Background and Scholarship Program Objectives

Dr. Mitsuzo Shida (1935-2018) was a graduate of the Faculty of Engineering at Kyoto University. After continuing his research and obtaining his Ph.D. in the United States (U.S.), he remained in the U.S. where he achieved great success in the field of polymer science. It was his wish to create the Shida Scholarship Program to provide students and researchers at the Faculty of Engineering and Graduate School of Engineering at Kyoto University with a scholarship opportunity to support their advanced studies and research in the U.S. The Shida Scholarship Program is made possible by a generous donation from the family of the late Dr. Shida.  To learn more about his amazing life and achievements, please access Dr. Mitsuzo Shida’s biography here.

Program Details

Application guidelines

Shida Scholarship Program supports three types of study abroad for students who are currently enrolled in or have graduated from the Kyoto University Faculty of Engineering or Graduate School of Engineering. Note that the scholarship amount can be used for any living expenses, research expenses, tuition, and travel fees.

1. Ph.D. Track
  • Eligibility: Those who are expected to complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree program at Kyoto University Faculty of Engineering or Graduate School of Engineering by March 2027. Must intend to obtain a doctoral degree in the Engineering field at universities in the U.S., UK, or Canada. Applicants who have graduated from Kyoto University and are currently conducting research at universities in the U.S., UK, or Canada, or at Kyoto University are also eligible to apply.
  • Scholarship will be awarded for up to 2 years.
  • Scholarship will be up to US$30,000.00 per year.
  • Approximately 3 scholars will be awarded
2. Research Track (Post-doctoral research)
  • Eligibility: Those who are expected to complete a doctoral degree program at Kyoto University Graduate School of Engineering by March 2027. Must intend to pursue a post-doctoral fellowship at research institutes in the Engineering field in the U.S., UK, or Canada. Applicants who have graduated from Kyoto University and are currently conducting research at universities in the U.S., UK, or Canada, or at Kyoto University are also eligible to apply.
  • Scholarship will be awarded for up to 2 years.
  • Scholarship will be up to US$15,000.00 per year.
  • Approximately 2 scholars will be awarded, combined with joint research track.
3. Research Track (Joint research)
  • Eligibility: Those who are currently enrolled in a doctoral degree program at Graduate School of Engineering at Kyoto University and who intend to engage in joint research at a research institution in the U.S., UK, or Canara and plan to go back to Kyoto University after a joint research program.
  • Scholarship will be awarded for up to 1 year
  • Scholarship will be up to US$20,000.00 per year.
  • Approximately 2 scholars will be awarded, combined with post-doctoral research track.

Details of eligibility are available on Application Guidelines.

How to Apply

Application Form

Applicants submit the application form with following documents.

  1. Cover Letter and CV in English (A description of your background, achievements & awards, research projects and research results, etc. Free format.)
  2. A document describing the details and importance of your research or a summary of your thesis in English. (Please describe your goal and career aspirations at the end of the document. In A4 paper, 2-3 pages long.)
  3. Certificate of Graduation/Completion or Certificate of Expected Graduation/Completion (Not necessary for the Joint Research Track)
  4. The most recent Academic Transcript
  5. Certificate of Acceptance or Letter of Acceptance from a university or a research institution if an applicant has already been accepted at the time of the application. For an applicant of Ph.D. Track, if you are selected for this Shida Scholarship, you must submit such document to Kyodai Collaborative as soon as you’ve chosen a university you would pursue for your Ph.D. degree.
  6. 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.Letter of Recommendation Form
  7. Letter of Recommendation (From your academic advisor, free format, 1-2 pages long.)

Request that your academic advisor prepare and submit the letter by the deadline. Submissions directly from applicants are not permitted.

Submission Deadlines (For both Application Form and Letter of Recommendation Form)

Ph.D. Track: Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET

Research Track (Post-doctoral & Joint Research): Monday, November 30, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET

Selection Process

  • Selection will be conducted by a selection committee composed of graduates of the Faculty of Engineering and the Graduate School of Engineering at Kyoto University, as well as a staff member of the Kyodai Collaborative.
  • Interviews will take place online and by invitation for those who passed the first-round screening. A detailed schedule of the second-round screening will be sent by email to those who passed the first-round screening.
  • The selection committee will determine the finalists based on the above schedule and we will notify the finalists by email as the recipients of the Shida Scholarship Program.

設立の背景及び目的

Shida Scholarship Programは、京都大学工学部を卒業後米国にて博士課程を修了、その後も米国にて高分子科学の分野において多大な業績を残した故志田光三氏（1935－2018）、ならびにその遺志を継いだご家族の意向に基づき設立された奨学金制度です。志田氏の母校である京都大学工学部、大学院工学研究科在籍生並びに卒業生が米国で更なる研究を継続することの支援を目的としています。本奨学金制度は、故志田氏のご家族からの寛大な寄付により成り立っています。（故志田光三氏の功績等の詳細はこちら）

プログラム概要

募集要項

京都大学工学部または大学院工学研究科の在学生又は卒業生を対象に、以下3つのタイプの留学を支援する。なお、支給金の使途は生活費・研究費・授業料・渡航費等とする。

1. Ph.D. 取得型

対　　象：2027年３月に学士課程を卒業見込み又は修士課程を修了見込みであり、卒業・修了後、米国・英国・カナダの大学で自身の研究を継続し、博士学位の取得を志望している者。なお、本学を卒業・修了後、米国・英国・カナダの大学又は京都大学で現在研究を続けている者も対象とする。

支給期間：原則2年まで

支給金額：原則年US＄30,000.00を上限とする

採択人数：3名程度

2. 研究型（ポスドク研究）

対　　象：2027年3月までに博士後期課程を修了予定であり、修了後、ポスドク（博士後研究員）として米国・英国・カナダの大学等研究機関での研究留学を志望している者。なお、本学を卒業・修了後、米国・英国・カナダの大学又は京都大学で現在研究を続けている者も対象とする。

支給期間：原則2年まで

支給金額：原則年US$15,000.00を上限とする

採択人数：共同研究枠と合わせて2名程度

3. 研究型（共同研究）

対　　象：京都大学博士後期課程在籍中に、米国・英国・カナダの大学等研究機関で共同研究を行うことを志望し、共同研究後には京都大学に戻ることを予定している者。

支給期間：原則１年まで

支給金額：原則US$20,000.00を上限とする

採択人数：ポスドク研究枠と合わせて2名程度

その他詳細な応募資格については募集要項を確認すること。

応募方法

申請フォーム

申請者が、必要項目を入力し、下記の書類6点を添えて期限までに提出すること。

  1. カバーレター及びCV（経歴、実績や受賞歴、研究プロジェクトや研究成果等が記載されたもの、英文、書式自由）
  2. 研究内容の詳細・重要性或いは研究論文の概要（最後に将来の目標とキャリア志向に触れること、英文、A4用紙2～3ページ）
  3. 卒業（修了）証明書または卒業（修了）見込み証明書（共同研究枠の場合は不要）
  4. 直近の成績証明書
  5. 留学・研究先の合格証明書・レター、受入承諾書（応募時に既に合格・承諾を得ている場合。D.取得型の応募者は進学先決定後、合格証明書・レター、受入承諾書を速やかに京大コラボに提出するものとする。）
  6. 語学試験（TOEFL/IELTS等）のスコア票（コピー可、応募締切時の2年以内に発行されたもの）

 

推薦状提出フォーム

推薦状1通（指導教員等からのもの、様式自由。1～２ページ程度。）の作成、期日までの提出をを指導教員等に依頼すること。申請者本人からの提出は認めない。

 

応募期限

Ph.D.取得型　2026年9月30日（水）23時59分（米国ET）

研究型（ポスドク研究・共同研究）　2026年11月30日（月）23時59分（米国ET）

 

選考方法

選考は、京都大学工学部・工学研究科卒業生と京大コラボ職員からなる選考委員会にて行う。

一次書類選考合格者を対象に、応募締切の翌々月に二次面接選考を行う。

結果通知は応募締切の翌々月末までに、Eメールにて行う。