ADB-Japan Scholarships Ritsumeikan APU

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 of the Asia Pacific region. APU was selected as a designated institution by ADB and will provide the scholarship to a few eligible graduate school applicants, excluding IMAT program applicants.

To be considered, applicants must first apply to APU. APU then selects eligible candidates to recommend to the scholarship organization. Applicants must have gained admission to an approved master’s course at a designated institution. The scholarship is for applicants who are nationals of an ADB borrowing member country and a Japanese Official Development Assistance scholarship eligible country.

APU reviews application documents and selects suitable candidates to recommend to the ADB-JSP. Selected candidates must prepare additional documents requested by the ADB-JSP. Applicants selected as candidates are notified of their final APU application results, while final scholarship award results are decided by ADB-JSP.

The initial scholarship period is one year. A second-year extension 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 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 your home country after completion of the studies for a period of at least two 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
• Applicants must first apply to APU; APU will then select eligible candidates to recommend to the scholarship organization
• APU 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. Submit a request to be considered for this scholarship within the APU Online Application after you apply to APU.
2. Submit the application by either November 5, 2026 or January 8, 2027.
3. APU reviews application documents and selects suitable candidates to recommend to the ADB-JSP in middle of March.
4. Selected candidates prepare additional documents as requested by the ADB-JSP.
5. Applicants selected as candidates 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
• USD Conversion Form (only if current job income is shown in local currency, and submit both forms)
• Certificate of Employment from the previous company (if the current job is less than 2 years)