JDS Scholarship (Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development)
Funds a two-year Master's in Japan for current government employees, with a set number of seats allocated per partner country each year. Restricted to public-sector employees nominated by their own ministry.
Quick Facts
Status
Applications OpenFunding
Fully FundedDeadline
Country-specific, typically a call between August and December for the following year's intake
Country
JapanAbout the JDS Scholarship
The JDS Scholarship, run through JICA and JICE in partnership with participating home governments, funds Master's study, and occasionally PhD, in Japan for civil servants, typically in public policy, law, economics, or engineering depending on each country's designated priority fields. Recent cycles have allocated specific seat counts per country, for example around 16 Master's and 1 PhD slot for Pakistan and around 30 Master's and 3 PhD slots for Bangladesh in a recent year.
This is strictly a public-sector program: only current government employees nominated through their employing ministry are eligible, with age limits and minimum service-length requirements varying by country.
Eligible Levels
Eligible Fields
Why Choose This Scholarship?
A structured, government-backed pathway for civil servants to gain a Japanese graduate qualification
Set country-specific seat allocations mean a defined, known number of opportunities each year
What the Scholarship Covers
Studying in Japan
Japan's public policy and legal education draws on a distinct administrative tradition, valuable for civil servants working on similar governance challenges at home.
Eligibility Requirements
4 requirements
Documents Checklist
4 documents required
How to Apply - Step by Step
Confirm your country currently participates and check your ministry's nomination process
Apply through your employing ministry
Advance through JICE/JICA shortlisting, a written test, and an interview
Receive Japan university placement
Application Timeline
August-October
Country Call Opens
Varies by country
Country-specific
Ministry Nomination Deadline
Insider Tips & Pro Tips
Confirm you are a current government employee before pursuing this - it is not open to private-sector applicants
Check your specific country's current seat allocation and priority fields with your ministry, since these change year to year
Frequently Asked Questions
2 questions - click any to expand
No, this scholarship is restricted to current civil servants or government employees nominated through their employing ministry.
Seat allocations are set per country each year and change annually. Check with your ministry or JICA/JICE for the current cycle's numbers.
Ready to Apply?
Head to the official portal and start your application today.
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