The Asian Development Bank–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP) at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) offers a fully funded Master’s degree opportunity in Japan for students from eligible developing countries. The scholarship supports studies in development-related fields and is available for the September 2027 intake.
APU selects eligible applicants and recommends them to the ADB for the final award decision. There is no application fee.
At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host Country | Japan |
| University | Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) |
| Degree Level | Master’s |
| Scholarship | Asian Development Bank–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP) |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Intake | September 2027 |
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Application deadlines | 5 November 2026 or 8 January 2027 |
| Application fee | None |
What the Scholarship Covers
Successful scholars typically receive:
- Full admission fee
- Full tuition
- Monthly subsistence allowance (currently 144,000 JPY, including housing; amount subject to change)
- Economy-class round-trip airfare
- Study materials and research allowance
- Medical insurance
Exact benefits follow official ADB-JSP and APU terms.
Eligible Fields of Study
The scholarship supports Master’s programmes in development-related areas, including:
- Economics
- Management
- Health
- Education
- Agriculture
- Environment
- Natural resource management
- Science and technology
- Other development-related fields
(Note: Some programmes such as IMAT may be excluded; confirm on the official APU page.)
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements (confirm the latest list on the ADB and APU websites):
- Be a national of an ADB borrowing member country that is also a Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) scholarship-eligible country
- Not hold dual citizenship of any developed country
- Currently reside and work in their home country
- Have at least two years of full-time professional work experience after obtaining a bachelor’s degree
- Demonstrate proficiency in oral and written English
- Be 35 years of age or younger at the time of application
- Not currently enrolled in a graduate degree programme
- In principle, not have obtained a bachelor’s or master’s degree outside their home country
- Not be pursuing a second master’s degree
- Family income does not exceed US$50,000 per year and individual income does not exceed US$25,000 per year (Certificate of Income required if selected)
- Intend to enrol at APU in September 2027
How to Apply for ADB-JSP Scholarship 2027
- Apply to APU through the official online application system for graduate programmes (2027 intake).
- Request consideration for the ADB-JSP scholarship within the APU online application.
- Upload a Certificate of Employment from your current employer clearly stating start and end dates and monthly or annual income.
- If current employment is less than two years, also submit a Certificate of Employment from the previous employer.
- Alternatively, the latest Income Tax Return may be used to verify income.
- Submit the complete application by one of the scholarship deadlines: 5 November 2026 or 8 January 2027.
APU reviews applications and selects suitable candidates to recommend to the ADB-JSP. Selected candidates may need to prepare additional documents. Final award decisions are made by the ADB.
Important Notes
- Early preparation is recommended because APU must review and shortlist candidates before forwarding them to the ADB.
- English proficiency is required; check the current APU graduate application handbook for accepted evidence.
- Only a limited number of scholarships are available each year.
Official Links and Next Steps
Full details, eligibility lists, and the online application system are available on the APU admissions website:
https://admissions.apu.ac.jp/graduate/how_to_apply/external_scholarship/adb_jsp/
Review the latest ADB country list and FAQs on the Asian Development Bank website before applying.
Key Takeaways
- Fully funded 2-year Master’s scholarship at APU in Japan under the ADB-JSP
- Covers tuition, monthly living allowance, airfare, insurance and related costs
- Open to citizens of eligible ADB developing member countries
- Requires at least two years of full-time work experience and age 35 or under
- Apply first to APU and request the scholarship within the application
- Deadlines: 5 November 2026 or 8 January 2027
- No application fee
- Final selection decided by ADB after APU recommendation