Most ADB scholarships send you to universities across Asia. This one sends you to Honolulu.
The Asian Development Bank–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP) is now accepting applications for fully funded Master’s study at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa for Fall 2027. Funded by the Government of Japan, administered through the East-West Center and hosted at one of America’s most internationally connected public universities this is one of the more unusual fully funded opportunities available to professionals from developing Asia-Pacific countries right now.
Published on: September 11, 2026. Applications are currently open for Fall 2027 entry. Deadline confirmed as 1 December 2026. Applicants must complete both the UH Mānoa admission process and a separate ADB-JSP application through the East-West Center.
At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | ADB–Japan Scholarship Program ADB-JSP |
| Funder | Government of Japan via Asian Development Bank |
| Administrator | East-West Center |
| Host university | University of Hawai’i at Mānoa USA |
| Location | Honolulu Hawaii |
| Level | Master’s Degree |
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Age limit | 35 or younger at time of application |
| Work experience | Minimum 2 years post degree |
| Deadline | 1 December 2026 |
What the Scholarship Covers
This is a comprehensive package. Selected scholars receive:
- Full tuition and academic fees
- Monthly subsistence allowance
- Housing support
- Round trip international travel expenses
- Books and instructional materials
- Medical and health insurance
- Research or thesis preparation support where applicable
- J-1 Exchange Visitor visa sponsorship through the East-West Center
The J-1 visa sponsorship is worth highlighting separately. For international applicants navigating US immigration requirements, having the East-West Center as your visa sponsor removes a layer of complexity that often trips up self funded students.
Eligible Fields of Study
The scholarship supports approved graduate programs in development-related disciplines including:
- Economics
- Business and Management
- Development Studies
- Public Policy
- Science and Technology
- Environmental Management
- Agriculture and Food Systems
- Health and Public Health
- Other development-related graduate fields
Applicants should confirm that their chosen Master’s program at UH Mānoa appears on the approved list before investing time in the application. Not every graduate program at the university qualifies for ADB-JSP funding.
Who Can Apply
Eligibility requirements are specific. Read each one carefully before starting your application.
You must:
- Be a citizen and current resident of an eligible ADB developing member country
- Be 35 years old or younger at the time of application
- Hold a four year bachelor’s degree or equivalent
- Have at least 2 years of full time professional work experience after completing your university degree
- Demonstrate a strong academic record
- Meet the English language requirements of your chosen program
- Be in good health
- Have been admitted or be in the process of applying to an approved Master’s program at UH Mānoa
- Intend to return to your home country after completing your studies
That final requirement deserves attention. The ADB-JSP is designed to build human capital in developing member countries, not to serve as an immigration pathway. Scholarship recipients are expected to return home and apply their education in their home country’s development. This is a genuine program condition not a formality.
The age cap of 35 is also firm. Mid career professionals who are close to that threshold should check their eligibility carefully before beginning a lengthy application process.
The Application Process: Two Steps, Not One
This is where many applicants make their first mistake.
The ADB-JSP scholarship at UH Mānoa involves two separate processes that must both be completed.
Step 1 Apply for admission to UH Mānoa
Submit your graduate admission application directly to the University of Hawaii at Mānoa for an approved Master’s program. This follows the university’s standard graduate admissions process.
Step 2 Submit the ADB-JSP scholarship application
Complete and submit the separate ADB-JSP scholarship application through the East-West Center.
These are not the same application. Completing one does not complete the other. Both need to be submitted, and both have requirements that need to be reviewed independently.
Apply Now for University of Hawaii ADB-JSP Scholarship
English Language Requirements
The scholarship does not specify a single English proficiency standard because requirements vary by program at UH Mānoa. Each approved Master’s program sets its own English language entry threshold.
Check the requirements for your specific program directly on the UH Mānoa graduate admissions portal. Prepare and submit the required test scores or alternative evidence according to that program’s rules.