2026 United Nations University Sustainability Scholarship, Asia

Applications for the 2025 United Nations University Sustainability Scholarship are now open for interested and qualified candidates. The United Nations University Scholarship covers the full cost of tuition, and provides a monthly allowance of 130,000 JPY for living expenses for a maximum of 24 months, while also covering the costs of travel and health insurance.

Eligibility: 

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the United Nations University Scholarship:

• 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.

For MSc Applicants

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

• A completed bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from a recognized university or institution of higher education in a field related to sustainability in accordance with the UNU-IAS thematic areas.
• A GPA of 2.8 or above on a 4.0 scale (equivalent to 70% on a 100 % scale) for the bachelor’s degree earned and;
• English language proficiency.

For PhD Applicants 

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

• A completed master’s degree (or equivalent) from a recognized university or institution of higher education in a field related to sustainability.
• A minimum of two years of professional field experience related to UNU-IAS research themes which was acquired after obtaining a university degree (full time equivalent).
• A GPA of 2.8 or above on a 4.0 scale (equivalent to 70% on a 100 % scale) for at least one of the master’s degrees earned; and
• English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS) – waived for English-speaking students.

Benefits of 2026 United Nations University Scholarship

The United Nations University Scholarships include;

UNU Rector’s Scholarship

• The UNU Rector’s Scholarship covers the full cost of tuition and provides a monthly allowance of 130,000 JPY (subject to change) for living expenses for a maximum of 24 months. Travel costs to and from Japan with a fixed amount are also covered, and a research allowance is provided. 

Resona Bank Scholarship

• The UNU Rector’s Scholarship covers the full cost of tuition and provides a monthly allowance of 130,000 JPY (subject to change) for living expenses for a maximum of 24 months. Travel costs to and from Japan with a fixed amount are also covered, and a research allowance is provided. 

Japan Foundation for UNU (jfUNU) Scholarship

• 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.

Asian Development Bank–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB–JSP)

• Full tuition, subsistence allowance including housing allowance, thesis research allowance, medical and accident insurance, books, and instrumental allowance will be covered by the scholarship.
• The monthly subsistence allowance, including housing allowance for one person, for the academic year 2024-25 is JPY 147,000 (subject to change).
• An economy-class airfare will also be provided for the most direct route between the scholar’s home country and Tokyo Narita International Airport.

Type: Undergraduate and Postgraduate

Deadline: February 11, 2026
Host Country: Asia