Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program 2027 (Fully Funded)
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) supports students from developing countries pursuing master’s degrees in development-related fields. Funded by the Government of Japan and administered by the World Bank, the scholarship aims to develop future leaders who will contribute to economic and social development in their home countries.
Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program Coverage
This non-profit organization fully funded scholarship for international students covers the following:
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Round-trip economy airfare between your home country and the host university at the beginning and end of your studies, plus a $600 travel allowance per trip
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Full tuition for your graduate program and basic medical insurance provided by the university
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A monthly stipend for living expenses, including accommodation, food, and books. The amount varies based on the host country
Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program, you need to meet the following criteria:
- Citizens of a World Bank member developing country and cannot hold dual citizenship in a developed country
- In good health and have earned a bachelor’s degree at least three years before applying
- Employed full-time in a development-related field and have at least three years of relevant work experience within the past six years. Exceptions apply for those from Fragile and Conflict States
- Have unconditional admission (except for funding) to a participating master's program outside their home and residence country and submit the admission letter before applying
- Current World Bank staff, their close relatives, and past scholarship recipients who did not graduate or declined the award are ineligible
For detailed requirements, refer to the official eligibility page .
Eligible degree levels
Eligible programmes
Eligible nationalities
How to Apply
In this section, we'll provide a clear general overview of requirements and steps to guide you through the application process for Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program.
To apply for Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program, please follow these steps:
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Fill out the online application and provide the necessary document by the scholarship's deadline
Important Note: The application procedures and required documents for Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program may vary depending on your degree, program, nationality and other factors. For specific details regarding the requirements, kindly visit the official website of Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program.
Application Deadlines
Now that you’re familiar with the application procedure, it’s time to know the application dates! Knowing the dates for Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program will help you prepare early and it will also give you the time you need to put together a competitive application.
Here are the application deadlines for Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program:
| Degree | Application deadline |
|---|---|
| Master's Window 1 | Opens: |
| Master's Window 2 | Opens: |
Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program Eligible Institutions
The eligible institutions for Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program are listed below:
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Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program Recipients
Meet students who have received Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program and learn how they secured their award.
The recipient stories include 7 accounts of degree study supported by Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program, including studies in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the United States.
Nationalities Represented in the Recipient Stories
| Nationalities | Stories per nationality |
|---|---|
| Indian | 6 |
| Nigerian | 1 |
Degree Study Reported by Recipients
| Degree level | Stories | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s | 6 | Food and Development; Public Health; Environment, Development and Policy; Global Health Policy; Public Administration and Development Practice |
Funding Reported by Recipients
| Recipient and degree/program | Reported coverage |
|---|---|
| Anveshi Gupta (Completed 2023) — Master’s in Environment, Development and Policy, University of Sussex | Full tuition, approximately GBP 2,000 monthly living support, return airfare, health insurance and a travel allowance. |
| Swathi Pottabathini (Completed May 2025) — MPA in Development Practice, Columbia University | Full tuition, monthly living support, return airfare, insurance and a travel allowance; reported a total package of approximately US$215,000 for Columbia. |
| Akash Naoghare — Master’s in Food and Development, Institute of Development Studies at University of Sussex | Combined Chevening and JJ/WBGSP support covered GBP 18,500 tuition, visa and travel costs, tuberculosis testing and one-time allowances. The GBP 2,000 monthly stipend was shared between the two scholarships. |
| Abhijith Njarattil Parameswaran — Master’s in Public Health, KIT Royal Tropical Institute and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | Tuition, a monthly living stipend, return airfare, insurance and a travel allowance. |
| Ankur Nair — MSc in Global Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science | Full tuition, monthly living support and return airfare. |
Examples of Featured Recipients’ Application Backgrounds
| Recipient and degree/program | Scholarship/application route | Reported background and preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Akash Naoghare — Master’s in Food and Development, Institute of Development Studies at University of Sussex | JJ/WBGSP alongside Chevening | Metallurgy diploma, Industrial Engineering bachelor’s and MA Economics; nine years of development work, social-enterprise experience and farmer-movement leadership informed his development focus. |
| Abhijith Njarattil Parameswaran — Master’s in Public Health, KIT Royal Tropical Institute and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | JJ/WBGSP | Health diploma, Social Work bachelor’s and Social Work master’s specializing in public health at Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Tracked programs and deadlines in a spreadsheet and sought extensive essay feedback. |
| Anveshi Gupta (Completed 2023) — Master’s in Environment, Development and Policy, University of Sussex | JJ/WBGSP | Geography and Economics undergraduate study and an earlier Public Policy master’s; connected research and grassroots fieldwork to environment and development questions. |
| Ankur Nair — MSc in Global Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science | JJ/WBGSP | Bachelor of Dental Surgery and MPH in Social Epidemiology; more than seven years of health-systems work with WHO and India’s Ministry of Health. Revised two application essays with mentors. |
| Swathi Pottabathini (Completed May 2025) — MPA in Development Practice, Columbia University | JJ/WBGSP | Computer Engineering degree, Young India Fellowship postgraduate diploma and more than five years in development-sector strategy and operations; tailored essays and obtained feedback from colleagues and alumni. |
How Recipients Met Language Requirements
| Language requirement route | Stories / total funded degree-study stories | Recipients and examples |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 3/7 | IELTS taken for the host application (Ankur Nair, Dr. Shailey Gokhale, Swathi Pottabathini). |
| Prior education accepted by the host | 1/7 | University of Sussex accepted prior education instead of IELTS or TOEFL (Anveshi Gupta). |
Application Timelines Reported by Recipients
| Recipient and degree/program | Application or scholarship route | Reported application timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Abhijith Njarattil Parameswaran — Master’s in Public Health, KIT Royal Tropical Institute and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | JJ/WBGSP and participating-course admission | Began preparing in late 2022 for 2023 admissions; assembled transcripts, revised essays and contacted referees. Applied initially to institutions allowing the English-test result to follow the first application stage. |
| Dr. Shailey Gokhale — MSc in Global Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science | LSE admission followed by JJ/WBGSP | Researched universities nearly a year before applications; after an unconditional LSE offer and an initial search for internal funding, learned about JJ/WBGSP and submitted the scholarship application. |
What Recipients Pursued After Their Scholarship-Funded Studies
| Recipient | Scholarship-funded degree/program | Reported outcome or current status |
|---|---|---|
| Anveshi Gupta (Completed 2023) | Master’s in Environment, Development and Policy, University of Sussex | Completed the Environment, Development and Policy master’s in 2023. |
| Ankur Nair | MSc in Global Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science | Ongoing MSc in Global Health Policy at LSE; aims to strengthen the link between evidence and health policy in low- and middle-income countries. |
| Swathi Pottabathini (Completed May 2025) | MPA in Development Practice, Columbia University | After completing the MPA in May 2025, reported working for an upcoming impact fund in the United States. |
Other Offers in Featured Applicants’ Journeys
| Recipient | Reported alternative | Decision described in the story |
|---|---|---|
| Akash Naoghare — Master’s in Food and Development, Institute of Development Studies at University of Sussex | Chevening Scholarship for the same Food and Development course at IDS. | Accepted both Chevening and JJ/WBGSP simultaneously; described a combined funding package. |
| Abhijith Njarattil Parameswaran — Master’s in Public Health, KIT Royal Tropical Institute and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | Partial Deakin University scholarship for public health in Australia. | Pursued the JJ/WBGSP-supported Public Health master’s at KIT/Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. |
What Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program Scholars Say
Advice and reflections from scholars about the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program application process and programme.
"TThe award covered full tuition fees, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and a travel allowance. The total scholarship amount varies depending on the country and program of study, as living costs and tuition differ by location. For my program in the UK, the monthly stipend was approximately GBP 2000, in addition to full tuition and other covered costs"
"I was awarded the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) to pursue my Master's degree in Public Health. The JJ/WBGSP is available to citizens of specific developing countries who have relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development effort."
"My experience at LSE has been phenomenal. It is an intellectually stimulating environment where you are constantly challenged by world-class faculty and a cohort of incredibly bright and diverse students from all over the globe"
"Coming from a movement-based background, academia was a completely new space for me. IDS, however, was welcoming and supportive. The faculty never dismissed anyone — there was mutual respect and space for different perspectives. While some differences between students from the global north and south were visible, the faculty truly encouraged open and equal dialogue"
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program, eligibility, funding, and applications.
Yes. The JJ/WBGSP overview describes the scholarship as fully funded and includes round-trip airfare, a travel allowance, full tuition, basic medical insurance, and a monthly living stipend. According to Swathi Pottabathini, it provided “full tuition coverage, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance.” She added that for her Columbia University program, the total support was approximately USD 215,000. Anveshi Gupta also noted that for her UK program, “the monthly stipend was approximately GBP 2000.”
In general, applicants must be citizens of a World Bank member developing country, have a bachelor’s degree earned at least three years before applying, be working full-time in a development-related field, have at least three years of recent relevant work experience, and hold unconditional admission to a participating master’s program outside their country of citizenship and residence. As Abhijith Njarattil Parameswaran put it, the scholarship is “available to citizens of specific developing countries” with relevant professional experience.
This depends on the country that you are from since each country has different scholarship procedure. Check with the Fulbright organization in your country for the complete information.
The general overview lists two recommendation letters, proof of recent development-related work experience, a bachelor’s degree diploma, a CV, and an unconditional admission letter. Recipient stories also show that the essays and recommendations matter a lot in practice. Anveshi Gupta said she went through “7–8 rounds of feedback” on her essays, while Ankur Nair emphasized connecting past work, future goals, and the specific value of the program in a clear narrative.
That usually depends on the university and program rather than the scholarship alone. Ankur Nair said, “I took the IELTS” for his UK application. Akash Naoghare shared that Sussex “accepted the Duolingo English Test.” Meanwhile, Anveshi Gupta said she “met the English language requirements through my prior education,” so she was exempt from IELTS or TOEFL. Applicants should always check the exact language and test requirements of the host university.
Yes. The scholarship is intended to support development professionals who will contribute to their home countries after completing their studies. Swathi Pottabathini explained that scholars are expected to “return to their home countries” and contribute to socioeconomic development using the exposure, networks, and experience they gained abroad.
The recipient stories point to a consistent strategy: start early, organize deadlines carefully, tailor your essays, and make your development track record clear. Abhijith Njarattil Parameswaran tracked deadlines and essay links in a spreadsheet and said that “reaching out for help is the most important part.” Akash Naoghare said he “used the STAR approach” and kept his essays honest, personal, and grounded rather than exaggerated.
There are many degrees that are open to international students right now — find yours.
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