Nepal

Doctoral Degree Programme 2024

Introduction

The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship by Japanese Grant Aid (JDS) was launched in Nepal in 2015. Up to the present, a total of 165 Fellows have been dispatched to Japan.

JDS is now calling applications for the academic year 2024-2025. The maximum number of Doctoral scholars is 2 per year.

Promotion Seminars/Webinars Schedules

Promotion Seminars/webinars provide prospective applicants with more detailed information on the JDS Program and how to prepare application documents. Promotion seminars will be held in-person and online through the On-demand Video Presentations and Zoom meetings /Webinars below.

1.On-demand Video Presentations

  1. Overview of the JDS Program
  2. How to prepare your application documents
  3. How to receive approval for your study leave
  4. How to prepare a research plan

2.Schedules

Please register to attend the seminars/ webinars from the given links.

Date Time Venue Session Registration
Link
7-Sep Thu 3 PM to 4 PM (Master)
4 PM to 5 PM (Doctoral)
Online General Q&A with JDS Staffs Register
8-Sep Fri 11 AM to Noon (Master)
Noon to 1 PM (Doctoral)
Online Special Webinar for Ministry of Foreign Affairs Register
11-Sep Mon 11 AM to 1 PM Janakpur
Madhesh Province
In-person Seminar with JDS Staff Register
13-Sep Wed 11 AM to 1 PM Dang
Lumbini Province
In-person Seminar with JDS Staff Register
15-Sep Fri 11 AM to 1 PM Pokhara
Gandaki Province
In-person Seminar with JDS Staff Register
19-Sep Tue 3 PM to 4 PM (Master)
4 PM to 5 PM (Doctoral)
Online General Q&A with JDS Staffs Register
22-Sep Fri 3 PM to 4 PM (Master)
4 PM to 5 PM (Doctoral)
Online Meet ‘ The Future You’
(only for FEMALE Applicants)
Meet current/former female JDS fellows to get inspiration for your future success with the JDS Scholarship.
Register
23-Sep Sat 3 PM to 4 PM (Master)
4 PM to 5 PM (Doctoral)
Online Family Session (Meet current JDS fellows with their families in Japan to get to know their academic and family life. Register
25-Sep Mon 3 PM to 4 PM (Master)
4 PM to 5 PM (Doctoral)
Online Interact with Expert regarding Research Plan Register

Eligibility for Doctoral Programme

Applicants should be/have:

  1. Nepali nationals
  2. between the ages of 30 and 45 (both inclusive) as of April 1st, 2024.(Should be born between April 2nd, 1978 and April 1st, 1994)
  3. hold a master’s degree (including universities in Nepal).
  4. at least 5 years of work experience in Civil Service at the time of application.
  5. gazetted civil servants governed by Civil Service Act of Nepal, (Under Secretary and above) currently employed in the following organizations.
    • all ministries
    • all agencies under ministries
    • all constitutional bodies
    • all other institutions and authorities
    • all courts
      or civil servants (Level 9 and above) originally recruited by the federal government and deputed/adjusted to 7 provincial and 753 local governments.
  6. returned and served for the country for certain years (involving actual work and/or research preparation) set by Civil Service Act after completion of master’s course.
  7. in good health.
  8. sufficient English language ability to pursue a doctoral degree.
  9. should have published one or more peer-reviewed paper/s, in principle.

Applicants should not be/have:

  1. serving in the military.
  2. previously acquired a doctoral degree after studying abroad on a scholarship awarded by the Government of Nepal or any other development partners.
  3. currently receiving, or planning to receive, another scholarship to acquire a master’s or doctoral degree through assistance from the Government of Nepal or any other development partners.

Conditions:

  • Applicants should have a clear understanding of the objectives of the JDS Program and desire to contribute to the development of Nepal upon return to Nepal after completing the study.
  • The applicants’ research theme should be relevant to the Development Issues of Nepal referred to in the framework of Sub-Programmes and Components of the JDS.
  • Applicants should receive a recommendation from the supervisor of his/her current workplace (The reference Letter should contain the evaluation of the applicant’s performance at work and the relevance of his/her research theme to his/her career).
  • Applicants should have an acceptance from the expected academic adviser(s) of the applying university before applying to the JDS Program.
  • Applicants must be expected to complete the course within, and not exceeding three (3) years.

Milestones

Fields of Study

The fields of study in the JDS Programme are called Sub-Programmes (target priority areas) and Components (development issues). By obtaining doctoral degrees in these fields, JDS fellows are expected to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for formulating and implementing social and economic development plans in Nepal.

Unlike the Master’s Program, the Doctoral Programme does not specify which universities the applicants can apply to. The applicants are expected to search and choose an appropriate university in Japan for their academic goals.

  • Applicants should have a clear understanding of the objectives of the JDS Program and desire to contribute to the development of Nepal upon return to Nepal after completing the study.
  • Applicants’ research theme should be relevant to the Development Issues of Nepal referred to in the framework of Sub-Programmes and Components of JDS.
  • Applicants should receive a recommendation from the supervisor of his/her current workplace (The reference Letter should contain the evaluation of the applicant’s performance at work and the relevance of his/her research theme to his/her career).
  • Applicants should have an acceptance from the expected academic advisor(s) of the applying university before applying to the JDS Program.
  • Applicants must be expected to complete the course within, and not exceeding three (3) years.

Fields of Study – Sub-programmes and Components

Priority area
(Sub-programme)
Development Issues
(Component)
Presumed research fields
and preferred major subjects*
Number of Acceptance
per batch
1.
Social and economic development which directly leads to economic growth and the national livelihoods improvement
1-1.
Financial Policy, Economic Policy
National development policy, macroeconomic policy, fiscal policy, monetary policy, tax policy, econometrics, investment environment development, industrial promotion policy, foreign investment promotion policy, business environment development, international development cooperation, foreign aid, and debt management, etc. 2
2.
Governance enhancement and basic framework development for democracy
2-1.
Development of Human Resource and Administrative Capacity of Civil Servants
Decentralization, local administration, administration, personnel management policy, fiscal management, local self-governance, labor policy, public policy, etc.
2-2.
Building of International Relations
International politics, international economy, foreign policy, South Asian regional integration, diplomatic relations between Nepal and other countries, Nepal’s development as a landlocked country, relations with developing countries, international diplomacy on labor issues, labor politics, migration issues, etc
2-3.
Improvement of Legal andJudicial System
Civil law, criminal law, corporate and commercial law (including bankruptcy law), and Laws for trade and investment promotion, IT laws, intellectual property laws, international treaty laws, etc.

*It does not mean applicants must choose from the listed study fields.

Application Documents

Application Guidelines & Forms

Please refer to the Application Guidelines and submit a full set of application documents by the deadline.

A. Application Guidelines

Application Guidelines of the Doctoral Degree Programme (Download)

B. Application Forms

Please contact the JDS Project Office (jdsnepal-2@jds21.com) in Nepal to obtain the application forms.

C. Other Documents (to be prepared by Applicant)

  • Notarized Degree Certificates and Transcripts (Bachelor’s and above)
  • Copy of Biometric page of valid Passport (Official or Private)
  • Passport-size digital photo
  • IELTS Academic Module Test Form (TRF) valid as of May 31, 2024(if any)
  • Abstract of the past papers written in English

Submission of the Application Documents

Complete application Documents must be sent via email to jdsnepal-2@jds21.com in the period from 12:00 noon Monday, 8th January to 12:00 noon Friday, 19th January 2024.

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

FAQ

1.Qualifications

Q. Who is eligible to apply to JDS Programme?
A. Please refer to Eligibility.
Q. How about GPA score?
A. We do not have any borderline for GPA score.
Q. I don’t speak Japanese. Can I apply to JDS?
A. Yes, you can. All courses are taught in English in the graduate schools selected for the JDS Programme.
Q. Can I apply both for the Master’s Programme as well as the Doctoral Programme?
A. No. You have to choose one out of two programmes

2.Applications

Q. How can I find the target organizations?
A. Please refer to the Application Guidelines and go to Name of Target Organization. If you cannot find your organization in the list, please contact the line ministry of your organization.
Q. I am working at the department/provincial/local office. From whom should I obtain the reference letter and the approval letter?
A. Reference letter should be obtained from your senior supervisor of your work place. If you are the head of that office, you should request authorized senior official from your line ministry.
Official Approval Letter must be signed by an official who can authorize your study leave (Joint Secretary or above) of Human Resource Division or designated division for JDS Scholarship from target organization which you work for or is your line ministry. Provincial Officials and Local Level Officials should contact the respective Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers.
Q. I got transferred to a new organization in mid of March 2021. Can I write my Work Experience as below?

Department/Division From/To (Month/Year)
(Previous workplace) 05/2017 – 03/2021
(Current workplace) 03/2021 –
A. No. Please do not overlap the month. You may write when your current work started from 04/2021 as below.

Department/Division From/To (Month/Year)
(Previous workplace) 05/2017 – 03/2021
(Current workplace) 04/2021 –
Q. Are the degree certificate and the transcript needed to be attested by the university, or notarized by notary public?
A. You can submit a copy of the certificate or transcript after notarized by a notary public.
Q. I only have diploma.Am I eligible to apply?
A. No. You must possess at least a university degree to apply.
Q. I have obtained two bachelor’s degrees and two master’s degrees in the past. I am considering to apply for a doctoral course. Which degree should I submit?
A. Please submit all of them.
Q. How do I prepare research plan?
A. Please carefully read the instructions written in the Application Guidelines. Please watch video guidance `How to prepare research plan` in the On-demand video program. JDS Office staff members may also guide you how to prepare your research plan, upon your request.
Q. A book or article that I am referring for writing my research proposal has already been cited in another book/article. Which one should I mention for reference?
A. You need to refer to the original source.
Q. Do I need to submit a nomination letter to the JDS Project Office at the time of application?
A. We don’t need the nomination letter or pre-approval letter. An Official Approval Letter (Prescribed Form 2 of the Application Form) signed by the Joint Secretary or authorized person must be submitted at the time of application.
Q. Is the JDS Scholarship private or government nomination?
A. You need to obtain the official Approved Letter (Prescribed Form 2 of Application Forms) from your target organization in order to apply for the JDS Program. Contact your target organization to see if government nomination is necessary to obtain it or not.
Q. Last year I applied for pre-approval for study leave at my ministry but I didn’t get any reply whether it was approved or not. How can I get to know the result?
A. Ministries do not inform the result to applicants nor JDS Project Office. It is applicants’ responsibility to follow up whether it is approved or not.
Q. Which types of passport (private or official) is required for the IELTS application?
A. Either passport is okay.
Q. How do I know if I passed the process of document screening or not? Can I call the JDS Project 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 accepted.
Q. Can I have my application documents back if I did not pass the selection?
A. No. All application documents will not be returned.
Q. If I were selected for the JDS Scholarship Program, what allowance can I receive?
A. As to the allowance you will receive in Japan, please refer to Benefits.
Q. Is it okay to bring my dependents and stay with them in Japan?
A. Yes, you can stay with your dependents (spouse/children) in Japan, but only after 3 months from your arrival in Japan unless your university prohibits you from doing so. All the procedures required you to do for your dependents’ stay in Japan shall be carried out by yourselves. The JDS Program will not cover the costs necessary for your families: e.g. travel insurance, air tickets, living costs, and VISA. Your family should be taken care of under your responsibility.
Q. What type of accommodation will I have in Japan?
A. Students move in to university dormitories or public/private apartments. The family rooms of the university dormitories are highly competitive to enter, also the term of staying is usually 6 months or one year only.
The rent of the public/private apartments varies from region to region. The rent in Tokyo is usually more than ¥45,000 for a single room, and more than ¥55,000 for a family room.
Q. Can I work in Japan?
A. No, you are not allowed to have any job or work. However, the teaching or research assistantship which is provided by your accepting University is exceptional.
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 the JDS Scholarship program in order to continue my education or be employed in Japan?
A. No, you may not. You must return to Nepal after obtaining a doctoral degree by the JDS Scholarship Program.
Q. Can I come back to Nepal or travel overseas for a short-term while I am staying in Japan?
A. Yes, you may come back to Nepal with your own expense and responsibility that doesn’t impact your academic work. If you travel overseas for any other reason than thesis research purposes, 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 the university support system.
A. It depends on the university which you are enrolled in. Normally, teaching assistant/s and tutor/s will support your studies and academic life.

3.Family Related Issues

Q. Can my wife/husband work in Japan?
A. Yes, your spouse may have job or work during their stay, up to 28 hours per week.
Q. Can my wife/husband drive automobiles in Japan?
A. Yes, she/he can. Your spouse needs to obtain an international driver’s license. The validity of the international driver’s license is one year, and she/he needs to be careful about the expiration date of the license.
Q. Will the JDS Program or universities offer Japanese language course to my family members?
A. No, but we will introduce you an international exchange center in each university area which offers Japanese classes at a reasonable price.
Q. About how much will it cost for a nursery school?
A. It depends on local government, and childcare cost will be calculated according to your income. As an example, the childcare cost of one child for scholarship recipient is ¥10,000 in Hiroshima.

JDS Project Office in Nepal

Address Regus, Ground Floor, Trade Tower, Thapathali, Kathmandu (Opposite NIC Asia Bank)
Tel 98400 87860 / 98400 77544
Email jdsnepal-2@jds21.com
Office Hours Mon to Fri 9:00-13:00 / 14:00-17:00
Website https://scholarship.jds21.com/nepal/