The United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) is a leading research and teaching institute based in Tokyo, Japan. Its mission is to advance efforts towards a more sustainable future, through policy-oriented research and capacity development focused on sustainability and its social, economic and environmental dimensions. UNU-IAS serves the international community through innovative contributions to high-level policymaking and debates, addressing priority issues for the UN system.
The PhD programme in Sustainability Science is a three-year programme that aims to produce scholars who will become key researchers in the field of sustainability science. The programme takes an innovative approach to sustainability, seeking to promote a better understanding of the issues by incorporating global change perspectives, specifically those related to climate change and biodiversity.
Requirements
- Applicants for the PhD in Sustainability Science are required to have met all of the following requirements by the application deadline in order to be considered:
- A strong interest in sustainability studies
- A demonstrated commitment to study and understand global issues
- A completed Master’s degree in disciplines related to sustainability studies
- A minimum of two years of practical field experience related to UNU-IAS research themes which was acquired after obtaining a university degree (full time equivalent)
- Or
- Two completed Master’s degree, at least one of which must be in a discipline related to sustainability studies
- A GPA of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale for at least one of the Master’s degree earned
- English language proficiency. The minimum score requirements for English language qualifications required by UNU-IAS are: (1) 600 of TOEFL – Paper-Based Testing; (2) 100 on TOEFL – Internet-Based Testing; (3) 7.0 on IELTS – Academic format
- Applicants whose native language is English
- Applicants who graduated from a university or a postgraduate school located in an English speaking country
- Applicants who completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree programme where the language of instruction and examination was English. In this case, an official statement from the academic institution will be required, confirming the use of English as the language of instruction and examination
The Japan Foundation for UNU-IAS scholarship provides a monthly allowance of 120,000 JPY for living expenses for a maximum of 36 months. However, travel costs to and from Japan, visa handling fees, and health/ accident insurance costs must be covered by the student. The tuition fees are fully waived for the scholarship recipients. To apply this scholarship, applicants:
- Must be from developing countries (included in the latest OECD DAC list) who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance
- Who are currently living in Japan under a working visa are not eligible for the scholarship
- Who want to purse a second PhD degree at UNU-IAS are not eligible for the scholarship
UNU-IAS requires online applications to be considered. During the admission selection process, outstanding applicants from developing countries with financial need will be automatically considered as candidates for the award of scholarships at UNU-IAS. Thus, no separate application is necessary. The application deadline for this scholarship is 10 April 2020, for further information, please kindly visit this Scholarship Link.