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Application for JDS 2022 is already closed.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Applicant Eligibility and Tentative Schedule for application
- Master course

- Doctoral course
3. Research Plan

4. Download of Application Guideline and Application Documents
5. Supportive videos for the shortlisted candidates by RCSC
6. Apply Now
7. English & Math Exam

1. Introduction

The Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship by Japanese Grant Aid (JDS) has been started in Bhutan since 2018. Up to the present, total of 38 Fellows (35 Masters and 3 PhD) have been sent to Japan.

JDS is now inviting potential applicants who understand its aims and are interested in 2-year master degree / 3-year PhD program at Japanese accepting universities for the academic year 2023-2024.
The program will be instructed in English. The number of dispatches is 9 Masers and 1 PhD per year.

This is JDS – Outline of JDS Project

2. Applicant Eligibility and Tentative schedule for application

2-1. Master course

(1) Qualifications and Requirements of Applicant

Item	Description
Nationality	Citizens of the Kingdom of Bhutan
Age	Age of 39 or younger as of 1 April, 2023 (Born on/after 2 April, 1983)
Academic Background	Holds a bachelor’s degree from universities authorized by the Royal Government of Bhutan or other countries.
Academic Background	Other requirements or desirability of academic background *Some accepting universities have other requirements or desirable academic background. Check “Accepting University” in “Information of Each Sub-Program / Component” and “University Information” on Application Guidelines.
Work Experience	Has 2 years or more of work experiences under the same Parent Agency at the time of RCSC application (such experiences shall be related to applying Sub-Program/Component). Must be a regular (permanent) government employee who is in Professional & Management Category (PMC). Belongs to specified Super structure listed for each Component. Components for 2-1 and 2-2 are also required to belong specified Major Occupational Group. See “Framework of JDS Bhutan” on Application Guidelines for details.
English Proficiency	Has good command of both written and spoken English
Health Condition	Has a sound mind and body
Ineligibility	A person who falls under the following is NOT eligible to apply. Has awarded or scheduled to receive another scholarship. Has already obtained a master’s or higher degree. Military personnel registered on the active list or person on alternative military service.

*Please also check framework and university information.

(2) Tentative Schedule

Schedule	Steps	Description
Nov.16 – Dec 12, 2022	JDS Application	Closing Date: Dec 12, 2022 Note: You have to be short-listed after screening by RCSC to apply for JDS.

Nov. 2022	Academic aptitude test	IELTS and Math tests^※1. The test results will be used as references by the universities in later selection stages

Jan, 2023	1st Selection	Document Screening: Application Documents and research plan will be examined by the Japanese universities.

Jan. 2023	Health Checkup	The health checkup will be arranged at a hospital in Thimphu

Feb. 2023	2nd Selection	Technical Interview: Faculty members of the Japanese Universities will conduct their interview exams.

Mar. 2023	3rd Selection	Comprehensive Interview: The Operating Committee members will conduct the interview exams. “Approval letter” will be required^※2

Mar. 2023	Approval by the OC	Successful candidates will be approved and notified

Mar.－Apr. 2023	Application Procedure	JICE will support application for each university
Jul.-Aug. 2023	Orientations	Provided by RCSC, JICA, and JICE
Aug. 2023	Departure for Japan	JICE will arrange air-ticket, visa, and also support after the arrival in Japan

Note:

※1. Applicants for Ritsumeikan University are exempted from math test based on the requirement from those universities.
※2. Candidates will be required to submit the “Approval Letter” before undergoing the final interview. The letter form will be provided to the candidates who have passed the 2nd selection. At this selection stage, those candidates are close to reaching an acceptable level once they pass the final selection. Therefore, “Approval Letter” is a kind of preliminary confirmation-letter to confirm if their workplace can release the candidates from their work duties keeping their positions in the workplaces while they study in Japan for 2 years.

<Important Notes>

All the selection costs will be covered by JDS Project.
Limited transportation and accommodation allowance will be provided to candidates coming from regional areas for the selections.
Application Documents will not be returned (Please keep a copy of your documents)
Application Documents with false statements or plagiarism will be immediately disqualified
A result of each selection will be announced only to successful candidates by JICE JDS Project Office.
In principle, reasons of the selection-results will not be disclosed.

(3) Promotion Seminars

In person seminar: Sep 16, from 3:00 pm at Druk Hotel
Advance registration is required for attendance: https://forms.office.com/r/vYX9HNLAyu

Online Seminars:
Online Promotion Seminars are scheduled to provide more detailed information on JDS Project and how to prepare application documents for prospective applicants as follows:

Scan to register

	Date	Time
Master	Sep 22, 29	3:00 pm

Please check JDS Bhutan FB for further information.
Registration is required and you could scan to register from QR code.
→Once you registered, invitation zoom link will be sent to your email address.

(3) Application Deadline

Application to RCSC routed through Parent Agency
By Nov 10, 2022
Shortlist Announcement by RCSC
Nov 16, 2022
Online JDS Application
Nov 16-Dec 12, 2022

*Late submission and incomplete application documents shall NOT be accepted.

*Those who shortlisted by RCSC only can apply for JDS application.

2-2. Doctoral course

(1) Qualifications and Requirements of Applicant

Item	Description
Nationality	Citizens of the Kingdom of Bhutan
Age	Age of 45 or younger as of April 1, 2023 (Born on/after April 2, 1978)
Academic Background	Be a regular (permanent) civil servant Have obtained a master’s degree in fields below (in any country): Economics Engineering Seismology Flood Disaster Data Analytics/mining Those who have MA degree in economics in Japan or ex-participants of JICA training are preferable. The specialization will depend on the field of study chosen by the applicant and approved by the respective institution, according to the critical needs of the institution and the country.
Work Experience	Must be a regular (permanent) government employee. Have served for twice the duration of the LTT (long-term training) to obtain the master’s degree.
English Proficiency	Has proficiency in English, sufficiently fluent for studying in Japan.
Health Condition	Has a sound mind and body
Others	Have a recommendation from the supervisor of his/her current duty office. Reference Letter should contain evaluation of applicant’s performance at work and relevance of his/her research theme to his/her career. Have a recommendation from the expected academic advisor(s) of the applying university. Have published at least one peer-reviewed article/ paper^. * The following applicants are included under the requirement: 1) the article/paper that has been submitted to a journal and is currently being reviewed. 2) an applicant who has a concrete plan to publish a peer-reviewed article in an academic journal in collaboration with prospective academic supervisor in applying university.
Ineligibility	A person who falls under the following is NOT eligible to apply. Currently awarded or to be awarded a scholarship from other foreign donors. Has already obtained a doctoral degree. Military personnel registered on the active list or person on alternative military service.

(2) Tentative Schedule

Schedule	Steps	Description
Nov.16 – Jan 9, 2023	JDS Application	Closing Date: Jan 9, 2023 Note: You have to be short-listed after screening by RCSC to apply for JDS.

Nov. 2022	Academic aptitude test	IELTS test The test results will be used as references by the universities in later selection stages.

Jan, 2023	(if any) 1st Selection	Document Screening (if required): Application Documents and research plan will be examined by the Operating Committee members.

Jan. 2023	Health Checkup	The health checkup will be arranged at a hospital in Thimphu

Mar. 2023	2nd Selection	Comprehensive Interview: The Operating Committee members will conduct the interview exams.

Mar. 2023	Approval by the OC	Successful candidates will be approved and notified

Mar.－Jun. 2023	Examination by University	The final successful candidate(s) need to pass entrance examination by the university.
～Jul. 2023	Application Procedure	JICE will support application for each university
Jul.-Aug. 2023	Orientations	Provided by RCSC, JICA, and JICE
Aug. 2023	Departure for Japan	JICE will arrange air-ticket, visa, and also support after the arrival in Japan

(2) Promotion Seminars

In person seminar: Sep 16, from 3:00 pm at Druk Hotel
Advance registration is required for attendance: https://forms.office.com/r/vYX9HNLAyu

Online Seminars:
Online Promotion Seminars are scheduled to provide more detailed information on JDS Project and how to prepare application documents for prospective applicants as follows:

Scan to register

	Date	Time
PhD	Sep 22	4:00 pm

Please check JDS Bhutan FB for further information.
Registration is required and you could scan to register from QR code.
→Once you registered, invitation zoom link will be sent to your email address.

(3) Application Deadline

Application to RCSC routed through Parent Agency
By Nov 10, 2022
Shortlist Announcement by RCSC
Nov 16, 2022
Online JDS Application
Nov 16-Jan 9, 2023

*Late submission and incomplete application documents shall NOT be accepted.

*Those who shortlisted by RCSC only can apply for JDS application.

3. Research Plan

In the JDS selections, each candidate will be evaluated on her/his academic abilities enough to pursue the master program in Japan as well as the potential of the future contribution to the country. Thus, it is highly recommended to explain that the objective of your research plan be in connection with the development issues under applying Component, and to rationalize how the study will be addressed in accordance with the career path, corresponding to the current position and responsibility in the belonging organization.
It is also recommended to study your applying university to make sure if the curriculums of the university and fields of specialization of faculty members are relevant to your research.
Remember that plagiarize from somebody’s work or websites are strongly prohibited.
Please refer to ‘Tips on Application and Selection’ and ‘Guidelines for Writing a Research Plan’ in the Application Guidelines(P6) for more information.

4. Download of Application Guideline and Application Documents

Please refer to the Application Guideline and submit a full set of Application Documents by the deadline.

A. Application Guideline

1. Application Guideline (Master) (PDF / 9.3MB)
2. Application Guideline (PhD) (PDF / 753KB)

B. Prescribed Forms

(1) Master
1. Short Essays (Word / 42KB)
2. Research Plan (Word / 52KB)
3. Reference Letter (Excel / 42KB)
※To download all prescribed forms, please click here. (zip / 82KB)

(2) PhD
1. Short Essays (Word / 42KB)
2. Research Plan (Word / 53KB)
3. Reference Letter from Academic Advisor PhD (Word / 43KB)
4. Reference Letter from Employer PhD (Word / 37KB)
※To download all prescribed forms, please click here. (zip / 118KB)

5. Supportive videos for the shortlisted candidates by RCSC

How to write a research plan [27 min]

Tips for the selection [20 min]

6. Apply Now

STEP 1: Download the Application Guideline and Prescribed Forms

STEP 2: Prepare the required documents
Refer to P.2-3 in Application Guidelines (Master) and P.2 (PhD), and make sure to prepare all the required documents in appropriate file format.

STEP 3: Access the Online Application System
Complete your application by filling out the necessary information and uploading the required documents.

* If you cannot access the online application system, or you have any problem filling out the form, please contact JICE JDS Project Office.
* Once you submit your application, you will not be allowed to modify it.

STEP 4: Receive an E-mail
[Submission Succeeded] You will receive a confirmation email with registration No.

[Submission Failed] You will receive an error message - please contact JICE JDS Project Office immediately, and make sure to complete your application before the deadline.

7. English & Math Exam

Every qualified applicant will be required to take English proficiency test (IELTS) as well as math test in Thimphu in November 2022.

IELTS: Refer to the link for sample questions to prepare yourself.
https://www.ielts.org/about-the-test/sample-test-questions
Math test of around 60 minutes consists of Arithmetic operations, Solving fractions, Equations, Inequality, Matrix, Basic quadratic functions, Basic operations of exponential and logarithmic functions, Basic Integral and Differentiation, etc.
Past Math test sample can be also downloaded here.

The scores will be reviewed on the 1st selection by the accepting universities. Universities may require the applicants to have good command of English skill (IELTS over 6.0) and numeracy skills. Please be well prepared for the exams.

* Applicants for Ritsumeikan University are exempted from math test based on the requirement from those universities.