Support Programs

Support under the program "SPRING"

1.Major features of support

The Support for Pioneering Research Initiated by the Next Generation (SPRING) provides livelihood support, research funds, and support for career path formation to excellent students enrolled in Doctoral Degree Programs (Doctoral Degree Programs in the Graduate School of Medicine). This support program is designed for doctoral students to focus on their research activities to improve their research abilities as young researchers and seek for a variety of career paths after the completion of their Doctoral Degree Programs. Thus, SPRING aims to foster human resources who can contribute to creating "science and technology innovation" and improving the research abilities of YCU and Japan.

Note: "Data Thinking" refers not only to acquiring the basic knowledge of mathematics, statistics and computer processing necessary for appropriately understanding a flood of data around us, but also to the process that uses the abilities to think, judge and express oneself necessary for analyzing social phenomena with data and sophisticating decision-making by utilizing data, associating them with social values, and giving critical consideration.

2.Details of support

This support program provides financial support (livelihood support and research support) and career formation support to selected excellent doctoral students.
(1)Financial support (livelihood support and research support)

(a) Livelihood support: 2.2 million yen/year (200,000 yen/month in April and October and 180,000 yen/month in other months than April and October)

In the first year, livelihood support for April and May will be provided in a lump sum in May.

(b) Research grant: 300,000 yen/year

Notes:

- This support is provided for up to three years (up to four years for doctoral students enrolled in the Graduate School of Medical Life Science).

- For a student who exceeds the standard term of study, support will not be provided for that excess period even if it is within the support period.

(2) Career formation support

(a) Seminar for improving research ability, career path support lecture

(b) Research Presentation, student networking event

(d) Job-based research internship matching system

(e) C-ENGINE matching system (internship)

(f) Career paths, coordination for internships, personal interviews

(g) Travel expenses support for internships in Japan and abroad and study abroad

(h) Assistant Professor under Training: career support under this program (Doctoral Degree Program: career support)

3.Number of offers

Newly selected students: 15 students/year

FY2024: 31 students (15 newly selected students + 16 continuing students; the 16 continuing students were accepted under the Fellowship)
FY2025: 38 students (15 newly selected students + 23 continuing students; of the continuing students, eight students were accepted under the Fellowship)
FY2026: 45 students (15 newly selected students + 30 continuing students)

4.Application eligibility

• An individual who meets the following requirements:

(a) An individual whose research is interdisciplinary, has an international perspective and can be applied to industry through its social implementation

(b) An individual whose research is based on free, challenging ideas across disciplines

• An individual who is enrolled in YCU's graduate school as of April 1 of the relevant fiscal year and falls under the following:

A student who is in any year of the first to third year of a Doctoral Degree Program (the first to fourth year of a Doctoral Degree Program in the Graduate School of Medicine)

• An individual who does not fall under any of the following items as of April 1 of the relevant fiscal year:

(a) An individual whose research has been adopted by YCU's "Fellowship for Innovative Students with Data Thinking"

(b) An individual who is a Doctoral Course (DC) research fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)

(d) A DC research fellow of JSPS who is a government-sponsored foreign student or has received a scholarship from his/her home country

(e) An individual who exceeds the standard term of study

(f) An individual who is on leave from university

5.Responsibilities of students receiving support

Students who participate in this support program have the following responsibilities:

Pursue research activities in compliance with YCU's research policy, the Public University Corporation Yokohama City University Regulations on Prevention of Research Misconduct and Misappropriation of Research Funds and other relevant regulations, and endeavor to gain a degree within the term of study
Contribute to Japan's science and technology innovation, for example, by creating innovation while in school or after completion and thereby contributing to strengthening Japan's international competitiveness
Report on the progress of research activities in every quarter and give a presentation at the Research Presentation, which is held once a year
Take career development support lectures, etc. that include taking data thinking-related courses
Participate in study abroad programs, or internship programs at companies, research institutes, etc. in Japan and abroad
Register on the Japan Graduates Database (JGRAD) operated by the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP) of the MEXT and cooperate with a follow-up survey on career after the completion of graduate school for more than 10 years
Cooperate with monitoring studies conducted on students by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), a national research and development agency
During the support period, apply for Doctoral Course (DC) research fellowship of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and endeavor to be accepted as a research fellow
Cooperate with other activities under SPRING

6.Suspension or stop of support

If a student receiving support falls under any of the following items, support may be suspended or stopped.

(1) When it is found that a student falls under any of the conditions set forth in (3) of "4. Application eligibility"

(2) When a student is removed from the university or placed on suspension

(3) When a student takes a leave of absence from school or repeats the same year

(4) When the Selection Committee finds a student to be violating relevant regulations or inappropriate as a student receiving support

Note: In the case of (3) above, the support period may be suspended or extended for up to two years with due consideration of the student's situation, if it is due to studying abroad, childbirth, child rearing, or other life events.