Funded by the Japanese government but administered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the ADB-JSP is one of the most generous master's level scholarships for mid-career professionals from developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Crucially, it doesn't just fund study in Japan; it partners with elite universities in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Hawaii.
Quick Overview
Full Requirements & Details
Academic Requirements
- Min. CGPA
- 3.0
- Offer Degrees
- Masters
- Subjects
- Biology, Business, Chemistry, Economics, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics
- Seats Available
- Approx. 135 annually
- Study Gap Allowed
- No Restrictions (Gap Allowed)
- Research Publication
- No
- Work Experience
- Yes (2 yrs)
- Age Range
- No Min - 35
Language Requirements
- IELTS
- Min. 6.0
- TOEFL
- Min. 80.0
- GRE
- Not Required
- Local Language
- English
- Local Lang Test
- No
- Study Languages
- English
Financial Details
- Type
- Full
- Fund Details
- Full tuition, monthly subsistence (~147,000 JPY in Japan), housing allowance, book allowance, medical, and flights.
- Monthly Stipend
- JPY 147000/mo
- Tuition
- Full
- Living Costs
- Full
- Travel & Health
- Yes / None
- Application Fee
- Free (No Application Fee)
- Spouse Allowed
- No
What Matters Most
Required Documents
Why You Should Apply
This is a prestige fully-funded program for working professionals. It covers 100% of your tuition, provides a massive monthly living allowance (scaled to the host country's cost of living), round-trip airfare, medical insurance, and even an annual book allowance. If you are an engineer, economist, or public health worker in a developing Asian country looking to jump to a leadership role, this is your ticket.
Application Process
You do NOT apply directly to the ADB. You must choose from the official list of ADB-designated partner universities (e.g., University of Tokyo, National University of Singapore, University of Auckland). When you apply for admission to the master's program at that university, you indicate that you want to be considered for the ADB-JSP.
The university selects the top candidates and forwards their names to the ADB for final approval.
How to Win This Scholarship
The hard requirement that trips people up is the work experience. You MUST have at least two full years of post-bachelor's professional work experience. Internships during undergrad do not count.
Your application must scream 'National Development.' The ADB exists to eliminate poverty; your statement of purpose must explicitly connect your proposed master's degree to solving a specific developmental, economic, or infrastructural problem in your home country.
Benefits After Completing Study
ADB scholars are highly respected in international development circles. However, this scholarship comes with a strict bond: you must sign a legal agreement committing to return to your home country for at least two years immediately after graduation.
Age limits are strict (under 35). You cannot be living or working outside of your home country at the time of application, and you cannot already hold a master's degree. The scholarship strictly does not cover dependents, so if you bring your family, you pay for them entirely out of pocket.
Official Source
For complete details and to verify all requirements, please refer to the scholarship provider's official website.
Visit Official Source