JDS

The Project for
Human Resource
Development Scholarship

JDS - Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship

Philippines

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Application for JDS 2023 is already closed.

Application

Table of Contents

  1. Applicant Eligibility
  2. Selection Procedures
  3. Download of AG and AD
  4. Research Plan
  5. Supportive videos for the application
  6. English & Math Test

1. Applicant Eligibility

Nationality Citizens of the Republic of the Philippines
Age Between 22 and 39 as of April 1st, 2024
(Born on/after April 2nd, 1984 and born on/before April 1st, 2002)
Occupation Must be an employee in the Philippine Governments and not a member of the military
Work Experience
  • Currently employed in the Philippine Government
  • Have permanent status
  • Have at least 2 (two) years of work experience, particularly in work relevant to the selected Component, at the time of application
Performance Rating Have a performance rating of at least 'Very Satisfactory' from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023 in the organization
Academic Background
  • Possess a Bachelor Degree relevant to the target fields
  • English Proficiency: TOEFL PBT 550/ iBT 79-80 or IELTS 6.5 or higher
  • 16 years of formal education is required (in principle), however, relevant academic/research career or working experience can be considered as the alternative to meet the requirement.
Degree Have not been awarded any other foreign scholarships for obtaining a master's degree
Responsibilities of JDS Fellow When selected as a final successful candidate, he/she is required:
  1. To sign and submit the pledge to follow the conditions deemed necessary as a JDS Fellow. (If the Fellow violates any articles of the pledge, the scholarship may be cancelled).
  2. To submit a copy of Scholarship Service Contract (referred to the Executive Order 161) to the JDS Operating Committee for record/monitoring purpose
  3. To attend the pre-departure orientation in Manila (about 2 weeks in July-August 2024)
  4. To fully participate in briefings/orientations in Japan (August-September 2024)
  5. To contribute to the socio-economic development of the Philippines with the acquired knowledge upon return to the Philippines
  6. To follow the JDS rules and regulations
  7. To be in a good condition physically and mentally during the stay in Japan as an ODA scholar. If there is a drastic change in a Fellow's health condition before and during his/her stay in Japan, or/and if the accepting university considers his/her condition is not fit for the pursuit of academic goals, the scholarship is subject to cancellation, based on the decision/guidance of the university and the JDS Operating Committee of the Philippines.

2. Selection Procedures

1) Promotion Seminars

Promotion Seminars are scheduled to provide more detailed information on JDS Project as follows.

» For information of JDS Philippines accepting universities, click here.

Date Time Registration
November 22 (Wed) 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Click here
November 25 (Sat) 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Click here
November 29 (Wed) 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Click here
December 2 (Sat) 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Click here
December 6 (Wed) 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM Click here

≪UPDATED INFORMATION≫

  • University Information Sessions are scheduled in the following date and time. Pre-registration is required to join.
    JDS fellows currently studying in Japan will present about each university and share their experience in Japan.
Date Time Registration Fellow's University
December 14 (Thu) 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Click here
  • - Nagoya University, GS of International Development (Component 1-1)
  • - University of Tsukuba, GS of Science and Technology (Component 2-2)
December 19 (Tue) 2:00 PM -
3:30 PM		 Click here
  • - Hitotsubashi University, School of International and Public Policy (Component 1-1)
  • - Kobe University, GS of International Cooperation Studies (Component 1-3)
  • - Yokohama National University, GS of Urban Innovatoin (Component 2-1)
  • Open Zoom Meeting is available in the following schedule. You may enter and leave anytime during the meeting and ask questions regarding JDS application to JICE staff. Pre-registration is not required and you can just access to the zoom link below.
Date Time Zoom link
December 26 (Tue), 28 (Thu), January 4 (Thu), 5 (Fri) 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM https://zoom.us/j/93546347772?pwd=L05jTFkwekloK0JIc05yNFZaVHpPUT09
Meeting ID 935 4634 7772
Passcode 216219

* If there are additional promotion seminars in the future, we will update the schedule on JDS website.

2) Application Deadline

Extended Deadline for Application: 2 PM, January 17 (Wed), 2024

Application documents will not be returned for any reason. Late submission and incomplete application documents shall NOT be accepted.

Online Application System will be automatically closed at 2 PM on January 17 (Wed), and not be able to access anymore. Therefore, please complete your submission of application before the deadline. If you CANNOT submit any of required document by January 17, please make a "Reason Letter" to explain WHY you cannot submit by deadline and WHEN you expect to submit. You can upload the "Reason Letter" in the required document section and it will be accepted tentatively.

In case you will submit "Reason Letter", the latest deadline for submission of the required documents is acceptable by January 22 (Mon) 2024. If the missing document cannot be submitted before January 22 (Mon), the applicant would not proceed to the selection.

If you are planning to submit your application by 2:00 PM, 17th Jan., please inform us in advance so that we can know how many applications we will receive. Please note that your application will not be confirmed until you complete your application through Online Application System.

3) Tentative Schedule

Schedule Steps Description
Until Jan. 8, 2024 Application Extended Deadline: 2 PM, January 17
 To the department in charge of JDS Project at each Philippine Government
Further details → P7 "Application Documents"
Mid Jan - late Jan 2024 Academic Aptitude Test TOEFL-ITP and Math tests. The test results will be reviewed by the universities in later selection stages (Test fees are covered by JDS).
Early Feb - mid Feb 2024 1st Selection Document Screening: Application Documents and research plan will be examined by the Japanese universities.
Feb, 2024 Health Checkup The health checkup will be arranged at a designated hospital in Manila. (Check-up fees are covered by JDS)
Mid Mar - late Mar 2024 2nd Selection Technical Interview: Faculty members of the Japanese Universities will conduct their interview exams.
Early April 2024 3rd Selection Comprehensive Interview: The Operating Committee members will conduct their interview exams.
Mid April to late April 2024 Approval by the OC Successful candidates will be approved and notified.
Mar. - Apr, 2024 Application Procedure JICE will support candidates' application for each university.
July - Aug, 2024 Orientations Japanese Training Provided by NEDA, CSC, DFA, JICA and JICE.
Aug, 2024 Departure for Japan JICE will arrange air-ticket, visa, and also support JDS Fellows after the arrival in Japan.
<Important Note>
  • All the selection costs will be covered by JDS Project.
  • Limited transportation and accommodation allowance will be provided to candidates coming from provincial areas for the selections.
  • Application Documents will not be returned (Please keep a copy of your documents)
  • Application Documents with false statements or plagiarism will be immediately disqualified
  • A result of each selection will be announced only to successful candidates by JICE JDS Project Office.
  • Applicants are required to take the exam on the designated date. No adjustment of the date can be accepted. The date of the Academic Aptitude Test will be announced on the JDS website when it is fixed
  • In principle, reasons of the selection-results will not be disclosed.

3. Download of Application Guideline and Application Documents

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

  1. Application Guideline
  2. Application Documents

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

4. Research Plan

In the JDS selections, each candidate will be evaluated on her/his academic abilities enough to pursue the master 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 be 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 plagiarize from somebody's work or websites are strongly prohibited.
Please refer to 'Tips on Application and Selection (Reference)' and 'Guideline for Writing a Research Plan' in the Application Guideline for more information.

5. Supportive videos for the application

movie-icon How to write a research plan (27 min)
movie-icon Tips for the selection (20 min)

6. English & Math Exam

Every qualified applicant will be required to take English proficiency test (ITP-TOEFL) as well as math test in Manila in middle to late January.

[IMPORTANT]　If you have valid English Certificate, you will be exempt for English Test, so please submit the copy of your certificate to JICE.

  • TOEFL consists of 3 parts with 'Listening Comprehension (50 questions)' for about 35 minutes, 'Structure and Written Expression (40 questions)' for 25 minutes, and 'Reading Comprehension (50 questions)' for 55 minutes.
  • 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.

The scores will be reviewed on the 1st selection by the accepting universities. Universities may require the applicants to have good command of English skill (TOEFL score of 500 or higher) and numeracy skills. Please be well prepared for the exams.

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