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The UTokyo Amgen Scholars Program 2027 gives round-trip airfare, accommodation in Tokyo and a stipend of JPY 280,000 for an eight-week biomedical research placement at the University of Tokyo, Japan. It also covers your trip to the Amgen Scholars Asia Symposium at Kyoto University.
It is for undergraduate students at universities in Asia. About 10 students are selected.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host country | Japan (University of Tokyo) |
| Organisation | University of Tokyo with the Amgen Foundation |
| Dates | 3 June to 30 July 2027 in Tokyo, then symposium in Kyoto 3 to 5 August 2027 |
| Places | About 10 |
| Funding | Round-trip airfare, accommodation, JPY 280,000 stipend, symposium costs |
| Who can apply | Undergraduates at universities in Asia, after first year |
| English | TOEFL iBT 72, IELTS 5.5 or an English-taught degree |
| Application fee | None mentioned |
| Deadline | 1 February 2027, 3:00 PM Japan time |
What is the UTokyo Amgen Scholars Program?
The Amgen Scholars Program is funded by the Amgen Foundation and runs at top universities in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Australia. The University of Tokyo has hosted it since 2015.
You work full time in a UTokyo lab for eight weeks, from 3 June to 30 July 2027, on a project in biology or a related science. Then you travel to Kyoto for the Amgen Scholars Asia Symposium from 3 to 5 August 2027, where you meet scholars from other host universities and present your work. The programme also includes online Japanese classes, excursions, cultural events and access to UTokyo libraries and sports facilities.
What you get
- Round-trip airfare between the city of your home university and Tokyo, by the most direct economical route
- Accommodation in a residence near the Hongo or Yayoi campus for the whole programme
- A stipend of JPY 280,000 for meals, personal costs and local transport
- Your costs for the Amgen Scholars Asia Symposium at Kyoto University
- An extra transport allowance if your lab is on another campus
You need your own private health and travel insurance. The programme does not provide it.
Research projects
Projects come from UTokyo’s Graduate Schools of Medicine, Engineering, Science, Agricultural and Life Sciences, and Arts and Sciences, plus the Institute of Industrial Science and the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology. Topics include neuroscience, immunology, virology, gene editing, plant biology, bioengineering and imaging. You can choose only one project.
Who can apply
- Undergraduate students at a university in Asia that awards a bachelor’s degree
- You have finished at least your first year by the time the programme starts
- You are not graduating before the programme, and you will study at least one more semester after it
- A strong academic record
- Good English
- An interest in doing a PhD
Which countries count as Asia?
The programme uses the United Nations list of Asian countries. That includes South Asia (such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka), Western Asia (such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Türkiye, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon), Central Asia, South-East Asia and East Asia. What matters is where your university is, not your passport.
If your university is in Africa, Europe or the Americas, these research programmes accept students from abroad: Summer@EPFL, EPFL Life Sciences Summer Research and KAUST VSRP.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?
Not always. If English is your first language, or your degree is taught mainly in English, a letter or official page from your university confirming this is enough. Otherwise you need one of these: TOEFL iBT 72, IELTS 5.5, Cambridge English FCE, TOEIC 1,095, TOEIC Listening and Reading 785, or TOEIC Speaking and Writing 310. TOEFL ITP is not accepted.
Is there an application fee?
No application fee is mentioned.
Required documents
- Your most recent academic transcript in English
- A certificate of enrolment from your university
- Proof of English, as above
- A one-page CV
- Two recommendation letters, one from a faculty member at your current university
- A statement of purpose and a questionnaire, filled in online
How to write your statement of purpose
- Say why the project you chose fits what you have studied and done so far.
- Show that you are thinking about a PhD and how this summer helps.
- Use your own words. UTokyo asks applicants not to rely on AI tools to write their essays.
- Don’t contact the host professors or labs. The programme asks applicants not to.
Our guides on writing a motivation letter and asking a professor for a recommendation letter will help.
How to apply, step by step
- Read the official UTokyo Amgen page and choose one project.
- Create an account on The Admissions Office (TAO) system, using your name exactly as it is on your passport.
- Start the UTokyo Amgen Scholars Program application on TAO.
- Nominate your two recommenders early. The system won’t let you submit until both letters are in.
- Upload your documents as PDFs that are not password-protected.
- Submit before 1 February 2027, 3:00 PM Japan time. You can’t change anything after you submit.
Selection process
UTokyo reviews applications after the deadline and announces results in middle to late March 2027. It does not give feedback on decisions.
Deadline
Deadline: 1 February 2027, 3:00 PM Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
Late applications are not accepted. Ask your recommenders now, as they need time to upload their letters.
Have a question?
Ask in the comments and we’ll help where we can.
Related reading
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