The I.K. Akhunbaev Kyrgyz State Medical Academy (KSMA) announces the opening of applications for the long-term JICA Scholarship Program "Universal Health Coverage", leading to the degree of Master of Public Health in Global Health (MPH) at the Institute of Science Tokyo (Japan).
The program will be conducted in English and will commence in April 2027.
Eligible Applicants
Applications are invited from:
- KSMA staff members;
- KSMA clinical residents;
- KSMA graduates of 2026 who have obtained a higher education diploma.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- be citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic;
- be under 40 years of age as of April 1, 2027;
- hold a bachelor's degree and/or a higher academic degree;
- demonstrate English language proficiency with a minimum score of TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.5, or an equivalent qualification;
- be able to travel to Japan for the duration of the program;
- not be receiving any other scholarship during the study period.
Required Documents
- JICA Application Form (2 copies: one original and one photocopy with attached photographs) and the Medical Questionnaire (available for download via the link below).
- A notarized copy of the higher education diploma and academic transcript with an English translation.
- A copy of a valid English language proficiency certificate.
- A copy of the applicant's passport.
- A certificate issued by the Center for Educational and Organizational Support (COOS).
To obtain the KSMA Recommendation Letter, applicants must visit the International Relations Office of KSMA (Main Building, Room 242) and submit the certificate issued by COOS.
Additional Documents
State civil servants and municipal employees must additionally submit:
A recommendation letter from their respective government institution addressed to the State Agency for Civil Service and Local Self-Government under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic requesting the issuance of an official conclusion for participation in the competition.
The letter must indicate the applicant's current position and confirm that the applicant has no disciplinary sanctions, in accordance with Clauses 2–6 of the Regulation on the Coordination of Training of State Civil Servants and Municipal Employees of the Kyrgyz Republic Funded by Donor Organizations.
For assistance regarding this document, please contact:
- Kamalidin — +996 (312) 62-02-42
- Nazira — +996 (312) 66-01-51
Submission Procedure
After preparing the complete set of documents, applicants must personally submit them to the following contact person at the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic:
Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic
58 Erkindik Boulevard, Bishkek
Department of International Cooperation
Contact person:
Muras Uturov
Tel.: +996 (312) 625-313 (ext. 2233)
Application deadline: September 3, 2026.
Important Information
During participation in the program, scholarship recipients are required to comply with all JICA regulations, including:
- maintaining academic integrity and ethical standards;
- complying with the laws of Japan and the regulations of the host university;
- refraining from employment not permitted under the program conditions;
- refraining from political activities during the study period.
Note
The International Relations Office of KSMA acts solely as a coordinating liaison between KSMA and JICA.
The International Relations Office does not verify applicants' documents for compliance with JICA requirements and assumes no responsibility for their accuracy or content.
Program Documents
The following documents are available for download:
- JICA Application Form;
- Handbook (General Information);
- JICA Guidelines for Completing the Application Documents.
Google Drive folder:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1NGeQLLIBZF4jEFetSAKEaVnTsYYK3Fg8