The Master of Science in Sustainability is a two-year programme, which provides students with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to contribute to solving challenges of sustainability. Drawing on an innovative, interdisciplinary approach, the programme integrates methods and resources from the natural and social sciences, as well as the humanities. The programme aims to produce the policymakers and researchers of tomorrow, who will be at the forefront of global efforts towards a more sustainable future. Studying at UNU-IAS brings the unique benefits of:
- Collaborative research & practical experience,
- A global university within the UN system, and
- An international and interactive learning environment in central Tokyo.
The programme is intended for recent graduates, professionals and practitioners who seek to meaningfully contribute to the work of governments, civil society, the private sector, and/or the UN and other international organisations in the area of sustainability.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Applicants must be persons from developing countries* who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance;
- Applicants who are currently living in Japan under a working visa are NOT eligible for the scholarship;
- Applicants who are already enrolled in other postgraduate degree programmes are not eligible. This includes those who have already obtained a master’s degree at an institution other than UNU-IAS; and
- Applicants must not be recipients of other scholarships concurrently.
Additional Requirements
- Recipients of the JFUNU Scholarship are required to write a short essay on their learning and experiences at UNU, which is submitted to the donor organisation. Before graduation, each recipient is requested to submit a note of appreciation to the donors with reflections on their future plans.
- Recipients agree to foster collaboration with jfUNU through participating in jfUNU activities, events, and other opportunities offered to the student body.
Developing countries included in the latest OECD DAC list.
Offered Benefits
The jfUNU scholarship provides a monthly allowance of 120,000 JPY as a support package for a maximum of 24 months. The tuition fees may be waived for the scholarship recipients.
Application Process
The Application Guidelines for 2023 will be available in early January 2023. If you wish to start preparing your application in advance, please refer to the Application Guidelines 2022 (How to Apply and Application Checklist sections).
All applicants:
- Review the checklist and prepare the application materials.
- Register online (the link will be available here when the application period opens).
- Receive an email from UNU-IAS Admissions Office with a link to the Application Form.
- Submit the Application Form by the deadline (10 February 2023).
- Receive an automatic email to confirm that the Admissions Office has received your application.
The application must be done in one sitting – you cannot save your application and continue it later. Before you start your Application Form, please gather all necessary materials listed in the Application Guidelines and make sure to have all of them ready to fill in the Form.
The Application Form is composed of 12 sections of questions and essays. There are back/next buttons at the bottom of each section in the form, which enable you to go back to previous sections to edit the answered boxes before you click the submit button at the end of the form.
Please check Application Checklist and Supporting Documents sections in the Application Guidelines 2022 for detailed application information and materials.
Important Notes
- All application forms must be typed and filled out in English. No handwritten or incomplete application documents will be considered.
- All materials and documents submitted as part of an application become the property of UNU-IAS and cannot be returned.
- If any falsification is discovered in any of the documents presented for application, admission will be revoked.
- Unsuccessful applicants of previous years who reapply for admission must submit a completely new set of application documents, including letters of reference. No previous application materials will act as supporting documents.
- Please submit the Application Form only once. If multiple Application Forms are submitted by one applicant, the latest form received will be considered the application. Earlier versions will be disregarded.
