The Japan-WCO Human Resource Development Programme (Scholarship Programme) provides grants to enable promising young Customs managers from a developing country member of the WCO to undertake Master’s level studies at the Aoyama Gakuin University (AGU) in Tokyo, Japan.

A monthly stipend covers accommodations, meals, transportations, and other expenses. The amount of the stipend is subject to change according to the decision of the Japanese Government.

Aoyama Gakuin University (AGU) is one of the top private universities in Asia, located in the heart of metropolitan Tokyo, Japan.

Scholarship Description: 

• Applications Deadline: Contact Employer
• Course Level: Scholarships are available for pursuing master degree programme.
• Study Subject: Scholarships are awarded in Strategic Management and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) programme.
• Scholarship Award:
  A monthly stipend covers accommodations, meals, transportations, and other expenses. It cannot be increased to cover family members if any. The amount of the stipend is subject to change according to the decision of the Japanese Government.
  Admission and tuition fees.
  Round-trip economy-class air tickets between your home country and Japan.
  *The current amount of monthly stipend is 147,000 yen (as of 2018).
  **The current amount of admission fee is 290,000 yen and annual tuition fee is 917,000 yen (as of 2018).

• Number of Scholarships: Every year, there are about 15 Research Fellowships for Europeans and Japanese researchers who look for funds to do research in Japan and Europe respectively.
• Scholarship can be taken in  Japan

Eligibility for the Scholarship: 

Eligible Countries: Citizens of developing member of the WCO are eligible to apply.

List of Countries: South America, North America, Central America and the Caribbean: Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile,  Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba,  Curaçao, Dominican Republic , Ecuador, El Salvador,  Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti,  Honduras, Jamaica,  Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela, Europe: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, European Union, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, East and Southern Africa: Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia,  Zimbabwe, North of Africa, Near and Middle East: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen, West and Central Africa: Benin, Burkina Fas, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, (Republic of the) Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo and East, South and South East Asia, Australasia and the Pacific Islands: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Macau, China, Malaysia, Maldives ,Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Union of Myanmar, Vanuatu and Vietnam.

Eligibility:  Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• A candidate must be a customs officer of a developing member of the WCO with quality work experience of at least three years in the field of customs policy and administration in his/her home country.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have experience in IPR border enforcement, and who are expected to work in the IPR-related section of their Customs administration after this Scholarship Programme.
• A candidate must be in good health and preferably under 40 years of age as of April 1, 2019.
• Individuals who have already been awarded a scholarship under the Japan-WCO Human Resource Development Programme in the past will not be entitled to apply for this Scholarship Programme.
• After the completion of the Programme, the candidates should continue to work in their home Customs administration for 3 years at least.

English Language Requirements: English Proficiency:

• A suitable level of proficiency in English to be able to write a thesis is required.
• For those who have not received undergraduate/graduate education in English, please submit an official score report or certificate of exams with the following minimum scores or above.
• TOEFL iBT(internet based test) 79, TOEFL PBT(paper-based test) 550, IELTS 6.0 (in each band)
• The score should be obtained within the past two years of the application.
• TOEFL ITP score is not accepted.
• For those who have received education in English, please obtain an official proof letter from the graduated university.

Application Procedure: 

How to Apply: The mode of applying is online.

• Application Form (Form 1)
• Two Letters of Recommendation (Form 2)
• Certificate of Employment Status and Acceptance for Leave of Absence (Form 3)
• Photocopy of diplomas from all colleges/universities attended with a signature and seal from the 3rd party. If your diplomas are not English, please provide an official translation.
• Original English Transcript(s) issued by all colleges/universities attended (if your transcript is not English, please provide an official translation)
• Standardized test information – originally issued TOEFL or IELTS score report (only for those whose undergraduate/graduate education was not conducted in English. If received your education in English, please submit a proof letter issued by the university you have graduated from)
• A photocopy of either a paper, report, thesis or book written in English, if any
• An Assignment Paper (Form 4)
• A Research Proposal at the SMIPRP (Form 5)
• WCO Nomination Form (Form 6: If applicable, please submit the form. The form needs to be completed by, or under the authority of, the Head of the nominating administration e.g. Director General, Commissioner or equivalent official)
• A photocopy of your passport

Policies: 

• If the performance of scholars falls below a certain critical standard (e.g., failing a required course, or one that is important in the curricula), or scholars are unable to continue with schoolwork for any reason whatsoever, we may terminate provision of the scholarship, even during the school year. In the event of such an occurrence, scholars may also not be provided with a return air ticket.

All selected scholars shall abide by the laws of Japan, as well as by AGU regulations, and refrain from engaging in unlawful activities. If the scholar fails to do so, his/her scholarship may be terminated at our discretion and the scholars may not be provided with a return air ticket.

After the Completion of the Programme

• After half a year and 3 years respectively from completion of the Programme, Scholars should report to the WCO and the AGU indicating the post they occupy in their home administration and how they have been utilizing the experience they acquired in Japan.

Application Form

Scholarship Link