ADB-Japan Scholarship

The ADB-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP) aims to provide an opportunity for well-qualified citizens of the Asian Development Bank’s developing member countries to pursue graduate studies in development-related fields in the Asia Pacific region. Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) was selected as a designated institution and provides the scholarship each year to a few eligible graduate school applicants, excluding IMAT program applicants.

Applicants must be citizens of an ADB borrowing member country and also a Japanese Official Development Assistance scholarship eligible country. The scholarship requires that candidates gain admission to an approved master’s course at a designated institution and that they are not already enrolled in a graduate degree program.

To be considered, applicants must apply to APU first. APU reviews application documents and selects suitable candidates to recommend to the scholarship organization, with additional documents prepared if requested by ADB-JSP. The final scholarship award results are decided by ADB-JSP.

The initial scholarship period is one year, and extension for a second year may be granted based on the student’s academic performance at APU. After completion of studies, the recipient agrees to return and work in their home country for a period of at least two years after completion of the studies.

• Be a national of an ADB borrowing member country and a Japanese Official Development Assistance scholarship eligible country
• Not hold dual citizenship of any developed country
• Not be currently living or working outside of your home country
• Have at least two years of full-time work experience after obtaining a bachelor’s degree at the time of application
• Have proficiency in oral and written English communication skills to be able to pursue studies
• Be 35 years old or less at the time of application
• Have gained admission to an approved master’s course at a Designated Institution
• Not already be enrolled in a graduate degree program
• In principle, not have a bachelor’s or master’s degree obtained outside of your home country
• Not be pursuing a second master’s degree
• Hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent with superior academic record
• Not be an executive director, alternate director, management or staff of ADB, a Staff of ADB–JSP designated institutions, nor a consultant or relative of the aforementioned
• Agree to return and work, home country after completion of the studies for a period of at least two (2) years after completion of the studies
• Applicant’s family income should not exceed US$50,000 per year, and individual income should not be more than US$25,000 per year
• Applicant must submit Certificate of Income if selected as a scholarship candidate
• Excludes IMAT program applicants

• Full admission fee
• Full tuition
• Monthly subsistence allowance of 144,000 JPY (including housing) (amount subject to change)
• Books and instructional materials
• Medical insurance
• Travel expenses (economy class airfare between the home country and APU at the beginning and end of the program)

1. Apply to APU first, using the APU Online Application, and request to be considered for this scholarship.
2. Submit the APU application by November 5, 2026 or January 8, 2027.
3. APU reviews the application documents and selects suitable candidates to recommend to ADB-JSP in middle of March.
4. Selected candidates must prepare additional documents as requested by ADB-JSP.
5. Applicants selected as candidates for this scholarship are notified of their final APU application results.
6. Final scholarship award results are decided by ADB-JSP at the end of June.

• Certificate of Employment