Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program 2025

The 2025 Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) provides full scholarships to qualified individuals from developing countries. If you have relevant professional experience and aim to pursue a master’s degree in development-related fields, this opportunity could help advance your career and contribute to your country’s growth.

Learn how to apply and meet the eligibility requirements for this prestigious scholarship.

About Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program:

The Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is open to citizens of selected developing countries who have relevant professional experience and a proven commitment to supporting their country’s development.

This program is designed for individuals applying to a master’s degree in a development-related field, such as economic policy management, tax policy, or infrastructure management.

Subject to available funding, JJ/WBGSP offers scholarships for 41 participating master’s programs at 24 universities across the United States, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan.

Please note: If you are not admitted to one of the 41 eligible programs, you are not qualified to apply for the JJ/WBGSP Scholarship in 2025.

To match the academic schedules of the participating universities, the application process is divided into two rounds (Window 1 and Window 2).

Eligibility Criteria:

The Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) has strict eligibility criteria that applicants must meet to be considered. Here’s a summary of the key requirements:

1. Nationality:
   • Must be a national of a World Bank member developing country listed in the program.
   • Cannot hold dual citizenship of any developed country.
2. Health:
   • Must be in good health.
3. Educational Background:
   • Must hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) earned at least 3 years before the application deadline.
4. Work Experience:
   • Must be employed in a development-related full-time paid position at the time of applying.
   • Must have at least 3 years of paid development-related employment since obtaining the bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and acquired within the past 6 years of the application deadline.
   • Employment criteria may include part-time work, but only if it meets the guidelines in the FAQs (Window 1).
   • Exceptions: Nationals from countries listed as Fragile and Conflict States may have limited employment opportunities considered.
5. Admission Requirement:
   • Must be admitted unconditionally to one of the participating master’s programs located outside their home country, except for funding.
   • Must upload the admission letter before submitting the application.
6. World Bank Group Staff Restrictions:
   • Cannot be an Executive Director, alternate, or staff member of any type from the World Bank Group or close relatives of such individuals.
7. Previous JJ/WBGSP Recipients:
   • If previously offered a JJ/WBGSP scholarship and declined it, or if previously received the scholarship but did not graduate, the applicant is not eligible to apply again.

Important Note: For more details, applicants should refer to the full Application Guidelines for the specific call.

Benefits:

The Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) provides several benefits to scholarship recipients, as well as some limitations. Here’s a breakdown:

Benefits Provided:

1. Travel Benefits:
   • Economy class air travel between the scholar’s home country and the host university, both at the start and immediately following the scholarship period.
   • A US $600 travel allowance for each trip.
2. Tuition and Insurance:
   • Tuition for the graduate program at the host university.
   • The cost of basic medical insurance provided by the university.
3. Subsistence Allowance:
   • A monthly subsistence allowance to cover living expenses (accommodation, food, etc.), including books. The exact amount varies depending on the host country.
4. Duration:
   • The scholarship covers the duration of the graduate program or two years, whichever is shorter.

Exclusions (What the Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) does not cover):

1. Visa Costs:
   • Costs associated with visa applications.
2. Family Expenses:
   • Expenses to bring or support the scholar’s family members.
3. Extra-Curricular Activities:
   • Costs for courses or training that are extra-curricular or non-degree related.
4. Non-Required Courses:
   • Courses that do not meet the minimum credits required to earn the graduate degree.
5. Language Training:
   • Language training unless provided by the graduate program.
6. Additional Travel:
   • Travel costs incurred during the course of study, beyond the two-way air travel for the start and end of the program.
7. Research and Educational Expenses:
   • Expenses related to research, supplementary educational materials, field trips, workshops, seminars, or internships.
8. Educational Equipment:
   • Costs for equipment like computers.
9. Resident Permit Fees:
   • Fees associated with obtaining a resident permit.

Additional Note:

• The JJ/WBGSP does not duplicate other sources of financial support. If a scholar is awarded another scholarship or fellowship, they must submit the documents related to that award to the JJ/WBGSP Secretariat.

This information should help clarify what is and isn’t covered by the JJ/WBGSP.

List of Eligible Countries:

The 2025 List of Eligible Countries for the Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program(JJ/WBGSP) includes nationals from the following countries:

1. Afghanistan
2. Angola
3. Bangladesh
4. Belize
5. Benin
6. Bhutan
7. Bolivia
8. Burkina Faso
9. Burundi
10. Cambodia
11. Cameroon
12. Cape Verde
13. Central African Republic
14. Chad
15. Comoros
16. Congo, Democratic Republic of the
17. Congo, Republic of the
18. Côte d’Ivoire
19. Djibouti
20. Dominica
21. Egypt, Arab Republic
22. Eritrea
23. Eswatini
24. Ethiopia
25. Fiji
26. The Gambia
27. Ghana
28. Grenada
29. Guinea
30. Guinea-Bissau
31. Haiti
32. Honduras
33. India
34. Iraq
35. Jordan
36. Kenya
37. Kiribati
38. Kosovo
39. Kyrgyz Republic
40. Lao PDR
41. Lebanon
42. Lesotho
43. Liberia
44. Libya
45. Madagascar
46. Malawi
47. Maldives
48. Mali
49. Marshall Islands
50. Mauritania
51. Micronesia, Federated States of
52. Morocco
53. Mozambique
54. Myanmar
55. Nepal
56. Nicaragua
57. Niger
58. Nigeria
59. Pakistan
60. Papua New Guinea
61. Philippines
62. Rwanda
63. Samoa
64. São Tomé and Principe
65. Senegal
66. Sierra Leone
67. Solomon Islands
68. Somalia
69. South Sudan
70. Sri Lanka
71. St. Lucia
72. St. Vincent and the Grenadines
73. Sudan
74. Syrian Arab Republic
75. Tajikistan
76. Tanzania
77. Timor-Leste
78. Togo
79. Tonga
80. Tunisia
81. Tuvalu
82. Uganda
83. Ukraine
84. Uzbekistan
85. Vanuatu
86. Venezuela
87. Vietnam
88. West Bank and Gaza
89. Yemen, Republic of
90. Zambia
91. Zimbabwe

Applicants must be citizens of one or more of these countries to be eligible for the JJ/WBGSP scholarship.

Application Deadline:

The application deadlines for the 2025 Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) are as follows:

• Submit one online application by Window 1 will open from January 13 to February 28, 2025 at 12:00 noon EST
• Submit one online application by Window 2 will open from March 25 to May 23, 2025 at 12:00 noon EST

Make sure to submit your completed application by the respective deadlines for each window. For more details, visit the official website.

Requirements:

To apply for the Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP), submit one online application by February 28, 2025 (for Window 1 programs). Your application must include:

1. Completed Application Form:

• Written in English or the language of your master’s program.
• Agreement to the conditions on the Signature Page.

2. Two Recommendation Letters:

• Submitted online from people who know your professional work experience.

3. Required Documents:

• Proof of Development-Related Work Experience.
• Bachelor’s Degree Diploma (and any advanced degrees, if applicable).
• C.V. in the specified format, written in English or the language of your master’s program.
• Unconditional Letter of Admission for the upcoming academic year from a JJ/WBGSP participating program located outside of your home country.

(Note: All documents must be submitted electronically by the application deadline.)

For more details and the full application form, visit the official website.

How to Apply:

To apply, follow the instructions below and head to the official to ensure you are guided.

1. Visit the official application website
   • Go to the JJ/WBGSP application website to begin the process.
2. Complete the online application
   • Submit one online application by Window 1 will open from January 13 to February 28, 2025 at 12:00 noon EST
   • Submit one online application by Window 2 will open from March 25 to May 23, 2025 at 12:00 noon EST
   • The application will need to include:
     • One completed Application Form (in English or the language of your master’s program).
     • Two recommendation letters, submitted online by individuals who know your professional work experience.
3. Upload the required documents
   • Proof of work experience in development-related work.
   • Bachelor’s degree diploma (and any advanced degree diplomas, if applicable).
   • C.V. in the required format (provided on the website).

For complete instructions and to submit your application, please visit the official website.

Final Thoughts:

The Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is a rare and competitive opportunity for individuals from developing countries to pursue a graduate degree abroad—fully funded. If you are passionate about development and have relevant work experience, this could be your gateway to global education and impact.

Be sure to check your eligibility, prepare your documents early, and carefully follow the application instructions. Whether you’re applying in Window 1 or Window 2, don’t wait until the last minute to submit.

Don’t forget to explore other scholarships that may assist in funding your education, whether they are local, National, or international.

Check out the scholarship guides on this website for additional options.

References:

• World Bank. (2025). Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP). Retrieved May 5, 2025, from https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/scholarships/jj-wbgsp