Vulcanus in Japan is an eight-month training programme from the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation that places students of engineering, science, technology and mathematics in Japanese companies. The 2027-2028 session runs from 1 August 2027 to 31 March 2028, offers up to €9,200 per student with host-company accommodation, and accepts applications until 20 January 2027 (23:00 CET). At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the call, the application guide and the FAQ to bring together everything applicants need to know.
What Is Vulcanus in Japan?
Vulcanus in Japan started in 1997. It offers training and industrial placement opportunities with companies in Japan to students in engineering or fields related to science, technology and mathematics. Participants come from countries of the European Union or countries associated with the Single Market Programme (SME pillar) and are enrolled at a university in one of those countries. It is a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Japanese Government, run by the EU-Japan Centre.
The 2027-2028 session starts in August 2027 and ends in March 2028, for a total duration of 8 months.
The Three Parts of the Programme
🏫 A seminar on Japan.
🈶 A two-month intensive Japanese language course in Tokyo.
🏭 A six-month traineeship in a company based in Japan.
The seminar and the language course are compulsory. The traineeship takes place at the host company's location, which varies widely from one placement to another.
Programme 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 eight-month experience abroad.
🤝 To be well placed in your future career to interact with Japanese businesses and people.
Funding: Who Pays for What
💶 The EU-Japan Centre covers the costs directly related to the traineeship: the lectures on Japan and the Japanese language course.
🏠 The host company provides accommodation throughout the entire stay in Japan. It is a personal room in a company dormitory, and guests are not accepted.
🎓 A maximum of €9,200 in total is given per student for the period from August to March.
💼 Of this, €8,200 is given for participation in the traineeship and its compulsory activities.
👥 An additional €1,000 goes to each student who takes part in the optional "Eyes on Japan" assignment, carried out as group work.
🩺 The grant amount includes insurance coverage for the duration of the stay in Japan.
The grant is calculated pro rata from the date you land in Japan, is normally paid in Yen and is paid in several instalments. It is meant to cover living costs and partly supports travel and personal insurance. You buy your own return flight, and all participants enter Japan on the same day, which is announced by e-mail. Paid work is not possible with the visa provided, so savings are needed for trips and extra activities.
A deposit of €200 is requested only after a company accepts you, at the request of the EU-Japan Centre. It is refunded in spring 2028 once the programme is fully completed, and it is lost if you withdraw.
Who Can Apply
To be eligible you must:
🛂 Be a citizen of an EU Member State or of a country associated to the Single Market Programme (SME pillar).
🎓 Be registered as a student at a university based in the EU or in a country associated with the Single Market Programme (SME pillar).
⚙️ Be a student in engineering or a field related to science, technology or mathematics.
📚 Be enrolled at a university between the fourth official year of studies and the last year of a PhD at the time of applying.
📜 Be enrolled at a university at least until late June of the departure year, and be able to provide a certificate of enrolment valid until at least late June 2027.
🗓️ Be able to take part in the entire programme, which means dedicating a minimum of 8 months to it.
🗣️ Be able to communicate fluently in English.
Fields given as examples are computer science, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electronics, biotechnology, electrical engineering, physics, telecommunication, nuclear engineering, civil engineering, production systems (for example metal and ceramics) and global navigation satellite systems.
The application form counts official years of study in total, including the current year, and requires at least 4. For example, 3 years of bachelor's, 2 years of master's and the first year of a PhD make 6 years, even if the current year is not yet over.
Which Countries Are Covered
Applicants must be citizens of, and enrolled in a university in, an EU Member State or a country associated to the Single Market Programme (SME pillar). The EU-Japan Centre points to the European Commission's list of third-country participation in the Single Market Programme and asks applicants to refer only to countries listed under the COSME strand or the "Competitiveness of SMEs" strand, for which the agreement is signed and in force by the application deadline.
🇪🇺 EU Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
🧊 EFTA and EEA countries: Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
🏔️ Associated countries listed for the Competitiveness of SMEs strand: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Moldova and Ukraine.
Language and Experience Preferences
Japanese is not required. Priority is given to applicants who have no experience in a Japanese company and whose knowledge of Japanese is not at native speaker level. Native speakers or equivalent are only selected if no other candidates are compatible with certain internship offers. There is no age limit, although companies almost always select candidates between 22 and 29 years old.
Important Rules to Know Before Applying
🎓 If your graduation falls within the programme (end of July 2027 to the end of March 2028), your graduation must be postponed until after the programme. You cannot fly back to Europe for a few days to graduate.
📖 The traineeship work cannot be included in your university thesis or equivalent.
🗓️ The programme is not flexible: all participants start and finish on the same dates. A late start, a different timeframe or a shorter 4-month placement is not possible, and the grant is only for official Vulcanus participants.
👥 Matches are individual, and there is no guarantee that friends who apply together will be placed in the same city.
💑 Accommodation is strictly personal, so a partner cannot stay with you in company housing, and the programme cannot help with a partner's visa.
💭 The programme can be stressful at times because of loneliness, cultural differences and work pressure, so consider carefully whether you can deal with the challenges before applying.
Dates and Timeline
📅 30 October 2026: applications open.
⏳ 20 January 2027 (23:00 CET): application deadline, and later applications are not accepted.
📋 Mid-December 2026: the list of available placements (VJ27 LOP) is published on the programme page, and it can be updated in the first weeks of January.
📨 February 2027: the shortlist is announced (end of February or early March).
🤝 From early March 2027: matchmaking with Japanese companies starts. Most companies answer by the end of April, and matching is finished by early June 2027.
💶 1 March to 1 June 2027: the commitment period stated in the application form.
💻 June or July 2027: a compulsory online preparation meeting.
🛫 1 August 2027 to 31 March 2028: the programme in Japan.
Selection Process
Applications go through a pre-selection by an external selection board with EU-Japan Centre staff and engineers, and then Japanese host companies make the final choice. The shortlist contains a maximum of 6 times the expected number of participants.
🧮 Quality of the application: adaptability and resilience to experience abroad.
📊 Academic career and records, including regularity in studies, and the grades obtained at university.
🗾 Interest in an industrial experience in Japan, and towards Japan and EU-Japan relations.
✍️ Quality of the motivation letter.
🧑🏫 Quality of the recommendation letter (tutor references).
✅ Overall accuracy of the application.
🔗 Compatibility level with one or more internship offers from a host company in Japan.
Extra points based on compatibility level are given to candidates who match traineeship offers with which no top-scored applicants are compatible, and these candidates cannot apply to a different traineeship once shortlisted. When application quality is equal, the underrepresentation of a country or gender in the cohort can be considered. Japanese host companies have the final say: they select the candidate who best matches their internship position from the shortlisted applicants.
Matchmaking works on a first come, first served basis. Only the companies that accept an applicant first guarantee that person's participation, and matching ends once the budgeted number of places is reached. Shortlisted candidates should check their e-mail regularly and answer quickly.
Numbers and Host Companies
📈 The 2027-2028 session will welcome a maximum of 28 students.
👥 About 699 students applied last year.
🏭 Companies apply directly to the EU-Japan Centre, so students do not find the company themselves.
🏢 Past host companies include Toyota, Bosch Automotive Systems (Japan), Asial Corporation, Alps Electric, Honda, Hitachi, Dai Nippon Printing, NTT Data, Toshiba, Asahi Kasei, Canon, NTT, Sanyo Electric and Fujitsu.
What Past Participants Say
Sarah Mougharbel (France), who trained at Fujitsu Lab Ltd., describes a year in which every second was a mental, social and cultural stimulation. Madalina Iovanica (Romania), who trained at Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, applied expecting to improve her professional skills and stimulate her personal growth, and says that is what happened. The programme page also lists alumni videos from participants from the Netherlands, Croatia, North Macedonia, Türkiye, Portugal, Hungary, Germany and the UK.
The 7 Compulsory Application Documents
All documents are submitted as PDF files.
📝 Application form: a 5-page Word form with every section completed, dated and signed. Forms that are unsigned or incomplete are automatically rejected, and handwritten or electronic signatures are accepted.
📄 CV: a maximum of 1 page, in English, with gender, full name as in the passport, nationality, date of birth, phone number with country code, e-mail, postal address and relevant work and education experience.
✉️ Motivation letter: a maximum of 1 page in font size 12, covering your academic background, your general reasons (why Vulcanus, why Japan, personality fit, contribution to your development) and specific goals for each part of the programme (seminar, language course and traineeship).
🧑🏫 Recommendation letter: from a professor of one of your main courses, with a maximum of 1 letter, signature and date, contact details and a stamp if possible, in English.
🎓 Transcript of records: all university records from the bachelor's level, each level as a separate file, with the most recent course at the top and your name, surname, university and faculty visible.
🧮 Grading systems document: the scale, highest and lowest grade, passing grade and average grade, for every university you attended.
🏫 Proof of enrolment: an enrolment certificate on letterhead, or an official letter from the university administration, confirming enrolment for the whole 2026/2027 academic year.
Documents not in English should be provided in the national language of an EU or Single Market Programme country together with your own English translation. Start preparing the documents at least 2 weeks before the deadline, because the process takes time.
How to Apply Step by Step
The application has two steps: the dedicated Word form (first step) and the webform (second step). Fill in the Word form first, because the webform must contain the same information.
🗂️ Save the 7 PDF files with a number and a name, for example "1-application form", and put them in one folder.
🏷️ Name the folder with the country code of your university, your surname in capital letters and your first name as in your passport.
☁️ Upload the folder to Dropbox, create a direct-access link and paste it into the online form. Links to single PDFs are not accepted, no password may be set, and the link must stay active until July 2027.
🌐 Complete the online form in English in one go. Only one submission is allowed, and a second submission leads to disqualification.
📬 An automatic confirmation e-mail arrives after submission, and a second confirmation e-mail arrives at the latest by 4 February. If it does not, write to the programme e-mail by 5 February and check your spam folder.
Do not send your CV by e-mail for a pre-check, because it will not be read. If you have a conflict of interest, report it by e-mail to the Vulcanus management at the programme address.
Tips for a Strong Application
✍️ The programme does not recommend using artificial intelligence for the motivation letter, because it is easy to spot and leaves a bad impression on the board. Our guides on writing a scholarship motivation letter and using AI for a motivation letter cover the common traps.
🗓️ Prepare the documents at least 2 weeks before the deadline.
📋 Fill in the Word form first and copy the same information into the webform.
📧 After shortlisting, a targeted motivation letter addressed to a company is requested before matchmaking, so keep your documents ready.
Browse all opportunities in the Others category on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do Vulcanus in Japan participants receive?
Up to €9,200 per student for August to March: €8,200 for the traineeship and its compulsory activities, plus €1,000 for the optional "Eyes on Japan" group assignment. The amount includes insurance coverage during the stay, and the host company provides accommodation.
What is the deadline for Vulcanus in Japan 2027-2028?
The deadline is 20 January 2027 at 23:00 CET. Applications opened on 30 October 2026, and later applications are not accepted.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
No. Fluent English is required, and a two-month intensive Japanese course in Tokyo is part of the programme. Applicants whose Japanese is not at native speaker level are given priority.
Can I find the Japanese company myself?
No. Companies apply directly to the EU-Japan Centre, and after the shortlist the Centre gives each candidate details of the most suitable offer and the full list of internships. The company that accepts you first confirms your participation.
Can I use my traineeship for my university thesis?
No. The traineeship work cannot be included in a university thesis or equivalent.
Is there an age limit?
There is no age limit, but companies almost always select candidates aged 22 to 29.
Can I start later or join for a shorter time?
No. All participants start and finish on the same dates, and a late start, a different timeframe or a 4-month placement is not possible.
Deadline
⏳ 20 January 2027
Links
🔗 Programme page: https://www.eu-japan.eu/events/vulcanus-japan
📝 Application form (Word, step 1): https://www.eu-japan.eu/sites/default/files/imce/vulcanus_japan/VJ27-AF.doc
🌐 Online application form (step 2): https://forms.gle/oSzVCocPjdPqBsNGA
📖 How to apply (PDF): https://www.eu-japan.eu/sites/default/files/imce/vulcanus_japan/VJ27-HOW-TO-APPLY.pdf
❓ Frequently asked questions (PDF): https://www.eu-japan.eu/sites/default/files/imce/vulcanus_japan/VJ27_FAQ.pdf
🧮 Selection process (PDF): https://www.eu-japan.eu/sites/default/files/imce/vulcanus_japan/VJ27_sel_process-hyperlink-to-main-web-text.pdf
🇪🇺 Single Market Programme third-country participation list: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/smp/guidance/list-3rd-country-participation_smp_en.pdf
📧 Questions (students, e-mail only): VulcinJapan@eu-japan.eu
🏭 Industrial placement abroad if not eligible: https://www.iaeste.org/
