The Japan-WCO Human Resource Development Programme (Scholarship Programme) provides a grant covering travel, subsistence, admission, tuition and other approved expenses 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.
Eligibilities
A candidate must be a customs officer of a developing member of the WCO with quality work experience of at least two 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, 2022.
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.
Coverage
A monthly stipend covers accommodations, meals, transportations, and other expenses. It cannot be increased to cover family members, if any. The amount of 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 2021).
**The current amount of admission fee is 290,000 yen and the annual tuition fee is 917,000 yen (as of 2021).
Policy
Accepting the Scholarship
In order to accept the Scholarship, a candidate must fill out, sign and submit a document named Scholar Guidelines to the WCO.
During the Programme
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 the 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.
Note 1: All rules and policies are subject to change without prior notice on this website.
Note 2: For further information, please refer to the letter and the administrative provisions from the WCO to its Member administrations.
