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

The ADB-JSP scholarships are awarded at designated institutions (DIs) in the Asia and Pacific region for studies in economics, business and management, science and technology, and other development-related fields. The program is part of assistance linked to the Government of Japan and is administered through ADB and the designated institution.

Eligibility is limited to nationals of an ADB borrowing member country. Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) with a superior academic record, at least two years of full-time professional working experience acquired after the degree, and proficiency in oral and written English communication to pursue studies. The program also requires applicants to agree to return to their home country after completion.

Selection is based on AIT’s ranking (including priority to the order of merit proposed by AIT) while keeping in mind ADB eligibility and selection criteria. Applicants with less than two years of work experience are not selected. Preferences include women candidates and applicants with lesser financial capacity (family income not more than USD 50,000 per year; individual income not more than USD 25,000 per year). A diversification of nationality across the program and at each DI level is considered.

Scholarships are for a period of one to two years, with the maximum duration stated as two years for MA, MS, and MBA programs. The initial scholarship period is one year, and an extension for a second year is conditional on maintaining satisfactory performance as determined by AIT. Scholars are expected to return to their home country upon completion of their studies, and the scholarship is for the scholar only (it does not cover dependents’ expenses).

• Must be a national of an ADB borrowing member country.
• Applicants from countries that are no longer borrowing from ADB are not eligible.
• Must have 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 to be able to pursue studies.
• Must be not more than 35 years old at the time of application; in exceptional cases for programs appropriate for senior officials and managers, the age limit is 45 years old.
• Must be in good health.
• Must agree to return to the home country after completion of studies under the Program.
• Not eligible: Executive Directors, Alternate Directors, management and staff of ADB, consultants, and relatives of the aforementioned.
• Not eligible: Staff of AIT.
• Not eligible: Applicants living or working in a country other than their home country.
• Not eligible: Applicants who are already enrolled in graduate degree programs.
• Not eligible: Applicants applying for undergraduate studies, distance learning programs, short-term training, conferences, seminars, thesis writing, and research projects.
• Not eligible (selection): Applicants with less than two years of work experience will not be selected.
• In principle, not supported: Applicants who have previously studied abroad.
• In principle, not supported: Applicants who are pursuing a second MA.
• May not be selected: Candidates applying at Designated Institute (DI-AIT) in their own country.
• Eligibility for scholarship applies to designated institutions in the Asia and Pacific region for eligible study fields (economics; business and management; science and technology; and other development-related fields).

• Tuition fees (actual costs).
• Housing: based on actual cost of dormitory housing or a reasonable allowance for appropriate off-campus housing (to be agreed between each DI and ADB).
• Subsistence allowance including housing allowance: a flat allowance (to be agreed between each DI and ADB).
• Student medical and accident insurance: flat allowance.
• Books: flat allowance (to be agreed between each DI and ADB).
• Economy class air travel at most direct route to and from the DI and the awardee’s home country (actual costs).
• Miscellaneous expenses related to travel such as visa fees, airport taxes, luggage allowance, etc.: flat allowance.
• Excess luggage up to 20 kgs financed during return travel to the home country (actual costs).
• Thesis/Research allowance for research expenditures (flat allowance).
• Language and computer training in special cases, to improve language proficiency and computer literacy (actual costs).
• Return travel is paid upon successful completion of studies.
• An establishment allowance may be provided to new scholars to help with initial costs of setting up a temporary home (flat allowance; paid only once at the start of the scholarship).
• Preparatory/bridging courses such as English proficiency or computer literacy courses can be funded by ADB-JSP when undertaken within AIT.

1. Request information and application forms from the chosen designated institution (for example, AIT).
2. Indicate to AIT that you are applying for admission and that you would like to be considered for the ADB-JSP Scholarship.
3. Complete the DI application form and submit it to AIT along with the required documentation, including the ADB-JSP Information Sheet form.
4. Ensure documentation is accurate and complete; failure to do so may result in the application not being processed or an award being terminated if information provided is later determined to be false.
5. Submit the latest Income Tax Return or a Certification of Annual or Monthly Salary, whichever is available, and also submit a Certification of Family Income (parent’s income/spouse’s income if married).
6. Use the AIT online admission portal to apply; no separate application form is required.
7. If desired, describe the scholarship in your statement of purpose by uploading a separate file to the application portal.
8. AIT screens and ranks applicants using its selection criteria while keeping in mind ADB eligibility and selection criteria; AIT may contact candidates for further information, then submits a ranked list to ADB with a description of the scoring/grading system.
9. ADB reviews AIT’s submission and recommends awardees to the Executive Director of Japan for formal approval.
10. After approval, ADB advises AIT of successful candidates; AIT informs all applicants and begins arrangements for awardees to take up their scholarships.
11. AIT arranges for the awardee to sign the Acceptance of Scholarship Award agreeing to return to the home country upon completion of studies.

• Copy of Degree Certificate and Transcript of a 4-year undergraduate degree program with cGPA 3.5 and above.
• English proficiency score as required by AIT Language Center: IELTS-Academic 6 (writing and overall) or AIT EET 6.0 or TOEFL 550.
• Work certificate provided by the employer.
• Income statement certified by the local Municipality (spouse’s income statement if married; otherwise parent’s income statement).
• ADB-JSP Information Sheet.
• Latest Income Tax Return or Certification of Annual or Monthly Salary (whichever is available) to be submitted as part of the application process.
• Certification of Family Income (parent’s income/spouse’s income if married).