StudyDesk Scholarships
About the scholarship
The UNU Junior Fellows Internship, run by the Office of the Rector at United Nations University — the UN’s global think tank and postgraduate teaching body — places graduate-level students and young professionals inside the UNU headquarters in Shibuya, Tokyo. The Spring 2027 session runs 1 March – 27 August 2027 (about 24 weeks). Junior Fellows contribute to research, administration, communications, event coordination and other work supporting the university’s international mission, beginning with a one-week orientation and working full time, 9:30 to 17:30, Monday to Friday, mainly on site with some remote flexibility. Applicants based in Japan and overseas are both considered; UNU strongly encourages applicants from developing countries and women.
Eligibility
- Enrolled in, or recently completed, a master’s or PhD degree.
- 32 years old or younger when you apply.
- No more than 5 years of work experience in a related field.
- All nationalities — applicants living in Japan and overseas are both eligible.
- Strong interest in international relations, development studies, public policy and the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Excellent communication and research skills and fluency in English.
Benefits
- Monthly stipend to help cover part of basic living expenses — for interns who receive no relevant financial support from another institution. Academic scholarships for your studies are excluded from this rule. The exact amount is not published.
- Office space at UNU headquarters and on-site and online access to the HQ library and gym.
- 1.5 days of leave per month.
- Practical experience in research, writing, analysis, institutional planning and supporting conferences, workshops and academic forums.
- No application fee — UNU never charges any application, processing or interview fee. Ignore anyone who asks you to pay.
Documents required
- Completed application form on the official UNU careers portal (Spring 2027 vacancy).
- CV highlighting research, writing and analytical skills.
- Cover letter linking your studies to UNU’s work on the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Referee details — their letters must reach UNU by the deadline; you cannot submit them yourself.
How to apply
- Find the official Spring 2027 vacancyOn the UNU careers portal — read the vacancy notice fully before applying.
- Prepare your documentsCV, cover letter and application form; show Excel and writing skills with concrete examples.
- Contact your referees nowTheir letters must arrive by 1 November 2026, 23:59 JST — this is the step most applicants leave too late.
- Submit before the deadlinePlan your Tokyo budget early — the stipend covers only part of living costs.
FAQs
Eligible interns receive a monthly stipend — but only if they have no other relevant financial support, and it covers only part of living costs. The amount is not published.
Master’s or PhD students and recent postgraduate graduates aged 32 or under, from any country, with no more than 5 years of related work experience.
It is mainly on-site at UNU headquarters in Tokyo, with some remote flexibility.
No — UNU never charges application, processing or interview fees. Treat any payment request as a scam.
Yes — applicants based in Japan and overseas are both considered for the Spring 2027 term.
Verified 19 Oct 2026 across 7 independent trackers (opportunitiesradar, pathfinderly, opportunitylab, opportunitiescorners, inspireopportunities, bloompakistan, gizpulse), all consistent: Spring 2027 session 1 Mar - 27 Aug 2027 at the UNU Office of the Rector, Tokyo; applications close 1 Nov 2026, 23:59 JST; open to master’s/PhD students and recent graduates aged 32 or under with <=5 years’ experience, all nationalities; monthly stipend for interns without other funding (amount not published); apply via the official UNU careers portal (Spring 2027 vacancy).
