EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation
An eight-month industrial traineeship in Japan for European engineering and science students, run since 1997 by the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, a joint venture between the European Commission and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The programme combines a Japan seminar, a two-month intensive Japanese language course and a six-month traineeship in a Japanese host company, with placements in fields such as mechanical and electrical engineering, ICT, chemistry, biotechnology and life sciences. Applicants must be citizens of EU Member States or associated Single Market Programme countries, be studying engineering, computer science, mathematics or a related STEM field, be enrolled between their fourth year of study and the final year of a PhD, and communicate fluently in English. The EU-Japan Centre provides up to EUR 9,200 per student - EUR 8,200 for the traineeship and mandatory activities plus a EUR 1,000 bonus for the optional Eyes on Japan group assignment - along with insurance, while the host company provides accommodation for the whole stay. Places are capped at around 35 students, drawn from a large applicant pool.