ADB-Japan Scholarship Program for Developing Countries in Asia & Pacific

The ADB-Japan Scholarship Program (JSP) provides about 130 graduate scholarships a year funded by the Government of Japan. It is for graduate study in economics, business and management, science and technology, and other development-related fields, offered to citizens from developing member countries of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The programme is for citizens of ADB borrowing member countries and Japanese ODA scholarship-eligible countries. It supports study in 27 selected educational institutions across Asia and the Pacific, including 17 in Japan, leading to an approved master’s course at a Designated Institution.

Applicants request information and application forms from a partner institution, complete and send required application documents to that partner institution (including the program information sheet), and receive evaluation results. Partner institutions assess and shortlist applicants, and ADB makes the final selection based on selection criteria applied by the Japanese executive director.

Support includes full tuition fees, monthly subsistence allowance (including housing), books and instructional materials, medical insurance, and travel expenses. For scholars engaged in research, a special grant may be available for thesis preparation, and in special circumstances, computer literacy, preparatory language and other similar courses may be covered. After completion, scholars agree to return and work in their home country for at least two years to contribute to development.

• Must be a national of an ADB borrowing member country and a Japanese ODA scholarship-eligible country.
• Must not hold dual citizenship of any developed country.
• Must have gained admission to an approved master’s course at a Designated Institution.
• Must hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent with a superior academic record.
• Must have at least two (2) years of full-time professional working experience acquired after a university degree at the time of application.
• Must have proficiency in oral and written English communication skills.
• Must not be more than 35 years old at the time of application, unless waived in exceptional cases with the expressed endorsement of the Government of Japan.
• Must be in good health.
• Must agree to return and work in the home country for at least two (2) years after completion of studies under the Program.
• Must not be an Executive Director, Alternate Director, management, staff and consultant of ADB, or the close relatives of those people by blood or adoption, where “close relative” includes: spouse, mother, stepmother, father, stepfather, sister, stepsister, brother, stepbrother, son, daughter, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew.
• Must not be a staff member of ADB–Japan Scholarship Program Designated Institutions.
• Must not be living or working in a country other than the home country.
• Must not be already enrolled in graduate degree programs.
• Citizenship eligibility is defined by the list of countries and areas provided by the programme.

• Full tuition fees
• Monthly subsistence allowance (including housing)
• Books and instructional materials
• Medical insurance
• Travel expenses
• For scholars engaged in research, a special grant may be available for thesis preparation
• In special circumstances, computer literacy, preparatory language, and other similar courses may be covered

1. Request information and application forms from your choice of a partner institution.
2. Complete and send the required application documents to the partner institution, including the ADB-Japan Scholarship Program information sheet.
3. Receive evaluation results from the partner institution after it assesses and shortlists applicants.
4. Final selection of scholars is made by ADB, based on selection criteria applied by the Japanese executive director.

• ADB-Japan Scholarship Program information sheet (included among required application documents sent to the partner institution)