MSc Scholarships

The scholarships listed below are competitive and may be awarded to eligible students who have been accepted for enrolment in the MSc in Sustainability programme. There is no separate application form for the scholarships as it is part of the main online application form for admission. Interested applicants must provide the necessary information and documents for the scholarships when applying to the master’s degree programme.

 

 

Japan Foundation for UNU (jfUNU) Scholarship

Coverage

The jfUNU scholarship provides a monthly allowance of JPY 120,000 as a support package for a maximum of 24 months. The tuition fees may be waived for the scholarship recipients.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Applicants must be persons from the countries included in the latest OECD DAC list of ODA recipients who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance;
  • Applicants who are currently living in Japan under a working visa are not eligible for the scholarship;
  • Applicants who are already enrolled in other postgraduate degree programmes are not eligible (this includes those who have already obtained a master’s degree at an institution other than UNU-IAS);
  • Applicants must not be recipients of other scholarships concurrently.

Additional Requirements

  • Recipients of the JFUNU Scholarship are required to write a short essay on their learning and experiences at UNU, which is submitted to the donor organization.
  • Before graduation, each recipient is requested to submit a note of appreciation to the donors with reflections on their future plans.
  • Recipients agree to foster collaboration with jfUNU through participating in jfUNU activities, events and other opportunities offered to the student body. [Top]

UNU Rector’s Scholarship

Coverage

The UNU Rector’s Scholarship covers the full cost of tuition and provides a monthly allowance of JPY 130,000 (subject to change) for living expenses for a maximum of 24 months. Travel costs to and from Japan with actual cost of up to USD 2,500 are also covered, and a research allowance is provided. Other costs such as visa handling fees and health/accident insurance must be covered by the student. 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Applicants must be persons from the countries included in the latest OECD DAC list of ODA recipients who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance;
  • Applicants must have a demonstrated interest in the broader work of the United Nations;
  • Applicants who are currently living in Japan on a working visa are not eligible for the scholarship;
  • Applicants who are already enrolled in other postgraduate degree programmes are not eligible (this includes those who have already obtained a master’s degree at an institution other than UNU-IAS);
  • Applicants must not be recipients of other scholarships concurrently.

Additional Requirements

  • Recipients of the Rector’s Scholarship are required to write a 400-word paper each year describing their learning and experiences at UNU. For the final paper, recipients are encouraged to reflect on their future plans.
  • Recipients agree to foster collaboration with UNU through participating in activities, events and other opportunities, and promoting UNU activities amongst the student body.
  • Recipients agree to uphold the core values of the United Nations, such as integrity and respect for diversity. [Top]

Resona Bank Scholarship

Coverage

The Resona Bank scholarship covers the full cost of tuition and provides a monthly allowance of JPY 130,000 (subject to change) for living expenses for a maximum of 24 months. Travel costs to and from Japan with actual cost of up to JPY 260,000 are also covered. Other costs such as visa handling fees and health/accident insurance must be covered by the student.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Applicants must be persons from the countries included in the latest OECD DAC list of ODA recipients who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance;
  • Applicants who have demonstrated interest in the broader work of the United Nations;
  • Applicants who are currently living in Japan on a working visa are not eligible for the scholarship;
  • Applicants who are already enrolled in other postgraduate degree programmes are not eligible (this includes those who have already obtained a master’s degree at an institution other than UNU-IAS);
  • Applicants must not be a recipient of other scholarships concurrently. [Top]

Asian Development Bank–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB–JSP)

A limited number of scholarships are offered for the MSc in Sustainability programme under the Asian Development Bank–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB–JSP). The award of the scholarship is based on application selection results. Only applicants that are accepted for enrolment in the UNU-IAS Master of Science in Sustainability programme can be considered as candidates for ADB–JSP.

Coverage

The scholarship covers full tuition, subsistence allowance including housing allowance, thesis research allowance, medical and accident insurance, books and instrumental allowance. The monthly subsistence allowance including housing allowance for one person for the academic year 2024-25 is JPY 147,000 (subject to change). An economy class airfare will also be provided for the most direct route between the scholar’s home country and Tokyo Narita International Airport.

Further information is available on the ADB website.  

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a national of an ADB borrowing member country and Japanese ODA scholarship-eligible country;
  • Not hold dual citizenship of any developed country;
  • Hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent with superior academic record;
  • Have at least two years of full-time professional work experience (acquired after the completion of a university degree) at the time of application;
  • Not be more than 35 years old at the time of application, unless waived in exceptional cases with the expressed endorsement of the Government of Japan;
  • Be in good health;
  • Agree to return to and work in their home country for at least two years after the completion of studies at UNU-IAS in order to contribute to the country's development;
  • Not be an executive director, alternate director, management, staff or consultant of ADB, or a close relative of the aforementioned by blood or adoption (with the term "close relative" defined as: spouse, mother, stepmother, father, stepfather, sister, stepsister, brother, stepbrother, son, daughter, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew);
  • Not be a staff of ADB–Japan Scholarship Program Designated Institutions;
  • Not be living or working in a country other than their home country;
  • Not be already enrolled in a graduate degree programme. 

Application Documents

Interested applicants should submit the following documents in addition to the application documents required by UNU-IAS. Please submit the following documents when instructed by the Admissions Office:

  • ADB-JSP Information Sheet
  • Certificate of annual income of the applicant
  • Certificate of family income (parents’ income if single or income of the spouse if married)
  • Employment certificate that demonstrates two years of full-time work experience

Note: Each income certificate must show annual income in your local currency and US dollars, and be written in English with a signature or a stamp. Please only submit authorized certificates issued by public agencies. For parents who are retired, unemployed or deceased, kindly submit a certificate issued by a local agency, company or government, with a signature or a stamp as applicable. [Top]