Amgen Scholars is hosted at four premier educational institutions in Asia. Undergraduates enrolled at universities in Asia are eligible to apply to participate at one of the host institutions. Each host institution has its own application process.
Amgen Scholars Asia Program applicants must be undergraduate students who are:
Enrolled in colleges or universities in Asia* that award a bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent); and
At minimum, have completed their first year of undergraduate study at the time the summer program begins, and
Are not graduating before the summer program begins, and after the summer program ends will resume undergraduate studies for at least one semester or one quarter.
Asia Program applicants must also have:
A strong record of academic performance; and
A good working knowledge of English, demonstrated by a minimum TOEFL (iBT) score of 72, IELTS overall band score of 5.5, Cambridge English FCE, TOEIC score of 1095, TOEIC L&R score of 785, or TOEIC S&W score of 310, if not a native English speaker or English is not your first language, and
An interest in pursuing a Ph.D.
*Eligible students must attend colleges or universities in Asia as defined in ‘Classification of Countries by Region’ by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs / Population Division World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. Click here to see the full list of Asian countries and areas.
Asia Symposium
A signature component of the summer program is the symposium where students hear firsthand from leading scientists working in industry and academia. Over the course of the symposium, Scholars have the chance to share their summer research projects with their peers and deepen their understanding of drug discovery and development.
Each year, Amgen Scholars meet at one of the host sites (in 2025, Kyoto University) to network with other Amgen Scholars as well as interact with leading industry and academic scientists.
FAQs/Asia
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What is the purpose of the Amgen Scholars Program?
The Amgen Scholars Program provides hundreds of selected undergraduate students with the opportunity to engage in a hands-on research experience at many of the world’s leading educational institutions. The Program seeks to increase learning and networking opportunities for students committed to pursuing science or engineering careers and to spark the interest and broaden the perspective of students considering scientific careers. Ultimately, the Program aims to increase the number of students pursuing advanced training and careers in the sciences.
What criteria do I need to meet to become an Amgen Scholar in Asia?
Amgen Scholars Asia Program applicants must be undergraduate students who are:
Enrolled in colleges or universities in Asia* that award a bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent); and
At minimum, have completed their first year of undergraduate study at the time the summer program begins, and
Are not graduating before the summer program begins, and after the summer program ends will resume undergraduate studies for at least 1 semester or 1 quarter.
Asia Program applicants must also have:
A strong record of academic performance; and
A good working knowledge of English, demonstrated by a minimum TOEFL (iBT) score of 72, IELTS overall band score of 5.5, Cambridge English FCE, TOEIC score of 1095, TOEIC L&R score of 785, or TOEIC S&W score of 310, if not a native English speaker or English is not your first language, and
An interest in pursuing a Ph.D.
*Eligible students must attend colleges or universities in Asia as defined in ‘Classification of Countries by Region’ by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs / Population Division World Population Prospects: The 2024 Revision. Click here to see the full list of eligible Asian countries and areas.
Do I need to be able to speak an Asian language such as Japanese or Chinese to take part in the Amgen Scholars Program at one of the host institutions in Asia?
No. However, as the program will be predominantly carried out in English, you will be required to have proficiency in English. Please see the Asia Program eligibility guidelines for details.
Do I need to be a citizen of an Asian country to apply to participate in the Amgen Scholars Program at one of the host institutions in Asia?
No. There is no citizenship requirement for the Amgen Scholars Program in Asia.
If applicable, am I required to obtain the appropriate visas to participate in the Amgen Scholars Program in Asia?
Each selected Scholar is responsible for acquiring the necessary visas to attend their respective summer program in Asia, and the symposium in Japan. See each institution’s Amgen Scholars Program website for more information.
Is there one application form for the four host institutions in Asia?
No. Each host institution in Asia has its own application process.
Can I apply to more than one host institution in Asia?
Yes. You can apply to as many host institutions in Asia as you are interested in, but each host institution does require a separate application.
What is the application deadline for host institutions in Asia?
In Asia, the application deadline for host institutions is in early February.
Are there certain application requirements common to all host institutions in Asia?
Yes. The application at each host institution in Asia requires, at a minimum, the submission of an official transcript, a letter of recommendation and a personal statement or essay.
How do I apply?
Information about applying to each host university is available by following the appropriate links to the host universities’ respective applications.
Are the summer program dates the same for all Asia host institutions?
No. All host institutions require a full-time commitment for eight to 10 weeks, with the programs in Asia usually beginning in June or July and ending in August. The different starting and ending dates should help accommodate applicants’ varying school schedules.
Note that most host institutions do not have flexibility with regard to the summer program dates, but see each institution’s Amgen Scholars Program website for more information.
What is the expected number of Amgen Scholars participating annually at each host institution and in total in Asia?
Each Amgen Scholars institution in Asia will host at least 10 Amgen Scholars each summer. With 4 host institutions in Asia, it is expected that there will be 40 Amgen Scholars in Asia per year.
Do I need to attend the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Tsinghua University, or the National University of Singapore – or a college or university in Japan, China, or Singapore – during the academic year to apply to the Amgen Scholars Program in Asia?
Will there be an opportunity to meet Amgen Scholars participating in the Asia Program at other host institutions and to learn more about biotechnology and drug discovery and development?
Yes. In early August, each Amgen Scholar in Asia attends a symposium to hear firsthand from leading scientists working in industry and academia. The symposium is held in Japan, and provides students with a valuable opportunity to share their research and network with other Amgen Scholars from the Asia program, as well as Australia Scholars who may join following their completion of the Amgen Scholars Program at the University of Melbourne.
Is the cost of travel to and from the Amgen Scholars symposium in August, as well as room and board at the symposium, covered by the Program?
Yes.
What about housing, food and travel expenses to and from the summer program in Asia?
Financial support is a critical component of the Amgen Scholars Program. Please note that details vary by host institution. See each institution’s Amgen Scholars Program website for more information.
Can I apply to participate in the Amgen Scholars Program in Asia if I am not a science or engineering major?
Yes. Though it is expected that the majority of Amgen Scholars will be science or engineering majors, students in any major may apply.
Do I need to have research experience prior to being admitted to the Program in Asia?
No. The Amgen Scholars Program encourages applications from both students experienced in research and newcomers to the field. For students who attend colleges and universities that have limited opportunities for students to conduct research, the Program is a great way to gain such experience.
Which areas of academic research will the Program offer?
Areas of potential focus include any disciplines related to the discovery, development, manufacture and delivery of human therapeutics, as well as the overall biomedical and biotechnology enterprise.
Note that the terminology used to define research disciplines may vary across universities. Please see each university’s summer research program website for more information.
When will I find out whether I've been accepted into the Program?
Applicants to host universities in Asia should be notified by early April.
Can I be an Amgen Scholar in more than one summer?
No. Undergraduates may be an Amgen Scholar in one summer only. Each summer a new cohort of approximately 40 Amgen Scholars in Asia will have the opportunity to benefit from this type of hands-on research experience.
Can I apply to the Amgen Scholars Program in multiple regions (Asia, U.S., Europe, Australia, or Canada)?
No. Applications may be submitted to the Amgen Scholars Program in one region only, primarily based on where the applicant is currently enrolled and intends to receive their undergraduate degree. See the Eligibility section of this website for further information.
If I am not selected this year, can I apply again?
Yes. As long as you continue to meet the eligibility criteria, you can certainly apply again.
Whom do I contact with questions about the Amgen Scholars Program in Asia?
Eastern Asia: China; China, Hong Kong SAR; China, Macao, SAR; China, Taiwan Province of China; Democratic People’s Republic of Korea; Japan; Mongolia; Republic of Korea
Western Asia: Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Cyprus; Georgia; Iraq; Israel; Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Oman; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; State of Palestine; Syrian Arab Republic; Türkiye; United Arab Emirates; Yemen
