Application for Intake 2026 is now open! Contact JDS Project Office in Fiji!
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2025/09/25
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The Project for Human Resource Development
Scholarship (JDS) in Fiji 2026
About JDS Project
Are You Interested in Studying in Japan?
Here We Offer a Great Program for You!
The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS), funded by the Government of Japan, is now accepting applications from government sector workers who wish to obtain a Master’s degree from Japanese Universities, started from the 2026 academic year. The courses will be taught in English and will take two years for Fellows enrolled as Master’s students. The total number of participants from Fiji is six (6) per year.
JDS is designed to foster exceptional human resources capable of working to resolve various development challenges in the recipient countries in future by imparting advanced expertise to JDS Fellows through studying at Japanese universities. JDS contributes to strengthen the partnership between Japan and the recipient country by graduating a wide range of Fellows who have deep understanding about Japan.
Promotion Seminars/Webinars
SUVA
Date: Friday, the 26th of September, 2025
Time:
10:00 – 11:00 (Official part of the Promotion Seminar)
11:00 – 12:00 Open session available
Venue: Fiji Learning Institute for Public Service (FLIPS), Nasese (TBC)
LAUTOKA
Date: Friday, the 3rd of October, 2025
Time:
10:00 – 11:00 (Official part of the Promotion Seminar)
11:00 – 12:00 Open session available
Venue: TBC
WEBINARS
Date:
Tuesdays (7th, 14th, 21st and 28th of October 2025)
Thursdays (9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th of October 2025)
Programme:
12:00PM – 12:40PM Overall information regarding JDS Scholarship Project (Recorded Power Point presentation)
12:40PM – 1:10PM Questions and Answers
(Meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87506417369)
* The contents of the webinars are same ones. You don’t need to attend if you have already attended a JDS PR seminar and/or a webinar.
Eligibility
Who is Eligible?
- Nationality: Applicants must be citizens of Fiji
- Age: Between the age of 25 and 45 as of 1 April 2026
- Academic background: Bachelor’s Degree or above
- Work Experience: A minimum of 3 years of work experience as a full-time civil servants at Ministries, Local Governments, public enterprises and statutory bodies
- Target Organizations: all Ministries, public enterprises and statutory bodies
- Applicants must have a strong willingness to continue working for the development of Fiji after returning home
- Must be in good health both mentally and physically
- Must have proficiency in English sufficiently fluent for studying in Japan
Who is ineligible?
- Should not be serving in the military.
- Should not be currently receiving or planning to receive any scholarship.
- Should not be a master’s and/or Ph.D degree holder overseas awarded by any other foreign assistances.
Fields of study, target organizations and corresponding graduate schools
| Sub-Program (Priority Area) |
|
|---|---|
| Component (Development Issues) |
Accepting Universities |
| 1.Strengthening Administrative Capacity for Resilient and Sustainable Growth | |
|
1-1.Public policy
Target Organizations
|
Graduate School of International Relations (GSIR)
|
|
1-2.Public Financial Management
Target Organizations
|
Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies
|
| 2.Strengthening a Free and Open International Order | |
|
2-1.International Relations
Target Organizations
|
Graduate School of Global Studies
|
| 3.Advancement for Climate Change, Environment, and Disaster Risk Reduction Policies | |
|
3-1.Climate Change Countermeasures/ Environmental Policy
Target Organizations
|
Graduate School of Sciences and Technology,
|
Selection Process
| 2025 | September – October | Making an initial contact to JDS Project Office in Fiji (jdsfiji-1@jds21.com ) to obtain the application kit. Express interests to HR/Training Officers in respective organizations. |
|---|---|---|
| 31st of October | Officially endorsed nomination(s) by the head of Ministries and/or Statutory Bodies must reach Ministry of Civil Service by the end of October. | |
| 17th of November | Application deadline | |
| End of November (TBC) |
(Only applicants for IUJ and Tsukuba University) On-line math lectures (optional) Math examination |
|
| 2026 | January | Initial Selection (Screening of Application Documents) by graduate school faculties |
| Mid. January | Medical check up for all applicants English Examination (only applicants who did not graduate Non-English based universities) |
|
| February | Second Selection (interview) by graduate school faculties | |
| March | Third selection (interview) by the JDS operating committee members Announcement of the final successful candidates |
|
| July | Pre-departure orientation in Suva and departure for Japan | |
| August | Post-arrival orientation in Tokyo | |
| September/October | Enrolment at Graduate School in Japan |
List of universities
| Sub-Program (Target Priority Area) |
Component (Development Issues) / Corresponding Universities |
|---|---|
|
Strengthening Administrative Capacity for Resilient and Sustainable Growth |
Public Policy
INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF JAPAN PDF |
|
Public Financial Management
RITSUMEIKAN ASIA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY PDF |
|
| Strengthening a Free and Open International Order |
International Relations
DOSHISHA UNIVERSITY PDF |
| Advancement for Climate Change, Environmental and Disaster Risk Reduction Policies |
Climate Change Countermeasures/ Environmental Policy
UNIVERSITY OF TSUKUBA PDF |
How to Apply
-
Contact JDS Project Office in Fiji to obtain the application kit
Please send an e-mail to JDS Project Office in Fiji (jdsfiji-1@jds21.com) with your name, organization and date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY) included. Civil servants who wish to apply for the JDS Scholarship, will be able to start preparing paper-based or on-line applications.
-
Officially nominated by your organization to the Ministry of Civil Service
Applications will not be accepted by JDS Project Office without the official nomination by the head of your organization. While preparing your application, please consult with the person-in-charge on training in your organization quickly. Official nomination must reach the Ministry of Civil Service before the 31st of October 2025.
-
Submit Application documents to JDS Project Office
Application forms, guidelines and the link for on-line registration site will be provided after JDS Project Office in Fiji receives an e-mail from a potential applicant. You may choose to fill in paper-based applications or to apply through on-line system (TAO: The Admission Office).
The Application Guideline for JDS will be included in the application kit, and it will give you detailed instructions to complete the application. If you choose paper-based application, ensure to submit a full set of application documents printed out in A4 size paper. Either paper-based application or on-line application (TAO), some applications should submit with the requested hard copies in person to the JDS project office in Suva.PLEASE NOTE that applying on-line is strongly recommended.
If you have any questions, please contact JDS Project Office.
The paper-based application should be submitted by 16:30 on Monday, the 17th of November 2025 and TAO on-line system will be closed by 23:59 on Monday, the 17th of November 2025.
Send Confidential Statement of Reference for Master Level (Form 1) to your supervisor as a Referee. This reference statement is to be completed by the applicant’s supervisor. This should be typed in English. The Referee can send it directly to the JDS Project Office in Fiji (jdsfiji-1@jds21.com) via email, or the Referee can give it to the applicant in a signed and sealed envelope with the organizational stamp. Completed but not sealed Form 1 submitted by the applicant will NOT be accepted.
Please submit the original hard copies of a certified copy of your Bachelor’s degree, a certified copy of your official transcript, the Confidential Statement (if referee cannot send it directly to the JDS Office), and the signed Certificate of English Proficiency Waiver Request (for the University of Tsukuba only) to the JDS Project Office; by 16:30 on the 17th of November 2025.
Application documents will not be returned for any reason. Late submission and/or incomplete application documents will NOT be accepted.
How to Prepare Your Research Plan
Before you begin writing your research plan, you are recommended to carefully review the ‘Graduate School Information‘ section to make sure that the graduate school of your choice offers an appropriate curriculum and has faculty members relevant to your research plan. You can obtain more information by visiting the websites of individual graduate schools or by visiting the JDS Project Office.
NOTE: Your research plan should be consistent with one of the aforementioned ‘Sub-Program’ (Priority Area) and ‘Component’ (development issues), should be a program offered by the graduate school of your application and correspond to the overall objectives of the organization to which you belong. For more information, please refer to the Application Guidelines.
How to Prepare for Math Exam(International University of Japan and University of Tsukuba only)
Math Examination Date: End of November, 2025 (TBC)
The duration of the math examination is approximately 60 minutes and consists of basic math: arithmetic operations, solving fractions, equations, inequalities, matrixes, basic quadratic functions, basic operations of exponential and logarithmic functions, basic integral and differentiation, etc.
Exam scores will be used for reference purposes during initial selection by the accepting universities. Please prepare yourself for the exams!
You can download the previous year’s exam paper from the following links:
https://scholarship.jds21.com/useful-information-for-applicants/
Frequently Asked Questions
If you need further information or wish to make an inquiry, please contact our JDS Project Office in Fiji (Tel: +6799399113 / +6797804002).
-
Qualifications
- Q. Who is eligible to apply to JDS Program?
- A. Regarding the eligibility, please refer to page 5 of Application Guidelines.
- Q. Do I need to take English and Math examinations?
- A. Math exam is required only for those applying for International University of Japan and University of Tsukuba. On the other hand, applicants for IUJ must take English exam if they fail to submit a proof of English proficiency at the initial application. The level of the questions in the math exam will be similar to what you learned in junior-high and high school.
- Q. How about GPA score?
- A. We do not have any borderline for GPA score.
- Q. I am a Master’s Degree holder. Can I apply?
- A. Yes, you may apply except the case you obtained your Master’s degree funded through other foreign assistance.
- Q. I have received a scholarship from another country. Can I apply to JDS?
- A. No. If you have ever received (or planning to receive) another scholarship through other foreign assistance, you are NOT eligible to apply. Likewise, if you have already had your master’s degree, sponsored through other foreign assistance, you are also NOT eligible to apply.
- Q. I don’t speak Japanese. Can I apply to JDS?
- A. Yes, you can. In the Japanese Universities selected for JDS Program, all courses are taught in English.
- Q. Does JDS Program fund me for PhD course as well?
- A. No, there’s no funding available for PhD at JDS Pacific.
-
Applications
- Q. I graduated from 2 universities, which university degree should I submit?
- A. You should submit the certified copies of the degrees from both universities in that case.
- Q. My University does not give my official transcript directly to me. What should I do?
- A. Please ask your university to send the transcript directly to our JDS Office. You also need to let us know that the transcript will be sent to our JDS Office later on.
- Q. How do I prepare the research plan?
- A. Please carefully read the instructions written in the Guidelines as well as the instructions written in the Form of a Research Plan. JDS staff members will also guide you on how to prepare the research plan upon request.
- Q. I only have diploma. Am I eligible to apply?
- A. No. You must possess at least a university degree in order to apply.
- Q. How do I know if I passed the process of document screening or not? Can I call JDS Office and ask?
- A. All applicants who passed or did not pass the screening will be informed by JDS Office at the designated time. Any inquiries for the result of the selection by applicants are NOT allowed.
- Q. Can I have my application documents back if I do not pass the selection?
- A. No. Any application documents will not be returned.
- Q. I am planning to apply for another scholarship. Can I apply for both scholarships?
- A. No. This is grant aid’s scholarship. You can’t apply for several scholarships. You have to choose one scholarship only.
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Life in Japan
- Q. If I were selected for JDS Scholarship Program, what allowance will I receive?
- A. As to the allowance you will receive in Japan, please refer to page 10 of Application Guidelines.
- Q. Is it okay to bring my dependents and stay with them in Japan?
- A. Yes, you can invite your dependents (spouse / children) to Japan at your own expense. However, it is recommended to do so after enrolment at the university and after three months of your arrival in Japan.
- Q. Can I work in Japan?
- A. In general, you are not allowed to have any paid job for living. However, jobs as a teaching/research assistant which are provided by your Accepting University, cooperation with university events (as a guest speaker…etc), a tutor or paid internships are exceptionally allowed.
- Q. Can I drive automobiles in Japan?
- A. No. You are not permitted to drive cars or motorcycles.
- Q. Can I stay in Japan after the completion of Master’s program in order to continue my education or be employed in Japan?
- A. No, you cannot. You MUST return to Fiji after obtaining Master’s degree through JDS Scholarship Program.
- Q. Can I come back to Fiji or travel overseas for short-term while I am staying in Japan?
- A. Yes, you may come back to Fiji at your own expense and must ensure that it doesn’t impact your academic work negatively. If you travel overseas for any reason other than thesis research purpose, your scholarship will be suspended from the day of departure from Japan until the day of return in case of private travel. The scholarship will be paid up to 60 days in the case of the thesis research.
- Q. Please tell me about university support system.
- A. It depends on the university which you enroll. Normally, teaching assistant/s and tutor/s will support your studies and academic life.
Contact
JDS Project Office in Fiji
Address: Suva Business Centre, 177-181 Victoria Parade (Entrance staircase is beside Café Noir), Suva, Fiji
Tel: +679 7804002 / +679 9399113 (WhatsApp / Viber available)
Email: jdsfiji-1@jds21.com
Office Hours: Mon to Fri 8:30 to 12:00, 13:00 to 16:30
Website: https://scholarship.jds21.com/fiji
