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The Sasakawa Young Leaders Scholarship Fund (Sylff)

The Ryoichi Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund is a global fellowship program launched by The Nippon Foundation in 1987 with the purpose of cultivating and nurturing social leaders by supporting students pursuing graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities. It is an outgrowth of the

philanthropic activities of the late Ryoichi Sasakawa, the founder of The Nippon Foundation. To date, endowments of $1 million each have been presented to 69 universities and consortia in 44 countries.

• Mission

The Sylff programme’s mission is to identify and nurture leaders who will initiate action to transcend differences in nationality, language, ethnicity, religion, and political systems and who have the integrity, determination, and expertise to bring about positive social change in global society and the local community.

• Philosophy

The Sylff programme seeks to develop socially engaged leaders committed to contributing to the happiness and well-being of others. Sylff fellows respect viewpoints that differ from their own and dedicate themselves to promoting justice and understanding—helping doors that had been closed open to new opportunities and a better future. Academic excellence is an important criterion for selection, but even more critical is a desire to apply one’s research achievements and expertise in addressing pressing social issues.

University of Oslo Sylff Scholarships

The University of Oslo Sasakawa Young Leaders Scholarship Fund was established in 1988. Funds of up to NOK 50 000 per applicant may be applied for to contribute to cover costs related to a research stay abroad for selected UiO PhD candidates within the areas of Humanities, Social Sciences, Law, Education and Theology. Scholarships are offered twice annually, through calls at Unifor.

In line with the SYLFF mission and philosophy, UiO applicants are expected to reflect on how their academic work, research interests, and future ambitions relate to broader societal challenges and contribute to positive social change. This may be demonstrated in different ways, including through research focus, societal relevance, and future ambitions, as well as through prior activities or roles.

Sylff call spring 2026

The call will open for proposals on 1 February 2026. Please note that this call is open to PhD candidates only. Applications must be submitted through Unifor's application portal by the call deadline, 15 March.

Funding

The funding must be used in accordance with the purpose of the Fund and the approved application. The Fund only provides support for documented additional expenses incurred during research stays abroad.

Eligible expenses include:

• Travel expenses to and from the research destination, such as flights, train tickets, etc.
• Accommodation, including hotel stays, apartment rentals, or accommodation at research institutions.
• Expenses for necessary research tools, supplies, software, or books.
• Registration fees for relevant academic conferences, workshops, or courses.
• Costs for obtaining necessary research visas or permits.
• Health or travel insurance required for the duration of the stay.

All expenses must be documented with receipts or equivalent vouchers. Funds that cannot be properly documented may be reclaimed by the Fund. Any surplus or funds used outside the intended purpose of the research stay will also be reclaimed.

Applied funding must be used for activities taking place before submission of the PhD thesis. Expenses related to activities that have already been completed cannot be covered.

Eligibility criteria 

Sylff is intended for candidates currently involved in a PhD programme at UiO.

An applicant cannot be granted Sylff funding more than three times.

Application requirements

Applications must be submitted in English and contain the following:

• A motivation letter that reflects on how your research interests and proposed activities relate to the mission and philosophy of Sylff. Applicants who have applied before are required to submit an updated version.
• CV that highlights your academic qualifications, and where applicable, examples of leadership and social engagement.
• Concise description of the research project, outlining how the international research activities and the funds will support the project’s objectives, and how the project relates to and is relevant to the Sylff programme. Max. 5 pages. For previous applicants: must be updated.
• A realistic budget not exceeding NOK 50 000, broken down by expense category with concise reasons for each item.
• A recommendation letter from your supervisor. Previous applicants are required to submit an updated recommendation written by their current supervisor.
• A host institution’s formal confirmation of admission or a letter confirming an arranged visit, where relevant.
• Statement of willingness to identify as a UiO Sylff Fellow and to participate in building UiO’s Sylff Fellows Network during and after the funding period.

Assessment and funding decision

The UiO Sylff Steering Committee will evaluate each application in its entirety, giving weight to its fit with the SYLFF mission and philosophy, the academic quality of the proposal, and the applicant’s demonstrated or potential leadership and engagement with society.

Following the Committee’s assessment, the UNIFOR Board will review the recommendation and issue the final decision on funding.

Reporting

Allocated funds must be used in accordance with the submitted application. Reporting is required within one year of allocation.

Sylff Fellows 

Successful applicants become Sylff Fellows. Sylff Fellows are eligible to apply to Sylff Support programs aiming to facilitate Sylff fellows’ academic advancement, leadership development and networking among one another. Sylff Fellows may apply directly through the Tokyo Foundation.

More information about the call and frequently asked questions can be found on the UiO website.

More information about Sylff is available on the Sylff official website.

The current application deadline is 15 March.

Applicants are notified about the outcome in May.

Important about submission

Please note that some institutional networks may have firewalls that block UNIFOR’s application system.

If you experience problems with submission, we recommend that you:

• Try using another browser (e.g., Chrome or Firefox)
• Use a different device or network (for example, from home)
• Once the application has been submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation by e-mail.

You can also log in to check your application status:

• “Saved” = Not submitted
• “Submitted” = The application has been received

In case of technical problems:

Contact UNIFOR at unifor@unifor.no or by phone at (+47) 940 85 804 during office hours.

Please note: We cannot guarantee assistance if you contact us very close to the deadline. We recommend submitting your application well in advance.

In case of allocation

Allocated funds must be used in accordance with the submitted application. Reporting is required within one year of allocation and must include:

• A brief project description and account of how the funds have been used
• Financial documentation (e.g., general ledger report/SAP printout)

Please note:

• Funds not used in accordance with the purpose, or insufficiently documented, must be repaid
• Any surplus funds must also be returned to the foundation

Questions?

Contact UNIFOR:
unifor@unifor.no
(+47) 940 85 804