The Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program 2026 is open to citizens of eligible developing countries who wish to pursue development-related Master’s degree programs at participating universities across the world.
The Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship provides a fully funded opportunity that covers full tuition fees and also offers a monthly stipend, accommodation support, and travel costs for selected scholars.
Scholarship Summary
- Host: Government of Japan | World Bank
- Category: Postgraduate Scholarships | Masters Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: All Developing Countries
- Reward: Full Scholarship | Monthly Stipend | Accommodation | Air-Ticket
- Deadline: May 29, 2026
Scholarship Details
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is a global initiative funded by the Government of Japan and administered by the World Bank to support talented professionals from developing countries who wish to pursue Master’s degree programs related to development studies.
Subject to available funding, the program offers scholarships for 52 participating academic programs across 24 universities located in the United States, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan. These programs focus on major development fields such as economic policy management, tax policy, infrastructure management, and other areas related to sustainable development.
To align with the academic calendars of participating institutions, the 2026 scholarship application process will be conducted in two application rounds.
Application Windows
- Application Window #1: January 15 – February 27, 2026
- Application Window #2: March 30 – May 29, 2026
After completing their degree programs, scholars are expected to return to their home countries and apply the knowledge and skills they have gained to support social and economic development.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program 2026, applicants must:
- Be a citizen of a developing country that is a member of the World Bank
- Not hold dual citizenship of any developed country
- Be in good health
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) obtained at least three years before the application deadline
- Have at least three years of recent development-related work experience after completing a Bachelor’s degree
- Be currently employed in a full-time, paid development-related position at the time of applying
- Have a minimum of three years of paid professional experience in development-related work acquired within the past six years
Scholarship Benefits
Successful applicants of the Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program will receive:
- Economy-class round-trip airfare between their home country and the host university
- $500 travel allowance for each trip
- Full tuition coverage for the graduate program
- Basic medical insurance arranged through the host university
- Monthly living allowance to cover accommodation, food, books, and other expenses during the study period
Please note that the JJ/WBGSP scholarship covers the entire duration of the graduate program or up to two years, whichever is shorter.
How to Apply
To apply for the Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program 2026:
- Visit the official scholarship application webpage
- Select a participating Master’s program eligible under the scholarship
- Complete the online application form
- Submit all required details and documents before the deadline
To begin the scholarship application process, click HERE
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