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2024/11/19
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The Project for Human Resource Development
Scholarship (JDS) in Fiji 2025
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, starting from the 2025 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 will be 6 Master’s students 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.
Information/Promotion Seminar Schedule
Date: 23rd of November, 2024 (TBC)
Time: 09:00 – 11:00
Venue: Conference Room, Suva Business Centre
Eligibility
Who is Eligible?
- Nationality: Applicants must be citizens of Fiji
- Age: Between the age of 22 and 45 as of 1 April 2025
- Academic background: Bachelor’s Degree or above
- Work Experience: A minimum of 3 years of work experience as a full-time public servant at local ministries or staff members of public enterprises and statutory bodies
- Target Organizations: all ministries, public enterprises and statutory bodies
- Applicants must have a strong willingness to work for the development of Fiji on their return 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 have previously acquired a master’s degree after studying abroad on a scholarship 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
| 2024 | 10th of December | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Mid December | Math examination (Only applicants for IUJ and University of Tsukuba) | |
| 2025 | January | Initial Selection (Screening of Application Documents) by graduate school faculties |
| Mid. January | English Examination (only applicants for IUJ and APU who fail to submit a proof of English proficiency at the moment of initial application) and medical check-up for all applicants | |
| 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
-
Submit Application documents to JDS Project Office
Application documents may be downloaded from the link provided below. Please ensure that the application is printed out in A4 size paper. Please refer to the Application Guidelines during completion and ensure submission of a full set of application documents. Some applications should be submitted with the requested hard copies in person to the JDS project office in Suva or the Ministry of Civil Service.
If you are any inquiry, please consult with JDS Project Office.The application should be submitted by 16:30 on Tuesday, 10th of December, 2024.
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 Office (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 10th of December 2024.
Application documents will not be returned for any reason. Late submission and/or incomplete application documents will NOT be accepted.
A. Application Guidelines
- Application Guidelines download: PDF
B. Application Documents
- Application form
download: Word PDF - Confidential Statement of Reference for Master Level (Form 1)
download: Word PDF - Certified copy of your “Bachelor/Certificate of degree
- Original or certified copy of your “Official Transcript (University-level)
- Colored photocopy of your ID document
- Certificate of English Proficiency from University (for IUJ only)
- English test waiving letter (for University of Tsukuba only)
download: PDF
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: Mid-December, 2024
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.
-
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
