ADB-Japan Scholarship Program
Asian Development Bank / Government of Japan · All India
| Scheme Name | ADB-Japan Scholarship Program |
| Provided By | Asian Development Bank / Government of Japan |
| Eligibility Summary | Class 11-12, Graduation, Engineering (< ₹8L Income) |
About the Program
Comprehensive guide for ADB-Japan Scholarship Program. Get eligibility details, stipend amounts, and registration instructions here.
Benefits & Financial Support
₹17.0 Lakh+
The ADB-Japan Scholarship Program is a fully funded scholarship covering full tuition fees, a monthly subsistence allowance (approximately JPY 147,000–148,000, which is around INR 82,320 – 82,880 per month, totaling approximately INR 987,840 – 994,560 annually based on a JPY 0.56 to INR 1 exchange rate) including housing, a book and instructional materials allowance (approximately JPY 100,000 per year, or INR 56,000 annually), and round-trip economy airfare. It also includes medical insurance, research subsidies, and a one-time establishment allowance (around JPY 30,000, or INR 16,800). Some programs may also offer a special grant for thesis preparation (e.g., JPY 116,250 annually for Science Tokyo, or INR 65,100). The scholarship amounts are disbursed by the participating academic institutions. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to Aadhaar-seeded accounts is not applicable as this is an international scholarship administered by the Asian Development Bank and its partner universities, not a scheme of the Government of India.
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Nationality:Must be a national of an ADB borrowing member country. Applicants from countries that are no longer borrowing from ADB are not eligible. Dual citizenship with any developed country is not permitted.
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Academic Qualification:Must possess a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent with a superior academic record. This often translates to a cGPA of 3.5/4.0 or higher.
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Work Experience:Must have at least two (2) years of full-time professional work experience (acquired after a university degree) at the time of application.
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English Proficiency:Must be proficient in oral and written English to facilitate graduate-level study.
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Age Limit:Must not be more than 35 years old at the time of application (exceptions are rare).
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Health:Must be in good health.
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Return to Home Country:Must agree to return to and work in their home country for a period of at least two years after completion of studies under the program.
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Previous Degrees:May not have already earned a Master's or doctoral degree, and may not be currently enrolled in such a degree program (the program will not support applicants pursuing a second Master's degree).
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Affiliation:May not be an Executive Director, Alternate Director, management member, or staff of the ADB, nor a consultant to the same or a relative of any of the aforementioned. Staff of ADB-JSP designated institutions are also ineligible.
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Residency:May not be living or working in a country other than their home country at the time of application.
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Financial Capacity:Preference is given to applicants with lesser financial capacity; family income should not exceed US$50,000 per year, and individual income should not exceed US$25,000 per year.
Eligibility Criteria & Income Limit
| Education Level | Masters |
| Course / Stream | Masters |
| Income Limit | No income bar |
| Category / Caste | General, OBC, SC, ST |
| Domicile State | All India |
Mandatory Documents Checklist
- ✓Completed application form of the chosen academic institution
- ✓ADB-JSP Information Sheet (Form 1)
- ✓Copy of Degree Certificate and Transcript of a 4-year undergraduate degree program (showing a superior academic record, e.g., cGPA 3.5 and above)
- ✓English proficiency test score (e.g., IELTS Academic: 6 or AIT EET ≥ 6.0, TOEFL ≥ 550) as required by the institution
- ✓Work certificate(s) from employer(s) (on company letterhead/logo, signed by authorized signatory, including start/end dates of employment, position, and monthly/annual income)
- ✓Latest Income Tax Return or a Certification of Annual/Monthly Salary
- ✓Certification of Family Income (Parent's income if unmarried; Spouse's income if married), certified by the local Municipality
- ✓USD Conversion Form for income statements (if income is in local currency)
- ✓Evaluation Report (if required by the specific institution)
- ✓Additional supporting documents as requested by the chosen academic institution
Selection Process
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Candidates must be nationals of an ADB borrowing member country (including India) and not hold dual citizenship of any developed country
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Applicants must be under 35 years of age at the time of application (or up to 45 for senior officials and managers in specific programs)
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A Bachelor's degree or its equivalent with a superior academic record is required, along with at least two years of full-time professional work experience acquired after the first degree
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Proficiency in oral and written English communication is mandatory, demonstrated by scores such as IELTS ≥ 6.5, TOEFL iBT ≥ 79
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–90, PTE ≥ 58, or equivalent
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Applicants must be in good health and commit to returning to their home country for at least two years after completing their studies to contribute to its development
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The selection process involves applying directly to a participating academic institution
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The institution screens and ranks applicants based on its own criteria, adhering to ADB's eligibility and selection guidelines
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Priority is given to the ranking proposed by the Designated Institutions, women candidates, and applicants with lesser financial capacity (family income not exceeding USD 50,000 per year and individual income not exceeding USD 25,000 per year)
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The program generally does not support applicants who have previously studied abroad or are pursuing a second master's degree.
Renewal Policy
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The scholarship is initially awarded for one year
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An extension for the second year of study is conditional on the scholar maintaining a satisfactory level of academic performance, as determined by the academic institution
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The scholarship will not, in principle, be extended beyond the two-year maximum duration
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Scholarships may be suspended for a maximum of twelve months for valid reasons such as health or family matters
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The scholarship can be terminated if the scholar fails to make satisfactory academic progress, fails to comply with the laws of the host country, engages in misconduct, or breaches the conditions of the ADB-JSP or student visa.
How to Apply Online
Applications are submitted online via the official portal. Complete eKYC, upload scanned documents, and submit before the closing date.
- 1Choose a Designated Institution
Review the list of participating academic institutions and their approved fields of study on the official ADB website (link provided in `apply_url`). For India, the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi is a designated institution.
- 2Request Information
Contact your chosen institution(s) to obtain specific information and application forms for their master's programs and the ADB-JSP.
- 3Apply for Admission
Apply for admission to an eligible master's course at the selected institution. You must gain admission to be considered for the scholarship.
- 4Indicate Scholarship Interest
Clearly state in your application to the academic institution that you wish to be considered for the ADB-Japan Scholarship Program.
- 5Prepare and Submit Documents
Complete the institution's application form and gather all required documentation. This typically includes: * Completed application form of the chosen academic institution. * ADB-JSP Information Sheet (downloadable from the ADB website or university site). * Proof of citizenship (e.g., passport copy). * Bachelor's degree certificate and official academic transcripts. * Certificate(s) of employment detailing at least two years of full-time professional work experience (after graduation), signed by an authorized signatory on company letterhead. * English language proficiency test scores (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, or institution-specific tests). * Latest income tax return or certification of annual/monthly salary (personal and family income, including spouse's if married, or parent's if single). This should show individual income not exceeding USD 25,000/year and family income not exceeding USD 50,000/year. * Medical examination certificate. * Letters of recommendation (usually two, from a university professor and a senior staff member from your workplace). * Statement of purpose or research proposal. * Submit all required documents to the academic institution by their specified deadline (typically at least six months prior to the planned intake).
- 6Selection and Notification
The academic institution will screen, evaluate, and rank applicants before nominating suitable candidates to the ADB. The ADB then reviews these nominations and makes the final selection, informing the institutions who in turn notify the successful scholars.
- 7Status Tracking
Since applications are submitted through individual universities, there is no central online portal for direct status tracking. You should follow up with the academic institution to which you applied for updates on your application status.
Common Questions (FAQs)
What expenses does the ADB-Japan Scholarship Program cover?
The scholarship is fully funded and provides comprehensive coverage, including full tuition fees, a monthly stipend for living expenses (inclusive of housing), allowances for books and instructional materials, round-trip airfare to and from the study destination, medical insurance, and research subsidies. A one-time establishment allowance is also provided. In some cases, a special grant for thesis preparation and coverage for preparatory language or computer literacy courses may also be included.
Can I apply directly to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for this scholarship?
No, you cannot apply directly to the ADB for the ADB-Japan Scholarship Program. The application process requires you to first apply for admission to an eligible master's program at one of the ADB-JSP's designated academic institutions. You must then indicate to the institution that you wish to be considered for the ADB-JSP scholarship. The institution will nominate eligible candidates to the ADB for final selection.
Am I required to return to my home country after completing the scholarship program?
Yes, a mandatory condition of the ADB-Japan Scholarship Program is that scholars must commit to returning to and working in their home countries for a period of at least two years after the completion of their studies. This commitment is crucial for contributing to the economic and social development of your home country. Additionally, there is an employment restriction preventing scholars from working at the ADB for two years after completing their academic programs.
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Legal Disclaimer
IndiaScholarships.in attempts to provide accurate information manually curated from official sources. Scholarship details, timelines, and eligibility can change without notice as per the provider's discretion. Applying for a scholarship does not guarantee selection. Always verify all information on the official Asian Development Bank / Government of Japan website before final submission.