2026 Young Leaders’ Program in Law

The Embassy of Japan, in partnership with the Ateneo de Manila School of Law (Ateneo Law), has opened the application process for the 2025 Young Leaders’ Program in Law (YLP).  The program provides scholarships to legal professionals who are expected to play an active role as future national leaders.  The host university of the YLP is the Kyushu University Graduate School of Law, one of Ateneo Law’s partner institutions.  Qualified applicants who are offered admission and scholarships to Kyushu will pursue, in the course of one year, a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree in International Economic and Business Law.  The academic year begins in October 2026 and ends in September 2027.
 
Interested applicants must be under 40 years of age by 1 October 2026, and must have at least four years of professional experience in a law office or in the legal department of a company or government.  Applicants must submit the following requirements:

• Completed application form
• Photographs (6 x 4 cm) taken in the last six months
• Official Transcripts of Record
• Diploma or Certificate of Graduation
• Two recommendation letters from current employer or academic supervisor in the applicant’s last attended school
• Certificate of Health using the prescribed form
• Essay explaining the applicant’s future plans
• Photocopy of passport
• English proficiency certificate (TOEFL or equivalent)
• Answer to essay questions

 Further details about the Program may be found here: https://www.mext.go.jp/en/policy/education/highered/title02/detail02/sdetail02/sdetail02/1374094.htm

The application form, prescribed health certificate format, and other relevant documents may also be downloaded from the same page.

Details about the LL.M Program at Kyushu University may be found here: https://www.law.kyushu-u.ac.jp/programsinenglish/html/programs-admissions/academic-programs/ylp-ll-m/

 All applications documents must be submitted to Ateneo Law's Graduate Legal Studies Institute on or before 19 September 2025, 5pm.  After paper screening and interview, Ateneo Law will endorse the application documents of qualified applicants to the Embassy of Japan. Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) does the final screening of applications.
 
Kindly direct inquiries on the YLP to:
 
Graduate Legal Studies Institute
Ateneo de Manila School of Law
3/F Ateneo Professional Schools Building
20 Rockwell Drive, Rockwell Center
Makati City 1200
Tel. No.: (02) 8899.7691 local 2323
Fax No.: (02) 8898.2113
Email: glsi.law@ateneo.edu