Asian Development Bank–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP)

Benefits & funding

• Full tuition fees.
• A monthly subsistence allowance that includes housing.
• An allowance for books and instructional materials.
• Medical insurance and travel expenses.
• A thesis-preparation grant may be available for scholars conducting research.
• The award initially covers one year and may be extended for a second year when the institution confirms satisfactory performance; two years is the maximum.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be nationals of an ADB borrowing member country that is eligible for Japanese ODA scholarships: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Niue, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, or Viet Nam.
• Applicants must not hold dual citizenship of a developed country and must be living and working in their home country.
• They must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent with a strong academic record and have admission to an approved master’s course at a designated institution.
• At least two years of full-time professional experience gained after the university degree is required, together with sufficient written and spoken English.
• The general age limit is 35 at application, but the Government of Japan may expressly endorse an exception.
• Applicants must be in good health, must not already be enrolled in a graduate program, and must agree to return and work in their home country for at least two years after completing the scholarship.
• ADB directors, management, staff, consultants, specified close relatives, and staff of designated institutions are ineligible.
• The program is open to all genders; preference for women and applicants with less financial capacity is a selection consideration, not an eligibility gate.

Application process

1. 1
   Choose an approved master’s course from ADB’s list of designated institutions and obtain that institution’s admissions and scholarship materials.
2. 2
   Apply to the institution, state that ADB-JSP consideration is requested, and submit the institution’s form, the ADB-JSP information sheet, academic records, current income evidence, and family-income certification.
3. 3
   Submit by the institution’s own deadline and at least six months before the intended intake; there is no separate application to ADB.
4. 4
   The institution assesses and ranks eligible applicants, then sends its nominations to ADB.
5. 5
   ADB reviews the nominations and recommends awardees for formal approval by the Executive Director of Japan; the institution communicates the result.

Program timeline

1. Partner institution’s published date

   Application deadline.

2. At least six months before the intended intake

   Complete application submitted to the institution.

3. After institutional screening

   Ranked nominations sent to ADB.

4. After formal approval

   Institution informs successful applicants.

5. Partner institution’s intake date

   Master’s program starts.