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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.

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

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

info How this award actually works

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This is a separate, highly competitive application

Awards from external organisations like this one run their own selection round against applicants from across the world, and success rates are usually in the low single digits. Lanka Scholar does not administer it and cannot submit it for you. Treat it as a bonus on top of a funded study plan — never as the plan itself.

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Who awards it

National University of Singapore (ADB-JSP) — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

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How you are considered

Through a separate application round run by the funder, with its own forms, deadlines and shortlisting. You submit it yourself — it is not part of a university admission application.

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What it covers

Full Tuition + Living Stipend + Airfare + Insurance. Read the terms carefully: even fully-funded awards rarely cover every cost, and any shortfall is yours to fund.

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Where we come in

We help you judge whether this award is worth your time, and build a realistic admission plan that works whether or not you win it.

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.

1988

Programme Established

Full

Tuition + Living + Airfare

NUS

Asia's Top-ranked University

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

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