The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Government of Japan in cooperation with the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) have established a United Nations/Japan Long-term Fellowship Programme. The programme is for Nano-Satellite Technologies for nationals of developing countries or non-space-faring nations. Thus, the programme will provide extensive research opportunities in nano-satellite systems. This will be through the nano-satellite development and testing facilities available at Kyutech.
About the Fellowship Programme
Every year this “Post-graduate study on Nano-Satellite Technologies (PNST)” fellowship programme will accept up to three students in the Master’s Program (three years duration) and up to three students in the Doctoral Program (three years duration). Successful participants will receive a master or doctoral degree after a successful thesis defence. Successful candidates will also enrol in the Space Engineering International Course (SEIC). However, this will be after passing an official entrance examination. The Graduate School of Kyushu Institute of Technology will organise and conduct the examination.
In addition, selected candidates will each receive a grant under the Japanese government. This is the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology: MEXT scholarship. Furthermore, the scholarship for Research Students is for approximately 144,000 JPY (1,300 USD) per month for the duration of their fellowship study. This amount will cover housing, food, local transportation, and other expenses. Similarly, each candidate will receive an economy class air ticket according to his/her itinerary and route as designated by MEXT. The flight will be between an international airport in the country of his/her nationality and an international airport in Japan used on the normal route to the accepting university. Meanwhile, Kyutech will pay the fees for matriculation, tuition and entrance examinations.
Purpose of Fellowship Programme
The fellowship’s purpose is to help non-space-faring nations join the community of space-faring nations. Consequently, PNST Fellows have an immense moral obligation to return to their home country and contribute to it. This is the central expectation of both UNOOSA and Kyutech.
Application Requirements
Applicants should:
- Be nationals of developing countries or non-space-faring nations.Â
- Be duly nominated by their institutions;
- Likewise, be born on or after 2 April 1987;
- Should have the academic and professional background required by the specific fellowship programme. For example, candidates seeking a Masters degree should have completed studies ending with a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent (4-year university degree) in engineering-related subjects. Furthermore, candidates seeking a Doctorate degree are expected to have completed studies ending with a Master Degree or equivalent (5 years university degree) in engineering-related subjects. Degrees in different technological fields can be considered by the Doctor Commission; and
- Be able to make professional use of the experience gained in the fellowship programme.Â
In addition, UNOOSA is committed to achieving a 50/50 gender balance in its programme and ensuring a balanced representation from different perspectives. This programme intends to select 3 male and 3 female students for the fellowship
Information Note and Application Documents
Applicants are first to complete the electronic registration form. Subsequently, they can submit complete application documents through the online upload form.
For the application submission procedure, timeline, FAQs, and other information, please visit UNOOSA’s website. The application deadline for the fellowship programme will be 10 January 2022 (Monday, 23:00 JST). If not the application is incomplete at the deadline, the organisers will disqualify it.
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