University of Tokyo African Development Bank - Japan Africa Dream Scholarship Program

JADS is a capacity building project organized by the African Development Bank and the government of Japan. It provides two-year scholarship awards to African students studying at master level at their designated institutions. The University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (GSFS) is named as a designated institution for the JADS Program.

At GSFS, the relevant units are the Division of Environmental Studies (with six departments) and the Graduate Program in Sustainability Sciences. Classes in the Graduate Program in Sustainability Sciences are conducted in English. The listed departments are Natural Environmental Studies, Ocean Technology, Policy, and Environment, Environment Systems, Human and Engineered Environmental Studies, Socio-cultural Environment Studies, and International Studies.

Applicants apply for admission to the master’s program at GSFS and take the entrance examination. After successful candidates complete the entrance examination, GSFS recommends to JADS those who meet the application qualifications specified by JADS. GSFS then notifies applicants of the result of the JADS scholarship grant, followed by entry and enrollment steps for the selected applicant.

The scholarship award is for two years. International students who do not hold Japanese nationality must enter Japan with a student visa by the enrollment date. After the scholarship result is communicated, applicants must apply for a visa, proceed with entry, and enroll.

1. Decide on a supervisor and major. Before applying, create a research proposal for the research you wish to conduct and check whether there is a faculty member in GSFS who can supervise the planned research. Consult the faculty member directly by email or other means; include a self-introduction, what you want to study/research, desired time of enrollment, and intention to apply for the JADS Scholarship. If the faculty member determines it is not appropriate to supervise, the application process may not proceed.
2. Take the GSFS entrance examination. The entrance examination is held twice a year in Schedule A and Schedule B. The method varies by department/program, so apply according to the relevant website. For some departments/programs, it may be necessary to travel to Japan; however, the page lists which majors do not require travel to Japan.
3. After the entrance examination, GSFS recommends to JADS those who meet the application qualifications specified by JADS among successful entrance examination candidates.
4. Wait for notification from GSFS about the result of the JADS scholarship grant.
5. After the result, apply for a visa and proceed with entry and enrollment. International students without Japanese nationality must enter Japan with a student visa by the enrollment date.