Hard Requirements
These are not preference factors or soft criteria — they are binary. Miss any one and the application is ineligible, regardless of how strong everything else is.
Citizen of an ADB developing member country
You must hold citizenship of one of the 38 countries on ADB's eligible list. Dual citizenship is allowed as long as neither passport is from a developed country. If you hold citizenship of, say, India and the United States, you are ineligible. If you hold Indian and Bangladeshi citizenship, you may apply as a citizen of either.
Full country list is in the next section below.
Currently residing and working in your home country
This is the most commonly missed requirement. At the time you submit your application, you must be living in and working in your home country. Being temporarily abroad for a short assignment might be borderline, but working abroad on a long-term contract is a disqualifier.
Examples:
Based in Manila, working for a Philippine government agency — eligible
Filipino working in Dubai on a 2-year employment contract — ineligible
Vietnamese student completing a degree abroad — ineligible
Bachelor's degree with a superior academic record
ADB does not publish a minimum GPA, but "superior academic record" is the stated standard. In practice, most successful applicants sit at a GPA equivalent of 3.5/4.0 or higher. What this looks like on your transcript depends on your country's grading system — your institution's admissions office converts it when they evaluate your application.
First class or distinction is generally what this translates to in Commonwealth grading systems. In many Asian systems, it's the top 10–15% of your cohort.
At least 2 years of full-time professional work experience after your bachelor's
This is the requirement with the most edge cases. Full details are in the dedicated work experience section below, but the core rule is: two or more years of full-time, paid employment that started after you completed your undergraduate degree.
What counts vs. what doesn't:
Full-time government employment post-bachelor's — counts
Full-time NGO or private sector work post-bachelor's — counts
Multiple employers combined totaling 2+ years — counts
Internships — do not count
Part-time employment — does not count
Volunteer positions — do not count
Work during undergraduate studies — does not count
Age limit: under 35 at time of application
The limit is your age when you submit, not when the program starts. If you turn 35 before the application deadline, you are ineligible under the standard track. The exception: some institutions offer tracks designated for senior officials or experienced managers, where the limit extends to 45, but these require express endorsement from Japan's representative and are uncommon.
Admitted to a designated master's program
This is both a requirement and the first step. Before ADB can consider you, you must receive an offer of admission from one of the 27 designated partner institutions. The scholarship selection happens after admission — not before, and not in parallel. You apply to the university first. Then you indicate interest in ADB-JSP. If the institution nominates you, ADB reviews your file.
Eligible Countries
38 ADB developing member countries. If yours isn't listed, you cannot apply regardless of other qualifications.
China, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and all developed economies are not on this list. Citizens of those countries may not apply regardless of residence or employment in an eligible country.
Work Experience — The Rules in Detail
This is the requirement that generates the most questions. Here are the answers to every variation that comes up regularly.
Preference Factors
These are not disqualifiers — but they directly affect your ranking among eligible candidates. The official guidelines use the word "preference," which means being on the right side of these factors genuinely improves your chances.
Female applicants
The ADB-JSP selection guidelines explicitly state that women applicants receive preference in the final selection. This reflects the program's commitment to gender equity in development leadership across the Asia-Pacific. Since 1988, over 1,500 women have received the scholarship.
Lower individual income
Individual annual income under USD 25,000 is a preference factor. Candidates earning below this threshold are explicitly given priority over higher earners when other factors are comparable. Your income tax return or salary certificate is part of the required documentation — it's evaluated, not just filed.
Lower family income
Family income under USD 50,000 per year is also a preference factor — separate from individual income. You must provide documentation of your parents' income (or spouse's if married). Missing this document is one of the most common application errors.
Institutional ranking of your candidacy
ADB gives significant weight to the order in which the institution nominates its candidates. If the institution ranks you first among their ADB-JSP nominees, that's a meaningful signal to ADB. How each institution decides its ranking varies — but a stronger fit between your background and the specific program helps.
Things That Can Disqualify You
Beyond the hard requirements above, these situations are described as disqualifiers "in principle" — meaning they will generally prevent selection unless there are exceptional circumstances.
| Situation | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Previously studied abroad | If you completed a degree outside an ADB developing member country, the program "in principle" will not support you. This is ambiguous — some institutions interpret it strictly, others with more flexibility. Always clarify directly with the institution before spending significant time on your application. |
| Already hold a master's degree | The program does not support second master's degrees "in principle." If you already have an MA, MSc, or equivalent, your application will face significant scrutiny. A compelling case for why a second graduate degree is necessary for your development contribution can sometimes overcome this, but it's genuinely difficult. |
| Already enrolled in a graduate program | You cannot be currently enrolled in another master's or doctoral program. This is an absolute disqualifier, not a preference one. |
| ADB employee or close family member of ADB staff | ADB staff, board members, executive directors, and their immediate family members cannot apply. This also applies to ADB consultants currently engaged under an ADB contract. |
| Staff at a JSP-designated institution | If you work at one of the 27 partner institutions, you are ineligible — even if you would otherwise qualify in every other respect. |
Quick Self-Check
Can you apply?
/8 checked. Strong eligibility profile — read the full application guide next. Some areas to address — check which boxes you can't tick and read that section carefully. Review the eligibility requirements carefully before investing time in an application.