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January 9, 2024

Keio-SPRING“Nurturing of doctoral students who will map the grand designs for future society”

Application Guidelines for the AY 2024［The 2nd period］
Keio-SPRING Project Manager
1. Purpose
Keio University will now implement doctoral human resource development in the doctoral programusing grants from the JST project “Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation.”
The purpose of this program is to nurture the outstanding and highly-driven doctoral students whowill be responsible for the future course of science, technology, and innovation in Japan.
As part of this program, we aim to nurture the doctoral student personnel who, in addition toadvanced research prowess; the ability to create new values based in a profound understanding of
human endeavor and the workings of society; the ability to identify the challenges requiring solutions;and the ability to appropriately allocate finite resources leading to these solutions, are possessed withthe ability to put their original ideas into action in order to “map the grand designs for future society,”specifically the forthcoming society 50 years from now.
In order to achieve this, we will offer assistance in the form of research funding and living expensesubsidies, while supporting pioneering, integrated research activities by highly-driven postdoctoral
students. Recipients will proactively participate in initiatives which will allow them to develop thecapacities required to play an active role in various career paths (career/professional development)
while earnestly devoting themselves to tackling their particular research challenges irrespective ofacademic field.
2. Assistance period/details/amountThis project is funded by the “ Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation ”
of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). This grant will end in academic year 2023 andwill be succeeded by the successor program from academic year 2024.
Keio University has continued to apply for the successor program, but the details of the following
support may change depending on the status of the successor program. The final details of the support
will be announced at the time of the official notification at the end of March. Please be aware of thisbefore you consider applying.
<Assistance period>
A maximum of three years (four years in the case of four-year courses) with the upper limit set
at the minimum number of years required for completion.
A review of intention to continue, eligibility, and activities outcomes will be conducted for eachacademic year.
1<Assistance details>
In addition to financial assistance we will provide ongoing career and professional development
support for active engagement with the diverse career paths of doctoral students.
<Assistance amount>
We will pay an amount to cover living expenses in addition to subsidizing research expenses.
* If you enroll in September 2024, the amount to cover living expenses and research expenses
will be subsidized for half a year in 2024. If the minimum number of years required forcompletion is reached in September 2024, it will be subsidized for half a year as well.
*In addition to the above, if the period of support during the academic year is shortened due towithdrawal, interruption of support, or other reasons during the academic year, the amountequivalent to living expenses and research expenses may be revised according to the period ofsupport and a refund may be requested.
・Amount to cover living expenses: 2.2 million yen per academic year
・Research funding: Base payment of 300,000 yen per academic year
・Subsidies for Pioneering Initiatives:
This project requires all adopters to take a proactive stance toward pioneering initiatives.
An appropriate amount (up to 1,000,000 yen) may be added to the basic research grant amountabove for such pioneering initiatives as overseas exchanges, fieldwork (including domestic),
internships, and the development of research based on new ideas, etc., related to research,depending on the details of the application.
For pioneering initiatives, either or both of the following must be included in the application
form ① and ② .
・The plan for pioneering initiatives scheduled to be implemented in academic year 2024, thecost plan, and in case additional subsidies are desired, the amount of the desired subsidies.
・(If there are no plans for initiatives in academic year 2024 at this time), initiatives plannedor to be considered for academic year 2025 and beyond.
When applying, please be sure to refer to the pioneering initiative guidelines and application
tips document in the [Forms for Students] box on p.5, and be careful to ensure that yourapplication is in line with the purpose of the grant.
<Bank account and management>
The amount to cover living expenses will be transferred to the bank accounts of successful
applicants. Bank accounts are limited to those in Japan. If you do not currently have a bank accountin Japan, please contact the secretariat in advance.
The Basic Research Funds and Pioneering Initiatives Subsidy will be administered at respective
bodies on affiliated campuses.

23． Application criteria

*There is a change from the 1st period application.

Outstanding doctoral students who will map out the grand designs for future society, andengage in the pioneering research which will make this a reality.

Proactive participation in platforms, etc. for dialogue among different research domains, andhighly-driven engagement in research.

1) Eligible Students
If an alternate for the first term wishes to revise or resubmit an application, he/she must withdraw
from the first term and then submit another application.
A. Applicants who have passed (or will pass) the entrance examination for the AY 2024 Doctoral
Program at Keio University by 3/4/2024.
・If there is a deadline for the graduate school before the announcement of acceptance / rejectionof entrance examination, it is possible to apply to the graduate school without waiting for theannouncement.
・However, those who fails the entrance exam, declines enrollment, or does not enroll at thescheduled time, the application it will be rejected in this project.
B. Those who are already enrolled in a doctoral course at Keio University and have not exceeded
the minimum number of years of study by April 2024.
* In both cases A and B, applicants will be in a position to submit the required documentation whencompleting an application and before candidates are approved, and be in Japan when theassistance begins. However, if you cannot enter Japan due to unavoidable circumstances, pleasecontact the secretariat in advance.
2) Overlap with other initiatives
・Students participating in the Program for Leading Graduate Schools and are paid are not eligible.
・Students participating in the JSPS Research Fellowship for Young Scientists DC; or in receipt ofJapanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarships are not eligible.
(Self-funded international students are eligible for this project, but not if it conflicts with theapplication requirements in 1) and 3)).
・Some scholarships cannot be jointly paid or applied for together with other projects. If it is unclear
whether the scholarships that you receive or schedule to be applied for can be jointly paid orapplied for together with this project, be sure to check with the source of funds before applying
for this project.
3) Income limit Students who are considered to be receiving stable income such as salary or director'sremuneration at a level sufficient for a living wage from their university or company are noteligible.
3 The standard for stable income is not to exceed 2.4 million yen per year (1.2 million yen for six
months if the student enters in September of the current year or completes the minimum periodof study in September). Scholarships whose purpose can be clearly determined to be living
expenses should be included in the standard amount.
 Even if they are not required to count toward the income limit, part-time work and otheractivities are allowed only to the extent that they do not interfere with their work on research orcareer development and training programs.
Be sure to check the FAQ for details on income limits. Applications that do not meet the incomelimits will be rejected. The FAQ is stored in the 【Format for students】 box instructed on p. 5.
If you are unable to determine whether your income should be included in the standard amount asstable income after reading this document and the FAQ, please check with the department in chargeof accepting applications at the Graduate School in advance.
＜Example of income to be included in the standard amount of income limit＞
to be included

Stable income such as salary or directors' remuneration from your university,company, etc.
Scholarships and grants that purpose can be clearly determined as living expenses

not toIncome earned from part-time jobs, part-time work, TA, and RA

be included*However, there are exceptional cases such as physicians working part-time orpart-time lecturers that require inclusion. Be sure to refer to the FAQ in advanceto confirm that you are not violating any income restrictions.

＜Confirmation of estimated income＞
The secretariat will contact each selected applicant individually if there is any matter that needs
to be confirmed regarding the estimated income. If, as a result of the confirmation, it is found thatthe income limit is violated, the applicant will not meet the application requirements, and theadoption may be cancelled. If it takes time to confirm the income, the transfer of the amountequivalent to living expenses and the start of use of the basic research expenses and Pioneering
Initiatives Subsidy will be withheld until the confirmation is completed.
4. Duties, etc. of students eligible for assistanceStudents eligible for assistance are required to fulfill certain obligations, comply with variousconditions, and cooperate in given undertakings. Complete applications based on an understandingof the particulars given in “Keio University Doctoral Program Student Support Project Protocols forthe ‘Nurturing of doctoral students who will map the grand designs for future society’’”45. Schedule for selection of candidates, start of assistance (planned)
January 9

Start the 2nd period recruitment (acceptance period is set for each graduate school)

Late March

Notification from the Graduate School to those who have been informallynotified of the acceptance or rejection of the application

During April

Beginning of research expenses expenditure (managed at affiliated sections)*Invoices after April 1st, 2024 are valid(For students scheduled to enroll in September, the start date will be in October.)

6. How to Apply
The flow of submitting documents differs depending on the graduate school. Please check theinformation of the graduate school you plan to enter (or currently enrolled) from the link list below.
Graduate school name

Link to information on how to apply

Graduate School of Letters

https://keio.box.com/v/2024-2nd-bun-boshu

Graduate School of Economics

https://keio.box.com/v/2024-2nd-keizai-boshu

Graduate School of Law

https://keio.box.com/v/2024-2nd-hougaku-boshu

Graduate School of Human Relations

https://keio.box.com/v/2024-2nd-shagaku-boshu

Graduate School of Business and Commercehttps://keio.box.com/v/2024-2nd-shogaku-boshu

Graduate School of Medicine

https://keio.box.com/v/2024-2nd-igaku-boshu

Graduate School of Science and Technology

https://keio.box.com/v/2024-2nd-rikogaku-boshu

Graduate School of Business Administration

https://keio.box.com/v/2024-2nd-kbs-boshu

Graduate School of Media and Governancehttps://keio.box.com/v/2024-2nd-seime-boshu

Graduate School of Health Management

https://keio.box.com/v/2024-2nd-kenmane-boshu

Graduate School of System Design and Management

https://keio.box.com/v/2024-2nd-sdm-boshu

Graduate School of Media Design

https://keio.box.com/v/2024-2nd-kmd-boshu

Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences

https://keio.box.com/v/2024-2nd-yakugaku-boshu

7. Documents to be submitted(1) Application Form ① (fill in the designated Word form. follow the guidance from each graduate
school for submitting documents.)(2) Application Form ② (answer the Google Form)(3) Statement of Support (prepared by academic advisor.)※Who is your academic advisor：A faculty member who will become your academic advisor after
enrolling in the doctoral program at Keio University*If there are separate instructions on how to prepare the Statement of Support in the information
on how to apply for each graduate school, please follow those instructions.
[Format for students]

https://keio.box.com/v/Keio-SPRING-for-Applicants[Format for Statement of Support]

https://keio.box.com/v/Keio-SPRING-syokensyo-jukunai
58. Screening criteria
・Excellence, novelty, importance of research plan・Desire and capability to pioneer to create new values across fields and disciplines (qualities as aresearcher)・Career and social impacts after degree acquisition and completion
9. Important notes
・In order to ensure the transparency of this project and from the perspective of career support andpromotion of interchange, your graduate school, academic year, name, and title of the research
project etc. will be made public on the Keio University Web site.
・Payments may be discontinued should the student fail to maintain application criteria, evenmidway through the academic year.
・Please consult with the person with jurisdiction over dependents (parents, etc.) at your workplace,etc. about the handling of dependents in health insurance and dependents allowance, whileletting this person know that the amount to cover living expenses is to be treated as
miscellaneous income. In addition, please contact your local tax office about the handling ofdependents in income tax.
・Since the amount to cover living expenses is treated as miscellaneous income, it will be subject
to income tax and residence tax. Tax returns will be required.
Reference: National Tax Agency “Final tax return” https://www.nta.go.jp/english/taxes/individual/12011.htm

・Payment of the amount to cover living expenses is not principled on an employment relationshipbetween the student and the university, as assistance is offered for autonomous, pioneering,
integrated research by doctoral students, and is unconstrained by existing frameworks. For thisreason, the students who are eligible for assistance must themselves manage and complete any
procedures relating to social insurance or pensions (excluding cases where the university will
undertake separate employment procedures)◆Secretariat office for this project◆
Office of Research Development and Sponsored Projects, Keio University
Office hours: Weekdays, 8:30 to 17:00. (closed on weekends and public holidays)
E-mail: jst-doctoral_inquiry@adst.keio.ac.jp* Please add “[Keio-SPRING]” to the subject field of the email.

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