Unlock Your Future: All About the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)
Are you a professional from a developing country with a dream of contributing to your nation’s development? The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) offers a transformative opportunity for individuals pursuing advanced degrees in development-related fields. Here’s everything you need to know about this prestigious scholarship, its eligibility, and how to apply.
About the JJ/WBGSP
The JJ/WBGSP is a scholarship program designed to support citizens of specific developing countries who are committed to their nations’ development. It provides financial support for master’s degree programs in areas such as economic policy management, tax policy, and infrastructure management.
Participating Universities and Programs
The program collaborates with 24 universities worldwide, offering scholarships for 41 master’s programs. These institutions are spread across regions like the United States, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan. To be eligible, applicants must be admitted to one of these participating programs.
Important Note: If you are not admitted to one of the 41 programs, you will not be eligible for the JJ/WBGSP scholarship.
Application Windows for 2025
To accommodate different academic calendars, the application process has two rounds:
- Application Window #1
- Opens: January 13, 2025
- Closes: February 28, 2025 (12:00 PM EST)
- Application Window #2
- Opens: March 25, 2025
- Closes: May 23, 2025 (12:00 PM EST)
Applicants must be unconditionally admitted (except for financial requirements) to one of the participating programs and shortlisted by the university. The application form will only be accessible to these candidates.
Scholarship Benefits
The JJ/WBGSP scholarship offers comprehensive financial support, including:
- Tuition Fees: Full coverage for the duration of the program (up to two years).
- Living Expenses: A monthly stipend to cover accommodation, food, and books.
- Travel Costs: Economy-class airfare to and from the host university, along with a $600 travel allowance per trip.
- Health Insurance: Basic medical insurance provided through the university.
What’s Not Covered:
- Visa application fees
- Family support expenses
- Additional travel, research, or extracurricular costs
- Equipment like laptops or supplementary materials
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet strict eligibility requirements, which include:
- Nationality:
- Must be a citizen of a World Bank member developing country.
- Dual citizenship holders from developed countries are not eligible.
- Health Status:
- Applicants must be in good health.
- Education and Experience:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree earned at least three years before the application deadline.
- Have three years of paid development-related work experience acquired in the past six years.
- Admission Requirements:
- Must be admitted to one of the participating master’s programs outside the applicant’s country of citizenship or residence.
- Exclusions:
- Employees or close relatives of World Bank Group staff or executives are not eligible.
- Previous JJ/WBGSP scholarship recipients who declined or failed to graduate cannot reapply.
Note: Detailed eligibility criteria can be found in the application guidelines.
Full List of Eligible Countries
The JJ/WBGSP is open to nationals of the following developing countries:
Africa
- Angola
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Congo, Democratic Republic
- Congo, Republic
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gambia, The
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Asia and the Pacific
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Bhutan
- Cambodia
- Fiji
- India
- Kiribati
- Lao PDR
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Micronesia, Federated States
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Samoa
- Solomon Islands
- Sri Lanka
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
- Vietnam
Middle East and North Africa
- Djibouti
- Egypt, Arab Republic
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Morocco
- Syria, Arab Republic
- Tunisia
- West Bank and Gaza
- Yemen, Republic
Latin America and the Caribbean
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Venezuela, RB
Selection Process
The JJ/WBGSP follows a rigorous selection process, where applications are scored based on the following criteria:
- Quality of Professional Experience (30%)
- Quality of Professional Recommendations (30%)
- Commitment to Home Country Development (30%)
- Educational Background (10%)
Other considerations include geographical and gender diversity, financial need, and overcoming hardships.
Conclusion
The JJ/WBGSP is a life-changing opportunity for aspiring professionals passionate about fostering development in their home countries. With comprehensive funding and access to world-class institutions, this scholarship equips you with the tools to make a meaningful impact.
Start your journey today and turn your dreams into reality. For more details, visit the official JJ/WBGSP website.
