International Program in Agricultural Development Studies (IPADS)

2 years English applications-closed

Scholarships

Only the support routes relevant to this programme are listed. Amounts marked as references must be reconfirmed for the applicant's award year.

MEXT Scholarship (University Recommendation)

Separate application

  • Outstanding international applicants to IPADS. "Selection will be conducted concurrently with the Round One screening for admission to IPADS." Not available in Round Two. "Number of successful applicants changes each year."
  • "A limited number of the fully-funding scholarship by the Japanese government may be offered to outstanding international applicant in IPADS each year based on the University recommendation. The scholarship covers the enrollment fee, tuition, international airfare as well as living expenses." The gu
  • No separate application to IPADS is needed: apply to IPADS in Round One and the IPADS Examination Committee screens concurrently for the nomination. "The examination fee should be paid by the MEXT Scholarship applicants at the time of application for IPADS and shall be refunded later if they are admitted in IPADS as MEXT Scholarship recipients." IPADS links to the MEXT University Recommendation guidelines for the relevant fiscal year.
  • "A limited number"; the exact number is not published and "changes in each year". Round One only. "Applicants are not allowed to apply for both MEXT 'Embassy recommendation' and 'University recommendation' scholarships for the same admission cycle."

MEXT Scholarship (Embassy Recommendation)

Separate application

  • Prospective international students who pass the primary selection at a Japanese embassy or consulate in their home country. For the MSc, the corresponding IPADS admission route is Round Two only.
  • "This scholarship offered by the Japanese government covers the enrollment fee, tuition, international airfare as well as living expenses."
  • "Prospective international students interested in this scholarship should contact the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in their home country. Although deadlines vary by country, the application period typically falls between March and May. The selection processes for the scholarship and IPADS admission (Round Two) are conducted separately by the Japanese government and IPADS (university) respectively though they take place around the same time." A separate IPADS application is still required.
  • "Applicants are not allowed to apply for both MEXT 'Embassy recommendation' and 'University recommendation' scholarships for the same admission cycle." MSc candidates may use Round Two only. Embassy deadlines vary by country and are not published by IPADS.

The University of Tokyo Fellowship (University of Tokyo Special Scholarship for International Students)

Separate application

  • High-achieving, privately funded postgraduate international students. Available in both Round One and Round Two: "From October 2022 intake, selection will be conducted by IPADS examination committee on applicants in Round One and Two screening for admission to IPADS."
  • "A monthly research grant of 200,000 yen during the standard period of their program is offered to outstanding applicant in IPADS each year by the University." The guideline describes it as "a scholarship to provide a grant to outstanding postgraduate international students who are privately funded
  • "Selection for the University of Tokyo Fellowship will be conducted concurrently with the admissions process. Applicants who wish to be considered must indicate their interest on the application form." No separate application is filed; the IPADS examination committee nominates from among admission applicants who opted in.
  • "a limited number of outstanding MSc and PhD students"; the number is not published and "Availability of each funding opportunity varies each year." Aimed at privately funded students.

Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJWBGSP)

Separate application

  • "JJWBGSP is open to citizens of certain developing countries with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries' development efforts." IPADS restates the World Bank criteria as of 6 October 2025, including: national of a World Bank member developing country on the published list; no dual citizenship of a developed country; good health; a Bachelor's degree earned at least 3 years before the application deadline; employed in development-related work in a paid full-time position at the time of applying, with at least 3 years of paid development-related employment since the Bachelor's degree acquired within the past 6 years; unconditional admission (except for funding) to a participating master's programme outside the applicant's country of citizenship and residence; not a World Bank Group Executive Director, alternate, staff member or close relative; and not a previous JJWBGSP awardee who declined or failed to graduate.
  • Array
  • Two separate applications. "Those seeking the scholarship are required to pass the screening for admission for IPADS first and obtain a Certificate of Admission (unconditional admission offer) from IPADS which is mandatory for applying for JJWBGSP." The IPADS side uses the dedicated JJWBGSP application page and guideline, on the same two-round timetable, with three referees instead of two. The scholarship side is filed with the World Bank in Application Window #2 ("Application period for 2026 intake: From Late March to Late May, 2026. The exact period will be announced by the World Bank official website.").
  • "Please note that being admitted in IPADS DOES NOT guarantee any spot in the JJWBGSP. Those who are admitted in IPADS but fail for JJWBGSP selection can still enroll in IPADS as self-financed students." Selection is made by the World Bank, not by IPADS.

JICA-funded programmes (ABE Initiative and others)

Separate application

  • "IPADS also welcomes JICA certified applicants who have passed an initial screening by JICA. The JICA funding programs accepted by IPADS vary each year." Named programmes: "JICA ABE Initiative; SDG's Global Leadership Program; Investment Promotion and Industrial Development for Asian Region; Development of Core Human Resource in Agricultural Sector (Myanmar); Project for Human Resources Development of Public Administration for Sustainable Development; Agri-net."
  • Array
  • "Those who intend to apply for the JICA funding programs should contact the local JICA offices in their countries and follow the instructions." "An applicant from a developing country who concurrently applies for a scholarship scheme supported by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) should follow the application schedule published by the JICA office in the applicant's home country."
  • The list of accepted JICA programmes "vary each year", and the JICA timetable, not the IPADS timetable, governs.

Fee and tuition waiver for current MEXT scholarship recipients

Separate application

  • Applicants who already hold a MEXT scholarship at the time of application.
  • "The examination fee, enrollment fee, and tuition are waived for current recipients of the Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho, hereafter MEXT) Scholarships on submission of a certificate showing their scholarship status."
  • Submit a certificate showing current MEXT scholarship status.
  • Requires an existing MEXT award; it is a fee exemption rather than a grant.

University of Tokyo tuition waiver programme

Separate application

  • "The University also offers a tuition waiver program for other students who meet certain criteria."
  • Array
  • "Students can apply to this program during the designated period" after enrolment.
  • Criteria and designated periods are set by the University and are not published by IPADS.

Other internal and external scholarships after enrolment

Separate application

  • "A number of other scholarships, both publicly and privately funded, may be available to students with extraordinary merits after enrollment in IPADS."
  • Array
  • "To check the available scholarships at our graduate school, please visit the OICE (Office for International Cooperation and Exchange) website." "While students are eligible to apply for internal and external scholarships during the designated period, the University does not guarantee that all students are financially assisted."
  • "the University does not guarantee that all students are financially assisted." "For all other students, it is their own responsibility to secure funds for fees and tuition."
Scholarships, nominations and fee exemptions are competitive unless the programme states that every admitted student receives the award. Admission on its own does not guarantee funding.
Programme sources (18)