The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Center (JICE), has officially announced the opening of applications for the Japan Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) 2026. This prestigious scholarship program provides full financial support for Cambodian civil servants and government personnel to pursue advanced post-graduate studies at leading Japanese universities.

Overview & Total Slots

For the academic session 2026–2027, the JDS program is offering a total of 24 scholarship slots for qualified Cambodian candidates:

• Master’s Degree Program: 22 slots (2-Year Duration)

• Doctoral (PhD) Program: 2 slots (3-Year Duration)

Financial Coverage

The scholarship is Fully Funded by the Government of Japan. Selected candidates receive:

• Full tuition and academic fees covered directly by the program.

• Monthly living stipends, travel expenses, and round-trip airfare to Japan.

Eligible Academic Fields (Components)

Candidates must apply under one of the 8 designated target areas for national development:

1. Strengthening of Connectivity

2. Promoting Digital Economy and Society

3. Private Sector Development

4. Environment, Climate Change, Agriculture Development

5. Promoting Human Development

6. Improvement of Administrative Functions

7. Legal and Judicial Development

8. Building of International Relations

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must fulfill the following general criteria:

• Nationality: Must be a Cambodian national.

• Occupation: Must be an active civil servant/public official working in designated target government institutions.

• Work Experience: Minimum of 2 years of full-time work experience in a target institution.

• Age Limit (as of April 1, 2027):

  • Master’s Applicants: Between 22 and 39 years old.

  • PhD Applicants: Under 45 years old.

• Health & Language: Must be in good physical and mental health, with adequate English proficiency for academic research.

Important Application Deadlines

• Master’s Degree Deadline: January 11, 2027 (by 17:00)

• PhD Degree Deadline: January 14, 2027 (by 17:00)

Official Contact & Resources

• Official Website: https://jdsscholarship.org/

• Contact Email: jds.cambodia.office@jice.org

• Office Location: JICE-JDS Office Cambodia, AURA Condominium (3rd Floor), Street 63, Sangkat Boeung Keng Kang 1, Khan Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh.