StudyDesk Scholarships
About the scholarship
The Young Leaders’ Program (YLP), funded by the Japanese Government (MEXT) and hosted by the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo, is designed for promising public officials from partner countries who are expected to play active roles as future national leaders. The 2027 intake leads to a one-year Master of Public Policy (October 2027 – September 2028) at the GRIPS School of Government, with the School of Local Governance offering a parallel track.
The package is genuinely fully funded: a JPY 242,000 monthly allowance, waived entrance-examination, matriculation and tuition fees, economy-class air tickets from the home country to Japan on enrolment and back on completion, and accommodation arranged at GRIPS-provided residence halls.
Eligibility
- National of a participating YLP country and non-Japanese (dual nationals residing outside Japan may apply if they renounce Japanese nationality).
- Under 40 years old as of 1 October 2027 (born on or after 2 October 1987).
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with an excellent academic record.
- At least 3 years of full-time work experience in public administration as of 1 October 2027 (5+ years preferred).
- English ability — admission priority is given to applicants at TOEFL iBT 79+ or IELTS Academic 6.0+ (waivers may apply for degrees completed in English).
- Physically fit; able to obtain a new “Student” visa; expected to return home and resume public service after the programme. Military personnel are excluded.
Benefits
- JPY 242,000 monthly allowance for the programme duration.
- Examination, matriculation and tuition fees waived.
- Economy-class air tickets to Japan on enrolment and back home on completion.
- Accommodation arranged at GRIPS-provided residence halls.
- One year of policy training in Tokyo with a cohort of future public-sector leaders.
Documents required
- The designated application form with a photo.
- Recommendation letter from the recommending authority, plus two recommendation letters on the designated forms (sealed, at least one from an immediate work superior).
- Official academic transcripts and degree certificates.
- Official evidence of English ability (TOEFL/IELTS or equivalent).
- Passport copy; a three-page essay on aspirations and future plans; answers to the essay questions; and a certificate of health on the designated form.
- Hard copies only — the guidelines call for 10 document items in total, submitted through the recommending authority.
How to apply
- Find your recommending authorityCheck the GRIPS website or your local Japanese embassy for the recommending authority in your country and obtain the application form.
- Prepare the hard-copy setComplete all ten document items — sealed references, transcripts, English test evidence, health certificate and essays.
- Submit to the recommending authorityDo not send documents directly to GRIPS. Submit the complete set to your country’s recommending authority by its designated deadline — screening runs recommending authority → GRIPS → the final MEXT YLP committee.
FAQs
There is no central deadline — each country’s recommending authority sets its own. Contact your Japanese embassy now. Third-party trackers cite 20 November 2026, but this date is not on any official page, so treat it as unconfirmed.
No — applications go through the recommending authority in your country (often via the Japanese embassy). GRIPS does not accept direct submissions.
The allowance is stated in the programme materials; the exact 2027 figure should be confirmed against the official guidelines for your country.
English ability is required, and admission priority goes to applicants with TOEFL iBT 79+ or IELTS Academic 6.0+. Applicants whose degrees were completed in English may be waived — check with your recommending authority.
Yes — scholars are expected to return home and resume public service on completion.
Verified 21 Oct 2026 via the official GRIPS YLP page (grips.ac.jp: programme structure, recommending-authority route, 2027/28 admission window) + the official MEXT 2027 YLP School-of-Government application guidelines (age/experience rules, JPY 242,000 allowance, 10-item hard-copy document list, three-stage screening) + the Embassy of Japan in Laos 2027 announcement. The deadline is the weakest fact: the only official line is the recommending authority’s designated deadline; the 20 Nov 2026 tracker figure is explicitly flagged as unconfirmed by any official source.
