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The Asian Development Bank–Japan Scholarship Program (ADBJSP Fully Funded Scholarships) offers about 140 postgraduate scholarships a year for studies in economics, management, science and technology, and other development-related fields at participating academic institutions.
Read through to find out how you can increase your odds to win the scholarships and get funded to support your higher education aspiration.
Overview
The Asian Development Bank – Japan Scholarship Program (ADBJSP Fully Funded Scholarships) provides support for Master’s degree study in ADBJSP approved fields of study at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM), and for participation in the educational, residential, and leadership development programs at the East-West Center (EWC).
ADBJSP is a scholarship program that was established to strengthen human resource capacity in Asian Development Bank developing member countries. After completing their studies, scholars are expected to return to their home countries to apply and share their new knowledge and skills to promote socioeconomic development.
The ABDJSP Fully Funded Scholarships enrolls about 300 students annually in academic institutions located in 9 countries within the region. Upon completion of their study programs, scholars are expected to contribute to the economic and social development of their home countries.
The scholarship provides full tuition fees, a monthly allowance for expenses, housing, books and instructional materials, medical insurance and travel. For scholars engaged in research, a special grant may be available for thesis preparation. In special circumstances, computer literacy, preparatory language and other similar courses may be covered under the scholarship.
Eligibility Requirements
The basic eligibility requirements for the ADBJSP Fully Funded Scholarship at the East-West Center are as follows. Applicants must:
- Be a citizen and current resident of a developing member country of the Asian Development Bank and not more than 35 years old at the time of application.
- Have a 4-year bachelor’s degree or the equivalent of a 4-year Bachelor’s degree, at the time of application. (An equivalent could be a 3-year Bachelor’s degree plus a 1-year Master’s degree, or a 2-year bachelor’s degree plus a 2-year Master’s degree. This is subject to review.)
- Have at least 2 years of full-time professional work experience after a university degree at the time of application.
- Take one of the English proficiency tests; the minimum acceptable scores are 550 for the paper-based TOEFL; 213 for the computer-based TOEFL; and 79-80 for the internet-based TOEFL iBT; or 6.5 for the IELTS. Results must be taken from a test within the past two years.
Applicants with the following experience are not eligible for the ADBJSP Fully Funded Scholarship:
- Applicants living or working in a country other than his/her home country are not eligible to apply.
- Applicants who have previously studied abroad, or who are seeking a second master’s degree are not eligible to apply.
Scholarships are available to citizens of the following countries/areas:
- Afghanistan
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Cambodia
- Cook Islands
- Georgia
- India
- Indonesia
- Fiji
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kyrgyz Republic
- Lao People’s Democratic Republic
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Niue
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Sri Lanka
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vietnam
Programs covered by the ADBJSP Fully Funded Scholarships are postgraduate studies in:
- agriculture
- economics
- education
- environment
- health
- management
- natural resource management
- other development-related fields
- science and technology
Only programs at the participating academic institutions in the Asian and Pacific Regions are eligible for ADBJSP funding.
How to Apply for ADBJSP Fully Funded Scholarships
Applicants should indicate to the academic institution that they are applying for admission and that they would like to be considered for the ADBJSP Fully Funded Scholarships.
The completed institution application form and required documentation, including the ADBJSP application sheet form, should be submitted to the academic institution. Applicants must ensure that they submit accurate and complete documentation. Failure to do so may result in an application not being processed or to an award being terminated if documentation or information provided is later determined to be false.
Applicants are required to submit their latest Income tax return or certification of their annual salary/monthly salary, whichever is available. They should also submit a certification of family income (parent’s income).
Applications for scholarships should be sent at least six months prior to the planned time that you wish to commence studies.
- Click here to download the application form in MS Word format (214 KB).
- Click here to download the application form in PDF format (95.4 KB)
Selection Process of ADBJSP Fully Funded Scholarships
The academic institution will screen and rank the applicants, based on its own selection criteria, keeping in view the eligibility requirements and selection criteria of the ADB. In the evaluation process, the academic institution may contact the candidates for further information. The academic institution will then submit its ranked list of applicants to ADB, including a description of the score/grading system which is the basis for the ranking.
ADB will review the submission from the academic institutions and recommend awardees based on the selection criteria of ADB to the Executive Director of Japan for formal approval.
Upon approval by the Executive Director of Japan, ADB will advise academic institutions on the successful candidates.
The academic institution will inform all applicants of the outcome of the selection process and begin to make arrangements for the awardees take up their scholarships.
The academic institutions will arrange for the signing of the acceptance of scholarship award by awardee wherein the scholars agree that after completion of their study, they will return to their home country.
ADB will send an appropriate congratulatory letter to scholars through the university.
Important to note:
- Completion of the application form or admission by the academic institution does not mean that you have been accepted for a scholarship; accordingly you should not take any action with respect to your current employment or otherwise, until you have been informed by the institution that you have been awarded a scholarship.
- No separate application to ADB is necessary.
- Only candidates who have been offered admission and endorsed by the academic institutions will be considered for the scholarships by the ADB.
- The ADBJSP Fully Funded Scholarships do not cover expenses for the scholar’s family; extra-curricular courses or training; additional travel during the course of the study program; additional expenses related to supplementary educational materials, field trips, or participation in workshops, seminars, or internships while at the academic institution or purchase of educational equipment such as computers.
- The duly accomplished applications form together with all copies of academic records should be sent to the institution at least six (6) months before the commencement of the intake that you wish to join.
Contact Details
For further information, contact:
East-West Center
Award Services Office/ADB-JSP
1601 East-West Road
John A. Burns Hall, Room 2066
Honolulu, Hawaii 96848-1601 USA
Email: adbjsp@eastwestcenter.org
Telephone: +1-808-944-7738
Fax: +1-808-944-7730
Official Website
Asian Development Bank – Japan Scholarship Program
