Be a national of a World Bank member country listed on the World Bank's Countries Eligible for World Bank Scholarship in 2025 page.

Not be a dual citizen of any developed country.

Be in good health.

Hold a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent university degree) earned at least 3 years before the date of the Application Deadline.

Have 3 years or more of recent development-related work experience after earning a Bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree.

Be employed in development-related work in a paid full-time position at the time of submitting the scholarship application (except applicants from fragile countries).

Have at least 3 years of paid development-related employment since earning a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent university degree) and acquired within the past 6 years from the date of the Application Deadline. Please see Annex 2 for a suggested list of development-related topics. The only exception to this criterion is for developing country nationals from a country that is on the list of Fragile and Conflict States noted in Annex 3. In these exceptional cases, we do take into consideation the limited employment opportunities in those countries listed in Annex 3.

On or after the date the call for scholarship applications opens, not be an Executive Director, his/her alternate, and/or staff of any type of appointment (including temporary and consultant) of the World Bank Group (The World Bank, International Development Association, International Finance Corporation, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, and International Center for Settlements of Investment Disputes); or not be a close relative of the aforementioned by blood or adoption with the term "close relative" defined as: Mother, Father, Sister, Half-sister, Brother, Half-brother, Son, Daughter, Aunt, Uncle, Niece, or Nephew.

1. Be a national of an ADB borrowing member and Japanese ODA scholarship eligible country listed here; 2. Gain admission to an approved MA course at an academic institution; 3. Hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent with a superior academic record; 4. Have at least two (2) years of full-time professional working experience (acquired after a university degree) at the time of application; 5. Have proficiency in oral and written English communication skills to be able to pursue studies; 6. Agree to return and work in his/her home country for at least two (2) years after completion of studies under the Program in order to contribute to its development; 7. Be 35 years or younger at the time of application; 8. Be in good health.

In addition, the following persons are NOT eligible to apply for an ADB-JSP scholarship:

● Executive Directors, Alternate Directors, management and staff of ADB, consultants, or close relatives of the aforementioned persons associated with ADB
● Staff of ADB–JSP designated institutions
● Persons living or working in a country other than his/her home country
● Those already enrolled in a graduate degree program
● Anyone who has already attained a graduate - i.e. master's - degree
● Holders of dual citizenship of any developed country

Finally, ADB–JSP does not sponsor undergraduate studies, distance learning programs, short-term training, conferences, seminars, thesis writing, or research projects.