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Application for JDS 2023 is already closed.

Master's Degree Program

Table of Contents

Applicant Eligibility
Explanatory Seminars
Application Deadline
Download of AG and AD
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, 2024 (Born on/after April 2nd, 1978 and born on/before April 1st, 2002)
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 of Each Component" in PP. 15～18
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, IPG, 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	It is preferable for applicants to 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 2021 and 2022. Those who obtained the evaluation "Very Good" or "Good" through 2 years are eligible to apply.
Health Condition	In good mental and physical health. Candidates who cannot take all the checkup items at the health check-up of JDS selection will be disqualified.
Ineligibility	A person who falls under the followings is NOT eligible to apply Has been awarded or scheduled to receive other scholarship Has obtained a master's degree or higher under the support of foreign assistance. Military personnel registered on the active list, person on alternative military service, and 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.

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 18 (Mon)	09:00 - 11:00	INAP Meeting Room
2	September 23 (Sat)	09:00 - 11:00	5th Floor, Timor-Plaza

*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

September 7(Thu) - November 10 (Fri), 2023 (5pm)

Entry sheet should be submitted by October 18 (Wed), 2023. (Closed)

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

Application Guideline
Application Documents

5. Selection Procedure

Schedule	Steps	Description
Sep. 7 - Nov. 10, 2023	Application	Closing Date: 17:00 on November 10 (Fri), 2023 ※Entry sheet should be submitted by Oct. 18 (Wed), 2023. Further details → PP. 6-7 Application Documents ※Oct. 19 - Nov. 10, 2023　Application Boosting Period If the number of applicants does not reach three times the quota by the first deadline, the approach will be taken to encourage target organizations to further encourage their staff, especially those with a strong performance record and have not voluntarily applied, to submit an application.
November, 2023	Academic aptitude test	TOEFL-ITP and Math tests. The test results will be reviewed by the universities in later selection stages. TOEFL and Math test preparation seminar will be provided before.
December, 2023	1st Selection	Document Screening: Application Documents and research plan will be examined by the Japanese universities.
January, 2024	Health Checkup	The health checkup will be arranged at a hospital in Dili.
February, 2024	2nd Selection	Technical Interview: Faculty members of the Japanese Universities will visit to Timor-Leste to conduct their interview exams.
February, 2024	3rd Selection	Comprehensive Interview: The JDS Operating Committee (OC) members will conduct their interview exams.
March, 2024	Approval by the OC	Successful candidates will be approved and notified
April - June, 2024	Application Procedure	JICE will support application for each university
April - August, 2024	Pre-Departure Trainings / Orientations	All successful candidates must attend English, Math and Japanese trainings and Orientation.
August, 2024	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)
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.
Each successful candidate will be requested to sign and submit 'JDS Pledge' to comply with the conditions and rules as scholarship fellows under the JDS Project
Each successful candidate will be requested to sign and submit 'JDS Pledge' to comply with the conditions and rules as scholarship fellows under the JDS Project

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. 8-9 'Tips on Application and Selection (Reference)' and PP. 10-11 '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 (TOEFL-ITP) and Math test in November 2023 in Dili. *The exact date will be informed to all applicants later.

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

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