World Bank JJ/WBGSP Scholarship 2026 for Master’s Study
Program: Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)
Study Level: Master’s degree
Eligible Applicants: Citizens of certain developing countries
Participating Programs: 44 master’s programs in 24 universities
Application Windows: January 15–February 27, 2026 / March 30–May 29, 2026
Coverage: Tuition, monthly stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance.
The JJ/WBGSP Scholarship is a World Bank scholarship program for citizens of certain developing countries who have relevant professional experience and a record of supporting their countries’ development efforts. It is linked to master’s study in development-related fields and applies only to candidates connected to participating programs.
JJ/WBGSP Scholarship Overview
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program supports 44 participating master’s programs across 24 universities in the U.S., Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan. These programs cover key development areas such as economic policy management, tax policy, and infrastructure management.
The source also states that applicants are not eligible to apply for the scholarship in 2026 unless they are admitted to one of those participating master’s programs. After completing the degree, developing country scholars commit to return to their home country and use their new skills to support social and economic development.
What the Scholarship Covers
✓ Tuition for the graduate program
✓ Basic medical insurance obtained through the university
✓ Monthly subsistence allowance while on campus
✓ Economy-class round-trip airfare between the home country and the host university
✓ US $600 travel allowance for each trip
The scholarship covers the duration of the graduate program or two years, whichever is less. The page also notes that the monthly allowance is meant to cover living costs, including accommodation, food, and books.
What the Scholarship Does Not Cover
• Visa application costs
• Costs for bringing or supporting family members
• Extra-curricular courses or training
• Courses below the minimum credits required for the degree
• Language training not provided by the graduate program
• Additional travel during the study period
• Research expenses, supplementary educational materials, field trips, workshops, seminars, or internships
• Educational equipment such as computers
• Resident permit fee
The World Bank also notes that this scholarship may supplement, but does not duplicate, other financial support. If an applicant receives another scholarship or fellowship, related documents must be sent to the JJ/WBGSP Secretariat.
Eligibility for the JJ/WBGSP Scholarship
Developing country nationals must meet the following broad requirements:
• Be a national of a World Bank member developing country on the official list
• Not hold dual citizenship of any developed country
• Be in good health
• Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent earned at least three years before the application deadline
• Be employed full-time in paid, development-related work when submitting the scholarship application
• Have at least three years of paid development-related employment since earning the bachelor’s degree, acquired within the past six years from the application deadline
• Be admitted unconditionally, except for funding, to at least one participating master’s program for the upcoming academic year
• Be applying to a program located outside the applicant’s country of citizenship and country of residence listed when the call opens
• Upload the admission letter before submitting the scholarship application
• Not be a World Bank Group Executive Director, alternate, staff member, or close relative of those individuals
• Not have previously declined a JJ/WBGSP scholarship offer
• Not have previously received a JJ/WBGSP scholarship without graduating
The source adds that there is one exception related to employment for applicants from countries on the Fragile and Conflict States list in Annex 3 of the Application Guidelines. It also says that all eligibility criteria are strictly applied and that no exceptions are made.
Also Check: Master Mind Scholarship Host Institutions and Deadlines in Flanders, Belgium 2026
Application Process
The application process for developing country nationals is organized in two rounds to match the academic calendar of participating programs. Application Window #1 runs from January 15 to February 27, 2026, while Application Window #2 runs from March 30 to May 29, 2026.
However, the JJ/WBGSP application form is not publicly sent to all candidates. According to the source, the link is communicated only to candidates who are admitted unconditionally, except for finance, to a participating master’s program and who are shortlisted as eligible applicants by the participating university. Potential candidates are advised to contact the university offering their target program to confirm whether they meet those two requirements.
The page also states that the 2026 application window for Japanese nationals is open and will close on April 17, 2026 at 12:00 noon EST.
Selection Process
The JJ/WBGSP reviews eligible scholarship applications through two qualified assessors who independently score each application from 1 to 10. Their evaluation considers four main factors and the cohesion among them.
• Quality of professional experience — 30%
• Quality of professional recommendations — 30%
• Quality of commitment to the home country — 30%
• Quality of education background — 10%
After that, the Secretariat uses the average score and additional considerations, including geographical distribution, gender distribution, unusual hardships, and limited access to financial resources for graduate studies abroad. The list of finalists is then presented to the JJ/WBGSP Steering Committee for approval, and winners are notified after that approval.
