ADB-JSP Scholarship at APU: Full Tuition, Stipend and Travel

The Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP) at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University supports eligible applicants pursuing graduate study in development-related fields. The award includes full admission and tuition fees, a monthly subsistence allowance, books, medical insurance, and travel expenses. Applicants must first apply to APU and request consideration for the scholarship.

Quick Overview

Programme: Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP)
Opportunity Type: Graduate Scholarship
Host Institution: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)
Study Level: Master’s
Award: Full admission fee, full tuition, monthly allowance, books, medical insurance, and travel expenses
Monthly Allowance: 144,000 JPY, including housing; amount subject to change
Application Deadlines: November 5, 2026 or January 8, 2027

About the ADB-JSP Scholarship at APU

The ADB-JSP aims to provide graduate study opportunities for well-qualified citizens of the Asian Development Bank’s developing member countries.

The scholarship supports graduate studies in development-related fields of the Asia Pacific region. APU became an ADB-designated institution in 2010 and provides the scholarship each year to a few eligible GSA applicants. IMAT programme applicants are excluded.

The initial scholarship period is one year. An extension for a second year may be granted based on the student’s academic performance at APU.

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Benefits and Financial Coverage

The ADB-JSP award at APU provides the following confirmed support:

✓ Full admission fee
✓ Full tuition
✓ Monthly subsistence allowance of 144,000 JPY, including housing; amount subject to change
✓ Books and instructional materials
✓ Medical insurance
✓ Economy-class airfare between the applicant’s home country and APU at the beginning and end of the programme

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements listed by APU.

• Be a national of an ADB borrowing member country and a Japanese Official Development Assistance scholarship-eligible country
• Not hold dual citizenship of any developed country
• Not currently live or work outside their home country
• Have at least two years of full-time work experience after obtaining a bachelor’s degree at the time of application
• Have sufficient oral and written English communication skills to pursue studies
• Be 35 years old or younger at the time of application
• Have gained admission to an approved master’s course at a Designated Institution
• Not already be enrolled in a graduate degree programme
• In principle, not have obtained a bachelor’s or master’s degree outside the applicant’s home country
• Not be pursuing a second master’s degree
• Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent with a superior academic record
• Not be an executive director, alternate director, management or staff member of ADB, staff of an ADB-JSP designated institution, consultant, or relative of the aforementioned
• Agree to return to and work in the applicant’s home country for at least two years after completing the studies
• Have annual family income of no more than US$50,000 and individual annual income of no more than US$25,000

Applicants selected as scholarship candidates must submit a Certificate of Income.

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Required Document

APU specifically lists a Certificate of Employment as a required document for this scholarship.

The certificate must:

• Be issued on the company’s letterhead or include its logo
• Be signed by an authorized signatory
• Include the employment start and end dates
• State the applicant’s position
• Include monthly or annual income

If the income is stated in local currency, applicants must convert it using the specified USD Conversion Form and submit both documents.

If the applicant’s current employment period is less than two years, a Certificate of Employment from the previous company must also be submitted.

APU states that further details and additional required documents will be provided individually to applicants selected as scholarship candidates.

Application and Selection Process

Applicants must first apply to APU. Within the APU Online Application, they must request consideration for the ADB-JSP Scholarship.

The selection process then proceeds as follows:

• Submit the APU application and request scholarship consideration
• APU reviews the application documents
• APU selects suitable candidates for recommendation to ADB-JSP in the middle of March
• Selected candidates prepare any additional documents requested by ADB-JSP
• Scholarship candidates receive their final APU application results
• ADB-JSP determines the final scholarship award results by the end of June

The timing of the final scholarship result may change depending on ADB-JSP circumstances.

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Application Deadlines

The official APU scholarship page lists the following application deadlines:

• November 5, 2026
• January 8, 2027

Applicants must request consideration for the ADB-JSP Scholarship within their APU Online Application.

Official Link

Submit your application through the official APU application link below.

Apply for the Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP)