Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program for International Students from Developing Countries

Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJWBGSP)

Course(s) Offered: Development-related fields 
Course Level: Graduate (Masters)
Provider: Govt of Japan; World Bank
Country to Study in: USA, Africa, Japan

Scholarship Description 
The World Bank Scholarships Program offers two sources of funding for graduate studies in development-related fields for mid-career professionals and researchers: Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program and the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program.

The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is open to women and men from developing countries with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development efforts who are applying to a master degree program in a development-related topic. 

JJWBGSP offers scholarships for over 200 Preferred Programs spanning a wide array of development topics and for 14 Partner Programs at universities in U.S., Africa and Japan in key areas of development, including economic policy management, tax policy, and infrastructure management. JJWBGSP scholarships for developing country nationals are not available for any other master degree program.

Eligibility
Details on eligibility criteria for each annual call for application are provided in that call's application guidelines, and these detailed eligibility criteria are strictly adhered to. No exception is made.

Broadly speaking, developing country nationals must:
Be a national of a World Bank member developing country;Not hold dual citizenship of a developed country;Be in good health;Hold a Bachelor (or equivalent) degree earned at least 3 years prior to the Application Deadline date;Have 3 years or more of recent development-related experience after earning a Bachelor (or equivalent) degree;Be accepted unconditionally to enroll in the upcoming academic year in at least one of the JJWBGSP Preferred or Partner masters degree Programs;Not be an Executive Director, his/her alternate, and/or staff of all types of appointments of the World Bank Group or a close relative of the aforementioned by blood or adoption with the term "close relative" defined as: Mother, Father, Sister, Half-sister, Brother, Half-brother, Son, Daughter, Aunt, Uncle, Niece, or Nephew;*Please note: All eligibility criteria are strictly adhered to. No exceptions are made. Eligibility criteria WILL NOT change during an open call for applications. However, this information is subject to change between the close of one application process and the opening of the next.

Eligible groups
Citizens of World Bank-member Developing Countries
(see list of Eligible Developing Countries.)

Participating Institution(s)
Accredited universities in the U.S.A, Africa and Japan

Fields of study
Any one of the JJWBGSP Preferred or Partner masters degree Programs. View the complete list of JJ/WBGSP Partnermaster degrees offered and the complete list of JJ/WBGSP Preferred master degrees currently offered

Sponsorship duration
All JJ/WBGSP scholarships cover the duration of the graduate program or two years, whichever is less

Scholarship benefits
A JJWBGSP scholarship provides tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance. Specifically, the JJ/WBGSP scholarship provides the recipient with the following benefits:
Economy class air travel between your home country and the host university at the start of your study program and immediately following the end of the scholarship period. In addition to the two-way air travel, scholars will receive a US $500 travel allowance for each trip;Tuition for your graduate program and the cost of basic medical insurance usually obtained through the university.A monthly subsistence allowance to cover living expenses, including books. The amount of the allowance varies depending on the host country.Method of Application
Applicants can apply for scholarships to both Preferred and Partner Programs. The process to apply to a Preferred Program and to a Partner Program differs. Those seeking a JJ/WBGSP Preferred Program scholarship must, in parallel, apply for admissions to one or more of the Preferred Program(s) and apply for a JJWBGSP scholarship. Those seeking a JJ/WBGSP Partner Program scholarshipmust first apply for admission to one or more of the Partner Masters Degree Program(s). Inquiries on how to submit an admissions application to a partner program should be submitted to the respective university.

It is important to read the Application Guidelines and FAQs (for the Preferred Program) and also to visit the official website (link to it is below) for complete information on how to apply.

DEADLINES
The call for applications for a JJWBGSP Scholarship to one of the Preferred Programs is now open from February 22 to April 12, 2018

PLEASE NOTE
The scholarship award is valid for the academic year immediately following the offer of award and cannot be deferred for any reason.

The JJ/WBGSP scholarship may only supplement, and does not duplicate, any other source of financial support/fellowship you might have. If selected as a finalist or if you are awarded a scholarship, you must inform the JJ/WBGSP if you have other sources of scholarship funds. The JJ/WBGSP stipend may be withdrawn completely or partially if during the scholarship period the Program has evidence of additional sources of support.

The JJ/WBGSP provides opportunity for graduate studies in subjects related to economic development. Since 1987, JJWBGSP has enabled more than 5,000 mid-career professionals from developing countries and Japan to complete graduate degrees in development-related fields. On an annual basis, the Government of Japan solely funds the JJ/WBGSP

Application Deadline: 12 April 2018
Open to International students: Yes