Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program 2027: Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships for Developing Country Nationals

The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) 2027 is offering a major opportunity for experienced development professionals from eligible developing countries to pursue a master’s degree in a development-related field at participating universities around the world.

The scholarship is part of the World Bank’s broader effort to strengthen human capacity, knowledge, and development leadership in developing countries. It is designed for professionals who already have academic qualifications and meaningful work experience in development-related fields and who want to acquire advanced skills that they can use to contribute to the social and economic development of their home countries.

For the 2027 cycle, the World Bank has announced two application windows for developing-country nationals. Window 1 will run from January 18 to February 26, 2027, while Window 2 will run from March 29 to May 21, 2027.

The program provides substantial financial support, including tuition, a monthly living allowance, round-trip economy-class airfare, health insurance, and travel allowances. However, applicants must first secure admission to one of the designated JJ/WBGSP participating master’s programs before they can apply for the scholarship.

Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program 2027 at a Glance

• Scholarship: Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program
• Cycle: 2027
• Study level: Master’s degree
• Study areas: Development-related fields
• Eligible applicants: Nationals of eligible developing countries
• Number of participating programs: 44 master’s programs
• Participating universities: 24 universities
• Study destinations: United States, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Japan
• Application Window 1: January 18 to February 26, 2027
• Application Window 2: March 29 to May 21, 2027
• Funding: Tuition, monthly living stipend, health insurance, round-trip airfare and travel allowance
• Degree requirement: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• Professional experience: At least three years of paid development-related employment
• Post-study expectation: Scholars are expected to return to their home countries and contribute to social and economic development

The World Bank currently lists 44 participating master’s programs at 24 universities for the 2027 cycle. Applicants must be admitted to one of these designated programs to be eligible for JJ/WBGSP scholarship consideration.

What Is the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program?

The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program, commonly known as JJ/WBGSP, supports professionals from eligible developing countries who are pursuing graduate-level education in development-related fields.

The program is intended for people who have already established themselves professionally and have demonstrated an interest in contributing to development in their countries or communities.

Rather than being an undergraduate scholarship or a general scholarship for any master’s degree, JJ/WBGSP is specifically connected to approved master’s programs that address development-related challenges.

The World Bank states that the program is open to citizens of certain developing countries who have relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development efforts.

The scholarship therefore combines three important elements:

1. Advanced graduate education
2. Professional development
3. Application of acquired knowledge to development in the scholar’s home country

A key condition of the program is that developing-country scholars are expected to return to their home countries after completing their studies and use their new knowledge and skills to contribute to their countries’ social and economic development.

What Does the JJ/WBGSP 2027 Scholarship Cover?

One of the major attractions of the JJ/WBGSP is its comprehensive financial support.

Successful scholars receive several forms of assistance designed to make it possible to complete their master’s degree abroad.

1. Full Tuition Support

The scholarship covers the tuition fees associated with the approved graduate program.

This means successful applicants do not have to independently finance the tuition cost of their participating master’s degree through the scholarship.

The tuition support applies specifically to the approved JJ/WBGSP participating program for which the scholar has been selected.

2. Monthly Living Allowance

Scholars receive a monthly subsistence allowance to support living expenses while studying.

The allowance is intended to cover expenses such as:

• Accommodation
• Food
• Books and other basic study-related living expenses
• Other ordinary living costs

The amount of the monthly allowance varies according to the host country.

3. Round-Trip Airfare

The scholarship provides economy-class air travel between the scholar’s home country and the host university.

The airfare support covers travel:

• At the beginning of the study program
• Immediately after completion of the scholarship period

In addition, scholars receive a US$600 travel allowance for each trip.

4. Health Insurance

JJ/WBGSP provides coverage for basic medical insurance obtained through the university.

This support helps reduce the financial burden associated with basic health coverage during the master’s program.

5. Travel Allowance

In addition to the round-trip economy airfare, the scholarship provides the specified travel allowance associated with the trips to and from the host university.

6. Scholarship Duration

The JJ/WBGSP scholarship covers the duration of the graduate program or two years, whichever is less.

Applicants should therefore understand that the scholarship is designed around the normal duration of the approved master’s program and does not automatically extend beyond two years.

What Does the JJ/WBGSP Scholarship Not Cover?

Although the scholarship provides extensive financial support, it does not cover every possible expense associated with studying abroad.

According to the World Bank, the scholarship does not cover:

• Visa application costs
• Expenses associated with bringing or supporting family members
• Extracurricular courses or training
• Courses that do not meet the minimum credits required for the graduate degree
• Language training that is not provided by the graduate program
• Additional travel during the study program
• Research-related expenses
• Supplementary educational materials
• Field trips
• Workshops and seminars
• Internships
• Educational equipment such as computers
• Resident permit fees

Applicants should therefore prepare a realistic financial plan for expenses outside the scholarship’s coverage.

What Master’s Programs Are Eligible?

A critical feature of the JJ/WBGSP is that applicants cannot choose just any master’s degree and expect it to qualify for the scholarship.

The program is restricted to designated JJ/WBGSP participating master’s programs.

For 2027, the World Bank lists 44 participating master’s programs across 24 universities in several regions, including the United States, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Japan.

The participating programs cover a broad range of development-related subjects.

Examples from the 2027 lists include programs in:

• Public policy
• Economic policy
• Development practice
• Global health
• Public health
• Environmental management
• Climate change
• Environmental and resource economics
• Taxation policy and management
• Development studies
• Development economics
• International policy
• Water and sustainable development
• Sustainable cities
• Infrastructure management
• Agricultural development
• International health
• Refugees and forced migration
• Public administration

The precise programs differ between the two application windows.

Window 1 Participating Programs

The 2027 Window 1 list includes programs at institutions such as:

• Brandeis University
• Columbia University
• Johns Hopkins University
• KIT/Royal Tropical Institute and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of Tsukuba
• Williams College
• Yale University

The World Bank’s official Window 1 listing includes programs such as global sustainability policy and management, global health policy and management, public policy, economic policy management, global leadership, development practice, public health, public policy, policy economics and systemic risk.

Window 2 Participating Programs

The 2027 Window 2 list includes universities and institutions such as:

• Australian National University
• Columbia University
• Erasmus University
• IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
• Keio University
• London School of Economics and Political Science
• National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies
• Saitama University
• SOAS University of London
• Stanford University
• Université Clermont-Auvergne/FERDI
• University of Leeds
• University of Oxford
• University of Tokyo
• Yokohama National University

Programs include climate change, environmental and resource economics, public policy, global urban change, development studies, water and sustainable development, taxation policy, development management, global health policy, international social and public policy, development economics, international policy, public health, sustainable cities, water and sanitation, sustainable food systems, refugees and forced migration, international health, agricultural development and infrastructure management.

Applicants should carefully review the official participating-program list because admission to a master’s program that is not on the JJ/WBGSP participating-program list does not make an applicant eligible for the scholarship.

Who Can Apply for the JJ/WBGSP 2027 Scholarship?

The main 2027 scholarship track described here is intended for Nationals of Eligible Developing Countries.

However, meeting the nationality requirement alone is not sufficient.

Applicants must satisfy a series of academic, professional, employment, admission and personal eligibility requirements. The World Bank states that these criteria are strictly applied and that there are no exceptions.

1. Citizenship of an Eligible Developing Country

Applicants must be nationals of a World Bank member developing country appearing on the official JJ/WBGSP eligible-country list.

The current list includes countries across multiple regions of the developing world, including many countries in:

• Africa
• Asia
• Latin America and the Caribbean
• Middle East
• Europe
• Pacific Island states

The list includes Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and many others.

Because the eligibility list is subject to change between scholarship cycles, applicants should check the official 2027 list rather than relying on an older list.

2. No Dual Citizenship of a Developed Country

Applicants must not hold dual citizenship of a developed country.

This requirement is part of the program’s nationality criteria and should be carefully reviewed by anyone who holds more than one nationality.

3. Bachelor’s Degree

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent university qualification.

For the 2027 cycle, the bachelor’s degree must have been earned at least three years before the relevant application deadline.

This means the scholarship is not designed primarily for individuals who have just completed their undergraduate degree.

Instead, the program targets professionals who have had time to gain meaningful post-bachelor’s work experience.

4. Development-Related Professional Experience

Applicants must have at least three years of paid development-related employment after obtaining their bachelor’s degree.

The experience must have been acquired within the six years preceding the relevant application deadline.

The World Bank provides guidance on what constitutes development-related work and identifies relevant development topics in the application materials.

Examples of areas that can be relevant include economic policy, public policy, health, education, infrastructure, environmental sustainability, social development and other development-related sectors.

Applicants should consult the relevant 2027 Application Guidelines when determining whether their professional experience qualifies.

5. Current Full-Time Employment

At the time of submitting the scholarship application, applicants must be employed in paid, full-time development-related work.

This requirement distinguishes JJ/WBGSP from many graduate scholarships that accept applicants immediately after completing university.

The program is specifically designed to support professionals who already have development-related work experience and are seeking advanced training to strengthen their contribution to development.

The World Bank notes that there is a special consideration for nationals of countries classified as fragile and conflict-affected states because employment opportunities in those countries may be limited.

6. Admission to a Participating Master’s Program

Applicants must be admitted unconditionally, except for funding, to at least one of the designated JJ/WBGSP participating master’s programs for the upcoming academic year.

The master’s program must be:

• A JJ/WBGSP participating program
• Located outside the applicant’s country of citizenship
• Located outside the applicant’s country of residence listed when the scholarship call opens

The admission letter must be uploaded as part of the scholarship application.

This is one of the most important requirements in the entire application process.

7. Good Health

Applicants are required to be in good health as part of the broad eligibility criteria.

8. World Bank Group Employment Restrictions

Applicants cannot be an Executive Director, alternate, or staff member of the World Bank Group under the relevant eligibility rules.

The restriction also applies to specified close relatives of individuals covered by this rule.

The World Bank defines the relevant close relatives to include:

• Mother
• Father
• Sister
• Half-sister
• Brother
• Half-brother
• Son
• Daughter
• Aunt
• Uncle
• Niece
• Nephew

Applicants should review the official application guidelines for the full wording of this restriction.

9. Previous JJ/WBGSP Scholarship

Individuals who were previously offered a JJ/WBGSP scholarship but declined it are not eligible to apply again.

Similarly, individuals who previously received a JJ/WBGSP scholarship but did not graduate are not eligible to reapply.

Is There a Race Requirement?

The JJ/WBGSP eligibility requirements are primarily based on nationality, academic qualifications, professional experience, employment, admission and other program criteria.

The World Bank’s eligibility criteria do not specify a race or ethnicity requirement for the developing-country nationals track.

The program’s geographical eligibility is instead determined through its official list of eligible developing countries.

Applicants should therefore focus on whether their nationality, academic history, professional experience and intended master’s program meet the published requirements.

What Countries Can Apply?

The official 2027 eligible-country list contains a broad range of developing countries.

Among the African countries listed are:

• Angola
• Benin
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Cabo Verde
• Cameroon
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Comoros
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Republic of the Congo
• Côte d’Ivoire
• Djibouti
• Egypt
• Eritrea
• Eswatini
• Ethiopia
• The Gambia
• Ghana
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Kenya
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Mauritius?

The current official list should be used rather than reproducing an incomplete regional list. It also includes eligible countries in Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, Europe and the Pacific.

For accuracy, applicants should consult the World Bank’s official JJ/WBGSP Eligible Countries page before preparing an application because eligibility is determined by the current published country list.

Two Application Windows for 2027

The 2027 JJ/WBGSP application process for developing-country nationals is divided into two windows.

This arrangement is designed to accommodate the different academic calendars and admission timelines of participating universities.

Application Window 1

Opening date: January 18, 2027

Closing date: February 26, 2027

Window 1 includes participating programs at universities such as Brandeis University, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, KIT/Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, UC Berkeley, University of Tsukuba, Williams College and Yale University.

Application Window 2

Opening date: March 29, 2027

Closing date: May 21, 2027

Window 2 includes participating programs at institutions such as Australian National University, Columbia University, Erasmus University, IHE Delft, Keio University, LSE, GRIPS, Saitama University, SOAS, Stanford University, Université Clermont-Auvergne/FERDI, University of Leeds, University of Oxford, University of Tokyo and Yokohama National University.

Applicants should identify which participating program they want to pursue and determine which application window applies to that program.

Visit HERE to learn more about the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program 2027.

How the JJ/WBGSP Application Process Works

The JJ/WBGSP application process is different from a typical scholarship where an applicant first submits a scholarship form and then waits to be considered for university admission.

Instead, applicants must first secure admission to an eligible participating master’s program.

The process broadly involves the following stages:

Step 1: Identify an Eligible Master’s Program

Applicants should review the official 2027 JJ/WBGSP participating-program lists.

They should identify programs that match their academic background, professional experience and long-term development interests.

Step 2: Apply to the University

Applicants must apply directly to the university offering the participating master’s program.

They should carefully review that university’s own admission requirements, deadlines, application fees, English-language requirements and supporting-document requirements.

Step 3: Obtain Unconditional Admission

Before applying for the JJ/WBGSP scholarship, applicants must have been admitted unconditionally except for financing to an eligible participating master’s program.

This is a crucial distinction.

Simply applying to a participating university is not enough.

Being interested in a participating master’s program is not enough.

Being conditionally admitted in a way that does not satisfy the JJ/WBGSP requirements is also not sufficient.

The applicant needs the required admission status before submitting the scholarship application.

Step 4: University Shortlisting

The participating university identifies and shortlists candidates who meet the relevant requirements.

The World Bank states that the JJ/WBGSP scholarship application link is communicated only to candidates who have been admitted to a participating master’s program and shortlisted as eligible JJ/WBGSP applicants by the participating university.

Step 5: Submit the JJ/WBGSP Scholarship Application

Shortlisted candidates then receive access to the relevant JJ/WBGSP application process.

Applicants must submit the required information and documentation within the applicable application window.

How Are JJ/WBGSP Applications Selected?

The scholarship selection process evaluates eligible applications using four principal factors.

The World Bank states that two qualified assessors independently review each eligible application and score it on a scale of 1 to 10.

The four main assessment factors are:

1. Quality of professional experience — 30%
2. Quality of professional recommendations — 30%
3. Quality of commitment to the applicant’s home country — 30%
4. Quality of education background — 10%

The assessment therefore does not focus solely on academic grades.

Professional experience, recommendations and evidence of commitment to development in the applicant’s home country account for the majority of the assessment framework.

Other Factors Considered During Selection

After the assessment process, the JJ/WBGSP Secretariat considers additional factors when selecting finalists.

These include:

• Maintaining reasonable geographical distribution of awards
• Maintaining reasonable gender distribution
• Unusual circumstances or hardships
• Giving consideration, all else being equal, to applicants with limited access to financial resources for graduate study abroad

The final list of finalists is presented to the JJ/WBGSP Steering Committee, which includes members of the World Bank Board of Directors and World Bank management, for approval. Winners are notified after the Steering Committee’s approval.

What Happens After Completing the Master’s Degree?

JJ/WBGSP is not simply intended to help scholars obtain international master’s degrees.

A central component of the program is the expectation that developing-country scholars will return to their home countries after their studies and use their acquired skills to contribute to social and economic development.

This makes the scholarship particularly relevant to professionals who have a clear connection to development work and can explain how advanced graduate training will strengthen their contribution to their communities, institutions or countries.

Development Fields Covered by the Scholarship

The scholarship is intended for master’s programs connected to development.

The 2027 participating programs demonstrate the breadth of this definition.

Relevant areas include:

Economic Policy and Economics

Programs in economic policy management, development economics, policy economics and related areas can prepare professionals to work on economic policy, public-sector reform, development planning and related challenges.

Public Policy and Public Administration

Several participating universities offer programs focused on public policy, public administration, international policy and policy management.

Health and Public Health

JJ/WBGSP also supports master’s programs in public health, global health policy, international health and health equity.

Environment and Climate

Programs include climate change, environmental management, environmental economics, sustainable development and related areas.

Water and Infrastructure

The 2027 lists include master’s programs related to water and sustainable development, infrastructure management, sustainable cities and other infrastructure-related development challenges.

Development Studies

Development studies and development practice remain important areas within the participating-program portfolio.

Tax Policy and Public Finance

The scholarship also supports programs focused on taxation policy, public finance and economic management.

International Development and Social Policy

Other participating programs address social policy, international social and public policy, refugees and forced migration, and related development concerns.

Applicants should remember that the scholarship is not open to every master’s program at the participating universities. Only programs officially designated as JJ/WBGSP participating programs qualify.

Important Financial Consideration

Although JJ/WBGSP is commonly described as a fully funded scholarship, applicants should read the official coverage carefully.

The scholarship provides:

• Tuition
• Basic medical insurance through the university
• Monthly subsistence allowance
• Economy-class round-trip airfare
• US$600 travel allowance for each trip

However, several expenses remain outside the scholarship’s coverage, including visa application costs, resident permit fees, family expenses, computers, additional travel, research expenses, extracurricular courses, internships and certain educational activities.

Applicants should therefore distinguish between the scholarship’s substantial core funding and the expenses that they may still need to finance independently.

Can the Scholarship Be Combined With Other Funding?

The JJ/WBGSP scholarship may supplement but does not duplicate another source of financial support or fellowship.

If an applicant receives another scholarship or fellowship, the applicant must provide the relevant documentation to the JJ/WBGSP Secretariat.

Applicants should therefore disclose other financial awards rather than assuming that multiple scholarships can automatically be combined.

Separate 2027 Opportunity for Japanese Nationals

The World Bank also operates a separate JJ/WBGSP application track for Japanese nationals.

For the 2027 cycle, the Japanese nationals application window is scheduled for February 15 to April 16, 2027.

The Japanese nationals track has different eligibility requirements from the developing-country nationals track.

Among its requirements, applicants generally must:

• Be Japanese nationals
• Hold a bachelor’s degree earned at least three years before the application deadline
• Have at least three years of paid development-related employment
• Have obtained that experience after earning their bachelor’s degree and within the specified six-year period
• Be admitted unconditionally or currently enrolled in an eligible graduate program outside Japan in a development-related field, or meet the applicable employment requirement relating to development work in developing countries
• Meet the relevant World Bank Group employment and family restrictions

Japanese nationals should therefore use the dedicated Japanese-national application guidance rather than applying under the developing-country nationals requirements.

Important Things Applicants Should Know Before Applying

The scholarship application is not the first step

Applicants should not wait for the JJ/WBGSP scholarship application before applying to universities.

The university admission process needs to be addressed first because the scholarship application is linked to admission and university shortlisting.

Not every master’s program qualifies

A university may have hundreds of graduate programs, but only the programs officially designated as JJ/WBGSP participating programs qualify.

Applicants should verify the exact master’s degree title against the 2027 participating-program list.

Admission must be outside the applicant’s country

For developing-country nationals, the participating master’s program must be outside both the applicant’s country of citizenship and country of residence as listed when the scholarship call opens.

Professional experience matters substantially

Because professional experience carries a 30% assessment weight, applicants should be able to clearly document their development-related employment and explain how it connects with their intended master’s study.

Commitment to the home country matters

Another 30% of the assessment focuses on commitment to the applicant’s home country.

Applicants should therefore be prepared to demonstrate how their professional trajectory, development interests and proposed graduate training connect with future contributions to their country.

Application Deadlines for the JJ/WBGSP 2027 Cycle

For developing-country nationals, there are two application windows:

Window 1 – Application Guidelines

January 18, 2027 to February 26, 2027

Window 2 – Application Guidelines

March 29, 2027 to May 21, 2027

The appropriate window depends on the participating master’s program the applicant is pursuing.

Applicants should also remember that university admission deadlines can be earlier than the JJ/WBGSP scholarship deadline. Consequently, prospective scholars should begin the university application process well in advance.

Recommended Preparation Strategy

Applicants interested in the 2027 scholarship cycle can begin preparing long before the scholarship windows open.

1. Check Your Country Eligibility

Confirm that your nationality appears on the official 2027 JJ/WBGSP eligible-country list.

2. Review the Participating Programs

Study the official list of 2027 participating master’s programs and identify degrees that match your professional development goals.

3. Check the University Requirements

Once you identify a suitable participating program, review the university’s admission requirements and deadlines.

4. Prepare Academic Documents

Organize your bachelor’s degree certificate, academic transcripts and any other documents required by the university.

5. Document Your Professional Experience

Because the program requires at least three years of paid development-related work experience, prepare accurate records of your employment history.

6. Strengthen Your Professional Recommendations

Professional recommendations carry significant weight in the selection process. Identify appropriate referees who can provide evidence of your professional performance, development experience and potential.

7. Develop a Clear Development Narrative

Applicants should be able to connect:

Past experience → master’s degree → new skills → return home → development contribution.

A coherent professional story can help demonstrate why the proposed master’s degree is relevant to the applicant’s career and development goals.

8. Start Early

The most important practical consideration is timing.

University admission and scholarship applications involve separate stages. Waiting until the JJ/WBGSP application window opens may leave insufficient time to obtain the necessary university admission.

Official Application Resources

The World Bank provides separate official resources for the two 2027 developing-country application windows.

For Window 1, applicants can consult the official 2027 Application Guidelines and FAQ provided by the World Bank.

For Window 2, the World Bank provides a separate 2027 Application Guidelines document and FAQ.

Applicants should also review the official participating-program lists before beginning their university application process.

Click HERE to learn more about the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program 2027.

Conclusion

The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program 2027 is a major graduate scholarship opportunity for experienced development professionals from eligible developing countries who want to pursue master’s-level training in development-related fields.

The program combines tuition support, a monthly living allowance, health insurance, round-trip economy airfare and travel allowances, while also connecting scholars with master’s programs at participating universities in the United States, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Japan.

However, the scholarship has strict eligibility requirements. Applicants generally need an eligible developing-country nationality, a bachelor’s degree earned at least three years before the relevant deadline, at least three years of paid development-related professional experience, current full-time development-related employment, and unconditional admission to an approved JJ/WBGSP participating master’s program outside their country of citizenship and residence.

The 2027 application process for developing-country nationals opens in two windows: January 18 to February 26, 2027 for Window 1, and March 29 to May 21, 2027 for Window 2.

Prospective applicants should begin with the participating-program list, identify an appropriate master’s degree, check the university’s admission requirements, and work toward securing the required unconditional admission before the relevant scholarship deadline.

The most important point is that JJ/WBGSP does not fund just any master’s degree. Applicants must be admitted to one of the officially designated participating programs. Careful planning, early university applications, strong documentation of development-related professional experience, and a clear connection between graduate study and future contribution to the applicant’s home country are therefore central to preparing for the 2027 cycle.

For the latest country eligibility list, participating programs, application guidelines, FAQs and official deadlines, applicants should always consult the World Bank’s official JJ/WBGSP resources because program information can change between application cycles.

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