivalent research institution in the United States.
・If applying for the Ph.D. track, applicants must plan to obtain a Ph.D. at a university in the United States.
・Research/study must be related to an Engineering field.
・This scholarship can only be applied to private study abroad. If you are currently in or plan to apply toa government or company funded program, you may not be eligible for this scholarship. Thisscholarship may also exclude you from being awarded funding from those types of programs
depending on their requirements. In this case, at the time of the application, applicants must notify theShida Scholarship Program manager in writing (in the Application Form) with the details about
additional sources of income or potential sources of income including:oNames of institutions or scholarships you’ve applied to for additional funding.

oThe amount of funding if known at the time of the application.

・English language proficiency is an important component of the selection criteria, although we do not set aminimum score for TOEFL/IELTS, etc.

While there is not a minimum standard for English language skill at

the time of the application, accepted scholars are expected to acquire a certain level of English language
proficiency before traveling to the U.S. to the extent that it will not interfere with your life, studies, or research
immediately after arrival.
・There is no age limit.

【Other considerations】
If you are applying for this scholarship before your host university or research institution has
been selected, please note your four choices in priority order in the space provided on theapplication. The scholarship will be awarded to the selected scholar only if they are accepted
to the university/institution/lab indicated.

【How to Apply】
Applicants must submit the following documents in a PDF format and send them directly to Kyodai
Collaborative via this email address: contact@kyodai-collaborative.org.
*For any questions, please contact r.okayama@kyodai-collaborative (Rika Okayama 岡山理加)① Application Form (Please use the form posted on the website.)② Recommendation Letter（From your advising professor）

③ Additional documents describing the details and importance of the research or a summary of your thesis.
They must be provided in English if the original document is in Japanese.

(In A4 paper, 2-3 pages long.

Please describe your goal and career aspirations at the end of the document.)④ Certificate of Graduation/Completion or Certificate of Expected Graduation/Completion⑤ Academic Transcript (Most recent and the one from previous course of study.)⑥ Certificate of Acceptance or Letter of Acceptance from a university or a research institution if applicant has
already been accepted at the time of the application.
⑦ English language skill test (TOEFL/IELTS, etc.) score sheet. Copies are accepted, but it must be issued
within 2 years from the deadline of this application.

≪Deadline≫

Must be received by (Ph.D./Joint Research) :(Post-Doc) :October 31, 2024 (Thurs) US ET
January 31, 2025 (Fri)US ET【Selection Process】
The selection process will be as follows:① 1st Stage Screening: Document examination －Nov. 2024 (Ph.D.・Joint Research) / Feb.2025 (Post-Doc)② 2nd Stage Screening: Interview TBD March – Dec. 2024 (Ph.D.・Joint Research) /March 2025 (Post-Doc)Interviews will take place by invitation for those who passed the 1st stage screening. They will be conducted
online.
A detailed schedule of the 2nd stage screening will be sent by email to those who passed the 1 st stage
screening. The selection committee will determine the finalists by December 31, 2024 for Ph.D. & Joint
Research track and by March 31, 2025 for Post-Doc track.