Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program

Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program for Developing Countries, 2021

Deadline: 21st May, 2021

The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is open to citizens of certain developing countries with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development efforts who are applying to a master degree program in a development-related topic.

Subject to available funding, JJWBGSP offers scholarships for 48 Participating Programs at universities in U.S., Europe, Africa, Oceania and Japan in key areas of development, including economic policy management, tax policy, and infrastructure management. If you do not get an admission to one of these 48 programs, you are not eligible to apply for a JJWBGSP Scholarship in 2021.

After earning their degree, developing country scholars commit to return to their home country to use their new skills and contribute to their countries’ social and economic development.

A JJWBGSP scholarship provides tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance.

Scholarship Benefits

The JJ/WBGSP scholarship provides the recipient with the following benefits:

  • Economy class air travel between your home country and the host university.  In addition to the two-way air travel, scholars will receive a US $500 travel allowance for each trip;
  • Tuition for your graduate program and also the cost of basic medical insurance obtained through the university.
  • While on campus during the scholarship period; a monthly subsistence allowance to cover all living expenses (accommodations, food, etc., including books). The amount of the allowance varies depending on the host country.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Be a national of a World Bank member developing country on this list;
  • Not hold dual citizenship of any developed country;
  • Be in good health;
  • Hold a Bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree earned at least 3 years prior to the Application Deadline date;
  • Have at least 3 years or more of recent development-related work experience after earning a Bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree;
  • Be working in development-related work in a paid full- time position at the time of submitting the scholarship application. Have at least 3 years of paid development-related employment since earning a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent university degree) and acquired within the past 6 years from the date of the Application Deadline.
  • On or before the Scholarship Application Deadline date, be admitted unconditionally (except for funding) for the upcoming academic year to at least one of the JJ/WBGSP participating master’s programs located outside of the applicant’s country of citizenship and country of residence listed at the time the call for scholarship applications opens. The letter of admission must be uploaded before submitting your application.
  • Not be an Executive Director, his/her alternate, and/or staff of any type of appointment of the World Bank Group or a close relative of the aforementioned by blood or adoption with the term “close relative” defined as: Mother, Father, Sister, Half-sister, Brother, Half-brother, Son, Daughter, Aunt, Uncle, Niece, or Nephew.

There is a strict adherence to these eligibility criteria and there would not be exceptions. Eligibility criteria WILL NOT change during an open call for applications. However, this information is subject to change between the close of one application process and the opening of the next.


SEE ALSO: World Bank African and African Diaspora Fellows for Infrastructure Program, 2021


How to Apply 

Guidance for the 2021 call for applications, including the call’s; (i) instructions and requirements to submit an application, the eligibility criteria applicants must meet; and the selection process are provided  in the Application GuidelinesFAQs, and the complete list of JJ/WBGSP Participating Programs. Master Degrees currently offered.  

Inquiries on how to submit an admission application to a Participating program should be submitted to the respective university. All applicants to the JJ/WBG will need to have an unconditional offer of admission from a participating program to be eligible to apply.



You can also refer to the “Accessing your online application” and “Navigating your online application” to learn how access and navigate the online application.

For more details on this scholarship, please visit: World Bank Scholarships Program

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