ADB-Japan Scholarship Program for Developing Countries 

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Japan Scholarship was established in 1988 to help students from developing countries pursue master’s level studies in selected countries of the Asia and Pacific region. The ADB Japan Scholarship is administered by the Asian Development Bank and funded by the government of Japan. Any adult with a bachelor’s degree and not more than 35 years old can apply for this scholarship designed for people from developing countries who are members of this financial conglomerate. This scholarship covers all academic and subsistence expenses of the selected candidates. In this blog, we will discuss and understand all about the ADB scholarship of Japan for developing countries.

Name of the Scholarship	ADB Japan Scholarship
Administering Authority	Asian Development Bank
Funding Organisation	Government of Japan
Official Website	adb.org
Eligible Candidates	Individuals from ADB DBCs who have enrolled in Master’s courses in select institutions of 9 APAC nations
Participating Countries	India, Pakistan, Japan, Hong Kong, USA, Philipines, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand

ADB-JSP Program Overview

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) established the Japan Scholarship Program (JSP) in 1988 to help citizens of developing member countries (DBCs) of ADB pursue master-level programs in Science and Technology, Economics, Management, Business, and other domains of development studies at select universities/colleges/academic institutions in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. Under this program, the federal government of Japan provides ADB Japan Scholarships to students from developing nations. 

How to Qualify for the ADB Japan Scholarship?

The ADB (Asian Development Bank) Japan Scholarship is a prestigious opportunity that requires candidates to meet several key criteria. Here is how you can qualify to apply for the ADB Japan scholarship program:

• Firstly, academic excellence is paramount, with applicants expected to have a consistently outstanding academic record.
• Additionally, a completed bachelor’s degree or its equivalent is typically required, along with relevant work experience of at least two years.
• Proficiency in English, often demonstrated through standardised tests like TOEFL or IELTS, is another crucial prerequisite.
• Candidates must also showcase a strong commitment to contributing to the development of Asia and exhibit qualities of good physical and mental health and strong moral character.
• Furthermore, they should not be concurrently receiving another scholarship and often need to be under a certain age limit, typically around 35 years old.
• Finally, successful applicants may undergo an interview process further to assess their suitability for this prestigious scholarship opportunity.

Meeting these criteria and providing a compelling personal statement and letters of recommendation can significantly enhance one’s chances of securing the ADB Japan Scholarship. However, it’s essential to refer to the most recent scholarship guidelines for the most accurate and up-to-date requirements.

Also Read: Study in Japan for Free: List of Fully Funded Scholarships

Eligibility Criteria for ADB JSP

To avail of the ADB Japan Scholarship, applicants must adhere to the following eligibility criteria as mentioned by the university’s guidelines. Here we have mentioned the eligibility criteria for the ADB Japan Scholarship Program to help in better understanding :

• The candidate must be a member of ADB DBCs.
• The applicant must have enrolled in an approved graduate program in a designated institution in the selected 9 APAC nations.
• The candidate must not be above 35 years of age.
• The applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• The candidate must be committed to returning to their home country after graduating from any approved program to contribute to the development of their native nation. 

Application Process

Eligible candidates should send their applications at least 6 months before the planned intake season and must follow the guidelines below to complete the ADB Japan Scholarship application process:

• The candidate must inform the academic institution of interest about his/her/their intent to pursue admission to the respective organisation and would like to apply for the scholarship.
• Fill out the application form of the academic institution and the ADB-JSP application form for the college/university/institution of interest.
• Submit the mandatory documents to the institution in which you are applying for an approved master’s course.

Documents Required

Here are the important documents that are required while applying for the ADB Japan scholarship program:

1. Completed Application Form
2. Admission Application Form
3. Official Academic Transcripts and Certificates
4. Certificate of Employment / Work Experience
5. Income Certificates
6. Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume
7. Letter of Recommendation 
8. Statement of Purpose / Study Plan
9. Valid Passport Copy
10. Medical Certificate

Selection Process

Participating institutions, the Asian Development Bank, and the Executive Director of Japan select awardees of the ADB Japan Scholarship in the following manner:

• Participating institutions screen the candidates on the basis of their selection criteria and rank them accordingly. The selection criteria are a combination of the admission requirements of approved institutions and the selection criteria of the ADB.
• Each institution submits its list of ranked applicants to the Asian Development Bank along with a description of its grading/scoring systems.
• ADB reviews the list and recommends awardees to the Executive Director of Japan.
• The Executive Director approves the list of awardees.
• The ADB will then inform the institutions about the successful candidates.
• The academic institutions then inform the selected applicants about the approval and start making arrangements for the awardees. 

Also Read: Internship Scholarships for International Students 2026-27

Benefits of ADB JSP

The selected applicants receive a monthly stipend of JPY 147,000 (INR 92,193) in addition to thesis allowances and book allowances. The following expenses will be covered for recipients of the ADB Japan Scholarship:

• Full tuition fees
• Book expenses
• Housing allowance and other subsistence expenses
• Travel allowance
• Research subsidies
• Medical insurance

Eligible Institutions

Each year ADB Japan Scholarship is awarded to 300 students who enrol in academic institutions in 9 nations in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region- Japan, India, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Pakistan, the United States of America, Singapore, the Philippines, and Thailand. Here are the institutions which enrol students under the ADB-JSP Program and the eligible courses in respective universities:

Japan

The following colleges/universities in Japan enrol students in this scholarship program. The academic institutions along with eligible courses are given in the table below:

Academic Institutions	Eligible Courses
Ritsumeikan University	1-year and 2 year Master’s Program in Public Policy
Keio University	Master in Science; MSc in Engineering; Master of Economics; Master of Systems Design and Management; Master of Systems Engineering; Master’s in Management and Taxation Policy
University of Tsukuba	MA in International Public Policy
Hitotsubashi University	Asian Public Policy Program
International University of Japan	MA in Economics; MA in International Relations; MA in Public Management; MA in International Development; MBA;
Kobe University	Master of Law; Master of Economics; Master of Political Science; and Master of International Studies
Kyushu University	Courses in Bioresources Sciences; Biotechnology & Bioscience; Agro-Environmental Sciences; Agricultural & Resource Economics; Business and Economic Law in Asia; Global Governance; Law and Innovation
Saitama University	Master in Civil & Environmental Engineering
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies	1-year and 2-year Master’s Program in Public Policy
Tokyo Institute of Technology	Master’s Courses
Kyoto University	International MBA; Master’s in International Environmental Management; Master’s in Food and Environment; International Course in Civil Infrastructure Management; International Course in Regional & Urban Development
United Nations University	MSc in Sustainability
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University	MSc in International Cooperation Policy; MSc in Asia-Pacific Studies
The University of Tokyo	Master in Urban Engineering; Master in International Studies; Master in Environment Studies; Master in Sustainability Science; Master in Health Science; Master of Public Policy; Master in Civil Engineering & Infrastructure Development
Nagoya University	MA in International Development

India

Here are the participating institutions of India along with their eligible courses which offer the ADB Japan scholarship program:

Academic Institution	Eligible Course
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi	MTech in Science & Technology

Hong Kong

The Hong Kong institution mentioned below accepts students who avail of the ADB Japan Scholarship:

Academic Institution	Eligible Courses
The University of Hong Kong	MSc in Urban Planning and MSc in Urban Design

New Zealand

The ADB JSP scholarship is available for the University of New Zealand as well, and is mentioned below along with their eligible courses:

Academic Institution	Eligible Courses
The University of Auckland	MA in Development Studies; Master in International Business; MSc in Environmental Science; Master of Public Health; MTech/ME programmes

USA

Students enrolling in the following academic institutes can avail of the ADB Japan Scholarship in the eligible courses:

Academic Institutions	Eligible Courses
East-West Center	Master’s Programmes

Singapore

The following colleges and universities in Singapore enrol students under ADB-JSP in their eligible courses. These institutes are mentioned in the table below:

Academic Institutions	Eligible Courses
National University of Singapore	MBA
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy	Master’s in Public Policy

Pakistan

ADB Japan Scholarship is available for the following institutions in Pakistan in their eligible courses as mentioned in the table:

Academic Institution	Eligible Courses
Lahore University of Management Sciences	MBA

Philippines

The following colleges/institutes in the Philippines accept students under the ADB-JSP in their specific courses only, as mentioned in the table:

Academic Institutions	Eligible Courses
Asian Institute of Management	MBA; Master in Development Management
International Rice Research Institute	MSc Courses; MA in Agronomy

Thailand

The tabulated institutions of Thailand accept students under the Asian Development Bank Japan Scholarship Program:

Academic Institutions	Eligible Courses
Asian Institute of Technology	MSc Courses and MEngg programs
Thammasat University	Master in Economics; MEngg

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