2026 TUMUG Support Programs
Inquiries Regarding the TUMUG Support Program
Please contact us at the email address below.
*For security reasons, please send your inquiry from your Tohoku University–issued personal email account and be sure to include the following information.
Required Information:
・Subject
・Details of your inquiry
・Affiliation
・Full name
LINK
List of TUMUG Support Programs
1. Research Support Staff
2.Assistance with babysitting and temporary childcare
－ Ⅰ.Discount Coupon Course
－ Ⅱ.TUMUG Course
－ List of Application Forms
3.Start-up Research Fund
4.Next Step Research Grant
1.Research Support Staff
| Program | Research Support Staff |
|---|---|
| Program Information | |
| Program Eligibility | ■ For pregnancy (including fertility treatment), childbirth, childcare, or caregiving Faculty members, specially appointed researchers*, JSPS Research Fellows*, and technical staff (regardless of gender) who are engaged in pregnancy (including fertility treatment), childbirth, childcare, or caregiving ■ For social contribution Female faculty members and female technical staff serving in important public roles, such as members of national government councils |
| Program Content | 【Work-Life Balance / Nurturing Female Leaders】 Subsidy for personnel expenses required to employ research support staff (technical/administrative assistants, TF/RA/AA) （Up to 1,000,000 yen per year; the amount of support will be determined based on the application details and level of need） |
| Deadline | |
| Required Documents | ① (Attachment 1) Medical Visit Certificate（ PDF ） ②Copy of documentation confirming eligibility |
| Report on Use of Funds | Report required |
2.Assistance with babysitting and temporary childcare
Ⅰ.Discount Coupon Course
・NotebookLM Chat Support (FAQ)：Discount Coupon Course
・Video of the New System Information Session: “FY2026 TUMUG Support Program – Babysitter and Temporary Childcare Subsidy”(Language: Japanese)
*Please access using an individual email account issued by Tohoku University.
・“Information Session on Babysitter and Temporary Childcare Subsidy: Questions and Answers (PDF)”
| Program | Assistance with babysitting and temporary childcare I. Discount Coupon Course |
|---|---|
| User Guide | English（P1-P7) |
| Usage Conditions | ・Among the members of the Mutual Aid Association of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), those who are raising a child living in the same household, aged 0 through the third grade of elementary school※1※2 ・Those who have a contract with a discount‑ticket service provider※3 ※For details, please refer to the User Guide. |
| Program Content | 【Work-Life Balance】 Subsidize cost of childcare or babysitting to support work-life balance 【Subsidy Limits】 a. Normal ・Up to 2 coupons per child per day (per use). Max 24 per month / 280 per year per household. (Issuance may stop if university-wide cap of ~800/4-months is reached).※4 ・2,300 yen discount per coupon. b. Multiple Birth ・1 coupon per day, up to 2 per year per household (up to 4 for special reasons). ・9,000 yen per coupon for twins; 18,000 yen per coupon for triplets or more Note: Normal and Multiple Birth coupons can be used for different purposes (but not both on the same day). If the number of uses per month is high due to work or similar reasons, you may apply for both types of coupons in combination. ※The “Discount Coupon Course” and the “TUMUG Course” cannot be used on the same day. |
| User Registration (First time only)/ Required Documents | 【Required Documents】 ※For details, please refer to the User Guide. i. Proof of contract with a babysitter service provider ii. Documents certifying the spouse’s status iii. Documents confirming the child’s date of birth and relationship to the applicant iv. Consent Form（PDF） v. Other documents (if applicable) ▶User Registration Form 【Add・Update User Registration Form】 ・If the required documents are incomplete and registration has not been finalized, babysitter discount coupons cannot be issued. Please ensure that all documents are properly prepared. Once the documents are ready, promptly submit them via the Registration Update/Change Form. ・If there are any changes to your circumstances after the initial submission, please promptly submit an update each time using the Registration Update/Change Form. ▶Add・Update User Registration Form |
| Usage Instructions / Documents to Submit After Use | 【How to Receive the Subsidy】 After submitting the application below, you will receive a discount by using the discount coupon URL issued by the university. Please pay the babysitter service provider the amount after the discount has been deducted. a. Normal After completing user registration, apply via the Discount Coupon Course Application Form (for Normal Coupons) using your Tohoku University account. Please apply for the number of coupons you plan to use within one month from the time of application. It takes approximately 7 business days from the date of application to issue coupons, so please apply well in advance. ▶【Discount Coupon Course】Application Form (For Normal Coupons) b. Multiple Birth After completing user registration, apply via the Discount Coupon Course Application Form (for Multiple Birth Coupons) using your Tohoku University account. As the request must be forwarded to the service provider for issuance, the process takes additional time. Please apply approximately one month prior to the intended date of use. ▶【Discount Coupon Course】 Application Form (For Multiple-Birth Coupons) 【Return of Unused Coupons】 ▶【Discount Coupon Course】Coupon Return Form 【Submission of Attendance Records】 ▶Working Hours Report Form |
※2: For the purpose of Returning to Work, only pre-school children living with the applicant are eligible.
※3: Please refer to the “List of Eligible Discount Coupon Service Providers“. If your service provider is not included in the list, the discount coupons cannot be used. In such cases, please apply for the TUMUG Course.
※4: Exception: For the purpose of Returning to Work, the limit is 1 coupon per household per day (per use), up to 4 per year.
【Information on the Program】
All Japan Childcare Services Association (Public Interest Incorporated Association)
“Babysitter Dispatch Service Discount Coupon Portal Site”
*Please note that some details may differ from the way this program is administered at Tohoku University.
II. TUMUG Course
・NotebookLM Chat Support (FAQ)：TUMUG Course
・Video of the New System Information Session: “FY2026 TUMUG Support Program – Babysitter and Temporary Childcare Subsidy”(Language: Japanese)
*Please access using an individual email account issued by Tohoku University.
・“Information Session on Babysitter and Temporary Childcare Subsidy: Questions and Answers (PDF)”
| Program | Assistance with babysitting and temporary childcare II. TUMUG Course |
|---|---|
| User Guide | English（P8-P12) |
| Usage Conditions | Those who are unable to use the Discount Coupon Course due to unavoidable circumstances (examples below): – Graduate students enrolled at the University (Doctoral Program [beyond the standard 3-year period], and extended programs in medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy) – Faculty, staff and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Research Fellows (DC1, DC2) who are not eligible to join the MEXT Mutual Aid Association – Parents/guardians of children in 4th to 6th grade of elementary school – Those who wish to use the service outside the home, such as at business trip destinations *If support for accompanying children on business trips is available through your own research funds, please prioritize that option. – Those who are unable to use service providers designated by the All Japan Childcare Services Association (see “List of Eligible Discount Coupon Service Providers”) ※For details, please refer to the User Guide. |
| Program Content | 【Work-Life Balance】 Subsidies for babysitting and temporary childcare costs necessary for work-life balance 【Subsidy Limits】 Up to 4,600 yen per child per day (per use). Reimbursement is made after use. Please note that, due to budget limitations, the subsidy amount may be reduced or not granted following review. ※The “Discount Coupon Course” and the “TUMUG Course” cannot be used on the same day. |
| User Registration (first time only)/ Required Documents | 【Required Documents】 ※For details, please refer to the User Guide. i. Proof of contract with a babysitter service provider ii. Documents certifying the spouse’s status iii. Documents confirming the child’s date of birth and relationship to the applicant iv. Consent Form（PDF） v. Other documents (if applicable) ▶User Registration Form 【User Registration Update / Change Form】 ・If the required documents are incomplete and registration has not been finalized, subsidies cannot be provided. Please ensure that all documents are properly prepared. Once the documents are ready, promptly submit them via the User Registration Update/Change Form. ・If there are any changes to your circumstances after the initial submission, please promptly submit an update each time using the Registration Update/Change Form. ▶User Registration Update / Change Form |
| Usage Instructions / Documents to Submit After Use | 【How to Receive the Subsidy】 After submitting the application below, please pay the full amount to the babysitter service provider (including temporary childcare services). Every four months, the DEI Promotion Center will review your submission and determine the subsidy amount. After the review, we will notify you of the approved subsidy amount and transfer the funds. ・After completing user registration, please submit the application before use, including the reason for use and the planned date(s). ・Please submit a separate application for each reason for use (multiple applications within the period are allowed). ・A receipt number will be sent to you automatically (required when submitting receipts). ▶Babysitter and Temporary Childcare Use Application Form 【Documents to Submit After Use】 ①Submission of Receipts and Usage Details.（Please ensure that the receipt and usage details match the planned date(s) of use submitted at the time of application.） ▶Receipt Submission Form (Babysitting & Temporary Childcare) ②Submission of Work Records ＜Submit by the 5th of the month following the date of use.＞（Submission by faculty and staff is required.） *For student users, the application details will be reviewed, and submission of an academic schedule record may be required if necessary. ▶Working Hours Report Form |
| Receipt Submission Deadline | Transitional Period Jun 1, 2026 (Mon) ＜Eligible Usage Period／Apr 1 – Apr 30, 2026＞ Round 1 Aug 3, 2026 (Mon) ＜Eligible Usage Period／May 1 – Jul 31, 2026＞ Round 2 Dec 1, 2026 (Tue) ＜Eligible Usage Period／Aug 1 – Nov 30, 2026＞ Round 3 Apr 1, 2027 (Thu) ＜Eligible Usage Period／Dec 1, 2026 – Apr 1, 2027＞ |
Babysitter and Temporary Childcare Support Program – List of Application Forms
| Form Title | Applicable Course | |||
| Discount Coupon Course | TUMUG Course | |||
| Prior Registration | User Registration Form | 〇 | 〇 | ・Prior registration when using the “Discount Coupon Course” or the “TUMUG Course” for the first time (required only once) ・Register using your Tohoku University account |
| User Registration Update / Change Form | 〇 | 〇 | ・Apply if registration has not been completed due to missing documents, or if there are any changes in circumstances after the initial registration | |
| Application for Use | 【Discount Coupon Course】Application Form (For Normal Coupons) | 〇 | – | ・After completing user registration, apply for the number of discount coupons you plan to use within one month from the time of application. ・It takes approximately 7 business days from the date of application to issue coupons |
| 【Discount Coupon Course】 Application Form (For Multiple-Birth Coupons) | 〇 | – | ・After completing user registration, apply for the required coupons approximately one month prior to the planned date of use ※This is because the university must request issuance from the service provider after receiving your application | |
| Babysitter and Temporary Childcare Use Application Form | – | 〇 | ・After completing user registration, submit an application before use, including the reason for use and the planned date(s) ・Submit a separate application for each reason for use ・An application number will be automatically issued (required when submitting receipts) | |
| After Use | Working Hours Report Form | 〇 | △ | 【Faculty and Staff Users】 Submission Required ・Submit the “Attendance Record (work time management system data)” and the “Record of Working Hours in accordance with the Industrial Safety and Health Act” by the 5th day of the month following the month of use 【Student Users】 ・You may be asked to submit an academic schedule record if necessary |
| 【Discount Coupon Course】Coupon Return Form | 〇 | – | ・If there are unused discount coupons | |
| Receipt Submission Form (Babysitting & Temporary Childcare) | – | 〇 | ・After use, submit the receipt(s) and the usage statement for each reception number within the submission deadline ・Submit only those for which the planned date(s) of use in the application match the date(s) on the receipt ※If the name on the receipt or usage statement is not that of the applicant, this program cannot be used | |
3.Start-up Research Fund
| Program | Start-up Research Fund |
|---|---|
| Program Information | |
| Program Eligibility | Newly hired female faculty members (assistant professor or above)※1※2 |
| Program Content | 【Nurturing Female Leaders】 Support for newly hired female faculty members (assistant professor or above) |
| Deadline | July 3, 2026 (Before the call for application opens) |
| Required Documents | ① (Attachment 2) Declaration Form（ Word ） ② Documents confirming eligibility to apply ▶ Google Form (The link will be provided when the call for applications opens.) |
| Report on Use of Funds | Report required |
※2 Those who have competitive funds (including university expenses) totaling 2 million yen or more in the relevant academic year are ineligible.
4.Next Step Research Grant
| Program | Next Step Research Grant |
|---|---|
| Program Information | |
| Program Eligibility | Female academic staff (Associate Professor, Senior Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor, Research Associate, Specially Appointed Research Fellow(PD/RPD/CPD),JSPS Research Fellowships for Young Scientists (PD/RPD/CPD) ※1※2 |
| Program Content | 【Nurturing Female Leaders】 Subsidize cost of research/data collection/publishing outcome for a new project if you don’t receive any external funds※1（max 500,000 yen per year） ※travel expense, registration fee, materials cost, gratitude, translation fee, etc. |
| Deadline | 1st period May 8, 2026 Applications Open (New Applicants) 2nd Mid-September, 2026 Prior to the official announcement |
| Required Documents | ① (attach 3)（ Word ） ②Copy of notice of employment ② Programs/agendas that you are planning to attend ③ Estimate for flights ▶ Google Form |
| Required Report (How you used fund) | Report required |
※2 Those who have competitive funding (including internal university funds) totaling 2 million yen or more in the relevant fiscal year are not eligible.