WHAT IS IT?

Vulcanus in Japan started in 1997. The programme consists of industrial placements for  students in engineering or other scientific fields. It is open to EU nationals and to citizens of SMP associated countries *. It starts in August and ends in March of the following year.

The students follow:

• a seminar on Japan,
• a two-month intensive Japanese language course,
• and then a six-month traineeship in a Japanese company.

OBJECTIVES

• To study the range of advanced technologies employed by a leading Japanese host company.
• To learn Japanese and to understand and appreciate Japanese culture with a view to an enriching one year experience abroad.
• To be well placed in your future career to interact with Japanese businesses and people.

WHO PAYS WHAT

The EU-Japan Centre covers costs directly related to the internship: costs for providing lectures on Japan and Japanese language course.

The host company provides accommodation throughout the entire stay in Japan.

Students will also benefit from a pro-rata grant that is expected to be around € 8200 (in principle to be paid in Yen), to partially support the cost of travel to and from Japan, personal insurance and living expenses in Japan. The grant will be split into several instalments.

(In case of partial remote attendance of the programme from Europe, due to entry bans, conditions will be informed later on).

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE?

You must be:

• citizen of an EU Member-State or a country associated with the Single Market Programme, SME Pillar*.

• a student of engineering or of other scientific field **, enrolled at university in the EU or in a country associated with the Signle Market Programme, SME Pillar. Enrolled – at the  moment of application – in between the 4^th official year of university studies (3 undergraduate + 1) and the penultimate year of PhD.

• able to provide a certificate of enrollment at the university valid until at least 1 month prior to the starting of the programme (please note that you cannot complete your cycle of studies before June)

(*) Non EU? Then you must be a citizen of a country associated with the Single Market Programme, SME Pillar. Please check the status of your country here (please refer only to countries listed under the “COSME strand” or to countries participating in the “Competitiveness of SMEs” strand and for which the agreement is signed and entered into force by the 'Vulcanus in Japan' application deadline).

(**) Computer science, mechanical engineering, chemical, electronics, biotechnology, electrical engineering, physics, telecommunication, nuclear engineering, civil engineering, metal materials, ceramics, production system, GNSS, etc. (this programme does not cover non scientific studies)

SELECTION CRITERIA

Applicants are short-listed on the basis of their academic record and the opinion of their tutors, their knowledge of written and spoken English, their motivation, their attitude to EU-Japan relations and their ability to adapt to a different culture. The final say lies in the hands of the Japanese host companies. (for more information: click here)

DATES OF THE CALL

Session: AUG 2025 - MAR 2026 -->  indicative opening date: 4 November 2024 / DEADLINE to apply: 20 January 2025

HOW TO APPLY 

What documents should you submit? How should you apply? 

Please read the documents available in the box on the left of this webpage, headed "Vulcanus documents". 

The application form for session 2025-2026 will be available online starting from about 4 November 2024.

Before applying, please read our Privacy Policy 

TESTIMONIALS FROM FORMER PARTICIPANTS

	Ms Sarah MOUGHARBEL (FR)  VinJ Trainee at Fujitsu Lab Ltd. "Taking part in the Vulcanus in Japan program has allowed me to spend a year during which every second was a mental, social and cultural stimulation" Read more
	Ms Madalina IOVANICA (RO) VinJ Trainee at Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation  "I applied for Vulcanus in Japan with the mindset that the program would, for sure substantially, improve my professional skills and stimulate my personal growth. And so it happened." Read more