Applications are now open for the 2026/2027 African Development Bank (AfDB) Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program, a fully funded graduate scholarship designed for talented young Africans who want to pursue advanced studies in energy development and related fields.

The scholarship is offered to citizens of African Development Bank member countries who have strong academic backgrounds, relevant professional experience, and a demonstrated commitment to contributing to the development of their countries. Successful scholars will undertake graduate-level studies at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) in Japan in eligible fields related to energy development and other priority areas.

Applicants must be nationals of an African Development Bank member country and must be 35 years old or younger. They should hold at least a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in energy, agriculture, health, environmental sustainability, engineering, or a related discipline, with excellent academic results and relevant professional experience.

Candidates must also have at least one year of paid professional experience in their home country or another African country after obtaining their Bachelor’s degree or equivalent. The experience must have been gained within the past three years. Applicants must not already be enrolled in a graduate degree program and must demonstrate a history of supporting the economic and social development of their country.

Applicants who are Executive Directors, their alternates, or staff members of any type of appointment of the African Development Bank Group, as well as close relatives of such individuals, are not eligible. Successful scholars must also agree to return to their home country after completing their studies and contribute to its economic and social development.

The JADS scholarship provides full tuition coverage, payment of the admission fee, and a monthly subsistence allowance of 150,000 Japanese yen, including housing, although the amount may be subject to change. The award also covers economy-class air travel between the scholar’s home country and APU in Japan at the beginning and end of the study program.

The program accepts applications for both April 2027 and September 2027 enrollment. Applicants must request consideration for the AfDB-JADS scholarship as part of their APU online application. For April 2027 enrollment, applications should be submitted by September 15, 2026. For September 2027 enrollment, the information provided states deadlines of November 5, 2026 or January 8, 2026; because January 8, 2026 has already passed and appears inconsistent with the 2027 intake, applicants should verify the correct deadline in the official APU application information before applying.

APU reviews submitted applications and recommends suitable candidates to AfDB-JADS. For April 2027 enrollment, candidate recommendations are expected around the middle of November, while recommendations for September 2027 enrollment are expected around the middle of March. Applicants selected as scholarship candidates will subsequently be notified of their final APU application results. The final scholarship award decision is made by AfDB-JADS, with results expected by the end of June, although the schedule may change.

Applicants are required to prepare a Research Proposal according to the Research Proposal section of the 2027 Graduate Application Handbook. Candidates are strongly encouraged to align their research proposals with the African Development Bank’s High 5s development priorities. A Curriculum Vitae (CV) must also be prepared according to the requirements outlined in the 2027 Graduate Application Handbook.

The African Development Bank Japan Africa Dream Scholarship offers young African professionals an opportunity to gain advanced graduate-level education in Japan while developing knowledge and skills that can contribute to sustainable development across Africa.

Scholarship: African Development Bank Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS)
Study destination: Japan
University: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU)
Level: Graduate/Master’s
Funding: Fully funded
Eligible applicants: Citizens of AfDB member countries
Age limit: 35 years or younger
April 2027 deadline: September 15, 2026
September 2027: Check the official APU deadline carefully, as the supplied information contains an apparent date error.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link attached below to apply for this opportunity