Scholarship Overview
- The Joint Japan/ World Bank Graduate Scholarships are open to men and women from developing countries who have relevant professional experience and a commitment to supporting their countries’ development efforts.
- Applications are invited for master’s degree programs focusing on development-related topics.
Host School(s)
- Study at one of 27 selected universities in the U.S., Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan.
Field(s) of Study
- 45 Participating Master’s Programs in 27 universities
What does the scholarship cover?
- Economy class air travel from one’s home country to the host university at the beginning and end of the scholarship period
- A US$ 500 travel allowance for each trip
- Tuition for the graduate program
- The cost of basic medical insurance obtained through the university
- A monthly stipend to cover all living expenses (accommodation, food, books, etc.) This amount depends on the host country.
How many scholarships are given?
- Not stated
Which countries are targeted?
- Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan,
- Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cabo Verde,
- Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo DRC, Republic of Congo,
- Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica. Republic of Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea,
- Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau,
- Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Kiribati,
- Kosovo, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya,
- Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
- Micronesia (Fed. Sts.), Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar,
- Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea,
- Philippines, Rwanda, Samoa, S?o Tomé and Principe, Senegal,
- Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, St Lucia,
- St. Vincent, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste,
- Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu,
- Venezuela, Vietnam, West Bank and Gaza, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Am I Eligible to Apply?
To qualify for this scholarship:
- You must be a national of a World Bank developing country
- You must be in good health
- You should not hold dual citizenship of any developed country
- You must hold a Bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree earned at least three years before the application deadline date
- You must have 3 years or more of recent development-related work experience after earning a bachelor’s degree
- You must be employed in a development-related area in a paid full-time position at the time of submitting the scholarship application
- You must be admitted unconditionally (except for funding) for the upcoming academic year to at least one of the preferred master’s programs located/offered outside your country of citizenship or residence.
- You must not have any appointment at the World Bank Group or have a close relative employed there.
How to Apply – Next Steps
- An application will be accepted and reviewed if the applicant submits only one completed application electronically through the online application site by the application deadline.
- The completed application must include the following documents:
- Two recommendation letters
- Documentation that proves the applicant meets the eligibility requirement with regard to the number of years of recent development-related work
- A C.V. using the required format and written in English or the language of the master’s degree program for which the applicant is seeking JJ/WBGSP funding
- An unconditional (except for financing) Letter of Admission for the upcoming academic year to a JJ/WBGSP participating master’s program
Selection Process
- There are four main factors considered when choosing candidates who have the highest potential to impact development in their home countries. These are:
- Quality of professional experience (30%)
- Quality of Professional Recommendations (30%)
- Quality of Commitment to Home Country (30%)
- Quality of Educational Background (10%)
Closing Date
- Applications open on March 27, 2023, and close on May 26, 2023.
How do I get more information?