German-Japanese Fellowship Programme 2027

The programme offers up to three journalists from Japan and three from Germany the opportunity to participate in a two-month fellowship stay abroad in the respective host country.

The programme puts a strong focus on the challenges of geopolitics, economics, environment/energy/climate policy, and science. Therefore, applicants should demonstrate strong expertise in at least one of these fields. Furthermore, projects exploring demographic change, migration, or Germany’s role as a key stakeholder within the European Union are particularly encouraged.

About IJP
IJP, a non-profit organization based in Germany, has fostered international media exchange for over 40 years. Our bilateral exchange programmes allow freelance and staff journalists to experience a host country’s political, cultural, social, and media landscape firsthand as guest reporters. These various IJP fellowship programmes are supported by a network of foundations, private sponsors, and the German Foreign Office.
Please note that IJP is managed largely on a volunteer basis by individuals who all have a background in journalism. We ask all applicants to familiarize themselves thoroughly with our organization before applying at: https://ijp.org/en/

The fellowship

Timeframe: March 30th until May 30th 2027

The 2027 programme starts with a mandatory 3-day introductory meeting in Berlin (April 1st until April 3rd), where Japanese and German fellows will gather to prepare for their stay. These working days will include official visits, cultural coaching, practical insights for research in Germany and a decent amount of time to work on your research ideas together with your German counterparts, and vice-versa. A highly collaborative attitude is expected along with the desire to build a professional network before the group splits for their individual placements. A strong commitment to engage verbally with the group is expected.
A meeting with the German alumni of the Asia programme is also scheduled during this time frame.

Arrival in Berlin is recommended two days prior for a fresh and relaxed start of the fellowship (note: the weekend before is Easter – a public holiday). Please note that fellows are responsible for organizing their accommodation in Germany independently. We recommend consulting our Japanese alumni network for advice.

The German journalists will depart for Japan in mid-April for their two-month stay. This schedule allows fellows to network, exchange ideas, and support each other in their respective research projects. Following the orientation meeting, Japanese fellows will be placed at a German host media outlet, primarily in Berlin. This mandatory placement provides a home base for their work, offering insights into the German media landscape and access to a supportive network of German colleagues for their research. The host media placements will be organized in collaboration with the IJP office in Berlin and the programme manager. Additionally, fellows will be put in contact with Japanese alumni based in Japan and Berlin for guidance.

A closing conference will be held in Germany by the end of May for the Japanese fellows.

Successful applicants will receive a one-time payment of 4,500 Euro. The amount is intended to cover travel expenses, local living expenses, and qualified health insurance abroad. A personal contribution or support from your home media is expected, and no additional remuneration is provided for the work provided at the host media.

Commitment and obligation after the fellowship
Within four months (until October) of completing the programme, participants must submit their published journalistic work along with an illustrated personal report of at least five pages. These contributions will be included in a final printed programme documentation. Beyond the fellowship, all participants are invited to remain active members of the global IJP alumni network.

Application
Applications are open to all journalists between 28 and 40 years of age who work as freelancers or as permanent employees for Japanese media organizations. While knowledge of German is a plus, excellent English skills (oral and written) are mandatory and will be assessed during the selection process.
Application portfolio
To apply, please submit the following documents in ONE single PDF file by January 2nd, 2027:

• Curriculum Vitae, including a passport size picture.
• A letter of reference from the head of department or editor-in-chief (which also supports the application, ensures leave of absence for the duration of the fellowship, and serves as proof of your journalistic activity). A letter of intent to show the commitment to publish articles during and after the fellowship in relation to the research done in Germany/Europe is mandatory.
• Work samples: a list of links to relevant articles. For Japanese texts, please provide a translation of the headlines.
• A one-page motivation letter, explaining why you want to pursue a fellowship in Germany.
• An application video (max. 90 seconds, recorded by cell phone) in English, clearly outlining your motivation as well as your research project. Please include a link to this video in your application.
• A detailed research proposal (1-2 pages), outlining a specific research project. This is a prerequisite for a successful application; further research ideas might be just sketched briefly.

The final selection will be made without recourse to legal action by a jury based on the application documents and, if necessary, a Zoom selection interview.

Notifications of participation will be sent out latest by January 15th, 2027.

Application address
Please send inquiries (if necessary) and application to:
johns@ijp.org and cc: office@ijp.org
Attn: Ms Martina JOHNS/ Head Asia Department
Subject line: [your name] / Japan 2027

Good luck!

More Information: https://ijp.org/en/programmes/asia/