How an Indian Public Health Professional from Kerala Secured the Prestigious Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship

Hello! I’m Abhijith Njarattil Parameswaran, proudly raised in the charming village of Amballoor/Poothotta, Ernakulam district of Kerala, India. My journey into public health was inspired by my personal experiences with healthcare accessibility. Earning a diploma in community health and gaining valuable work experience across various regions of India laid a strong foundation for me. I further pursued a Master’s in Public Health from the prestigious KIT Royal Tropical Institute/Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, thanks to the generous support of the World Bank scholarship.

Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Details

In 2023, 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 efforts. This scholarship is for those applying to a master's program in a development-related field.

The JJ/WBGSP scholarship covers tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and a travel allowance. It also offers the opportunity to connect with other scholarship recipients through an alumni web access portal. Additionally, I was fortunate to receive a partial scholarship from Deakin University in Australia for my public health course.

Educational Background

My journey began with a diploma in health, where I discovered my passion for community and social-oriented work. This excitement led me to pursue a bachelor's degree in social work, followed by a master's degree in social work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, specializing in public health.

Both programs laid a strong foundation for my understanding of the field, and I honed my writing skills and built a fantastic network of resourceful individuals along the way. While I may not have always been the top student, I consistently maintained grades above the required cut-offs. I took the opportunities of extracurricular activities and leadership positions whenever available, which not only instilled a sense of accountability and responsibility in me but also provided invaluable experiences to enrich my scholarship essays.

I believe that true success comes from passion and dedication, and some hard work.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to KIT Royal Tropical Institute and Other Institutions?

To be honest, my plan to apply for a master's degree at a foreign university was a bit spontaneous compared to many of my friends. Since this would be my second master's program, I was very adamant that I would only pursue it if I received a full-ride scholarship. I started my preparation in late 2022 for the 2023 admissions. I began by maintaining an Excel sheet, an idea suggested by a few close friends. This sheet included and helped me to track the institutes, courses, deadlines, available scholarships, and requirements for each course and scholarship that I'm planning to apply to. I then accumulated the necessary items for the application, such as preparing for the IELTS exam, keeping my academic transcripts ready, and drafting my essays. I wrote, rewrote, and revised my essays multiple times (This is where your friends, close friends, best friends, and later your work/academic supervisors can be very helpful). Here’s an insider tip: while scholarship essay questions for various scholarships can differ, it’s wise to create a common content base that can be tweaked to fit specific prompts. Additionally, I reached out to my references well in advance to ensure they were aware of what was needed. These were the major preparations I undertook for my application.

Initially, my strategy was to apply to institutions that did not require the IELTS during the first stage of the application process. This approach allowed me more time to prepare for the IELTS examinations. I primarily used study materials from friends, in addition to watching various Instagram reels and YouTube channels focused on IELTS preparation. I often watched IELTS-related videos during my commute to and from work. On weekends, I practiced writing by closely following the suggestions from these YouTube channels, which proved to be very helpful. A fun way I expanded my vocabulary was by watching English-language cartoons, with "Doraemon" being my absolute favorite.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship?

My strategy for applying for scholarships was similar to my approach for institute applications. I tracked scholarship opportunities and deadlines and kept links to the essay questions in an Excel sheet. I drafted my essays and revised them multiple times. I can't emphasize enough that reaching out for help is the most important part of this process. I was fortunate to have a few friends who had already mastered the formula for securing scholarships. They were very willing to assist me with my essays once I had my own content ready.

Another helpful preparation step was reaching out to people who had received the same scholarship I was applying for, using LinkedIn. Connecting with them and having a conversation allowed me to gain valuable insights from their perspectives.

Specific to World Bank scholarship, the mandatory ideal requirement is to have an admission letter in hand, so ensure to apply as early as possible for the course you intend to apply depending on the cycle of application.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe one of the best things I accomplished in my application was effectively transitioning the work I did in the past to address the essay questions without excessive repetition. I successfully highlighted my skills and experiences relevant to the course I intended to pursue. I also enjoyed weaving in my personal stories along with professional insights, ensuring they reflected my journey within the word limit. With all the humility but with proud, I have to say that, this achievement came from my dedicated effort of writing and revising my responses several times without having any compromising and I was very much willing to take brutal honest feedback from my people who reviewed my essays (especially when English not even your first language).

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I wish I had started a little earlier so I could have explored more scholarship opportunities that I only learned about after the deadlines. Overall, I think I followed a good plan, and I don’t believe I would have done anything differently in terms of application. In terms of academics, I would have explored learning languages, been more active in the community, and integrated into society more quickly.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

Read and understand the specifics of the process of application process. Look at the profiles of individuals who received the same scholarship for the course you applied for earlier and examine their career trajectories. If possible, reach out to them to ask for advice on how to approach the application process. Be proactive in your preparations, especially regarding the course application for the World Bank scholarship. Instead of simply fulfilling the requirements mechanically, take the time to express your heartfelt reasons for choosing a specific course and scholarship in your essays. Honesty is always beneficial. In your free time, try to develop a document that cross-matches the scholarship/course requirements with your skills that can complement each specific requirement.