The Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program offers funding for eligible students who want to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. In addition, scholars take part in educational and leadership activities at the East-West Center.
Also, the scholarship supports students from eligible developing member countries of the Asian Development Bank. Therefore, applicants should carefully check their country and other requirements before applying.
The next application cycle is for the Fall 2027 academic year.
Who is Eligible for the Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program?
Applicants must meet several conditions. They must:
- Be a citizen and current resident of an eligible ADB developing member country.
- Be no more than 35 years old at the time of application.
- Hold a four-year bachelor’s degree or an accepted equivalent.
- Have at least two years of full-time professional work experience after completing a university degree.
- Meet the required English language score.
- Be able to return to their home country after completing their studies.
Therefore, Applicants who live or work outside their home country are not eligible. Also, applicants seeking a second master’s degree or those who previously studied outside eligible ADB developing member countries cannot apply.
What Country or Region is Eligible?
The scholarship is available to citizens and current residents of developing member countries of the Asian Development Bank.
However, eligibility is not open to every country in Asia, Africa or other regions. Applicants should check the official Asian Development Bank list before starting an application.
Consequently, applicants from countries that are not ADB developing members cannot apply for this scholarship.
What does the Scholarship Cover?
The scholarship supports master’s degree study at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
Eligible fields include:
- Business Administration (Global MBA)
- Economics
- Geography
- Natural Resources and Environmental Management
- Ocean and Resources Engineering
- Oceanography
- Pacific Islands Studies
- Public Administration
- Sociology
- Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences
- Urban and Regional Planning
Therefore, applicants should choose a master’s programme that falls within the approved study areas.
What are the Academic Requirements?
Applicants need a four-year bachelor’s degree or an accepted equivalent.
They must also have at least two years of full-time professional work experience after obtaining a university degree.
In addition, applicants must meet the English language requirement. Accepted scores include:
- TOEFL paper-based: 550
- TOEFL computer-based: 213
- TOEFL iBT: 79–80
- Duolingo English Test: 95
- IELTS: 6.5
Some master’s programmes may also require the GRE or GMAT. Therefore, applicants should check the requirements for their chosen course.
What Documents are Required?
Applicants need to provide documents for both the scholarship and university admission process.
These may include:
- Bachelor’s degree certificate
- Academic transcripts
- Proof of professional work experience
- English proficiency test results
- Required GRE or GMAT results, where applicable
- Other supporting documents requested by the university or scholarship programme
Because requirements can vary by master’s programme, applicants should check the University of Hawai‘i’s admission instructions before submitting their documents.
When is the Deadline?
The 2026 application cycle closes on December 1, 2026.
The application period opened on August 18, 2026, and the scholarship is for the Fall 2027 academic year.
Therefore, Applicants should submit their materials before the deadline. Also, they should allow enough time to complete the separate university admission process.
How do I Apply for the Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program?
Applicants need to complete two application processes.
First, they must apply for the ADB-JSP scholarship through the East-West Center.
Next, they must submit a separate application for admission to an eligible master’s programme at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
Therefore, submitting only the scholarship application is not enough..
For more scholarship opportunities, applicants can also explore the Scholarships section on OpportunityLab.net.
Benefits of the Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program ?
The scholarship provides major financial support for successful scholars. Benefits include:
- Full tuition and fees
- Round-trip travel between the scholar’s home country and Honolulu
- Housing at East-West Center residence facilities
- Monthly stipend
- Funding for textbooks
- Health insurance
- U.S. J-1 Exchange Visitor visa sponsorship
- Educational and leadership development opportunities through the East-West Center
Furthermore, the scholarship gives successful students the chance to study at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa while gaining international academic and professional experience.
The Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program Japan Scholarship Program 2026 offers substantial support for eligible master’s students. However, country eligibility is one of the most important requirements.
Therefore, applicants should first confirm that their country is an eligible ADB developing member country. They should then check the requirements for their chosen master’s programme and prepare their documents early.
