Thirteen days. That is how long you have before the application window closes for the ADB Japan Scholarship Program at Keio University. If a fully funded master’s degree in Japan has been on your mind this is the moment to act, not next week.
The KEIO ADB scholarship covers full tuition, entrance fees, a monthly stipend and a return flight to Japan. It supports up to two years of study. And it is open to citizens of ADB borrowing member countries who have at least two years of professional work experience after their university degree.
At a Glance
Last Information checked: 19 October 2026
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | ADB Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP) |
| University | Keio University Japan |
| Level | Master’s degree only |
| Duration | Up to 2 years |
| Who can apply | Citizens of ADB borrowing member countries |
| Work experience | Minimum 2 years full-time after university degree |
| Age limit | No more than 35 at time of application |
| Deadline | 1 November 2026 |
What the Scholarship Actually Covers
This is a complete funding package. Nothing partial about it.
Included in the award:
- Full tuition fee remission
- Full entrance fee remission
- Monthly stipend equivalent to the Japanese Government Scholarship rate
- One round-trip air ticket to Japan
- Financial support for up to two years
The stipend amount is linked to the Japanese Government Scholarship rate which can change. Check Keio’s official ADB-JSP page for the current figure before making financial plans.
The Catch Most Applicants Miss
Here is what separates people who successfully receive this scholarship from those who do not even get considered.
You cannot apply for the ADB scholarship on its own.
The scholarship is awarded through Keio University’s admissions process, not through a separate ADB portal. You must first apply to a Keio master’s program that accepts ADB-JSP students, sit the entrance exam and pass it. Only admitted students can receive the scholarship.
Miss the entrance exam. Lose the scholarship. It is that direct.
The ADB scholarship application form is submitted alongside your International Graduate Program IGP documents, not separately or afterward. If you forget to include it in your IGP submission, you have missed the opportunity entirely.
Eligible Programs at Keio
The scholarship is available through several graduate schools at Keio. Confirmed programs include:
- Graduate School of Science and Technology
- Graduate School of Economics
- Graduate School of Business and Commerce
- Graduate School of System Design and Management
Each school runs its own application schedule. The Science and Technology track, for example references Period I of the IGP Master’s application. Check your specific school’s page for exact dates and requirements; do not rely on the general university deadline alone.
Who Qualifies
All five conditions below must be met. Missing any one of them makes you ineligible.
- You must be a citizen of an ADB borrowing member country. Countries that no longer borrow from ADB do not qualify even if they previously did.
- A bachelor’s degree or equivalent with an outstanding academic record.
- At least two full years of professional employment after completing your university degree. Internships part-time work and study periods do not count.
- No more than 35 years old at the time of application.
- You must agree to return to your home country immediately after completing your studies. This is not a formality. It is a core condition of the scholarship.
Also note: If you currently live or work outside your home country, your eligibility may be affected. Applicants residing in a country other than their home country are generally not eligible, though citizens of another ADB developing country may still be considered in some cases.
Who Cannot Apply
The following are explicitly excluded from the scholarship:
- ADB Executive Directors and Alternate Directors
- ADB management and staff
- ADB consultants
- Immediate relatives of any of the above
The scholarship also does not fund undergraduate programs, distance learning, short courses, conferences, seminars, thesis writing or standalone research projects.
Key Dates
- 15 October 2026: Check your graduate school schedule
- 1 November 2026: Deadline listed on websites
- September 2027: Enrollment for the Science and Technology programme
- Maximum 2 years: Length of the scholarship
How to Apply
Order matters here. Do not skip steps or rearrange them.
- Confirm your country is an ADB borrowing member country
- Choose a Keio master’s program that accepts ADB-JSP students
- Check your specific graduate school’s application schedule
- Apply to Keio’s International Graduate Program IGP
- Complete the ADB-JSP scholarship form from Keio’s official page
- Submit the scholarship form together with your IGP documents
- Sit and pass the entrance exam
- Await your admission result
If you are not admitted, the scholarship cannot be awarded. There is no route around the entrance exam.
Mistakes That End Applications Early
A few errors come up repeatedly among unsuccessful applicants:
- Treating the scholarship as a separate application from Keio admission
- Forgetting to attach the ADB form with IGP documents
- Counting internships or part-time work toward the two-year requirement
- Applying from a country that no longer borrows from ADB
- Being over 35 at the time of submission
- Living or working outside your home country without checking eligibility
- Submitting on the final day without buffer time for technical issues
The 1 November deadline is firm. Submit before it not on it.
