Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA) 2025

Overview

The Japan-IMF Scholarship Program for Asia (JISPA) is a fully funded scholarship programme that aims to build the institutional capacity of macroeconomic management agencies across Asian countries. The programme targets government officials who may serve as future macroeconomic policy makers, helping them acquire advanced knowledge in economics and financial policy.

JISPA offers two tracks: the Partnership Track for students studying at specially designed graduate-level courses at IMF partner universities, and the Open Track for students from eligible countries who wish to pursue Master’s or PhD-level programmes related to macroeconomics at leading Japanese institutions. Both tracks are conducted in English.

What’s Included?

• Tuition fees at the partner or Japanese institution
• Monthly living stipend to cover day-to-day expenses
• Medical and accident allowance for health coverage
• One return airfare to the host institution and back

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for JISPA:

• Must be a national of an eligible Asian country
• Must be a government official or employee of a macroeconomic management agency (e.g., central bank, finance ministry)
• Must demonstrate strong academic qualifications and professional relevance to macroeconomics
• Open Track applicants must first apply and gain admission to an eligible Japanese university programme before applying for the scholarship
• PhD candidates are prioritized in the Open Track

How to Apply

For the Partnership Track, applicants submit required documents via the official IMF online application system. For the Open Track, applicants must first apply to and receive admission from an eligible Japanese university, then submit the admission letter along with their scholarship application through the official online system. Applications for the Partnership Track typically close in December, while the Open Track application window usually runs from April to June.

Key Dates

Event	Date
Open Track Application Opens	Around April (indicative)
Open Track Application Deadline	Around June (indicative)
Partnership Track Application Deadline	December 31, 2025

Contact Information

For official information and to apply, visit the JISPA official website at the IMF. Full programme guidelines, eligible countries, and application requirements are available there.