Japanes World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program 2025-26

Ultimate Guide for Students from Developing Countries

The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) 2025 is a once-in-a-lifetime scholarship for graduate students from developing countries. It consists of various scholarships, including tuition fees, visa fees, travel and living allowances. The best part is that you can study at your own pace and return to your native country with the knowledge to contribute to better development.

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

JJ/WBGSP is an acronym for Japan/WB Graduate Scholarship Program, i.e., a graduate scholarship program designed by the World Bank in collaboration with the Government of Japan. The Program aims to sponsor mid-career professionals from developing nations to pursue an advanced degree course in the field of economic development.

In the long term, it is to build up the capacity of countries through the education of exceptionally brilliant students and return to share new knowledge and leadership with their country.

Where and What to Study?

You must study at the top universities of respective nations:

• The United States
• Japan
• The Netherlands
• The United Kingdom
• France
• Australia
• Other participating nations

All the courses are master’s courses, and they are transferable to developing nations. They are:

• Economics
• Public Policy
• Tax Policy
• Infrastructure Management
• Public Health
• Education
• Agriculture
• Environment and Sustainability
• Urban Planning

You can choose from about 50 sponsored courses sponsored by organisations to benefit from the scholarship.

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

It is a wholly funded scholarship; therefore, arrangements will be made in most instances. You will be provided with the following:

•  Tuition fee paid in full
•  Living, food, and other personal allowance monthly
•  Return to the home country from the host country due to economic reasons
•  $600 travel allowance (outward and return paid)
•  Arrange basic medical cover by the host university

 What IS NOT covered in this Program?

Scholarship DOES NOT cover:

• Visa fee
• Pre-university or pre-language study fees
• Bringing relatives along
• Anything else, such as workshops, conferences, or going to some other destination other than your course

Eligibility

You will need to meet an incredibly high set of criteria to be eligible for JJD/WBGSP 2025. They are very high, so let us list them in turn before we apply.

You must:

• Be a national of a developing nation that is a member of the World Bank.
• Be of double nationality in the developed world.
• Possess a bachelor’s degree that you obtained at least 3 years ago by the closing date for applications.
• Be fully committed to practising and assume.
• Preferably possess at least 3 years’ worth of work experience since your graduation with an undergraduate degree.
• Be physically fit
• In the hope that you will be able to assume unconditional admission (except for finance) into one of the qualifying courses
• Not to be currently employed by the World Bank Group or a close family member of one who is

For some applicants from conflict-affected or fragile states, there are exceptions to the obligation to be working. Please ensure that you follow instructions carefully when applying.

️ 2025 Application Timeline

There are two application windows for JJ/WBGSP:

• First Window: 13 January – 28 February 2025
• Second Window: 25 March – 23 May 2025

You apply once during one window. The master’s Program and the university will set your application window, as universities operate in different rounds.

 Documents Needed

You will have the following documents in hand at application time:

• Admission letter to a partner master’s Program
• Copy and a bachelor’s degree diploma
• Updated CV/resume
• Two current or past supervisors’ genuine letters of recommendation
• Statement of motivation or purpose letter
• Work record
• Passport or ID

Ensure all documents are correct scans, translated if necessary, and in the proper form on the application.

It is a highly competitive process. Two readers review each application without ever seeing the others. They look for fine examples of leadership, scholarship, and commitment to being your best you.

This is the way selection typically balances:

• 30% – Professional experience quality
• 30% – Quality and depth of letter of recommendation
• 30% – Intention to return home upon graduation and work again
• 10% – Intellectual success and achievement

Exceptional circumstances, financial needs, and diversity in terms of gender and geography may also be taken into consideration, in addition to this. The selection committee then decides.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

First, ensure that you fulfil all the above requirements.

Step 2: Apply to the master’s Program

Select one or more participating master’s programs and apply to the university directly. You should have unconditional admission before applying for the scholarship.

Step 3: Prepare all your Documents in Advance

As mentioned earlier, prepare all your documents in advance to avoid any last-minute chaos.

Step 4: Submit the Online Application

Log in to the JJ/WBGSP official online website during your application period and fill out and submit the necessary documents. Ensure that you review each section before submission.

 Mostly asked questions

Q1: Am I eligible if I have already done a master’s?
 A: Yes, you can still apply if you have all the other qualifications.

Q2: Is there an age restriction on this scholarship?
 A: No, there is no restriction. You have to meet the work experience and degree timeline.

Q3: Am I able to apply to more than one university?
 A: Yes, but you must get into at least one of the partner universities.

Q4: Does the scholarship cover dependents or family travel?
 A: No, only the individual student is helped.

Q5: Can I work and study?
 A: No, in general. You are supposed to work full-time on educational and development objectives.

Q6: What happens after graduation?
 A: You’re supposed to be back in your home country working in a development-sector job for at least 2 years.

A Strong Application: Tips

These tips will make your chances better:

• Start early – Give yourself time to have a respectable application in place
• Be concise and honest – Particularly in your CV and personal statement
• Select referees carefully – Ask people who are familiar with your work and can talk at length
• Emphasise your contribution – Demonstrate how your work has contributed thus far
• Get organised – Make photocopies of everything that is submitted and deadlines

The JJ/WBGSP 2025 is not a scholarship by itself. It’s an opportunity to learn the best of the world, interact with the best brains of the world, and come back home to implement the good. You might be a teacher, policy analyst, public health worker, or economist; this scholarship can lead you to opportunities you never dreamed of.

If you are progressive and have a passion for assisting your country to grow, then this scholarship is for you. Take the initiative, and don’t hold back.

You could be the next scholar who will change the future of your country.