Singapore's Marina Bay skyline at dusk with illuminated skyscrapers reflecting on the water.

Singapore 2026/27 intake: applications are made through the host institution's admission cycle (NUS), with ADB-JSP deadlines set per programme — confirm on adb.org and the NUS programme page

ADB-Japan Scholarship Program (NUS)

The Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP), funded by the Government of Japan and administered by the ADB, supports citizens of ADB developing member countries to pursue postgraduate study in economics, management, science, technology and other development-related fields at a network of partner academic institutions across Asia-Pacific — including the National University of Singapore (NUS). Sri Lanka is an ADB developing member country, so Sri Lankan applicants are eligible. The scholarship is comprehensive: full tuition, a monthly living and housing allowance, return airfare, medical insurance, and (where applicable) a book/thesis allowance, for the duration of the Master's. Recipients are expected to return to their home country and contribute to its development afterwards. This is one of the most generous funded routes for Sri Lankans into a Singapore Master's. Eligible programmes, host institutions and deadlines are defined per partner, so apply to an ADB-JSP-eligible NUS programme and confirm the current terms on the ADB and NUS scholarship pages.

National University of Singapore (ADB-JSP)

External Organization-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

Full Tuition + Stipend + Airfare

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Level

Master's

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Focus

Development-related Study

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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ADB Developing Member Country National

Open to nationals of ADB developing member countries — Sri Lanka is eligible. Applicants must not hold citizenship of a developed country and generally must not already reside/study in another country.

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Strong Degree + Work Experience

A good Bachelor's degree from a recognised Sri Lankan university and, typically, at least two years of full-time work experience after graduation. An excellent academic record is expected.

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Admission to an Eligible Programme

You must gain admission to an ADB-JSP-eligible development-related Master's at a partner institution (such as NUS). The scholarship attaches to admission to a participating programme.

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Intent to Return Home

Recipients commit to returning to their home country after completing the programme to contribute to its economic and social development. There is usually an upper age limit (commonly 35) — confirm the current call.

account_tree Application Process

Choose an ADB-JSP-eligible NUS programme

Identify an eligible development-related Master's at NUS (or another ADB-JSP partner) and confirm it participates in the ADB-JSP for the intake.

Apply for admission

Submit your NUS admission application with transcripts, degree certificate, work-experience evidence, references and English results by the programme deadline.

Apply for the ADB-JSP

Complete the ADB-JSP application through the host institution, providing the additional documents ADB requires; the institution nominates eligible admitted candidates to ADB.

Award and Singapore pass

Selected scholars are confirmed by ADB; you then arrange your Singapore student pass using your admission and scholarship confirmation.

Why the ADB-Japan Scholarship at NUS?

The ADB-JSP has funded thousands of postgraduate scholars from developing Asia since 1988. Paired with NUS — Asia's top-ranked university — it offers Sri Lankan professionals a fully funded, development-focused Master's in a global hub, with a clear expectation of contributing to Sri Lanka's development on return.