Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University ADB Scholarship 2027

The Asia Pacific University ADB Scholarship 2027 (ADB-JSP) provides financial support to qualified individuals from eligible developing countries who wish to pursue postgraduate education in development-related fields.

The programme is supported by the Government of Japan and administered through the Asian Development Bank in partnership with selected academic institutions across Asia and the Pacific.

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), located in Beppu, Japan, has participated in the programme since 2010. Through this partnership, APU offers a limited number of scholarships to eligible applicants admitted to its Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies (GSA).

The scholarship is available for approved master's programmes, including Asia Pacific Studies and International Cooperation Policy. Applicants to the IMAT programme, the Graduate School of Management and doctoral programmes are not eligible for APU's ADB-JSP award.

Students can develop specialised knowledge in international development, regional cooperation, governance, policy and related areas while studying in APU's multicultural academic environment.

The programme particularly supports individuals who intend to apply their knowledge and skills to development challenges in their home countries.

Applicants must first apply for admission to APU and indicate their interest in the ADB-JSP scholarship. APU assesses eligible applicants and nominates selected candidates for the scholarship provider's final decision.

The standard master's duration is two years, with scholarship support initially granted for one year and a possible extension based on academic performance.

Applicants must satisfy both the ADB-JSP scholarship requirements and APU's graduate admission criteria.

• Nationality: Be a citizen of an eligible ADB borrowing member country that also qualifies for Japanese Official Development Assistance scholarship support.

• Dual citizenship: Must not hold dual citizenship of a developed country.

• Country of residence: Must not currently be living or working outside their home country.

• Academic qualification: Hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent with a strong academic record.

• Professional experience: Have at least two years of full-time professional work experience after completing the bachelor's degree.

• Age: Be 35 years old or younger at the time of application, subject to the exceptional waiver provisions in ADB's general policy.

• English proficiency: Demonstrate sufficient spoken and written English proficiency to undertake postgraduate study.

• Admission: Meet the admission requirements of an approved APU master's programme.

• Previous degrees: Applicants should not already hold a bachelor's or master's degree obtained outside their home country, in principle.

• Previous postgraduate study: Applicants must not already be enrolled in another graduate degree programme.

• Second master's: Applicants must not be pursuing a second master's degree.

• Health: Applicants must be in good health.

• Income: Family income must not exceed US$50,000 annually, and individual income must not exceed US$25,000 annually, according to APU's scholarship-specific conditions.

• Return-home commitment: Agree to return to and work in their home country for at least two years after completing the scholarship.

• Employment restrictions: ADB personnel, designated-institution staff and specified relatives or related individuals are ineligible under the programme rules.

The ADB-JSP at APU provides:

• Full admission fee coverage: The university admission fee is covered for scholarship recipients.

• Full tuition fees: Tuition costs for the approved master's programme are covered.

• Monthly allowance: ¥144,000 for living expenses, including accommodation costs; the amount is subject to change.

• Academic materials: Financial support for books and instructional materials.

• Medical insurance: Medical insurance coverage under the scholarship arrangements.

• International travel: Economy-class airfare between the recipient's home country and APU at the beginning and end of the programme.

• Graduate education: An opportunity to complete a recognised master's degree in an international academic environment.

Applicants should prepare the following documents for the APU master's application and ADB-JSP scholarship consideration.

• Completed APU online graduate application.

• Bachelor's degree certificate or proof of expected graduation.

• Academic transcripts.

• English-language proficiency test results or applicable exemption evidence.

• Research proposal or study plan, as required by the chosen programme.

• Curriculum vitae detailing educational and professional experience.

• Employment certificate documenting at least two years of qualifying full-time work experience.

• Employment history information, including position, employment dates and income.

• Any recommendation or supporting documents required in the 2027 Graduate Application Handbook.

ADB-JSP-specific employment certificate requirements:

The employment certificate must be on the employer's letterhead, signed by an authorised representative and include employment dates, position and monthly or annual income. Where income is stated in a local currency, APU requires the applicable US dollar conversion form.

Documents required later:

Applicants selected as scholarship candidates may need to provide a certificate of income and additional documentation requested by APU or ADB-JSP.

APU evaluates graduate applications through:

• Academic qualifications and transcripts.

• Research proposal and study objectives.

• Motivation and suitability for the selected programme.

• Recorded video interview performance.

• Online assessment results, including relevant reasoning tests.

ADB-JSP also considers:

• Satisfaction of scholarship eligibility conditions.

• Relevant post-degree professional experience.

• Academic merit and ability to complete the programme.

• Potential to contribute to development in the applicant's home country.

• Compliance with the scholarship's financial and other eligibility requirements.

• Study at an international university in Japan.

• Develop expertise in Asia-Pacific studies, development and international cooperation.

• Gain exposure to diverse academic and cultural perspectives.

• Build research, analytical and policy-related skills.

• Explore development challenges affecting Asian and Pacific countries.

• Strengthen professional networks for future careers in public policy, research and development.

• Apply acquired knowledge to development initiatives in your home country.