JDS Scholarship (Japan, Project for Human Resource Development)

The JDS Scholarship (the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship by Japanese Grant Aid) sends young government officials and professionals from 28 partner countries to Japan for fully funded English-taught master’s and PhD degrees. It covers full tuition, a monthly living allowance sufficient for Japan, round-trip flights and arrival support.

Partner countries include Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Philippines, Mongolia, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, India and the Central Asian republics, with each national JDS office running its own quota, priority fields and schedule. Fellows have risen to deputy minister and ambassador level back home. Most national windows close between October and December 2026, so contact your JDS office now.

• Highly capable young officials, mainly from government, in the 28 JDS partner countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Philippines, Mongolia, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Laos, Cambodia, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Mozambique, India, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and others.
• Each country's JDS project sets its own age range, target organizations, priority fields and quota through a bilateral steering committee.
• Bachelor's degree with a solid record for the master's track; the PhD track is mainly open to returned JDS master's alumni.
• English-taught programmes, so working English is required; courses are hosted at strong Japanese universities such as IUJ, GRIPS, Meiji, Hiroshima, Ritsumeikan APU and others.
• Official nomination or endorsement from your employing organization is required in most countries, and public-sector applicants dominate the intake.
• Applicants may not hold another scholarship at the same time.
• Commitment to return and apply the skills in your country's development administration is central to selection.

• Full tuition at the host Japanese university, paid by the programme.
• Monthly allowance sufficient for living costs in Japan for the two-year master's (three-year PhD).
• Round-trip air tickets and other transportation, arranged and provided by JDS.
• Arrival orientation, settling-in support and research-related cost coverage, including study trips where the programme provides them.
• Small, well-supported national cohorts (for example six fellows per year from Fiji) with close follow-up from the JDS office.
• A powerful alumni track record: returned fellows have risen to deputy minister and ambassador levels across partner countries.

• Country-specific application kit obtained from your national JDS project office (paper or online via the TAO system where offered).
• Official nomination or consent from your employing organization, often routed through the responsible ministry.
• Academic certificates and transcripts with English translations.
• Confidential reference statement from your supervisor on the official form.
• Research or study plan matched to your country's priority fields.
• English evidence and identity documents as listed in your country's guidelines.

• Check the JDS website's country pages to confirm your country participates and when its current window runs; each office announces its own schedule.
• Contact the JDS project office in your country early and request the application kit, since employer nomination and internal ministry deadlines come before the final submission date.
• Choose target universities and courses from your country's approved list, matched to its priority development fields.
• Submit the complete application by your national deadline (recent examples: Fiji closed mid-November, Bangladesh in December, Kenya in May).
• Pass the multi-stage screening: document review, examinations or interviews with the steering committee, and university-side screening.
• Selected fellows travel together for the autumn intake, with pre-departure orientation handled by the JDS office.