Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA)

The Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA) supports graduate studies in macroeconomics or related fields in leading universities in Japan. It provides educational opportunities to promising junior officials from central banks, ministries of finance and other economic agencies in the Asia-Pacific region, aiming to build their capacity in economic policymaking to support sustainable growth and development in their own countries and the region.

Scholarship Description | Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA)

The program was first introduced in 1993, and is funded by the Government of Japan and administered by the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (OAP) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

More than 840 officials have graduated since its inception, and many alumni play a key role in policymaking in their countries.

Benefits

The JISPA scholarship covers tuition-related costs and most living expenses for the scholar, herself/himself including:

1. Full university admission and tuition fees.
2. Research related allowance and monthly living allowance.
3. Medical insurance.
4. A round-trip airfare and travel allowance.
5. Orientation Program tuition fees (partnership track only).
6. Annual field trip fees (partnership track only)
7. Computer/software allowance (master’s program only)
8. Research related fees, including field research and conference attendance fees (open-track PhD program only)

See Also:  Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Advanced Studies (JISP)

JISPA Tracks

The Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA) is a Two-Track Scholarship program offering a Partnership Track, and an Open Track.

Partnership Track: The JISPA partnership track allows scholars to study specially designed master’s courses in macroeconomics at one of these few IMF partnership universities:

• National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS): Macroeconomic Policy Programs (Master of Public Policy or Master of Public Economics – one-year program; and Master of Arts in Public Economics – two-year program)
• Hitotsubashi University (HIT): Asian Public Policy Program [Master of Public Policy (Public Economics) – two-year program]
• International University of Japan (IUJ): Macroeconomic Policy Program (Master of Arts in Economics – two-year program)
• The University of Tokyo (UTokyo): Master of Public Policy, International Program (Master of Public Policy – two-year program)

Open Track: The open track provides support for graduate studies in macroeconomics or a related field at either the master’s or PhD level at any leading university in Japan. Priority is given to PhD candidates.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA), an applicant must meet the following criteria:

1. A national of one of the following countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao P.D.R., Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Pacific Island Countries, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
2. Working for a key economic agency such as central bank, ministry of economy, ministry of finance, or financial regulatory agency.
3. A Bachelor’s degree.
4. Fluent in English.

In addition, for the open track, applicants are expected to be studying at, have been admitted into, or be applying to a graduate program in economics in Japan, thus:

• Priority is given to applicants: (1) whose age is below 40; (2) who have not yet obtained a master’s degree from a university outside of their own country; and (3) who have the minimum of two-three years’ work experience in the public sector.
• The program will also consider officials working in other areas of government that have a significant impact on the formulation or implementation of macroeconomic policy.
• An applicant must present either a TOEFL or IELTS score report. Kindly register the JISPA institution code as listed below when applicants take the test.

TOEFL: “C626 – Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia”
IELTS: “JISPA: Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia”

Also Check:  IMF Economist Program (EP) 2023

Application Procedure

Application for the Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA) must be submitted online. Detailed academic programs at each partner university can be found in the JISPA e-brochure.

Website and Application Link