THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO (GRADUATE SCHOOL OF FRONTIER SCIENCES) WITH THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK AND THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN
Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS)
full · masters
- Full tuition + stipend + travelFunding type
- Master's degreeStudy level
- ~¥150,000/month (est.)Living allowance
- 6 eligible departmentsStudy areas at GSFS
- AfDB member countries onlyWho can apply
- Preferably under 35Age guideline
At a glance
full
Funding
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Max amount
Jun 30, 2027
Deadline
African Development Bank member countries in Africa
Country
The University of Tokyo (Graduate School of Frontier Sciences) with the African Development Bank and the Government of Japan
Provider
The Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) is a fully funded Master's scholarship run by the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (GSFS) together with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Japan. It supports students from AfDB member countries in Africa to study sustainability, environmental science, and innovation at the GSFS campus in Kashiwa, near Tokyo. Eligible study areas sit within the Division of Environmental Studies and the Graduate Program in Sustainability Science (GPSS), spanning 6 departments including Natural Environmental Studies; Ocean Technology, Policy and Environment; Environment Systems; Human and Engineered Environmental Studies; Socio-Cultural Environment Studies; and International Studies. The award covers tuition in full, a monthly living allowance, and round-trip travel between the student's home country and Japan. Applicants are preferably under 35 years of age, must already hold a bachelor's degree, and are expected to return home to contribute to development after graduation. Admission to the GSFS must be secured first: GSFS runs entrance examinations twice a year (Schedule A for April enrolment and Schedule B for October enrolment), and some departments allow remote exams so travel to Japan is not always required. Because the exact allowance amounts, the number of JADS places, and the closing dates are set by the funders each cycle, confirm the current 2026/2027 figures and deadlines on the official University of Tokyo and African Development Bank pages before you apply.
What's covered
- Full tuition — The scholarship pays the full tuition and admission fees at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Frontier Sciences for the Master's programme.
- Monthly living allowance — A monthly stipend toward accommodation and living costs in Japan, estimated at about ¥150,000 (est.) per month; confirm the exact JADS rate on the official page.
- Round-trip airfare — Economy-class travel between the recipient's home country and Japan at the start and end of the programme, valued at roughly ~¥200,000 (est.) depending on origin.
- Settling-in and study costs — An allowance toward initial settling-in expenses, books, and study materials, as set by the funders each cycle.
- Medical and insurance support — Coverage or support toward health insurance during the period of study, consistent with the AfDB scholarship framework.
How to apply
Applicants must first be admitted to the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences; JADS recommendations are then made by GSFS to successful candidates.
- Find a supervisor and prepare a proposal — Use the official GSFS faculty search tool to identify a supervisor in your field, contact them directly, and prepare a detailed research proposal.
- Apply for and pass the GSFS entrance exam — Apply through GSFS and sit the entrance examination. Schedule A (April enrolment) closes around June with exams in July-August; Schedule B (October enrolment) closes around November with exams in January-February. Some departments allow remote exams.
- Receive a JADS recommendation — After passing the entrance exam, GSFS recommends successful candidates to the JADS programme for scholarship consideration.
- Receive scholarship notification — GSFS notifies recommended candidates directly of the outcome of their JADS scholarship application.
- Apply for a visa and enrol — If selected, apply for a Japanese student visa and complete enrolment at the University of Tokyo.
Eligibility
NationalityMust be a national of an African country that is a member of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Academic backgroundHold a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an accredited institution and gain admission to the GSFS Master's programme.
AgePreferably under 35 years of age at the time of application, though exceptions may apply.
Work experienceRelevant professional experience in a development-related field, with preference for mid-career professionals.
Language and healthProof of English (or instruction-language) proficiency such as TOEFL or IELTS, plus a medical certificate confirming good health.
Applicants must not be receiving any other scholarship at the time of application and must show a commitment to return to their home country after graduation. You must first contact and secure a GSFS supervisor and pass the GSFS entrance examination before being recommended for JADS.
Eligible countries
African Development Bank member countries in Africa
Deadlines
2026 April enrolment (Schedule A)~June 2026 (est.)
2026 October enrolment (Schedule B)~November 2026 (est.)
Selection
Candidates are first selected through the GSFS admissions process, which assesses the research proposal, academic record, and agreement of a supervising faculty member, followed by the GSFS entrance examination. GSFS then recommends successful, eligible candidates from AfDB member countries to the JADS programme, where final scholarship decisions weigh academic merit, development relevance, professional experience, and commitment to returning home. Confirm the exact selection steps for the 2026/2027 cycle on the official University of Tokyo and AfDB pages.
Verified sources
- University of Tokyo — Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (GSFS)k.u-tokyo.ac.jpofficial
- African Development Bank — Japan Africa Dream Scholarshipafdb.orgofficial
About the provider
The University of Tokyo is Japan's oldest national university, founded in 1877, and its Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (GSFS) on the Kashiwa campus focuses on interdisciplinary research in environmental, life, and materials sciences. The Japan Africa Dream Scholarship is delivered with the African Development Bank and the Government of Japan to build capacity in AfDB member countries.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
Who is eligible to apply for the JADS scholarship?
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Only nationals of African Development Bank (AfDB) member countries in Africa who meet the GSFS academic and professional requirements and gain admission to the Master's programme.
Is the JADS scholarship open to applicants from outside Africa?
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No. JADS is exclusively for applicants from African countries that are members of the African Development Bank.
What does the scholarship cover?
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It is fully funded, covering full tuition, a monthly living allowance (estimated at about ¥150,000 (est.) per month), and round-trip airfare between your home country and Japan.
What degree level can I study?
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JADS funds a Master's degree at the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (GSFS).
Are the courses taught in English?
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Yes. The Graduate Program in Sustainability Sciences (GPSS) is fully taught in English, and several other departments also offer English-taught programmes.
Do I need to contact a supervisor before applying?
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Yes. It is mandatory to contact a GSFS faculty member and secure their agreement to supervise your research before you can apply.
Do I have to travel to Japan for the entrance exam?
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Not always. Departments such as Human and Engineered Environmental Studies, International Studies, and GPSS do not require travel to Japan for the exam; some others may.
How do I become a JADS recipient?
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You must first be admitted to GSFS and pass its entrance examination; GSFS then recommends successful, eligible candidates to the JADS programme.
Is there an age limit?
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Applicants are preferably under 35 years of age at the time of application, though exceptions may apply.
Can I hold another scholarship at the same time?
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No. Applicants must not be receiving any other scholarship at the time of application.
When are the intakes?
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GSFS runs two intakes: Schedule A for April enrolment (applications around June) and Schedule B for October enrolment (applications around November).
Where can I confirm the current figures and deadlines?
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Always confirm the current 2026/2027 allowance amounts, number of places, and exact deadlines on the official University of Tokyo GSFS and African Development Bank pages before applying.