Japanese Initiative for the future of Syrian Refugees (JISR)

Accepting Application for 2025 until March 23rd, 2025. (Extended!)

News

* There are some articles written under anonymity upon their request since their background are refugees.

October 15, 2024
Mr. Mohannad AL Yakoub's case material was released in website of JICA Development Studies Program / JICA Chair, which JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute jointly develops with the International University of Japan (IUJ) for the instructors of the universities collaborating with JICA-DSP. (PDF/261KB)
October 15, 2024
Mr. Ahmed Ibraheem's case material was released in website of JICA Development Studies Program / JICA Chair, which JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute jointly develops with the International University of Japan (IUJ) for the instructors of the universities collaborating with JICA-DSP. (PDF/212KB)
October 7, 2024 Wishing to realize my company’s dreams JISR Alumni Bring a New Breeze JISR Graduate Mr. Asaad Haddad
August 14, 2024 Japan Bridge Interview ～JISR Participants connect the bridge between Japan and Syria～
July 22, 2024 Reflections on Student Life
June 25, 2024 Developing a Heartwarming Community (The Second JISR Friendly Reunion)
December 14, 2023 Message from Mr. Anas Hijazi, a graduate of Japanese Initiative for the future of Syrian Refugees at Global Refugee Forum 2023 (youtube.com)
October 5, 2023 Always Go Extra Miles JISR Graduate Baraa Aldarkazanly
June 18, 2023 New Hopes and Dreams Discovered in Japan: A Bridge between Japan and His Syrian Homeland
April 12, 2023 Carving yourself a career: Introducing three female JISR participants
April 1, 2023 JISR Friendly Reunion -To be a "Bridge" between Japan and Syria-
March 31, 2023 JISR Participants visiting LIFULL Co., Ltd.
February 9, 2023 10 participants, 10 ways of struggles: The 5th batch's first challenge in Japan - 8-months Japanese Intensive course in Hiroshima -

1. Background

More than six millions of Syrians have been forced to leave their home country and fled to neighboring countries and beyond since the conflict started in 2011, and the majority of these refugees have been staying in host communities. Under their severe and harsh living conditions, the international community is required to support those refugees from a humanitarian standpoint. The protracted crisis is depriving the refugees from their opportunities to study, which is likely to become the main reason for considerable loss of human resources for the reconstruction of the Syrian Arab Republic (hereinafter referred to as "Syria") in the future.

Against this backdrop, the Japanese government announced in May 2016 that Japan would accept Syrian young personnel as students with the aim of offering educational opportunities to Syrian youths who will contribute to Syria's future reconstruction when it takes place. Accordingly, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has established the program "Japanese Initiative for the future of Syrian Refugees" (hereinafter referred to as "JISR") in cooperation with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for providing higher education opportunities at a Master's degree level in Japanese universities to Syrian refugees who are staying in neighboring countries.

After successful implementation for five years, JICA decided to continue JISR.

2. Objectives

The objective of JISR is to support Syrian refugees who have potential to contribute to the reconstruction of Syria in the future. This program offers opportunities for young Syrian refugees (hereinafter referred to as "Participants") to study in graduate courses for their Master's degrees at Japanese universities. This program intends to foster capable Syrian individuals to lead Syria's reconstruction and peacebuilding efforts at an appropriate time in the future, while enhancing their understanding of Japanese people, society and systems so as to strengthen the mutual friendship between Syria and Japan.

3. Program Outline

　1. Program Title: Japanese Initiative for the future of Syrian Refugees (JISR)
　2. Language of the Program: English
　3. Course: Master's Degree Program
　4. Number of Participants/year: 3-5 (Lebanon & Jordan and Türkiye combined)

4. Duration

Admission Schedule: November 2025 (For 2025 course)

Participants will come to Japan in November 2025 to take part in a Japanese Language Program until July 2026 before admission to Japanese universities.
Duration of enrollment depends on university. Please see "5. Standard Timetable (Years needed for graduation)" of Annex 5. University Information.

5. Target Participants

This program targets Syrian refugees known to UNHCR, who are currently residing in Jordan or Lebanon, or Syrian refugees known to Turkish government, who are currently residing in Türkiye, and who will play leading roles in Syria's reconstruction and peacebuilding efforts in the private, governmental, or educational sectors in the future.

6. Fields of Study at Japanese Universities

Engineering, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Business Administration, Social Science (Peacebuilding, Political Science, Public Administration, etc.), and Health Science are specified as key fields of study.

7. Qualifications and Requirements

Applicant must satisfy the following requirements:

(1) Nationality	Syrian
(2) Age	Between 22 and 39 years of age (as of September 1st, 2025)
(3) Refugee Status / UNHCR Status	Applicant who is registered as a refugee by or known to UNHCR For applicants from Türkiye, registration with the Turkish government for a temporary protection ID is required instead of registration with UNHCR
(4) Education	Bachelor's degree holder (equivalent to at least 16 years of academic background) or university student in the final year of an undergraduate program who can present a certificate of expected graduation at the time of application
(5) English - language Proficiency	English skills both in written and oral communication adequate to complete a Master's course.
(6) Academic Ability	Academic ability adequate to complete a Master's course
(7) Understanding of the Program	Applicant is required to have a clear understanding of the objectives of JISR, and to have a strong intention to contribute to the peacebuilding and/or reconstruction of Syria in the future, as well as strengthen the mutual friendship between Syria and Japan
(8) Others	Applicant must: Not be receiving a scholarship offered by organizations, foreign or domestics, for a Master's degree. (It is permissible for applicants to apply for scholarship opportunities aside from JISR. However, after passing the 1st selection (see Section 11 in Application Guidelines), the applicant must withdraw applications to other scholarship programs to pursue the JISR scholarship.)