How to Apply for NIMS-GRA: Get Paid to Do Your Master’s or PhD in Japan

Imagine doing your Master’s or PhD in Japan, conducting research at world-class facilities, presenting at international conferences — and still receiving a monthly salary. Not a scholarship. An actual salary as a researcher.

That’s exactly what the NIMS Graduate Research Assistantship (NIMS-GRA) offers — and it’s a program that’s almost completely unknown outside Japan.

I went through this program for 5 full years (2 years Master’s + 3 years PhD), and in this article I’ll cover everything: what NIMS-GRA is, the pros and cons, and the step-by-step application process.

What is NIMS-GRA?

NIMS-GRA is a program run by the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) — one of Japan’s largest materials research institutes. The program allows you to pursue a Master’s or PhD at a partner university such as University of Tsukuba, Hokkaido University, or Kyushu University, while simultaneously working as a researcher at NIMS and receiving a monthly salary.

In short: you earn an academic degree from the university, while gaining real research experience and income from NIMS.

Since I went through the NIMS–University of Tsukuba collaboration, everything I share here is based on my Tsukuba experience. Other partner universities may differ slightly in process.

Pros and Cons — Honest Assessment After 5 Years

✅ Pros

• World-class research facilities — NIMS has equipment that most universities simply don’t have
• International conference experience — you’re actively encouraged to present abroad
• Q1 journal publications — the research standards are high, and the results match
• Independent researcher training — you learn to think and work autonomously
• Monthly salary — no stress about living costs day-to-day
• Global network — NIMS is highly international; you’ll meet researchers from all over the world

❌ Cons

• High research demands — this is not a relaxed program; expectations match those of a professional researcher
• Long hours — especially around paper deadlines or conference submissions
• High taxes — because your annual income exceeds certain thresholds, the tax deductions are noticeable
• Expensive health insurance — calculated based on annual salary, so higher than regular student rates

Application Timeline

Before getting into the steps, here’s the big-picture timeline so you can plan well in advance:

Key takeaway: if you want to start in April next year, you need to begin the NIMS-GRA application in April–May of this year — almost a full year ahead.

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Step 1 — Contact a Potential Supervisor

This is the most important first step: find a supervisor whose research aligns with your interests.

You can browse the faculty list and their research topics on the official NIMS website. Once you find a good match, send an introduction email covering:

• A brief introduction about yourself
• The research topic you’re interested in
• Why you want to join NIMS-GRA
• A question about whether they’re currently accepting new students

After sending, wait for a reply. If you don’t hear back within 1–2 weeks, it’s perfectly fine to follow up once.

Step 2 — Submit the NIMS-GRA Application (April–May)

Once you have confirmation from a potential supervisor, start preparing your documents. Make sure everything is ready before April:

Required documents:

• Application form (from the NIMS website)
• CV
• Academic transcript
• English proficiency certificate (TOEFL iBT, TOEIC L&R, or IELTS)
• Recommendation letter from a previous supervisor

On the recommendation letter — I’m not sure how much weight it carries in the selection, but it’s strongly advisable to request one from your thesis supervisor or whoever knows your academic ability best.

About the Travel Grant — this is important!

The application form includes a Travel Grant option — this covers a round-trip flight between your home country and Japan, hotel accommodation, and airport-to-Tsukuba transportation for attending the entrance exam in person.

My advice: apply for the Travel Grant. If you don’t receive it, you can opt for not attending in person. But if you have to pay out of pocket, the cost can be significant.

When I applied, I made it clear to my potential supervisor that I would not attend the exam in person without the Travel Grant. This is a completely reasonable position and can be stated politely.

Step 3 — Informal Interview

Some time after submitting your application, you’ll be invited to an informal interview with your potential supervisor.

Relax — this is not a technical exam. The atmosphere is casual and the purpose is simply to verify the content of your application form. Based on my experience, the main topic was the Travel Grant — whether I was willing to come to Japan for the exam or not.

After the Interview: Screening Result

A few days after the interview, if you pass the document screening, you’ll receive an email from NIMS inviting you to apply to University of Tsukuba (Graduate School of Science and Technology — Applied Physics or Materials Science subprogram).

From here, the process continues to the University of Tsukuba entrance exam — which I cover in the next article.

Is NIMS-GRA Worth It?

In my opinion, yes — provided you’re serious about building a career in materials research or a related field.

This program isn’t for everyone. The demands are high, the hours are long, and you need to be mentally prepared for long-term research. But if you’re the type who enjoys intellectual challenges, the payoff is substantial — international publications, a global network, and experience that’s genuinely hard to find elsewhere.

If you have specific questions about NIMS-GRA, feel free to contact me directly.