APU ADB Scholarship 2027

APU ADB Scholarship 2027 in Japan

The APU ADB Scholarship 2027 is a fully funded Master's scholarship opportunity offered at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Japan in partnership with the Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP).

The scholarship is designed for qualified citizens of eligible ADB developing member countries who want to pursue graduate studies in development-related fields. APU has been a designated institution under the ADB-JSP and selects eligible applicants before recommending shortlisted candidates to the scholarship organization for final selection.

The scholarship provides comprehensive financial support, including full tuition, a monthly living allowance, books and study materials, medical insurance, and round-trip economy-class airfare. The initial scholarship period is one year, with a possible extension for a second year depending on the student's academic performance.

APU ADB Scholarship 2027 Overview

Category	Details
Scholarship Name	APU ADB Scholarship 2027
Host Country	Japan
University	Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Scholarship Provider	Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program
Degree Level	Master's
Eligible Applicants	Citizens of eligible ADB developing member countries
Funding Type	Fully Funded
Tuition Fee	Fully Covered
Monthly Allowance	¥144,000, including housing
Airfare	Round-trip economy class
Medical Insurance	Covered
Books & Materials	Covered
Study Duration	Normally 2 years
September 2027 Deadline	November 5, 2026 or January 8, 2027, depending on application round

APU's official 2027 graduate admission schedule lists ADB Scholarship 1 with a deadline of November 5, 2026, and ADB Scholarship 2 with a deadline of January 8, 2027, for September 2027 enrollment.

What Does the APU ADB Scholarship Cover?

The APU ADB Scholarship provides extensive financial support to successful scholars.

The benefits include:

• Full admission fee
• Full tuition fees
• ¥144,000 monthly subsistence allowance, including housing
• Allowance for books and instructional materials
• Medical insurance
• Round-trip economy-class airfare between the student's home country and Japan
• Financial support for the scholarship period

The scholarship is intended to reduce the major financial barriers associated with pursuing a Master's degree in Japan.

Who Can Apply?

The APU ADB Scholarship is intended for qualified applicants from ADB borrowing member countries that are also eligible for Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Applicants must meet the scholarship's nationality, residence, academic and professional requirements. Candidates should carefully verify that their country is included in the current ADB and Japanese ODA eligibility lists before applying.

Applicants must also meet the following major conditions:

• Be a citizen of an eligible ADB borrowing member country.
• Not hold dual citizenship of a developed country.
• Currently live and work in their home country.
• Have at least two years of full-time professional work experience after completing a Bachelor's degree.
• Demonstrate sufficient oral and written English ability.
• Be 35 years old or younger at the time of application.
• Not currently be enrolled in another graduate degree programme.
• Not be applying for a second Master's degree.
• Meet the applicable income requirements.
• Satisfy APU's graduate admission requirements.

Work Experience Requirement

Professional experience is one of the key eligibility conditions.

Applicants need at least two years of full-time work experience obtained after completing their Bachelor's degree. This requirement is important because the ADB-JSP is designed to support professionals who can use their advanced education to contribute to the development of their home countries.

Applicants should be prepared to provide employment certificates showing their employment history. If their current employment period is less than two years, they may need to provide documentation from a previous employer as well.

Income Requirements

The scholarship also has financial eligibility conditions.

According to the published scholarship information, applicants should have:

• Family annual income of no more than US$50,000
• Individual annual income of no more than US$25,000

Selected scholarship candidates may be required to provide a Certificate of Income as evidence of their financial situation.

Applicants should ensure that the financial information provided in their application is accurate and supported by official documentation.

Eligible Fields of Study

The ADB-JSP supports graduate studies in development-related areas.

At APU, relevant study areas can include:

• Economics
• Management
• Health
• Education
• Agriculture
• Environment
• Natural Resource Management
• Science and Technology
• Other development-related fields

Applicants should select a Master's programme that aligns with the development priorities supported by the scholarship and their professional background.

Academic Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of their selected Master's programme at APU.

A strong academic background is important because the scholarship is highly competitive. Candidates should demonstrate that their previous education and professional experience are relevant to their intended graduate studies.

In addition to academic qualifications, applicants should demonstrate professional experience and the ability to communicate effectively in English.

The exact admission requirements can vary depending on the programme, so students should carefully review the relevant APU graduate application guidelines before applying.

English Language Requirement

Applicants must demonstrate sufficient proficiency in oral and written English to successfully participate in graduate-level study.

English-language requirements may vary depending on the application circumstances and programme. Applicants should therefore review the latest APU admission instructions rather than assuming that the same test requirement applies to every candidate.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare the documents required for both APU admission and scholarship consideration.

Important documents can include:

• Bachelor's degree certificate
• Academic transcripts
• Curriculum Vitae
• Passport or proof of nationality
• Employment certificate
• Previous employment certificate, if required
• Income documentation
• Research proposal or other programme-specific documents
• English-language evidence where applicable
• Other documents required by APU

APU specifically states that applicants requesting consideration for the ADB-JSP should provide a Certificate of Employment issued by their current employer. If the current employment period is less than two years, documentation from the previous employer may also be required. The employment documents should show employment dates and income.

How to Apply for APU ADB Scholarship 2027

Applicants must first apply for admission to Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University through the APU online application system.

While completing the online application, eligible applicants should request consideration for the ADB-JSP scholarship. They should also upload the required academic, employment and financial documents.

After APU reviews the applications, suitable candidates are shortlisted and recommended to the ADB-JSP scholarship organization. The final scholarship award decision is made through the ADB-JSP selection process.

For the 2027 intake, applicants should pay close attention to the specific ADB scholarship application round they are applying under because APU lists different deadlines for ADB Scholarship 1 and ADB Scholarship 2.

Application Process

The application process can be summarized as follows:

Choose an eligible Master's programme: Select a suitable development-related Master's programme at APU and review its admission requirements.

Create an APU application account: Register through the university's online graduate application system and begin completing your application.

Request ADB-JSP consideration: Indicate in the online application that you want to be considered for the ADB scholarship.

Upload supporting documents: Submit academic records, employment certificates, income documents and other required materials.

Submit the application before the relevant deadline: Make sure your complete application reaches APU before the deadline for your selected ADB scholarship round.

APU shortlisting: APU evaluates eligible applicants and recommends suitable candidates to the ADB-JSP.

Final scholarship selection: The final scholarship award is determined by the ADB-JSP scholarship selection process.

Application Deadline

For September 2027 enrollment, APU's official application schedule lists two ADB scholarship application rounds:

• ADB Scholarship 1: November 5, 2026
• ADB Scholarship 2: January 8, 2027

Applicants should select the appropriate application round and confirm the exact deadline on the APU graduate admissions website before submitting their application.

The APU online application for 2027 enrollment opens on September 1, 2026.

Scholarship Duration

The ADB-JSP scholarship normally supports graduate study for approximately two years.

According to APU, the initial scholarship period is one year, while an extension for a second year may be granted depending on the student's academic performance and applicable scholarship conditions.

Students must therefore maintain satisfactory academic progress throughout their studies.

Is the APU ADB Scholarship Fully Funded?

Yes.

The APU ADB Scholarship is a fully funded Master's scholarship. It covers the major costs associated with studying at APU in Japan, including full tuition, admission fees, monthly living support, books and instructional materials, medical insurance and round-trip economy-class airfare.

However, applicants should carefully review the official scholarship conditions because the exact amount and terms of allowances can be subject to change.

Why Study at APU in Japan?

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University provides an international academic environment in Japan, with graduate programmes designed around regional and global issues.

For students interested in development-related careers, studying at APU can provide opportunities to:

• Develop advanced professional knowledge
• Study in an international environment
• Build connections with students from different countries
• Gain exposure to Asia-Pacific development issues
• Develop research and analytical skills
• Build an international professional network
• Experience higher education in Japan

The ADB-JSP funding can make this educational experience substantially more accessible to eligible students from developing member countries.

Important Points for Applicants

Applicants should keep several important conditions in mind before applying.

The scholarship is not open to every international student. Applicants must satisfy the ADB-JSP nationality and residence requirements and must have the required professional experience.

Applicants must also apply to APU first. There is no separate route where a student can simply receive the ADB scholarship without going through the university's admission and recommendation process.

Finally, candidates should carefully check the 2027 APU application schedule, because the ADB scholarship has different application rounds and deadlines.

Final Thoughts

The APU ADB Scholarship 2027 is an excellent fully funded opportunity for eligible professionals from developing ADB member countries who want to pursue a Master's degree in Japan.

The scholarship provides full tuition, admission fees, a monthly allowance of ¥144,000 including housing, books and study materials, medical insurance and round-trip economy-class airfare.

The opportunity is particularly suitable for applicants with at least two years of full-time professional experience after completing their Bachelor's degree and an interest in development-related fields such as economics, management, health, education, agriculture, environment and science and technology.

For the September 2027 intake, applicants can apply through APU's online system and request ADB-JSP consideration. The relevant deadlines are November 5, 2026 and January 8, 2027, depending on the scholarship application round.

Interested applicants should begin preparing their academic records, employment certificates, income documents, and other supporting materials early to ensure that they can submit a complete application before the applicable deadline. Apply Now