If you’re a bright student from Africa dreaming of studying abroad, here’s some exciting news. The Japan Africa Dream Scholarship Program (JADS) is a partnership between the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Japan, offering fully funded two-year master’s scholarships to talented African students who want to study in Japan.
What is JADS?
JADS is designed to help young African students build skills and knowledge by supporting them in earning a master’s degree at select universities in Japan. The program focuses on science, technology, innovation, and other fields essential for Africa’s development.
Funding Announced for the JADS Scholarship 2025 intake
- Full tuition coverage
- Monthly living stipend
- Travel allowance
- Health insurance
- Visa support and student guidance. This funding removes financial stress, allowing students to focus entirely on their education and future goals.
Where Will You Study?
One of the universities under this program is the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (GSFS) at The University of Tokyo. At GSFS, eligible departments for JADS applicants are within the Division of Environmental Studies, which includes:
- Department of Natural Environmental Studies
- Department of Ocean Technology, Policy, and Environment
- Department of Environment Systems
- Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies
- Department of Socio-cultural Environment Studies
- Department of International Studies
- Graduate Program in Sustainability Science (GPSS – taught in English).
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible:
- You must be a citizen of an AfDB member country in Africa.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field.
- Be under 35 years old at the time of application.
- Have at least 1 year of work experience (preferred).
- Be admitted into one of the JADS-approved programs.
- Be committed to returning to Africa and contributing to its development.
Apply: https://www.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/exam/master/foreign_research_students/afdb_jads/
Application Deadlines Available for 2 intakes of AfDB Scholarship
For the next intake of the African Development Bank – Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (GSFS), there are two admission schedules you can apply through. Schedule A begins with the application period in June 2025, followed by entrance examinations held between July and August 2025, depending on the department. The results will be announced in early September 2025, and successful candidates are recommended to the JADS program that same month. Those selected will begin their studies in April of 2026.
Alternatively, Schedule B opens for applications in November 2025, with exams taking place from January to February of 2026. Results are released by mid-February 2026, and recommendations to JADS are made immediately afterward. Students selected through this cycle will start their studies in October 2026.
