Vulcanus in Japan is a training programme offering industrial placements for master’s students in engineering, high technology and other scientific fields.
The programme is open to EU nationals and citizens of SMP-associated countries and lasts 8 months, from August 2026 to March 2027, during which the student will be offered:
- A seminar on Japan
- A two-month intensive Japanese language course
- A six-month traineeship in a company based in Japan
The objectives of this programme are to get acquainted with the range of advanced technologies employed by a leading Japanese host company, learn Japanese, appreciate Japanese culture to achieve an enriching experience abroad, and be well placed in a future career to interact with Japanese businesses and people.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible for this programme, applicants must be:
- An EU national or a citizen of an SMP-associated country
- A Master’s student or PhD candidate
- Registered at VU Amsterdam until at least June 2026
- Enrolled in engineering (mechanical, chemical, electrical, civil, nuclear) or other scientific fields (AI, computer science, GNSS, electronics, biotechnology, physics, telecommunication, materials science, production systems, global navigation satellite systems)
- Able to participate in the entire programme (minimum 8 months)
Who pays what?
The EU-Japan Center will cover costs for providing lectures on Japan and Japanese language courses (compulsory activities).
The host company will provide accommodation throughout the entire stay in Japan.
A maximum of €9200 (paid in JPY) will be given in total: €8200 for participation in the traineeship and its compulsory activities and an additional €1000 for students who participate in an optional ‘Eyes on Japan’ group work assignment.
The grant amount includes insurance coverage for the duration of stay in Japan.
Confirm your interest in the programme
Are you interested in this unique opportunity? Our team within International Relations will be pre-screening VU students to prepare a shortlist of top candidates to be promoted to the Vulcanus team.
Please fill out this Google Form to confirm your eligibility and to be considered for the shortlist of candidates. The deadline for this is Thursday, 27 November 2025.
If you have any questions, please email both Gagan Kaur (g.kaur@vu.nl) and Maya Allister (m.allister@vu.nl).