Scholarships·East & Southeast Asia· 9 min read

ADB-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP): A Guide for Asian Students

ADB-JSP explained: a multilateral postgraduate award financed by Japan, tenable at designated institutions across Asia — the work-experience rule and how to apply.

Last updated 15 July 2026

Key facts

Funder: Asian Development Bank; financed by the Government of Japan
Level: Postgraduate, centred on approved master's courses — verify on adb.org
Eligibility: National of an ADB borrowing member country — see the official list
Work experience: At least 2 years full-time professional experience after your first degree
Apply via: The designated institution, not ADB directly
Coverage / stipend: Defer to adb.org — verify current terms

What the ADB-Japan Scholarship Program is

The ADB-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP) is a postgraduate scholarship run by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and financed by the Government of Japan. It was created to help build professional and technical capacity in the region by funding postgraduate study in development-related fields.

What makes ADB-JSP distinctive is that it is multilateral and Asia-Pacific-wide. Rather than being tied to a single country, it supports study at a network of designated partner institutions across several economies — ADB publishes the current list on its official programme pages. Because the partner list, fields, eligibility and financial terms are updated periodically, treat this guide as an orientation and verify every current detail on adb.org.

Who it is for — and the requirement that catches people out

ADB-JSP is aimed at nationals of ADB's borrowing member countries who intend to contribute to their home country's development after study. India is an ADB member and Indian nationals are among the eligible groups — but the precise, current list of eligible countries is defined by ADB and must be checked on the official page before you rely on it.

The requirement that most often catches applicants out is professional experience. ADB's stated criteria, as restated by its designated institutions, include holding a bachelor's degree with a strong academic record, having gained admission to an approved programme at a designated institution, an upper age limit, not holding dual citizenship of a developed country, and — importantly — **at least two years of full-time professional working experience gained after your first degree**. This is a stated eligibility requirement, not a preference: a fresh graduate applying straight from a bachelor's is generally not eligible. Applicants already living or working outside their home country, and staff of ADB or of the designated institutions, are also excluded. Do not assume you qualify from this summary — confirm the current criteria on adb.org and with your chosen institution.

The partner-institution-first application model

ADB-JSP uses a partner-institution-first model, which trips up many applicants. You do not send an application to the Asian Development Bank. Instead, you apply for admission to an eligible programme at one of the ADB-JSP designated institutions, and — through that institution's process — you indicate that you wish to be considered for the scholarship. The designated institution screens, ranks and nominates candidates.

So your first task is to identify a designated partner institution and programme that fits you, then follow that university's own admission and scholarship-application instructions and deadlines. The university's official scholarship page is your operational source; the ADB page is the programme-rules source. Deadlines are set per institution and per intake, so check both.

What fields, levels and institutions it supports

ADB-JSP focuses on postgraduate study in fields connected to economic and social development — commonly economics, business and management, science and technology, and other development-related disciplines. ADB's criteria centre on admission to an approved master's course; the programme does not support undergraduate study, and designated institutions state that it does not fund a second master's degree. Eligible programmes differ by partner university, and not every department at a designated university participates.

The designated-institution list spans several economies across Asia and the Pacific — at the time of writing it includes institutions in India, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong (China), Thailand and other participating economies. Because ADB updates this list, do not plan around any institution until you have seen it on ADB's current official list. Where an English-taught programme is involved, you may need to evidence English proficiency through a test such as IELTS or TOEFL — confirm the requirement and score on the university's admission page.

How ADB-JSP differs from MEXT, CSC and GKS

ADB-JSP differs from the big single-country government scholarships in a few ways. MEXT (Japan), CSC (China) and GKS (Korea) are each run by one national government for study in that one country, usually with national timelines and country quotas, and they are generally open to applicants without work experience. ADB-JSP is run by a multilateral development bank, is financed by Japan, is tenable at designated institutions across multiple Asia-Pacific economies, and is built around mid-career professionals rather than fresh graduates.

The application route differs too: MEXT, CSC and GKS have their own central or embassy channels, whereas ADB-JSP is accessed through the partner institution's admission process. None is universally 'better' — they suit different plans and career stages. Compare each on its official terms rather than on reputation.

How to apply and verify

To apply: start on ADB's official Japan Scholarship Program pages to read the current rules and open the designated-institutions list; shortlist a partner institution and an eligible programme you are genuinely qualified for; then follow that institution's official admission and scholarship instructions, meeting both the admission and the scholarship deadlines.

Because eligible countries, partner institutions, fields, financial coverage and dates are all set by ADB and updated over time, verify every figure and requirement on the official Asian Development Bank website and the partner institution's official page before acting. No preparation service can guarantee selection, and no one can arrange a nomination for a fee — a strong, honestly-prepared application submitted through the official route is what improves your odds. Treat any guarantee-for-payment offer as a scam.

Frequently asked questions

Can Indian students apply for ADB-JSP?

India is an ADB member and Indian nationals are among the eligible groups, and ADB's designated-institution list has included an institution in India. However, the exact, current list of eligible countries and institutions is set by ADB and can change — confirm your eligibility on the official adb.org programme pages before applying.

Can I apply straight after my bachelor's degree?

Generally no. ADB's stated criteria, as restated by its designated institutions, require at least two years of full-time professional working experience gained after your first degree, alongside an upper age limit. This is an eligibility requirement rather than a preference — verify the current criteria on adb.org before you apply.

Do I apply to ADB or to a university?

To an institution. You apply for admission to an eligible programme at an ADB-JSP designated institution and request scholarship consideration through that institution's process; the institution screens and nominates candidates, rather than you applying to ADB directly.

Does ADB-JSP cover PhD study?

ADB's criteria centre on admission to an approved master's course, and designated institutions state it does not support undergraduate study or a second master's. Do not assume a particular level is covered — check the current scope on adb.org and the designated institution's page.

Is ADB-JSP only for study in Japan?

No. Although it is financed by Japan, it is tenable at a network of designated institutions across several Asia-Pacific economies. The current partner list is published on the official ADB programme pages — verify it there.

Official sources

This guide explains the process and is for guidance only. Eligibility, dates, fees and rules change every year — always confirm the current details on the official site before you act.

Verified against: ADB-Japan Scholarship Program (Asian Development Bank, official); ADB-JSP designated institutions list (Asian Development Bank, official); Japan Scholarship Program Fund (Asian Development Bank, official).

Last verified: 15 July 2026.