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) is designed to foster exceptional human resources capable of working to resolve various development challenges in the recipient countries in the 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. This scholarship 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, starting 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 Ghana will be 12 Master’s students per year.

Promotion Seminar Schedule

Eligibility

Who is Eligible?

1. Nationality: Applicants must be citizens of Ghana.
2. Age: Up to 41 years old as of 1^st April, 2026.
3. Academic background: Bachelor’s Degree or above
4. Work Experience:
   • at least 3 years of work experience as a full-time public servant.
   • at least 4 years of work experience as a full-time staff before departure for Japan for civil servants and LGS.
   • at least 4 years of work experience as a full-time staff before the deadline for submission of application for Bank of Ghana and GRA.
   • at least 4 years of work experience as a full-time staff after receiving Bachelor’s degree before departure for Japan for Ghana Health Service.
5. Target Organizations:
   

   2026 List of Target Organizations (in alphabetical order)
   BOG	Bank of Ghana
   GHS	Ghana Health Service
   GIPC	Ghana Investment Promotion Centre
   GIS	Ghana Immigration Service
   GRA	Ghana Revenue Authority
   GSS	Ghana Statistical Service
   LGS	Local Government Service
   MEST	Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology
   MFA	Ministry of Foreign Affairs
   MINTER	Ministry of Interior
   MLGCRA	Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs
   MLNR	Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
   MoCDTI	Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations
   MoEGT	Ministry of Energy and Green Transition
   MOF	Ministry of Finance
   MOFA	Ministry of Food and Agriculture
   MoGCSP	Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection
   MOH	Ministry of Health
   MOTAI	Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry
   MRH	Ministry of Roads and Highways
   NDPC	National Development Planning Commission
   OAGMoJ	Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice
   OHCS	Office of the Head of Civil Service
   OOP	Office of the President

6. Applicants must have strong willingness to work for the development of Ghana on their return home.
7. Applicants must be in good health both mentally and physically.
8. Applicants must be sufficiently proficient in English to study in Japan.

Who is ineligible?

1. Persons who are currently receiving, planning to receive or who have previously acquired a master’s degree after studying abroad on a scholarship awarded through other foreign assistance are ineligible.

Fields of study, target organizations and corresponding graduate schools

Selection Process

List of universities

How to Apply

• Applications for the JDS Program must be submitted online through the application form provided on The Admissions Office (TAO), a web application system operated by TAO Co., Ltd. Please make sure to carefully read the TAO Online Application Manual available in 7. Download Documents for instructions on how to create an account, how to use the system, and other important notes.
  In addition, you can find video tutorials below explaining: How to create a TAO account, How to access the input screen after logging in/re-logging in, Detailed explanation of the input screen and important notes.
  Be sure to watch all three tutorials, especially tutorials 2 and 3, which are indispensable.

  1. How to Create a TAO Account
  2. How to access the input screen after logging in/re-logging in
  3. Detailed explanation of the input screen and important notes

   

• Access the online application form from the JDS Ghana Official Website and submit the application documents online before 0:00 am 6th November 2025.
   
• Please refer to the Application Guidelines during completion and ensure submission of a full set of application documents.
   
• Send Prescribed Form 1 to the HR Director as a Referee. The Referee must send it directly to the JDS Office via email (ghana.jds@jds21.com) or give it to the applicant in a signed and sealed envelope with the organisational stamp. Prescribed Form 1 sent by the applicant via email will NOT be accepted.
   
• Submit hard copies of the following documents to the JDS Ghana Project Office one week after the deadline of applications. You may send them by bus transport/courier. (Kobe U, IUJ, Ritsumeikan U, ICU.)
  • *Certified copy of your degree certificates (bachelor and above) *A certified copy which is duly certified by your university or the Commissioner of Oaths.
  • Original or certified copy of your transcripts (bachelor and above)
  • Original reference letter required. (For Ritsumeikan U.)
  • Original Proof of English Language Skill of JDS Scholarship Applicants (Prescribed Form 4) (For Ritsumeikan U.)

The application deadline is 5th November(Wed), 2025.

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

B. Application Documents

Download Documents

1. Reference form from your HR director　(Prescribed Form 1)
   download : Word PDF
    
2. Proof of your English language skill　(Prescribed Form 4)(For Kobe U. and Ritsumeikan U.)
   download : Word PDF
    
3. TAO Online Application Manual : PDF
    
4. Educational Background Sheet / Work Experience Sheet : EXCEL

☆Please access the Online application portal from the JDS Ghana Official Website.

How to Prepare Your Research Plan

How to write good research plan

Before you begin writing your research plan, you are advised 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’ (Target 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.

Please make sure to include all the points below:

1. Research Purpose/objective (describe what you aim at in your research: e.g. what you want to identify or prove any in the research)
2. Problem Statement (state the critical/problematic situation you are concerned about from global and national perspectives, referring to relevant statistics or general information)
3. Research Question/s (describe the questions, as well as sub-questions in order to achieve the research purpose)
4. Possible Methodology to Address the Question/s (describe what kinds of methods you will apply for your research: either qualitative or quantitative research methods – qualitative methods: who will be possible respondents, how to collect primary data, how to analyse the data collected, etc. – quantitative methods: what data set will be used, how to analyse it, etc.)
5. Reference: To prove that your problem statement is not based on your own subjective view/opinion, but general/objective fact which has been statistically proved, or
   stated in the past publication, you must use existing data or someone else’s idea. In that occasion, you have to state the source of data and information.

• The research plan must be typed and should be no more than 700 words [PDF: Maximum 3 (three) pages.] (Reference not included)

(You may add a very short, less than 300 words, alternative research proposal if you are not quite sure of the kind of research you may undertake for your Master’s thesis.)

How to Prepare for Math Exam

(Kobe University, IUJ and Nagasaki University)
Math Examination Date: 12^th November (Wed), 2025

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!

Math past question

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

• Qualifications
• Applications
• Life in Japan

If you need further information or wish to make an inquiry, please contact our JDS Project Office in Ghana (Tel: 059-651-7785 / 020-926-5121).

• Qualifications

  Q. Who is eligible to apply for the JDS Program?

  A. Regarding the eligibility, please refer to page 9 of Application Guidelines.

  Q. Do I need to take English and Math examinations?

  A. Math exam is required for applicants for Kobe University, International University of Japan and Nagasaki University. On the other hand, applicants for International Christian University are obliged to take English exam. Nagasaki University applicants are exempted from the English exam if they submit the English proficiency letter from their university. If you have taken an IELTS within the last 2 years and can submit the official copy of your score record, you do not need to take it again. However, there is no exception for the math exam. The problems in the math exam will be those you have learned at junior-high and high schools.

  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 if 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 are 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. ’Yes, there’s 1 slot available each year for JDS Program alumni. Contact JDS Project office for details.

• 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 your request.

  Q. I only have diploma. Am I eligible to apply?

  A. No. You must possess at least a university degree to apply for.

  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. 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. all 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.

• 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 13 of Application Guidelines.

  Q. Is it okay to bring my dependents and stay with them in Japan?

  A. Yes, you may stay with your dependents (spouse/children) in Japan. However, we recommend that they join you after you have been in Japan for at least three months, unless your university has specific policies that prohibit this. All the procedures required you to do for your dependents’ stay in Japan shall be carried out by yourselves. JDS Program will not cover the cost necessary for your families: e.g. travel insurance, air ticket, living cost, and VISA. Your Family will be taken care of under your responsibility.

  Q. Can I work in Japan?

  A. No, you are not allowed to have any job or work for a living. However, the teaching or research assistantship provided by your Accepting University, as well as internships, are exceptions.

  Q. Can I drive automobiles in Japan?

  A. No. You are not permitted to drive cars or motorcycles unless there is any special reason which was permitted by the JDS Operation Committee.

  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 Ghana after obtaining Master’s degree through JDS Scholarship Program.

  Q. Can I come back to Ghana or travel overseas for short-term while I am staying in Japan?

  A. Yes, you may come back to Ghana 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 in. Normally, teaching assistant/s and tutor/s will support your studies and academic life.

Contact

JDS Project Office in Ghana

Address: Room 4 & 5, Ground Floor, Annex Building, at Office of the Head of Civil Service, Accra

Tel: 059-651-7785 / 020-926-5121

Email: ghana.jds@gmail.com

Office Hours: Mon to Fri 9:00 to 12:00, 13:00 to 17:00

Website: https://scholarship.jds21.com/ghana