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Application for JDS 2024 is already closed.

Master's Degree Program

Table of Contents

Applicant Eligibility
Explanatory Seminars
Application Deadline
Download of AG and AF
Selection Procedure
Tips for Selection (1. Research Plan, 2. English and Math Test)

1. Applicant Eligibility

Nationality	Citizens of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
Age	Between the age of 22 and 45 as of April 1st, 2025 (Born on/after April 2nd, 1979 and born on/before April 1st, 2003)
Academic Background	Possess a Bachelor's degree authorized by the Government of Timor-Leste or other countries. Some accepting universities have other requirements of desirable academic background. Check "Information in Application Guideline of Each Component" in PP. 14~17
Work Experience	Currently employed by following type/status. Permanent Civil Servants mentioned in LAW No. 5/2009 APPROVES THE STATUE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE (First amendment to Law 8/2004) from All Ministries Permanent Teaching Staff from National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL) and Polytechnic Institute of Betano (IPB) <Applicable only for Component 2 and 3> Permanent staff from ANATL, APORTIL, AACTL, IGTL, Timor Gap, BTL, and EDTL Required at least 2 (two) years of work experience as full-time employee at the time of application. (Part-time jobs and volunteer activities are not counted as work experience).
English Proficiency	Have a good command of both written and spoken English. TOEFL ITP 500／IELTS 5.5 or higher is preferable (not required)
Performance Evaluation	Applicants are required to submit a copy of the Evaluation performance letter in 2022 and 2023. Those who obtained the evaluation "Very Good" or "Good" through 2 years are eligible to apply.
Health Condition	Mentally and physically in good health. Note: All applicants need to take, and pass required medical check-ups arranged by JDS Project Office prior to Comprehensive Interview. Those who cannot undergo the medical examinations and fulfill all the medical requirements will be disqualified from JDS scholarship.
Ineligibility	A person corresponds to the followings is not eligible to apply. Those who are currently receiving (or is scheduled to receive) another scholarship (including other scholarships of Japan). Those who have obtained a master's or higher degrees overseas under the support of foreign scholarship. Military personnel and military civilian employees registered on the active list, and also personnel on temporary leave from the active list.
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 to Timor-Leste upon completing the degree program and work for at least four (4) years in their organization in order to make a contribution to the development of Timor-Leste. Female Applicants are encouraged to apply.

2. Explanatory Seminars

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

No.	Date	Time	Venue
1	September 21(Sat)	9:00 - 11:00	Timor Plaza "Maubara Room" on 5th Floor
2	October 12 (Sat)	09:00 - 11:00	Timor-Plaza "Maubara Room" on 5th floor

*1 Seminar contents will be same. Please participate in one of them.
*2 Seminar will also be conducted at each ministry.

For more information, please check our Facebook!

https://web.facebook.com/JDSTimorLeste/

※Supportive videos for the application

How to write a research plan (EN)(27 min)

Tips for the selection (EN)(20 min)

3. Application Period

5:00 pm on 31st October (Thu), 2024

※Entry sheet should be submitted by Oct. 18 (Fri), 2024. (Closed)

Nov. 1 - Nov. 15, 2024: Application Boosting Period

Request target organizations to encourage their staffs further, especially those with a strong performance record and have not voluntarily applied, to submit an application.

→Final Deadline: 5:00 pm on Nov 15 (Fri), 2024

Application documents will not be returned for any reason. Late submission and incomplete application documents shall NOT be accepted.

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.

Download
(Closed)

Application Guideline
Application Documents

5. Selection Procedure

Schedule	Steps	Description
Aug 26 - Oct 31, 2024 Nov 1 - Nov 15, 2024	Application	Deadline: 5:00pm on October 31 (Thu), 2024 ※Entry sheet should be submitted by Oct. 18 (Fri), 2024. Nov. 1 - Nov. 15, 2024: Application Boosting Period Request target organizations to encourage their staffs further, especially those with a strong performance record and have not voluntarily applied, to submit an application. →Final Deadline: 5:00 pm on November 15 (Fri), 2024
November - December 2024	Academic aptitude test	★Math test: November 23 (Sat), 2024 ★IELTS (Speaking): December 11 (Wed) ~ 13 (Fri), 2024 ★IELTS (Listening/ Reading/ Writing): December 14 (Sat), 2024 The test results will be used as references by the universities in later selection stages. Math and English test preparation seminar will be provided following below schedule tentatively. Math Test Preparation Seminar: November 18 (Mon) - 22 (Fri) IELTS Test Preparation Seminar: December 2 (Mon) - 6 (Fri)
December, 2024	1st Selection	Document Screening: Application Documents and research plan will be examined by the Japanese universities.
January, 2025	Health Checkup	Health Checkup will be arranged at a hospital in Dili. Note: Those who cannot undergo the medical examinations and fulfill all the medical requirements will be disqualified from JDS scholarship.
March, 2025	2nd Selection	Technical Interview: Faculty members of the Japanese Universities will visit to Timor-Leste to conduct their interview exams.
March 2025	3rd Selection	Comprehensive Interview: The Operating Committee members will conduct their interview exams.
March, 2025	Approval by the OC	Successful candidates will be approved and notified
April - June, 2025	Application Procedure	JICE will support application for each university
April - July, 2025	Pre-Departure Trainings / Orientations	English, Mathematics and Japanese Training and Orientation will be provided by JICA and JICE.
August, 2025	Departure for Japan	JICE will arrange air-ticket, visa, and also support after the arrival in Japan.

All the selection costs will be covered by JDS Project.
Limited transportation and accommodation 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 to all candidates by email.
In principle, reasons of the selection-results will not be disclosed.
Failure to participate each selection, interview and test will cause to automatic disqualification from selection process.
Candidates who cannot take all the health checkup items at the JDS selection, will be disqualified for Comprehensive interview.

6. Tips for Selection:

1) 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 is 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 learn about 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 PP. 8-11 'Tips on Application and Selection (Reference)' and 'Guideline for Writing a Research Plan' in the Application Guideline for more information.

2) English & Math Exam

Every qualified applicant will be required to take English proficiency test (IELTS) and Math test in November - December 2024 in Dili.

IELTS consists of 4 parts with 'Listening Comprehension (40 questions)' for about 30 minutes, 'Structure and Written Expression (2 Tasks)' for 60 minutes, 'Reading Comprehension (40 questions)' for 60 minutes, and 'Speaking(3 parts)' for about 15 minutes.
- Sample questions from the link here
※Important Notice
- IELTS (Speaking): December 11 (Wed) to 13 (Fri), 2024
- IELTS (Listening/ Reading/ Writing): December 14 (Sat), 2024
- IELTS Test Preparation Seminar : December 2 (Mon) - 6 (Fri)
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.
※Important Notice
- Math test: November 23 (Sat), 2024
- Math Test Preparation Seminar: November 18 (Mon) - 22 (Fri)

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 (IELTS5.5, TOEFL-ITP score of 500 or higher) and numeracy skills. Please be well prepared for the exams.

Go to "Application" page