How to Apply / Myanmar

Application for JDS 2021 is coming soon.
Below information is for JDS 2020.
Information for JDS 2021 will be updated.

Nomination is required by allocated Ministry/Organization to apply JDS Myanmar.

Nationality	Citizens of Myanmar
Age	Between 22 and 40 as of April 1st, 2021 (Born on/after April 2nd, 1980 and born on/before April 1st, 1999)
Occupation	Government officials Working experience for 2 years or more as governmental official is preferable. Staff or Member of UMFCCI/ Federation of Myanmar Engineering Society (Fed.MES)/ Myanmar Japan Center (MJC) The following conditions are required for the applicant from UMFCCI/ Fed.MES/ MJC. 1. Have a full-time job 2. Have work experience for 2 years or more (*Preferably 2 years or more in current job, as of Oct.2020) 3. Take long-term leave and return to the original work place after 2 years studying 4. Have awareness of social responsibility and willing to contribute to the society
Academic Background	Hold a Bachelor Degree
Academic Background	Additional requirements Kyushu University (CP2-1:Law): Preferably have a Bachelor of Laws Nagoya University (CP2-1:Law): Have a Bachelor of Laws Saitama University (CP3-2: Transportation/Traffic): Have a Bachelor of Engineering (in civil engineering) Yokohama National University (CP3-2:Transportation/Traffic, CP3-4: Urban Development Planning) :Field of Engineering or Construction is preferable Kumamoto University (CP3-3: Electric Power/Energy): Preferably have a Bachelor of Engineering
English Proficiency	Have a good command of both written and spoken English. TOEFL score of 500 or equivalent is required. *Each university has standard preferably score as for reference.
Health Condition	In good mental and physical health
Ineligibility	A person who falls under the following category is NOT eligible to apply Has been awarded or scheduled to receive other scholarship. Has obtained a master’s degree in a foreign country under any kind of scholarship. Basically, military personnel and military civilian employees registered on the active list, personnel on temporary leave from the active list, and personnel in compulsory military service are ineligible to apply for admission. Those who have military status can apply for “CP2-2: Public Policy/Administration, and CP2-4: International Relations” Applicants must meet the qualifications set by Myanmar Government.
Others	Successful Candidates are required to submit a pledge on the conditions deemed necessary as scholarship participants under the JDS Project. JDS Fellows are obliged to return and work within Myanmar in order to make a contribution to the development of Myanmar through their work in the Allocated Ministry/Organizations, complying with the Pledge required by the Ministry of Education.

1) Explanatory Meeting

The explanatory meetings will be organized in September, 2020.
The date and time would be informed through the ministry and organization.

2) Application Deadline

Deadline for Application: 4:00p.m. October 23 (Fri), 2020 to JICE JDS Project Office in Myanmar (Closed)

Application documents will not be returned for any reason.
Any incomplete application documents shall NOT be accepted.
Application documents from a person whose name is not in the nomination list shall NOT be accepted.

* Early submission is highly appreciated.

3) Tentative Schedule

*Please note that there is a possibility that the selection schedule and implementation method is going to change according to the infection status of COVID-19.

Schedule	Steps	Description
September 21 - October 23, 2020	Application	Applicants must complete all sections of application form in English. JICE will provide “JDS Explanatory Meeting” for the applicants during Application Form (AF) preparation period. AF and required documents must be submitted directly to JICE JDS Project Office. Closing Date: 4:00 p.m. on October 23 (Fri), 2020

October 24 – 25	Academic Aptitude Test	TOEFL-ITP and Math tests^*. The test results will be reviewed by the universities in later selection stages.

December 2 – 16	1st Selection	Document Screening: Application Documents and research plan will be examined by the Japanese universities.

Late January,2021	Health Checkup	The health checkup will be arranged at a designated hospital in Yangon or Nay Pyi Taw
Late January,2021	2nd Selection	Technical Interview: Faculty members of the Japanese Universities will visit to Yangon or Nay Pyi Taw to conduct their interview exams. (According to the infection status of COVID-19, interview may be implemented by online.)

Late February	3rd Selection	Comprehensive Interview: The Coordinating Committee (CC) members will conduct their interview exams.

March	Approval by the CC	Successful candidates will be approved and notified.

March - April	Application Procedure	JICE will support candidates' application for each university.
April - August	Orientations	Provided by JICA, MOE and JICE
August	Departure for Japan	JICE will arrange air-ticket, visa, and also support JDS Fellows after the arrival in Japan.

*Applicants for some universities are exempted from the Math test

<Important Notice>

All the selection costs will be covered by JDS Project except notarized translation fee.
Limited transportation allowance will be provided to candidates coming from provincial areas for the selections.
Application Documents will not be returned (Please keep a copy of your documents for yourself).
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.

Please refer to the Application Guidelines and submit a full set of application documents by the deadline.
Note: Application Guidelines and Application Form are provided only for those who were nominated by the Ministry/ Organization.

A. Application Guidelines
B. Application Documents

Research Plan

In the JDS selections, each candidate will be evaluated on her/his academic abilities enough to pursue the master’s degree 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 (Reference)’ and ‘Guidelines for Writing a Research Plan’ in the Application Guidelines for more information.

English & Math TESTS

Every qualified applicant will be required to take English proficiency test (TOEFL-ITP) as well as math test in Yangon on October 24 to 25, 2020.

TOEFL consists of 3 parts with 'Listening Comprehension (50 questions)' for about 35 minutes, 'Structure and Written Expression (40 questions)' for 25 minutes, and 'Reading Comprehension (50 questions)' for 55 minutes.
- Sample questions from the link http://www.ets.org/toefl_itp/content/sample_questions/
- Free Materials for preparation: https://www.ets.org/toefl_itp/l1v1_ebook
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 used as reference purpose on the 1st selection by the accepting universities. Universities may require the applicants to have good command of English skill (TOEFL score of 500 or higher) and numeracy skills. Please be well prepared for the tests.

* Applicants for Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Nagasaki University, Kyushu University (Law), Nagoya University (Law), Kobe Institute of Computing (KIC) are exempted from the Math test.

How to Apply

1. Qualifications and Requirements of Applicant

2. Selection Procedures