JICA Knowledge Co-Creation and JDS Scholarships

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) sponsors a number of scholarships, sometimes with an accompanying follow-up internship after graduation, for those interested in pursuing higher studies in Japan. The information on this page describes JICA's Knowledge Co-Creation Program (Long-Term; comprised of the African Business Education Initiative for Youth ("ABE Initiative"), SDGs Global Leaders Course, and the Long-term Career Development Program for Myanmar Private Sector, as well as JICA's Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS). This page also describes the Ritsumeikan University admissions procedures which prospective applicants should follow if they wish to enroll via any of these scholarship programs. For information on other JICA scholarships available at Ritsumeikan, please see our Other Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Scholarships page.


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About Each JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program Scholarship

African Business Education Initiative for Youth

The ABE Initiative is a program offered for young Africans in both the public and private sectors with the goal of developing human resources to support the development of the private sector in Africa, and to promote cooperation and collaboration with Japan and Japan's private sector. The program supports participants by sponsoring their enrollment in a Master's degree program at a high level Japanese university followed by a possible 6 month internship at a Japanese organization. For further specific details and for information about the scholarship’s objectives, benefits, eligibility criteria and conditions, and to learn about how to apply for this excellent opportunity, please refer to JICA’s ABE Initiative homepage.


About the SDGs Global Leaders Course

The SDGs Global Leaders Course is a program for government employees, university professors, etc... from the countries of ASEAN, Oceania, South, East, and Central Asia, South America and Africa. The goal of the program is to raise the potential leaders of the future, and to develop their capacity to assist their countries in meeting their Sustainable Development Goals by allowing participants to earn either a Master's or Doctoral degree at a high-level Japanese university. Further details can be found on JICA's webpage by navigating to the individual homepage for your country from the link below.

JICA Countries and Regions Homepage: https://www.jica.go.jp/english/countries/index.html


About the Long-term Career Development Program for Myanmar Private Sector

The Long-term Career Development Program for Myanmar Private Sector is a program for private sector employees, etc. from Myanmar meant to help promising young individuals to earn a Master's Degree, contributing to their own personal growth and beyond.


About the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS)

The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) is a scholarship geared towards highly skilled young professionals (mainly government officials) of countries receiving Japanese Grant Aid who are expected to become future leaders formulating and implementing social and economic development initiatives in their home countries. More detailed information can be found on the official JDS homepage at the link below.

Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS): https://jds-scholarship.org/

Basic Eligibility Criteria

Regardless of scholarship program, all applicants must:

  • In general, have sufficient English language ability to complete graduate study in English (CEFR B2 level or greater).
  • In general, be under 40 years of age as of April 1st of the year of scholarship application.
  • Meet all other eligibility requirements as designated by JICA and the JICA Regional Office responsible for your region.

Overall Scholarship Application and University Admissions Schedule

To apply for admission to the university via any of these scholarships, prospective students must first apply to the local JICA Regional Office responsible for their country or region for scholarship, and subsequentially pass JICA's initial screening rounds. Afterwards, those recommended by JICA who meet the criteria in our application guidelines (posted further down this page) may submit an application for enrollment to the university.


Timeframe Activity
Aug- Sep Prospective students apply to the JICA Regional Office responsible for their country/region for scholarship.
Sep - Oct First Selection at JICA Regional Office (document screening). Those who pass will be allowed to move to the next stage.
Oct - Nov Second Selection at JICA Regional Office (interview screening). Those who pass will be allowed to move to the next stage.
Dec - Jan Third Selection. JICA forwards applicants' scholarship application paperwork to their top 3 preferred universities for informal admissions decisions, and to match applicants with supervisors. If Ritsumeikan was included as one of your 3 preferences, the university will then reply to JICA with an informal Yes or No admissions decision for you.
Jan - Feb JICA notifies applicants of whether they passed the Third Selection and of the informal Yes No admissions decisions from their 3 preferred universities.
Apr - May Fourth Selection (Final Selection) - formal university admissions. If RU gave you an informal Yes decision during the Third Selection, you may now formally apply for admission to the university via the procedures described in the guidelines further down this page.
Jun Admissions results are finalized, and RU will forward them to JICA. Applicants will not receive a separate notification from RU regarding their results.
Jun - Jul JICA will notify applicants of their official scholarship award results, and university placement for those successful.
Sep 26 The Fall Semester begins at RU and successful scholars placed with us begin their formal studies.


Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) Admissions for International Relations' Doctoral Program applicants from Vietnam

JDS Vietnam application information will be released at a later date.


Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) Admissions for International Relations' Master's Program applicants from Vietnam

JDS Vietnam application information will be released at a later date.


JICA Knowledge Co-Creation Program (Long-Term) Scholarships (African Business Education (ABE) Initiative for Youth; SDGs Global Leaders Course; Long-term Career Development Program for Myanmar Private Sector, the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS)

The application period for 2025 enrollment is closed. Thank you to all who applied.

1. Application Guidelines and Forms

Fill follow the directions in the application guidelines below in order to apply for JICA ABE, SDGs, Long-term Career Development Program for Myanmar Private Sector, or Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) sponsored admissions. A link to the online application form can be found within the application guidelines themselves.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

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