United Nations–Nippon Foundation Fellowship 2027: Fully Funded Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea Programme

Overview

The United Nations–Nippon Foundation Fellowship on Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNNF OALOS Fellowship) is offered by the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs – Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (OLA/DOALOS). The programme provides advanced training and research opportunities to help participants acquire the skills needed to implement the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The 9-month programme is divided into two main phases:

Phase One: A three-month training phase at United Nations Headquarters in New York, running from 24 March to 30 June 2027.
Phase Two: A six-month research stay at a participating academic host institution, running from 1 July to 17 December 2027.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria to qualify for the fellowship:

Be from a developing country.
Be a mid-level government official or professional dealing directly with ocean affairs and/or the law of the sea.
Possess at least a first university degree and demonstrate the ability to undertake advanced academic research.
Have a strong command of spoken and written English, as all training activities are delivered in English.
Be available to participate exclusively in person for the duration of the programme.

Benefits

This is a fully funded fellowship providing financial support for 14 selected individuals during their 9-month training and research stay.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted electronically through the Indico.UN platform. Candidates are required to create an account or log in to an existing account, complete the online application form, and upload all required supporting documents. Applications submitted via email will not be accepted.

Deadline

The application deadline is 13 September 2026.

Overview

The 9-month programme is divided into two main phases:

Phase One: A three-month training phase at United Nations Headquarters in New York, running from 24 March to 30 June 2027.

Phase Two: A six-month research stay at a participating academic host institution, running from 1 July to 17 December 2027.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria to qualify for the fellowship:

Be from a developing country.

Be a mid-level government official or professional dealing directly with ocean affairs and/or the law of the sea.

Possess at least a first university degree and demonstrate the ability to undertake advanced academic research.

Have a strong command of spoken and written English, as all training activities are delivered in English.

Be available to participate exclusively in person for the duration of the programme.