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Application (Master's)

Table of Contents

Introduction
Applicant Eligibility
Selection Procedures
Download of Application Guidelines
and Application Documents
Research Plan
Supportive videos and Information for the application
English & Math Exam

1. Introduction

The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) has been launched in Bangladesh in 2001. Up to the present, total of 623 Fellows (597 Master's and 26 Doctoral Fellows) have been dispatched to Japan.
JDS is now inviting potential applicants who understand its aims and are interested in 2-year master's degree program at Japanese accepting universities for the academic year 2027-2028.
The program will be instructed in English.
The number of dispatches is 30 (Master's course) per year.

2. Applicant Eligibility

Nationality	Citizens of Bangladesh
Age	Below Forty (40) years as of April 1st, 2027 (Born on/after 2 April 1987)
Academic Background	Completed sixteen (16) years of school education with at least Bachelor's degree At least two (2) GPA 3.50 on the 5.00 scale / CGPA of 3.00 on the 4.00 scale in whole academic history (SSC to Bachelor and Masters (if any)). No GPA <2.00 on the 5.00 scale / CGPA 2.00 on the 4.00 scale.
Academic Background	Other requirements or desirability of academic background Keio University and Kyushu University in Conponent1-2 have requirement for academic background. Check P16 [Information of Each Sub-Program / Component] for more details.
Work Experience	To be a confirmed member of Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Cadres, Bangladesh Bank Class-1 Officials, Bangladesh Judicial Service (BJS) Officials, and 1st Class Officials of Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, with at least two (2) years of work experience at time of application
English Proficiency	Have a good command of both written and spoken English, Submitting the IELTS score is mandatory. IELTS 6.0 or higher is preferable. The IELTS score taken after 1 June 2024 is valid. For Waseda University, only certificates issued on or after 22 September 2025 are valid. (JICE will arrange IELTS Test for those who don't have valid score. The score result can be used only for JDS selections but not for other purposes.)
Health Condition	Mentally and physically in good health
Ineligibility	A person who corresponds to the following is not eligible to apply Those who is currently receiving (or scheduled to receive) another scholarship (including other scholarships of Japan) Those who have obtained a Master's or higher degree overseas under the support of foreign scholarship Those who have completed a Master's or Doctoral degree under deputation or study leave after joining the Civil Service, Judicial Service, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division or, Bangladesh Bank Exception: Those who attended online or evening courses without taking paid leave are eligible to apply Military personnel and civilian military employees registered on the active list, and personnel on temporary leave from the active list
Others	We strongly encourage applications from government officials who understand the objectives of JDS: to develop individuals who contribute to policy planning and formulation within the central government and to the strengthening of bilateral relations with Japan. Applicants should either be currently engaged in work aligned with these objectives, or be likely to assume such responsibilities in the future. *From the perspective of Japanese foreign policy, priority under the JDS Project should be given to officials from ministries and agencies responsible for diplomacy, economic and fiscal policy, trade negotiations, and other institutions critical for strengthening relations with Japan. Female candidates are encouraged to apply

3. Selection Procedures

1) Recruitment Seminars

Recruitment Seminars are scheduled to be held as below, aiming at providing the prospective applicants with more detailed information on JDS Project and how to prepare the application documents.
The URL for online participation will be posted at a later date.

Seminar Venue	Date	Expected Participants
SEMINAR [Ministry of Public Administration, Dhaka]		BCS Cadre Officers (prospective JDS applicants) working in ministries, invited by MOPA.
SEMINAR [Bangladesh Bank, Head Office, Dhaka]		Class‑1 Officials of Bangladesh Bank (prospective JDS applicants) invited by Bangladesh Bank.
SEMINAR [Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC)]		Government Officials in training at BPATC, invited by BPATC.
SEMINAR [BCS Tax Academy, Dhaka]		BCS Cadre Officers (prospective JDS applicants) invited by BCS Tax Academy.
SEMINAR 4 [Chattogram Divisional Commissioner's Office]		Officers of BCS Cadre, Judicial Service, and Bangladesh Bank (prospective JDS applicants), working in the Division, invited by the Divisional Commissioner.
SEMINAR [Sylhet Divisional Commissioner's Office]		Officers of BCS Cadre, Judicial Service, and Bangladesh Bank (prospective JDS applicants), working in the Division, invited by the Divisional Commissioner.
SEMINAR [Dhaka Divisional Commissioner's Office]		Officers of BCS Cadre, Judicial Service, and Bangladesh Bank (prospective JDS applicants), working in the Division, invited by the Divisional Commissioner.
SEMINAR [Rangpur Divisional Commissioner's Office]		Officers of BCS Cadre, Judicial Service, and Bangladesh Bank (prospective JDS applicants), working in the Division, invited by the Divisional Commissioner.
SEMINAR [Barishal Divisional Commissioner's Office]		Officers of BCS Cadre, Judicial Service, and Bangladesh Bank (prospective JDS applicants), working in the Division, invited by the Divisional Commissioner.
SEMINAR [BCS Administration Academy, Dhaka (BCSAA)]		BCS Cadre Officers in training at BCSAA, invited by BCSAA.

2) Application Deadline

Deadline for Application: 4:00 p.m. on November 30th (Monday), 2026

Notes : Submit your application through Online Application System.
For more details, refer to "Apply Now"

Online Application should be done by online application system of JICE.
Applicants should either attach the permission letter specifically for the JDS 2026 Master's degree application from their Controlling Authority in the online application system or ensure that the Controlling Authority forwards it directly to the JICE Bangladesh Office by the above deadline. The Application which is NOT submitted through the respective controlling authority will be regarded ineligible.
Application documents will not be returned for any reason. Late submission and incomplete application documents shall NOT be accepted.

3) Tentative Schedule

Schedule	Steps	Description
1st October 2026- 30th November 2026	Application	Closing Date: 4:00 p.m. on 30th November (Monday) 2026 Further details → "Application Documents" (P6) in Application Guidelines.
December 2026	Academic aptitude test	IELTS and Math tests: The test results will be reviewed by the universities in later selection stages. If you take IELTS Test, you must apply through on-line form by the closing date, submitting the screen shot of your application page. * Applicants for Keio University are exempted from the Math test
6th January 2027 - 28th January 2027	1st Selection	Document Screening: Application Documents and research plan will be examined by the Japanese universities.
March 2027	Health Checkup	The health checkup will be arranged at a designated hospital in Dhaka.
March 2027	2nd Selection	Technical Interview: Faculty members of the Japanese Universities will conduct their interview exams in Dhaka or through video interview system.
April 2027	3rd Selection	Comprehensive Interview: The Operating Committee members will conduct the interview exams.
April 2027	Approval by the OC	Successful candidates will be approved and notified.
March - April 2027	Application Procedure	JICE will support application procedure for each university.
July, 2027	Training Course	Japanese Language Training Course
July 2027	Orientations	Provided by JICA, Embassy of Japan and JICE
August 2027	Departure to Japan	JICE will arrange air-ticket, visa, and support after the arrival in Japan.

During the selection stage, only transportation costs from outside of Dhaka to attend IELTS, the 2nd and the 3rd selection will be covered by JDS Project.
Application Documents will not be returned. Please keep a copy of your documents for yourself.
Application Documents with false statements or plagiarism will be immediately disqualified.
The result of each selection will be announced to all candidates by Email.
In principle, reasons for the selection results will not be opened. Do not directly inquire to accepting universities.
Failure to participate in each selection, interview and test will cause automatic disqualification from selection process.
Each successful candidate will be requested to sign and submit "JDS Pledge" to comply with the conditions and rules as scholarship fellows under the JDS Project.

4. Download of Application Guidelines and Application Documents

Please refer to the Application Guidelines and submit a full set of application documents by the deadline.

Download

Application Guidelines
Prescribed Forms of Application Documents

5. Research Plan

In the JDS selections, each candidate will be evaluated on her/his academic abilities enough to pursue the master's degree program in Japan as well as the potential of the future contribution to the country. Thus, it is highly recommended to explain that the objective of your research plan is in connection with the development issues under applying Component, and to rationalize how the study will be addressed in accordance with the career path, corresponding to the current position and responsibility in the belonging organization.

It is also recommended to study your applying university to make sure if the curriculums of the university and fields of specialization of faculty members are relevant to your research.

Remember that plagiarism is strongly prohibited.

Please refer to 'Guidelines for Writing a Research Plan' (P10) in the Application Guidelines for more information.

6. Supportive videos and Information for the application

How to write a research plan [27 min]

Tips for the selection [20 min]

●University Information / Request form for JDS Accepting University's Introductory/Explanatory Video

JDS - Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship | JDS (jds-scholarship.org)

7. English & Math Exam

Every qualified applicant will be required to take English proficiency test (IELTS) as well as math test in Dhaka on the middle to end of December, 2026

IELTS consists of 4 parts: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. Speaking test will be held on another day, which will be notified by British Council through SMS or email.
- Please upload IELTS score sheet on the Application Form if you have the valid one (Score should be 6.0 or higher and valid until 31st May 2027.) Otherwise, please choose "I need to take IELTS" on the Online Application Form.
  Please note that only the IELTS scores obtained on or after 22nd September 2025, are valid if you apply for Waseda University.
Math test of around 60 minutes consists of Arithmetic operations, Solving fractions, Equations, Inequality, Matrix, Basic quadratic functions, Basic operations of exponential and logarithmic functions, Basic Integral and Differentiation, etc.
- Past Math test samples are here

* Applicants for Keio University and Kyushu University are exempted from the Math test.

The scores will be reviewed in the 1st selection by the accepting universities. Universities may require the applicants to have good command of English (IELTS) and Math numeracy skills. Please be well prepared for the exams.

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