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Who can apply

Three different things not to mix up: the country where you study, your nationality and the country where you live when you apply.

Call
Developing country nationals
Country of study
At the institution of your choice (no set country)
Degree already held
Bachelor’s
Target level
Master’s
Fields of study
All fields
Work experience
You must be employed in development-related work in a paid full-time position when you submit the scholarship application, and have at least 3 years of paid development-related employment since earning your bachelor's degree, acquired within the past 6 years from the application deadline.
Other conditions
  • You must be a national of a World Bank member developing country listed by the program.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Be a national of a World Bank member developing country on this list
  • You must not hold dual citizenship of any developed country.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Not hold dual citizenship of any developed country
  • You must be in good health.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Be in good health
  • On or before the scholarship application deadline, you must 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 your country of citizenship and country of residence. You must upload the letter of admission before submitting the scholarship application.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: 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 the scholarship application.
  • You must not be an Executive Director, alternate or staff member of the World Bank Group, nor a close relative by blood or adoption of such a person.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: 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
  • You cannot apply again if you were previously offered a JJ/WBGSP scholarship and declined it, or previously received a JJ/WBGSP scholarship and did not graduate.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: Individuals who have previously been offered a JJ/WBGSP scholarship but declined it, or have previously received a JJ/WBGSP scholarship but did not graduate, are not eligible to apply again.
  • After earning your degree, you must return to your home country to use your new skills and contribute to your country's social and economic development.RequiredOrganisation’s wording: 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.

The real funding

What the opportunity pays, what is left for you to pay and the money to plan before leaving.

Paid
Tuition, plane ticket and insurance
At your expense
Visa fees
Length of the funding
24 months

Dates

Applications open
18 January 2027 at 00:00 GMT-5, time zone not specified
Applications close
26 February 2027Application Window #1 (developing country nationals)
Other deadlines
  • 21 May 2027Application Window #2 (developing country nationals)
  • 16 April 2027Application window for Japanese nationals

Application steps

In the order set by the programme. Open a step to see the details.

  1. Step 1: 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 your country of citizenship and country of residence.To do at the same time as: step 2
    With whom
    a JJ/WBGSP participating university
    By when
    the scholarship application deadline
    Documents to provide
    • Letter of admission (to be uploaded before submitting the scholarship application)
  2. Step 2: Contact the university offering the JJ/WBGSP participating master's program you are targeting to find out if you meet the two requirements (unconditional admission and shortlisting as an eligible JJ/WBGSP applicant).To do at the same time as: step 1
    With whom
    the participating university
    By when
    the application window
  3. Step 3: Submit the scholarship application using the link communicated to you by the participating university.
    With whom
    the JJ/WBGSP Secretariat
    By when
    the end of the application window
    Documents to provide
    • Letter of admission

Where to apply

World Bank (opens in a new tab)

Official title (in English): Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program

Edition 2027 · Verified on 31 October 2026

Apply on the official website (opens in a new tab)

Official website of World Bank: worldbank.org