The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is a scholarship program open to citizens of some developing countries around the world. More so, it is open to those with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development efforts. They must be on the party to applying to study a master’s degree program in a development-related research area or academic field.
Furthermore, Subject to available funding, the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) offers scholarships for about forty-one (41) Participating Master’s Programs. This cut across 24 universities in the:
- U.S.A.
- Europe
- Africa
- Oceania and
- Japan
Mostly in key areas of development with economic policy management, tax policy, and infrastructure management in addition.
Interested participants should please note that if they are not admitted to or undergoing studies in any of these 41 Participating Master’s Programs, they are not eligible to apply for a Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) in 2025.
The application process is organized into two separate rounds. This is in order to fit in the wishes and needs of the academic calendar of JJ/WBGSP Participating Programs. The rounds include;
- Application Window#1
Registration Window #1 from mid-January to late February (Close) - Application Window #2
Application Window #2 from late March to late May (Close)
Furthermore, note that the Exact dates Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) for 2026 application windows will be communicated in the fall 2025. Thus, always revisit this page for updates.
Scholarship Application Link
Also know that the link to the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) application form will only be communicated to the following:
- Candidates admitted unconditionally (except for finance) to one of the JJ/WBGSP participating master’s programs, and
- Candidates shortlisted as eligible JJ/WBGSP applicants by the participating university.
Prospective candidates are invited to reach out to any university that offers the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) participating master program. Then, check to find out if they meet the two requirements above.
Reasons For Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)
After beneficiary have earn their degree, they must commit to developing their home country. These warrants such scholars commitment o return to their home country to make use of their new skills. This helps to contribute to their countries’ social, political and economic development.
Benefits of Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)
A Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) scholarship has the following benefits
- provides tuition,
- A monthly living stipend
- Round-trip airfare
- Health insurance and
- Travel allowance.
You can click on the list of benefits for more detailed benefits of Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP).
What are the Eligible Requirements to Apply for Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)?
Information on Eligibility Criteria for Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) for each call for applications are provided in that call’s Application Guidelines. Prospective applicants must adhere to these detailed eligibility criteria. Note that No exceptions are made for each in addition: Furthermore, interested applicants from Developing Country nationals must:
- Be a national of a World Bank member developing country. You can check on this list here to be sure.
- Applicant must not hold dual citizenship of any developed country;
- Be in good health condition;
- Applicants must hold a bachelor’s (or equivalent academic qualification) degree. More so, it must have been earned at least 3 years before the Application Deadline date;
- Must also be employed in development-related work. Employment must be in a paid full- time position at the time of submitting the scholarship application. Furthermore, you must Have at least 3 years of paid development-related employment since earning a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent university degree). This should be acquired within the past 6 years from the date of the application deadline. More so, Please visit FAQs—Window 1 to read more on how to count qualified part time employment toward this 3-year requirement. Also refer to Annex 2 of the Application Guidelines. It will guide you with a suggested list of development-related topics. The only exception to this particular requirements is for developing country nationals from those countries that are on the list of Fragile and Conflict States. These are featured in Annex 3 of the Application Guidelines. If cases such as this arises, the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) do take into consideration the limited employment opportunities in those countries in addition.
Other Requirements
- Note that on or before the scholarship application closing date, be admitted unconditionally (except for funding) for the upcoming academic year to at least one of the JJ/WBGSP participating master’s Degree programs. This maybe located outside of the applicant’s country of citizenship. The country of residence listed at the time the call for scholarship applications opens in addition.
- The admission letter of applicants must be uploaded before submitting the scholarship application. For more details, see “How to Apply” link.
- Applicants must not be an Executive Director, his/her alternate, and/or staff of or on any type of appointment of the World Bank Group. More so, must not have a close relative of the aforementioned by blood or adoption with the term “close relative” known as: Mother, Father, Sister, Half-sister, Brother, Half-brother, Son, Daughter, Aunt, Uncle, Niece, or Nephew.
Please note: You must follow all eligibility criteria strictly to the least. No exceptions are made in addition. Also note that Eligibility criteria WILL NOT change when applications is open. However, this information is subject to change between the close of one registration process and the opening of the next.
How to Apply for Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)
Get links
Selection process
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) uses the following process to review eligible scholarship applications from developing country nationals. It has the aim of identifying the candidates:
- with the highest potential,
- after completion of their graduate studies,
- to impact the development of their countries.
It has two qualified assessors who independently review each eligible application. Then proceed to score the application on a scale of 1 to 10. The assessors take into account the following four factors and the degree of cohesion among them:
- Level of professional experience (30% weight)
- Quality of professional recommendations (this weight 30%)
- Level of commitment to your home country (this weight 30%)
- Standard of education background (this weight 10%)
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) Secretariat uses the average score of the two assessors and the following criteria to select the final beneficiaries while:
- Considering a reasonably wide geographical distribution for Scholarship awards
- Maintaining a reasonable distribution of scholarship awards across gender
- Unusual circumstances/hardships, when assessing the employment experience and other aspects of an application;
- Granting scholarships awards to those applicants who with limited access to financial resources for graduate studies abroad.
Finally, the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) Secretariat presents the list of finalists to the JJ/WBGSP Steering Committee. This committee is composed of members of the World Bank Board of Directors and WB management for final approval. Then, scholarship winners are notified soon after the JJ/WBGSP Steering Committee approval.
Scholarship Benefits
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) scholarship provides the beneficiaries with the following:
- Beneficiaries are provided with Economy class air travel between their home country and the country of the host university at the start of study program and also immediately following the completion of the scholarship programme, scholarship beneficiaries also receive a US $600 travel allowance for each trip In addition to the two-way air travel.
- You also obtain through the university the Tuition for your graduate program and the cost of basic medical insurance.
- A monthly Subsistence allowance to take care of your living expenses while on campus during the scholarship period. This covers accommodations, food, etc., including books. Note that the amount for the allowance varies depending on the host country of beneficiaries.
Please note all Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) cover the duration of the graduate program or likely two years, whichever is less.
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) does not cover:
- Any Visa application(s) costs
- Language training not provided by the graduate program;
- Expenses to for bringing along and/or support a beneficiaries family members;
- Extra-curricular courses or training embark by beneficiaries;
- Other expenses related to research, supplementary educational materials, field trips, participation in workshops/seminars, or internships; or Educational equipment such as computers.
- Courses which do not meet the minimum credits required to earn the graduate degree;
- Additional travel expenses embark by beneficiaries during the course of the study program;
- Resident permit fee of scholars
Note: The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) may only supplement. It does not duplicate, any other source of financial support/fellowship you might have. Beneficiaries who were awarded another scholarship or fellowship must send the documents pertaining to the other scholarship/fellowship to the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) Secretariat.
We hope you have learn enough in this article about Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP). The scholarship programme is open for both men and women to apply. Do well to leave a comment below for more information on the JJ/WBGSP scholarship programme.
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