The United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) is offering scholarships for developing countries. These opportunities are offered for pursuing a PhD programme in Sustainability Science. 

The PhD programme in Sustainability Science aims to produce scholars who will become key researchers in the field of sustainability science.

The JFUNU scholarship provides a monthly allowance of 120,000 JPY* for living expenses for a maximum of 36 months. However, travel costs to and from Japan, visa handling fees, and health/accident insurance costs must be covered by the student. The tuition fees are fully waived for the opportunity recipients. *The amount of monthly allowance has been changed to 120,000 JPY effective 2017.

Entrance Requirements: 

1. Applicants must be from developing countries* who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance.
2. Applicants who are currently living in Japan under a working visa are NOT eligible for the opportunity .
3. Applicants who want to pursue a second PhD degree at UNU-IAS are not eligible for the opportunity .

*Developing countries included in the latest OECD DAC list.

Applicants for the PhD in Sustainability Science are required to have met ALL of the following requirements by the application deadline in order to be considered:

1. A strong interest in sustainability studies;

2. A demonstrated commitment to study and understand global issues;

3. A completed Master’s degree in disciplines related to sustainability studies and a minimum of 2 years of practical field experience related to UNU-IAS research themes which was acquired after obtaining a university degree

OR

Two completed Master’s degrees, at least one of which must be in a discipline related to sustainability studies;

*Those who expect to receive a second Master’s degree before the entrance period – September 2018 – may also apply.

4. A GPA of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale for at least one of the Master’s degrees earned

Eligible Countries: Students from developing countries can apply for this application .List of Countries: Afghanistan, Gambia, Mozambique, Bangladesh, The Guinea, Myanmar, Benin, Guinea-Bisau, Nepal, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Niger, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Cambodia, Korea, Dem Rep., Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Kyrgyz Republic, Somalia, Liberia, Tajikistan, Comoros, Madagascar, Tanzania, Malawi, Togo, Congo, Dem. Rep, Eritrea, Mali, Uganda, Ethiopia, Mauritania, Zimbabwe, Albania, Indonesia, Samoa, Armenia, India, São Tomé and Principe, Belize, Iraq, Senegal, Bhutan, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Bolivia, Kosovo, South Sudan, Cameroon, Lao PDR, Sri Lanka, Cape Verde, Lesotho, Sudan, Congo, Rep., Marshall Islands, Swaziland, Côte d’Ivoire, Micronesia, Fed. Sts., Syrian Arab Republic, Djibouti, Moldova, Timor-Leste, Egypt, Arab Rep., Mongolia, Tonga, El Salvador, Morocco, Ukraine, Fiji, Nicaragua, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Nigeria, Vanuatu, Ghana, Pakistan, Vietnam, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, West Bank and Gaza, Guyana, Paraguay, Yemen, Rep., Honduras, Philippines, Zambia, Angola, Ecuador, Palau, Algeria, Gabon, Panama, American Samoa, Grenada, Peru, Antigua and Barbuda, Iran, Islamic Rep., Romania, Argentina, Jamaica, Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Serbia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Seychelles, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia, South Africa, Botswana, Lebanon, St. Lucia, Brazil, Libya, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Suriname, Chile, Macedonia, FYR, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Tunisia, Colombia, Maldives, Turkey, Costa Rica, Mauritius, Turkmenistan, Cuba, Mexico, Tuvalu, Dominica, Montenegro and Uruguay)

The minimum score requirements for English language qualifications required by UNU-IAS are:

• 600 on TOEFL – Paper-Based Testing (PBT) OR
• 100 on TOEFL – Internet-Based Testing (IBT) OR
• 7.0 on IELTS – Academic format

Applicants, except for the cases below, must submit original TOEFL or IELTS score reports (from a test taken within the last two years) to the Admissions Office at the time of application:

1. Applicants whose native language is English.
2. Applicants who graduated from a university or a postgraduate school located in an English speaking country.
3. Applicants who completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree programme where the language of instruction and examination was English. In this case, an official statement from the academic institution will be required, confirming the use of English as the language of instruction and examination.