Young Leaders’ Program (YLP) Scholarships in Japan 2025/2026

The Young Leaders’ Program (YLP) is one of the Japanese Government’s (MEXT) Scholarship Programs that aims to contribute to cultivating future national leaders in Asian and other countries, to establish friendly relationships among various countries, and to improve policy planning activities by forming a network among national leaders through deepening their understanding of Japan.

When is Application Deadline:

• September 6, 2024

Tell Me About the AwardYoung Leaders’ Program (YLP) Scholarships:

The Young Leaders’ Program (YLP) is sponsored by the Japanese Government (MEXT) and offers one-year Master’s programs designed for professionals in public administration, business, law, and healthcare to enhance their leadership skills through academic rigor and practical training.

Course Details

School of Government

• University: National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)
• Participants: Public administrators with at least 3 years of full-time experience
• Number of Students: 20

School of Local Governance

• University: National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)
• Participants: Public administrators with at least 3 years of full-time experience
• Number of Students: 10

Business Administration

• University: Hitotsubashi University
• Participants: Entrepreneurs, business managers, and public officials with at least 2 years of experience
• Number of Students: 15

Law

• University: Kyushu University
• Participants: Legal professionals with at least 4 years of experience
• Number of Students: 15

Healthcare Administration

• University: Nagoya University
• Participants: Professionals in the healthcare sector with at least 3 years of experience
• Number of Students: 10

Which Fields are Eligible?

• Public Administration
• Local Governance
• Business Administration
• Law
• Healthcare Administration

Type:

• Master’s Degree Scholarships

Who can Apply for the Young Leaders’ Program (YLP) Scholarships?

• Young professionals expected to play active roles as future national leaders in public administration, business, law, and healthcare.
• Ideal candidates are public administrators, business managers, legal professionals, and healthcare professionals with significant work experience and a commitment to fostering international cooperation and understanding.

• Citizenship: Must be citizens of eligible countries.
• Age: Below 40 years old as of the start date of the course.
• Work Experience:
  • Public Administration and Local Governance: Minimum of 3 years (preferably 5).
  • Business Administration: At least 2 years.
  • Law: At least 4 years.
  • Healthcare Administration: At least 3 years.
• Language Proficiency:
  • Business Administration: TOEFL-iBT 100, TOEFL-PBT 600, TOEFL-CBT 250, IELTS 7.0 or equivalent.
  • Other Courses: TOEFL-iBT 80, IELTS 6.0 or equivalent.

How are Applicants Selected?

• Based on citizenship, age, work experience, language proficiency, academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, proof of language proficiency, work experience certificates, and a statement of purpose.

Which Countries are Eligible?

• Applicants must be citizens of eligible countries (specific countries not listed here, please check the official website).

Where will Award be Taken?

• Japan

How Many Awards?

• Not specified.

What is the Benefit of Award?

• Monthly allowance of 242,000 JPY
• Full exemption from tuition, matriculation, and entrance examination fees
• Round-trip airfare from home country to Japan

How Long Will the Award Last?

• One year (September 2025 – August 2026 for Business Administration, October 2025 – September 2026 for other courses).

How to Apply:

1. Complete the application form available at MEXT YLP Application Form.
2. Submit academic transcripts from previous institutions.
3. Obtain letters of recommendation from relevant authorities.
4. Provide proof of language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS scores).
5. Include work experience certificates detailing relevant experience.
6. Write a statement of purpose outlining career goals and motivation for applying.
7. Submit the application by September 6, 2024.

Visit Award Webpage for Details:

• YLP Call Letter