Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)

Scholarship Overview

• The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is open to citizens of certain developing countries who have relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development efforts, and are interested in pursuing a master’s degree program in a development-related topic.   
• Subject to available funding, the JJWBGSP offers scholarships for 26 Participating Programs at universities in the U.S., Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan in key areas of development.

Host School(s)

• Columbia — School of International and Public Affairs
• Johns Hopkins
• University of Birmingham
• University of Hong Kong
• University of Wisconsin – Madison
• Vrije Universiteit – KIT

Field(s) of Study

• MPA in Economic Policy Management
• Master of Public Health
• MSc Conflict, State Building and Development
• Master of Urban Design (MUD)
• Educational Policy Studies
• Health Systems Policy and Management

What does the scholarship cover?

• Tuition
• A monthly living stipend
• A round-trip airfare
• Health insurance
• Travel allowance

How many scholarships are given?

• Scholarships are given for the 26 participating programs, subject to available funding.

Which countries are targeted?

• Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
• Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi,
• Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, CAR, Chad, Comoros,
• Congo DRC, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica,
• Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada,
• Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
• Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia,
• Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania,
• Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua,
• Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Samoa,
• São Tomé and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia,
• South Sudan, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, St Vincent, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic,
• Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu,
• Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam,
• West Bank and Gaza, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Am I Eligible to Apply?

To qualify for this scholarship, you must:

• Be a national of a World Bank member developing country as listed above
• Be in good health
• Not hold dual citizenship of any developed country
• Hold a Bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree earned at least 3 years before the Application Deadline date
• Have 3 years or more of recent development-related work experience after earning a Bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree
• Be employed in development-related work in a paid full-time position at the time of submitting the scholarship application.
• 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. 
• 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.

How Do I Apply – Next Steps

• Submit one completed online application. This application will be accepted and reviewed if the applicant submits only one completed application electronically through the online application site by the Application Deadline.
• The completed application should include:
  • Two recommendation letters, submitted online, from people who have direct knowledge of the applicant’s professional work experience.
  • One completed Application Form that is written in either in English or the language of the master’s degree program.

Supporting Documents

1. Documentation that proves the applicant meets the eligibility requirement with regard to the number of years of recent development-related work.
2. The applicant’s Bachelor’s degree certificate, and if applicable, also the certificate of the applicant’s most advanced graduate degree.
3. A Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) using the format provided and written in English or the language of the master’s degree program for which the applicant is seeking JJWBGSP funding.
4. An unconditional Letter of Admission for the upcoming academic year to the JJ/WBGSP participating master’s program

NOTE:

• Do not submit a JJ/WBGSP Scholarship Application until you upload an unconditional letter of acceptance from a participating master’s degree program.
• Any documents that are not in English should be translated into English or the language of the master’s degree program, and then both the original and the translated document uploaded into the application form.

Selection process

Selection is based on the following:

• 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) 

Closing Date

• February 28, 2022

How do I get more information?

• Website: Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program