ADB–Japan Scholarship Program
Fully funded master's degrees at 27 partner institutions across Asia and the Pacific — 17 of which are in Japan, including the University of Tokyo and Kyoto University. Running since 1988, funded by the Government of Japan. Pakistan is explicitly eligible.
2027 intake — applications open Oct–Nov 2026
The 2026 intake at most Japanese partner institutions has closed. If you are reading this in mid-2026, you are looking at a 2027 intake — applications at most universities will open around October–November 2026. Use this listing to understand the programme now and prepare early.
Return obligation — read this before applying
ADB–JSP scholars are required to return to Pakistan after completing their degree. This is a formal condition of the award, not a suggestion. If your goal is to stay in Japan or use the degree as a migration stepping stone, this scholarship is not compatible with that goal. If your goal is to bring a postgraduate qualification home and apply it here — this is one of the better-funded routes available to you.
What it covers
What it does not cover
- Family expenses
- Additional travel during studies
- Extracurricular courses
- Computers or personal equipment
- Workshops or internships not part of the formal programme
Eligibility
- Pakistani national (Pakistan is an ADB borrowing member country)
- Under 35 years of age at time of application (exceptions rare and require strong justification)
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent with a strong academic record
- Must not currently be living or working outside Pakistan at time of application
- Must not already be enrolled in a graduate degree programme
- Must not hold dual citizenship of any developed country
- Must formally agree to return to Pakistan on completion of studies
Fields covered
Economics, business and management, science and technology, and other development-related fields. Your proposed field of study must connect clearly to your academic background and professional experience, and align with either ADB's development priorities or Japan's overseas development assistance focus areas.
Master's only. PhD and undergraduate applications are not accepted.
How to apply — three stages
ADB–JSP works differently from MEXT. There is no central embassy application. You apply directly to a partner university, which then nominates you to ADB.
- 1
Apply directly to a partner institution
Each university has its own application portal, deadlines, and document requirements. You can apply to more than one institution simultaneously. There is no central ADB portal at this stage.
- 2
University screens and nominates
Shortlisted candidates are submitted by the university to ADB. You do not contact ADB directly at this stage — the university is your only route in.
- 3
ADB selects, Japan approves
ADB reviews nominations against its own criteria and recommends candidates to the Japanese executive director for formal approval. The ADB selection criteria emphasise academic excellence, relevance of proposed study to development priorities, leadership potential, and commitment to contributing to Pakistan's development after returning.
Partner institutions in Japan (selected)
University of Tokyo
Multiple graduate schools; globally top-ranked
Kyoto University
Strong research across sciences and engineering
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)
International focus; higher acceptance rates for ADB–JSP candidates in certain fields
Full institution list: adb.org/work-with-us/careers/japan-scholarship-program/institutions
ADB–JSP vs MEXT: which one to apply for?
These two scholarships are often mentioned together but serve different applicants.
| ADB–JSP | MEXT Research | |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Master's only | Master's and PhD |
| Apply through | Partner university | Embassy of Japan, Islamabad |
| Fields | Development-related, economics, science/tech | Most academic fields |
| Return obligation | Yes — must return to Pakistan | No formal obligation |
| Annual awards (Pakistan) | Share of ~135 global awards | ~11 awards (2024–25) |
| IELTS required | Depends on university | No |
| Age limit | Under 35 | Typically 22–35 |
Common mistakes to watch for
Applying without reading the return obligation carefully
Some applicants discover this condition after being selected. It is a formal commitment. Violating it can affect future visa applications and ADB eligibility.
Choosing a university based on name recognition alone
UTokyo and Kyoto are competitive globally. APU and smaller partners may be better matches for certain fields and have higher acceptance rates for ADB–JSP candidates. Match your field and research plan to the institution's actual strengths.
Missing the university deadline, not the ADB deadline
ADB does not accept direct applications. If you miss the university's internal nomination deadline, you are out for that cycle — there is no route around it.
Not connecting your study plan to development impact
ADB evaluates proposals on how they relate to Pakistan's development challenges. A generic statement of academic interest will not be competitive. The application needs to answer: what problem are you going back to help solve?
Eligibility and programme details verified against official ADB sources at adb.org, May 2026. Confirm deadlines directly with your chosen institution before applying. Official programme page: adb.org/work-with-us/careers/japan-scholarship-program