Scholarships and Fellowships for Global Ocean Issues
Almost daily, we receive queries about obtaining scholarship funding from The Nippon Foundation. While we do not conduct scholarship or fellowship programs on our own, we do fund several programs through different organizations. Some of those that we support in the maritime field are listed below.
Founded in 1983 by the International Maritime Organization and headquartered in Malmö, Sweden, World Maritime University (WMU) offers advanced education and training tailored for maritime professionals, with a particular emphasis on candidates from developing countries. The fellowship aims to cultivate maritime and ocean professionals primarily from developing countries, specializing in maritime law, policy, safety, and environmental management, to name a few. Each year, up to 35 fellows are selected to participate in the 14-month master’s program at WMU.
Fields
Maritime affairs, maritime education and training, maritime environmental management, maritime law and policy, maritime safety, ocean governance, port management, shipping management and logistics
Annual Funding
Approx. JPY 300 million
Duration of fellowship
14 months
Number of fellowships awarded annually
35
What the fellowship covers
Tuition, accommodation, living expenses, travel fees
The Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (POGO) was founded in 1999 by directors of oceanographic institutions around the world as a forum to promote and advance the observation of the global ocean. POGO is a UK-registered charity with member institutions from around the world, and works closely with other international and regional programs and organizations.
Fields
Oceanography, ocean science
Annual Funding
EUR 3,740,300 (as of 2024)
Duration of fellowship
9 months
Number of fellowships awarded annually
10
What the fellowship covers
Tuition, accommodation, stipends, travel fees, etc.
Established in 1988 in Malta by the International Maritime Organization, the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) offers specialized education and training in international maritime law, with a focus on developing countries. IMLI’s mission is to enhance global capacity for safe, secure, environmentally sound, and sustainable shipping. The Institute trains legal experts in maritime law, focusing on drafting maritime legislation and implementing IMO regulations. The fellowship aims to promote the effective implementation of international maritime conventions and to encourage greater participation by developing countries. Each year, up to 15 fellows are selected to pursue post-graduate studies at IMLI.
Fields
Marine environmental law, international maritime security law, ocean governance, international maritime law
Annual Funding
EUR 8,639,500
Duration of fellowship
9 months
Number of fellowships awarded annually
15
What the fellowship covers
Tuition, accommodation, stipends, travel fees, etc.
The General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) series plotting the world’s sea floors was initially started in 1903 under the leadership of Prince Albert I of Monaco. Currently, the work continues through the collaborative efforts of IHO and UNESCO and is guided by the GEBCO Guiding Committee.
About six students are selected each year to participate in a one-year postgraduate course at the University of New Hampshire focusing on the creation of GEBCOs. Collaborative surveying projects conducted by graduates are also supported.
The United Nations – Nippon Foundation Capacity-building Programmes include a series of fellowships and training activities, as well as a vibrant Alumni Network. In partnership with, and funded by The Nippon Foundation, these programs are implemented by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations, in collaboration with The Nippon Foundation and host institutions.
Fields
Ocean governance, small island developing states
Annual Funding
USD 20,763,558 (as of 2024)
Duration of fellowship
9 months
Number of fellowships awarded annually
14
What the fellowship covers
Tuition, accommodation, stipends, travel fees, etc.
ITLOS – Nippon Foundation Capacity Building and Training Programme
Year fellowship established
2006
Organization
International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
Description
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea was inaugurated in 1996 under the precepts of UNCLOS as a permanent international judicial body.
About seven scholars, many from developing countries, receive advanced legal training in the peaceful resolution of international maritime disputes following the legal procedures under UNCLOS, and explore mechanisms for external negotiations among countries.
The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is an international organization established in 1921 under the IHO Convention. Its mission is to enhance the safety and ease of navigation worldwide by improving nautical charts and documents. The fellowship program aims to train fellows to gain sufficient skills and knowledge in the field of nautical charts and hydrographic charts, with the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office hosting the training program
Nippon Foundation Ocean Nexus was established in 2019 to advance the concept of ocean equity. The program was developed from the Neureus Program, a predecessor program of Ocean Nexus, to bring together scholars from around the globe to foster a new paradigm of ocean equity that prioritizes the perspectives of historically marginalized communities. The research programs are centered on exploring the interconnectedness of inequities unique to each ocean governance context. The program offers three types of full-time postdoctoral fellowships (research, policy, and innovation) at partnering institutes.
International Association of Maritime Universities (Japan)
Description
The International Association of Maritime Universities (IAMU) was established in November 1999 by seven universities from five continents. These founding members recognized the importance of maritime education and training during a time of rapid globalization in the shipping industry. Since then, the association has expanded, and as of 2023, it includes 74 member universities. Each year, fellowships are awarded to undergraduate students and faculty members from these universities.
Fields
Maritime education and training
Annual Funding
USD 2,630,500 (as of 2024)
Duration of fellowship
Student fellowship: Up to 24 months
Faculty fellowship: Up to 48 months
Number of fellowships awarded annually
Student fellowship: Up to 35
Faculty fellowship: Up to 4
What the fellowship covers
Student fellowship: Tuition
Faculty fellowship: Tuition, living expenses, travel fees
The Nippon Foundation – University of Edinburgh Ocean Voices
Year fellowship established
2021
Organization
University of Edinburgh
Description
Founded by The Nippon Foundation in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, the Ocean Voices program is designed to address global ocean challenges, with a focus on sustainable development and equitable ocean governance. The fellowship aims to support early-career researchers and professionals from ocean-dependent communities, particularly those in developing countries, in fields including marine science, policy, and diplomacy. Each year, a select number of fellows participate in tailored training programs and research initiatives, contributing to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
These projects have come to a close and are listed on this page for reference only.
NF-SIRC Fellowship
Year fellowship established
2004
Organization
Seafarers International Research Centre, Cardiff University (UK)
Description
Established in 1995, SIRC is part of the Cardiff University School of Social Sciences. With a view to conducting research on seafarers, it has a particular emphasis on issues of occupational health and safety from a social science perspective.
From 2004 to 2016, The Nippon Foundation offered fellowships to about three researchers each year to enter a 1-year master’s program followed by a 3-year PhD program.
Graduates mainly entered jobs at universities or research institutions addressing maritime affairs.
UBC has been one of Canada’s leading universities since its establishment in 1908. The Nereus Program is a joint project that attempts to predict what the world’s oceans will be like 50 years from now in a scientific and interdisciplinary manner. Nereus is not limited to UBC and The Nippon Foundation, but also features the participation of Princeton, Duke, Stockholm, Cambridge, and Utrecht universities. The program’s activities are not limited to academic research but also include public awareness-raising activities. Fellowships were given to researchers in doctorate programs jointly administered by the above universities, as well as post-doctorate researchers.
Fields
Interdisciplinary Scientific Prediction of the Future State of the World’s Oceans
