United Nations-Nippon Foundation Fellowship on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea

Deadline: Sep 14, 2025

masters | other

partially funded

Developing States

To Apply

Please visit the application link below to apply.

Opportunity Overview

📖 About the Fellowship

The United Nations – Nippon Foundation Fellowship provides government officials and other mid-level professionals from developing states with advanced training on ocean affairs and the law of the sea, as well as related disciplines, including marine science in support of management frameworks.

Key Objectives:

Learn about international legal frameworks, key issues, and best practices in ocean affairs.
Gain familiarity with the work of the United Nations.
Develop professional skills.
Conduct individual research under academic supervision and develop a written thesis on a selected topic.

Upon completion, fellows are expected to return to their home countries and use their knowledge to assist in formulating comprehensive ocean policy, implementing the legal regime set out in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and designing, implementing, or evaluating specific improvement projects.

📅 Opportunity Details

Date Published: August 19, 2025
Application Deadline: September 14, 2025
Category: Fellowship, Training, Persons with Disabilities

🎁 Benefits

Fellows receive a monthly stipend intended to cover the cost of lodging, board, and other basic expenses while outside their home country.
Note: Fellows are not remunerated.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, nominated candidates must meet the following criteria:

Be between the ages of 25 and 45.
Have successfully completed a first-level university degree or equivalent.
Demonstrate an ability to undertake advanced academic research and studies.
Be from a developing state.
Be a mid-level government official or mid-level professional dealing directly with ocean affairs and/or the law of the sea, including but not limited to:
- Implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and related instruments.
- Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG-14.
- Establishment of maritime zones and delimitation of maritime boundaries.
- Sustainable development of oceans and seas.
- National and/or regional ocean policy.
- Coastal zone management.
- Conservation and management of marine living resources.
- Maritime transport and shipping.
- Maritime security.
- Protection and preservation of the marine environment.
- Marine sciences.
Be free of all non-Fellowship obligations during the entire period unless otherwise authorized by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs.

📝 Application Process

Steps to Apply:

Download the Application Form:
- Fill in all fields electronically using sentence case (e.g., John Smith). Avoid using all capital letters (e.g., JOHN SMITH).
- Apply your electronic or handwritten signature and save the form as a Word or PDF document.
Complete All Questions:
- Answer each question clearly and completely to ensure the application is processed.
- Pay particular attention to sections 18, 19, and 20.
- Attach no more than one additional page if necessary.
Prepare the Application Package:
- The signed Personal History and Proposed Research Application Form.
- The signed and stamped Nomination and Recommendation Form (to be signed and stamped by the official nominating the candidate).
- The online form.
- A copy of the applicant's national passport biodata page.
Submit the Documents:
- Email the completed forms and passport biodata page to DOALOS at doalos@un.org within the established deadlines.