Paid Research Internships at Institutes in Asia: RIKEN, KAUST and A*STAR
RIKEN in Japan, KAUST in Saudi Arabia and A*STAR in Singapore pay master's and PhD students for hands-on research internships. See who can apply, what they pay, and how to apply.
Why Research Institutes Pay for Interns
Several large public research institutes in Asia and the Gulf run their own paid internship programmes for students from outside their country. These programmes are not teaching internships. You join a real research group and work on an active project, usually under a named supervisor.
Three institutes with large, well-documented programmes are RIKEN in Japan, KAUST in Saudi Arabia, and A*STAR in Singapore. Each institute funds its own living costs and travel, and sometimes housing, so you do not need outside funding to take part.
RIKEN (Japan): International Program Associate
RIKEN is Japan's largest comprehensive research institute. Its International Program Associate (IPA) scheme is for doctoral candidates, not master's students. You stay enrolled in your PhD programme at your home university. You move to a RIKEN lab in Japan and do your PhD research there, under a RIKEN scientist's supervision.
- Eligibility: You must be a graduate student in a PhD programme at a university that has a joint graduate school agreement with RIKEN, or at a university that is setting one up. RIKEN lists partner universities in Japan and in many other countries, including China, Korea, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, the UK, Germany, Canada, and Brazil.
- Duration: One to three years, in principle.
- Support: RIKEN pays a daily living allowance of 5,200 JPY, one round-trip airfare, and either free on-campus housing or your actual rent up to 70,000 JPY a month off-campus. RIKEN also pays your accident insurance premium.
- How to apply: If you study outside Japan, RIKEN opens calls for applications twice a year, in April and in September. Contact a RIKEN researcher in your field first; that researcher then contacts RIKEN's Research Personnel Affairs Section on your behalf.
KAUST (Saudi Arabia): Visiting Student Research Program
The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) runs the Visiting Student Research Program (VSRP) for current undergraduate and master's students, not for PhD students.
- Eligibility: You must be in your third year of a bachelor's degree or later, or a current master's student, with a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4-point scale (or the equivalent). KAUST asks for proof of English proficiency, such as an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 6 in every section; check the official page for other accepted tests. Current PhD candidates, KAUST students, and KAUST alumni cannot apply.
- Duration: 2 to 6 months, with flexible start and end dates all year round.
- Support: KAUST covers your tuition-related fees, housing, and a return flight, and pays a monthly stipend of USD 1,000.
- How to apply: Browse the list of more than 100 active faculty-led projects on the VSRP project page, and apply to a specific project through its own "Apply" button. There is no application fee. You may apply to only one project at a time.
A*STAR (Singapore): Research Attachment Programme
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) runs the Research Attachment Programme (ARAP) for overseas postgraduate and PhD students who stay enrolled at their home university.
- Eligibility: You need a bachelor's degree with at least Second-Class (Upper) Honours or the equivalent, strong referral reports, and a track record in research. A supervisor at your home university and a supervisor at A*STAR must jointly nominate you; you do not apply directly as an individual.
- Duration: Typically one to two years, depending on the project.
- Support: A*STAR pays a monthly stipend and a monthly housing allowance, plus one-time grants for airfare, settling in, and IT costs. It also covers your visa cost and medical insurance. Check the current official page for the exact stipend amount, since it changes.
- How to apply: A*STAR researchers submit nominations by 1 June or 1 December each year. If your university already has a partnership with A*STAR, contact your university's international office first. If not, contact an A*STAR researcher in your field directly and ask them to consider a joint project.
Who Can Apply: A Quick Comparison
| Institute | Student level | Duration | Who nominates you |
|---|---|---|---|
| RIKEN (Japan) | PhD candidates only | 1–3 years | Your RIKEN host researcher |
| KAUST (Saudi Arabia) | Undergraduate (3rd year+) and master's students | 2–6 months | You apply yourself, to a project |
| A*STAR (Singapore) | Postgraduate and PhD students | 1–2 years | Your home supervisor and an A*STAR researcher together |
How to Apply, Step by Step
- Check which programme matches your student level: KAUST for undergraduates and master's students, RIKEN and A*STAR for PhD candidates (A*STAR also takes postgraduates).
- Search each institute's own project list or researcher directory for a topic close to your field.
- For KAUST, apply directly online to one project of your choice.
- For RIKEN, email the RIKEN researcher who leads work in your field, before any formal deadline.
- For A*STAR, ask your current supervisor whether your university already has an A*STAR partnership; if not, contact an A*STAR researcher directly.
- Prepare a CV, a short statement of purpose, and contact details for one or two referees, since all three programmes ask for these.
- Confirm your English test score or home-institution approval early, since processing these documents can take weeks.
Common Mistakes
- Applying to RIKEN or A*STAR as a plain internship seeker. Both expect you to already be a PhD or postgraduate researcher with a defined project interest.
- Applying to KAUST without checking the minimum GPA and English test requirements first; KAUST states these clearly on its own page.
- Waiting for a general announcement. RIKEN and A*STAR both expect you, or your supervisor, to contact a named researcher before any paperwork starts.
- Assuming all three programmes pay the same. Stipends, housing support, and even whether tuition is covered differ by institute and may change each year.
Where to Find More Paid Research Internships
Many other institutes across Asia and the Gulf run similar paid programmes for visiting students. Search each institute's own admissions or careers page directly, since these internships are rarely listed on general job boards. For funding to support a doctorate afterwards, see our guide on the MEXT Scholarship for doctoral study in Japan, or browse research internships for master's students for more programmes. PhD Atlas also lists open funded PhD positions across Europe. Sign up on PhD Atlas to match your profile to new funded positions as they are posted.