The African Development Bank - Japan Africa Dream Scholarship Program (JADS) offers African students two-year scholarship awards for master's study at designated institutions, and the University of Tokyo's Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (GSFS) is one of them. African applicants who want to join a GSFS environmental studies master's programme with JADS support can apply in the Schedule B entrance examination window, which closes on 17 November 2026 at 23:00 Japan Standard Time. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the GSFS guidance and set out each step, department and date below.
Scholarship Overview
🏦 Organised by: the African Development Bank and the government of Japan
🎓 Level: Master's
⏳ Award length: two-year scholarship awards
🏛️ Host: Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (GSFS), The University of Tokyo
📍 Campus: Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
🌍 Who it is for: African students
📆 Schedule B application period: 11 November to 17 November 2026, 23:00 JST
What Is the JADS Programme?
JADS is a capacity building project organised by the African Development Bank and the government of Japan. It provides two-year scholarship awards to African students studying at master's level at its designated institutions, and GSFS is one of the designated institutions for the programme. Applicants are asked to check the JADS eligibility first on the African Development Bank's JADS page before starting the GSFS process.
Which GSFS Programmes Accept JADS Scholars?
GSFS consists of three divisions: Transdisciplinary Sciences, Biosciences and Environmental Studies. Currently, only the Division of Environmental Studies, with its six departments, and the Graduate Program in Sustainability Science have been appointed as an educational institution by the African Development Bank:
🌳 Department of Natural Environmental Studies
🌊 Department of Ocean Technology, Policy, and Environment
⚙️ Department of Environment Systems
🏙️ Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies
🎭 Department of Socio-cultural Environment Studies
🌐 Department of International Studies
♻️ Graduate Program in Sustainability Science (GPSS), where all classes are conducted in English
Step 1: Choose a Supervisor and Major
Master's students at GSFS must conduct research and write a master's thesis to graduate. Before applying, you should:
📝 Create a research proposal for the research you wish to conduct
🔎 Check whether a faculty member in the graduate school can supervise the planned research, using the GSFS faculty search
📧 Consult the faculty member directly by email or other means
If the faculty member decides it is not appropriate to supervise you, the application process may not proceed. When you email a faculty member, it is recommended to include:
🙋 A self-introduction
🔬 What you want to study or research
🗓️ Your desired time of enrolment
🎯 Your intention to apply for the JADS Scholarship
Step 2: Take the Entrance Examination
The GSFS entrance examination is held twice a year, in Schedule A and Schedule B. The method of implementation varies by department or programme, so check the relevant website carefully and apply accordingly.
Schedule A Timeline
📥 Application period: June
✏️ Examination date: July to August (varies by department)
📢 Result announcement: early September
📨 Recommendation to JADS: September
🏫 Enrolment: April of the following year
Schedule B Timeline
📥 Application period: November
✏️ Examination date: January to February of the following year (varies by department)
📢 Result announcement: mid-February of the following year
📨 Recommendation to JADS: February of the following year
🏫 Enrolment: October of the following year
2026 Application Periods for GSFS Entrance Examinations
🗣️ Special Oral Exam: 15 May (Fri) to 21 May (Thu) 2026, at 23:00 Japan Standard Time
🅰️ Schedule A: 4 June (Thu) to 10 June (Wed) 2026, at 23:00 Japan Standard Time
🅱️ Schedule B: 11 November (Wed) to 17 November (Tue) 2026, at 23:00 Japan Standard Time
Do You Need to Travel to Japan for the Exam?
For some departments, it may be necessary to travel to Japan to take the examination. For the entrance examination in the academic year 2024, the following majors did not require travel to Japan:
🏙️ Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies
🌐 Department of International Studies
🌳 Department of Natural Environmental Studies
♻️ Graduate Program in Sustainability Science
Steps 3 to 5: Recommendation, Result and Visa
3️⃣ GSFS recommends to JADS those successful entrance examination candidates who meet the application qualifications specified by JADS
4️⃣ GSFS notifies applicants of the result of the JADS scholarship grant
5️⃣ You apply for a visa and proceed with entry and enrolment; international students who do not hold Japanese nationality must enter Japan with a student visa by the enrolment date
Who to Contact at GSFS
📬 International Liaison Office, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo (email address in the Links section below)
Find more funded study options in the Scholarships section on Youth Works Hub →.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who runs the Japan Africa Dream Scholarship?
JADS is a capacity building project organised by the African Development Bank and the government of Japan. It provides two-year scholarship awards to African students at master's level at designated institutions such as GSFS.
Which University of Tokyo programmes can I join with JADS?
Only the six departments of the Division of Environmental Studies and the Graduate Program in Sustainability Science at GSFS are appointed by the African Development Bank. The Transdisciplinary Sciences and Biosciences divisions are not included.
Do I apply to JADS directly or through GSFS?
You first pass the GSFS entrance examination. GSFS then recommends successful candidates who meet the JADS qualifications to JADS and notifies them of the scholarship result.
When is the current deadline?
The Schedule B application period runs from 11 November to 17 November 2026, closing at 23:00 Japan Standard Time. Schedule B candidates are recommended to JADS in February and enrol in October of the following year.
Do I need a supervisor before applying?
Yes. You should prepare a research proposal and contact a GSFS faculty member who can supervise your research before applying, because the application may not proceed if the faculty member declines.
Are classes taught in English?
All classes at the Graduate Program in Sustainability Science (GPSS) are conducted in English.
Will I need a visa?
Yes. International students who do not hold Japanese nationality must enter Japan with a student visa by the enrolment date.
Deadline
⏳ 17 November 2026
Links
Programme page: https://www.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/exam/master/foreign_research_students/afdb_jads/
Application method and entrance examinations: https://www.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/exam/info/
JADS details and eligibility: https://www.afdb.org/en/about-us/careers/japan-africa-dream-scholarship-jads-program
Faculty search: https://www.k.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/gsfs/faculty/
Contact: iloedu@k.u-tokyo.ac.jp
