2024|25 Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program For Developing Nations

APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED

Scholarship Awarding University: 
Several

Type of degree: 
Master's

Scholarship Deadline: 
Applications for this scholarship will close on the 24th of May, 2024.

Scholarship Summary: 
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. Please note that if you are not admitted to one of these 48 programs, you are not eligible to apply for a JJWBGSP Scholarship in 2024.

Scholarship Applicant Criteria: 
These are the criteria for eligibility;
i. Be a national of a World Bank member developing country;
ii. Not hold dual citizenship of a developed country;
iii. Be in good health;
iv. Hold a Bachelor (or equivalent) degree earned at least three years prior to the application deadline date;
v. Have at least three years of paid development-related employment since earning a
Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent university degree) and acquired within the past six years from the date of the Application Deadline;
vi. Be accepted unconditionally to enroll in the upcoming academic year in at least one of the JJWBGSP Preferred or Partner Masters degree Programs;
vii. Not be an Executive Director, his/her alternate, and/or staff of all types of appointments 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;

Value of Scholarship: 
The JJ/WBGSP scholarship provides the recipient with the following benefits:
a. Economy class air travel between your home country and the host university at the start of your study program and immediately following the end of the scholarship period. In addition to the two-way air travel, scholars will receive a US $500 travel allowance for each trip;
b. Tuition for your graduate program and the cost of basic medical insurance obtained through the university.
c. 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.

Please note all JJ/WBGSP scholarships cover the duration of the graduate program or two years, whichever is less.

Scholarship Application Guide: 
The pathway for this scholarship application is as follows;
i. Those seeking a JJ/WBGSP Partner Program scholarship must first apply for admission to one or more of the Partner Master’s Degree Program(s). All applicants to the JJ/WBG will need to have an unconditional offer of admission from a participating program to be eligible to apply.

ii. The link to the online application form will only be communicated by JJWBGSP
Participating Programs to the applicants they have shortlisted as eligible. Please make sure that you are familiar with the application requirements and processes.

iii. Two qualified assessors independently review each eligible application and score the application on a scale of 1 to 10, taking into account four main factors and the degree of cohesion among them:
- Quality of Professional Experience (30% weight)
- Quality of Professional Recommendations (30% weight)
- Quality of Commitment to your Home Country (30% weight)
- Quality of Education Background (10% weight)
The JJ/WBGSP Secretariat then uses the average score of the two assessors and the following criteria to select the finalists:
a. Maintaining a reasonably wide geographical distribution of awards
b. Maintaining a reasonable distribution of awards across gender
c. Unusual circumstances/hardships, when assessing the employment experience and other aspects of an application;
Giving scholarships to those applicants who, other things being equal, have limited access to financial resources for graduate studies abroad.

iv. The JJWBGSP Secretariat identifies the candidates with the highest potential and presents the finalists for the Participating Program scholarship to the JJ/WBG Steering Committee (composed of members of the World Bank Board of Directors and WB management) for approval. Winners are notified soon after the JJWBG Steering Committee approval. 

Scholarship Website: 
Find further information on this scholarship opportunity at the Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Page.