The Asian Development Bank – Korea Fellowship Program (KFP) is a brand-new scholarship initiative established through cooperation between the Asian Development Bank and the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Korea. As one of the participating schools in the program, KDI School will provide up to five government officials from ADB’s developing member countries with an opportunity to study in Korea and gain a master’s degree in the field of policy and management.  

Sponsored by the ADB and the government of the Republic of Korea, KDI School’s newly launched KFP program will offer three 1.5-year master’s degrees – Public Policy, Development Policy, and Public Management. All selected students will automatically receive full tuition waiver, return airfare support, dormitory fees and monthly stipend, as well as the opportunity to be a part of the dynamic learning environment KDI School has to offer including numerous non-degree academic programs, field trips, and networking opportunities.

Academic Information

Degree (Master’s): Public Policy, Development Policy, Public Management

Study length: 1.5-year residential, on-campus learning. Students are expected to complete both the coursework and the research project within the 1.5-year residential period

Graduation requirements: 39 credits including research project

 * Courses from each concentration may be found here

 * The complete course list from current and previous semester may be found here

 

Scholarship Information

All candidates that successfully receive an admission offer will automatically qualify for the ADB-KFP scholarship that entails the following benefits, conditional upon maintaining required academic standards:

-     Full tuition waiver, monthly stipend, roundtrip airfare, medical insurance

 

Eligibility

The candidate must:

a. be a national of an eligible country (ADB’s developing member countries) with no borrowing constraints imposed by ADB’s Board of Directors or the Government of Korea;

Developing members Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cook Islands, People’s Republic of China, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Fiji, Hong Kong, China, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Niue, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taipei-China, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Viet Nam As the list of developing member countries may change, we recommend you check with ADB to ensure your eligibility

 

b. not hold dual citizenship of any country which is not an ADB developing member country (DMC);

c. have gained admission to an approved master’s course at KDI School;

d. hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent with superior academic record;

Note: The bachelor's degree equivalent will be determined by KDI School in consultation with ADB.

e. have at least three (3) years of full-time working experience as government officials (acquired after obtaining a university degree) at the time of application. The candidate must have proficiency in oral and written English communication skills to successfully pursue their studies;

f. not be more than thirty-five (35) years old at the time of application, unless waived in exceptional cases with the expressed endorsement of the Government of Korea;

g. be in good health;

h. agree to return to and work in their home country for at least two (2) years after completion of studies under the Program in order to contribute to its development;

i. not be an executive director, alternate director, management, staff and consultant of ADB, or be a close relative of the aforementioned by blood or adoption, with the term "close relative" defined as: spouse, mother, stepmother, father, stepfather, sister, stepsister, brother, stepbrother, son, daughter, aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew;

j. not be staff of KDI School;

k. not be living or working in a country other than their home country; and

l. not be already enrolled in graduate degree programs.

 

Academic schedule

Students should expect to enter Korea in mid-August 2025 and begin their studies in the beginning of September 2025 and complete their studies in mid-December 2026. Refer to KDI School 2025 Academic Calendar for other academic events and schedules. 

 

How to apply

Application period: April 24 9:00 ~ May 9 18:00 (KST)

Application website: https://apply.kdischool.ac.kr

For more information on applying, including eligibility, required documents and other important information, refer to the attached Admissions Guideline.

Also visit https://kdischool.ac.kr/admissions/.

 

Contact information

School website: https://www.kdischool.ac.kr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KDISofficial

Admission inquiry: internationaladmissions2@kdis.ac.kr