Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA)

Host University Recommendation Scholarships

Japan-IMF Scholarship for Asia (JISPA)


1. Overview
The Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA) is a scholarship provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with the support of the Government of Japan. The goal of the program, which is open only to government employees in economics-related departments, is to strengthen participants' economic policymaking and planning abilities in order to ultimately increase overall government capacity in these areas. Interested applicants should meet all criteria described below, and must apply separately to the Ritsumeikan University Graduate School of Economics for admission to either their Master's or Doctoral Program, and to the International Monetary Fund for JISPA scholarship.

2. Eligibility Criteria: Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia

  • Nationality: Applicant must be a national of either Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao P.D.R., Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pacific Island Countries, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, or Vietnam.
  • Employment: Applicant should currently be employed at one of the following or related government agencies: central bank, ministry of economy, ministry of finance, ministry of planning/development, ministry of trade/commerce, tax administration, national statistics bureau, or financial regulatory agencies. The program will also consider officials working in other areas of government that have a significant impact on the formulation or implementation of macroeconomic policy.
  • Education: Candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent with at least 16 years of formal education. Names of schools and attending dates beginning from primary school must be listed in the JISPA application. In some cases, 15 years of formal education may be accepted if there is an official explanation (a country’s particular educational system or other exceptional circumstances).
  • Language Skill: Applicant must have an English language proficiency, which needs to be demonstrated as equivalent to or more than an official TOEFL score of 550, or iBT79-80. If TOEFL scores are not available, then an overall IELTS score of at least 6.0 can be substituted.
  • Commitment: Applicant must be committed to contributing to the development of their home country, and if selected, are expected to return to their sponsoring agency upon completion of their studies under the JISPA.
  • A Note on Priority: Priority is given to applicants (1) whose age is below 40; and (2) who have not yet obtained a master's degree from a university outside of their own country; and (3) who have the minimum of two to three years' work experience in the public sector. Further, applicants to doctoral programs are given greater priority than those applying to Master's programs.

3. Scholarship Details

The scholarship covers the admission and tuition fees, provides a monthly stipend for living expenses, provides one return airfare, and offers support for medical and accident insurance fees. For scholars enrolled in doctoral programs, research related fees are additionally covered. Officials who receive the JISPA scholarship cannot accept other scholarships. Scholars are expected to devote full time to their studies while in Japan. For a master’s degree a scholarship can be awarded for up to two consecutive one-year periods, and for a doctoral degree up to three consecutive one-year periods. Annual renewal of the scholarship is subject to approval by the IMF, based on the scholar’s progress, university’s assessment, and sponsoring agency’s consent.

4. Application Procedures

Application for the Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia and admission to Ritsumeikan University are completely separate. Applicants must complete both of the procedures below in order to apply for enrollment to the university and scholarship.


1) Apply for admission to either the Master's or Doctoral Degree Program of the Graduate School of Economics directly, via "Regular Admission (Self-Financed Students)".
Application Period: The specific dates change year to year but it generally falls from around late April to early May.
https://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/gsec/mped/admissions/application.html/
2) Apply for the JISPA "Open Track" with the IMF. JISPA "Open Track" application documents and information are usually uploaded sometime in March, and can be found on the following page.
Application Period: Generally from April through May each year
https://www.imf.org/en/Countries/ResRep/OAP-Home/JISPA-Home

After completing the initial university admission and JISPA application procedures described above, please comply with any further application instruction given by the university and/or the IMF. Additionally, complete the following two steps when the time comes.

3) Once the Graduate School of Economics' admissions results are announced (generally mid-June), if you pass, follow the IMF's directions to submit proof of your successful admission result.
4) The IMF will notify successful JISPA applicants of their results in late July or early August (scheduled).
If you are awarded scholarship by the IMF, in addition to following the IMF's instructions for accepting their scholarship and the Graduate School of Economics' enrollment procedure instructions, please notify the Ritsumeikan University BKC International Center via email of your scholarship award status (email: cger-bkc@st.ritsumei.ac.jp). The BKC International Center will work with the IMF to handle administration of your scholarship.

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements and Scholarship Details

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