Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded

The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) 2027 is a fully funded master’s scholarship for eligible citizens of developing countries who have relevant professional experience and want to study a development-related master’s program at a participating university. The scholarship is funded by the Government of Japan and administered by the World Bank.

For the 2027 intake, the program includes 44 participating master’s programs at 24 universities across the United States, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan. The scholarship covers tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and a travel allowance. You may also check: Weidenfeld Hoffmann Scholarship 2027

Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship 2027 Overview

The 2027 application process is divided into two windows because participating universities have different academic calendars. Applicants must first secure admission to an eligible participating master’s program and meet the scholarship requirements before they can submit the JJ/WBGSP scholarship application.

What Is the Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship?

The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is an international scholarship program designed for professionals from eligible developing countries. It supports master’s-level study in fields connected with economic and social development.

Unlike many scholarships where students apply directly before university admission, JJ/WBGSP requires applicants to obtain an unconditional admission offer, except for financing, from one of the participating master’s programs. The participating university then shortlists eligible candidates who can proceed with the scholarship application.

The scholarship is particularly relevant for applicants working in areas connected with development, public policy, economics, health, infrastructure, taxation, sustainability, urban development and other related fields.

Is the Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship Fully Funded?

Yes. For eligible developing-country scholars, JJ/WBGSP provides major financial support for the duration of the graduate program or up to two years, whichever is shorter.

The scholarship includes tuition, basic medical insurance through the university, a monthly subsistence allowance, economy-class air travel and a US$600 travel allowance for each trip. The monthly allowance varies according to the host country and intended to cover living expenses such as accommodation, food and books.

Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship Benefits

Selected scholars can receive the following benefits:

• Full tuition coverage for the eligible master’s program
• Monthly living or subsistence allowance
• Accommodation and other living expenses through the monthly allowance
• Basic medical insurance provided through the university
• Economy-class round-trip airfare
• US$600 travel allowance for each trip
• Financial support for the scholarship period
• Study at participating universities in different countries

The scholarship does not generally cover visa costs, family expenses, additional personal travel, computers, extracurricular courses, or certain research and supplementary educational expenses.

How Much Does the Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship Pay?

There is no single worldwide monthly stipend amount for all JJ/WBGSP scholars. The World Bank states that the monthly subsistence allowance varies according to the host country.

The allowance is designed to cover living expenses while the scholar is on campus, including accommodation, food and books. In addition, eligible scholars receive US$600 for each of the two scholarship-related trips.

Therefore, applicants should avoid relying on a fixed dollar amount found on third-party websites because the actual allowance depends on the country where the participating master’s program is located.

Who Can Apply for the Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship?

The 2027 JJ/WBGSP is open to citizens of countries included on the official list of eligible developing countries. Pakistan is included in the current eligible-country list, so Pakistani applicants can apply if they meet all other requirements.

Applicants must also satisfy the academic, professional experience, employment and admission requirements established by the World Bank.

Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

For the 2027 cycle, developing-country applicants generally need to meet the following requirements:

1. Eligible Nationality

Applicants must be citizens of a World Bank member developing country included in the official JJ/WBGSP eligible-country list. Pakistan is currently included.

Applicants must not hold dual citizenship of a developed country.

2. Bachelor’s Degree

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent university degree that was earned at least three years before the scholarship application deadline.

3. Professional Experience

Applicants must have at least three years of paid development-related employment after completing their bachelor’s degree.

The experience must have been acquired within the six years preceding the application deadline. Applicants must also be employed in development-related work in a paid full-time position when submitting the scholarship application.

4. Admission to a Participating Master’s Program

This is one of the most important requirements.

Applicants must have been admitted unconditionally, except for financing, to an eligible JJ/WBGSP participating master’s program for the upcoming academic year. The program must be outside the applicant’s country of citizenship and country of residence listed when the scholarship call opens.

5. Development-Related Field

The master’s program must be one of the programs officially designated as a JJ/WBGSP Participating Program.

Simply being admitted to a university that has a participating program does not automatically make every master’s degree at that university eligible.

Which Universities Offer the Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship?

For 2027, the World Bank lists participating master’s programs at universities and institutions including:

• Australian National University
• Brandeis University
• Columbia University
• Erasmus University
• IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
• Johns Hopkins University
• Keio University
• KIT / Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
• London School of Economics and Political Science
• National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies
• Saitama University
• SOAS, University of London
• Stanford University
• University of California, Berkeley
• Université Clermont-Auvergne / FERDI
• Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny
• University of Leeds
• University of Oxford
• University of Tokyo
• University of Tsukuba
• Williams College
• Yale University
• Yokohama National University

The official 2027 list contains 44 master’s programs. Applicants should check the exact program rather than assuming that every master’s degree offered by one of these universities is eligible.

Popular Fields Covered by JJ/WBGSP

The participating programs cover several development-related areas, including:

• Public Policy
• Economic Policy
• Development Studies
• Development Economics
• Public Health
• Global Health
• Environmental Management
• Climate Change
• Water and Sustainable Development
• Taxation Policy
• Infrastructure Management
• Urban Development
• Sustainable Cities
• International Social and Public Policy
• Global Sustainability
• Agricultural Development
• Systemic Risk

For example, the 2027 participating programs include the Master of Public Policy at Oxford, MSc Development Management at LSE, Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins, Master of Climate Change at ANU and master’s programs in public policy and taxation at Japanese universities.

Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship 2027 Deadline

The JJ/WBGSP 2027 application has two windows for developing-country nationals:

The two windows correspond to different participating universities and their admission calendars. Applicants should determine which window applies to their target master’s program before preparing the scholarship application.

How to Apply for Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship 2027

The application process is different from scholarships where you submit one general application before university admission.

Step 1: Check the Eligible Countries

First, confirm that your nationality appears on the official JJ/WBGSP eligible-country list. Pakistan is currently included.

Step 2: Choose a Participating Master’s Program

Review the official list of 2027 participating programs and select a master’s program that matches your academic background and development-related career goals.

Step 3: Apply to the University

Apply directly to the university offering the selected participating program. You need to obtain an unconditional admission offer except for financing before submitting the JJ/WBGSP scholarship application.

Step 4: Get Shortlisted by the University

The participating university identifies eligible candidates and shortlists them for JJ/WBGSP consideration.

Step 5: Submit the JJ/WBGSP Application

The World Bank provides the scholarship application link to candidates who have been admitted to a participating program and shortlisted as eligible by the participating university.

Step 6: Complete the Selection Process

Eligible applications are independently assessed before finalists are selected. The World Bank considers professional experience, professional recommendations, commitment to the applicant’s home country and educational background.

Documents Required for JJ/WBGSP

Applicants should prepare the following documents:

• Bachelor’s degree certificate
• Academic transcripts
• Unconditional university admission letter
• CV/resume
• Employment and professional experience information
• Professional recommendations
• Evidence of development-related work experience
• Required personal or professional statements
• Passport or nationality documentation
• Any additional documents requested by the participating university or scholarship application

Document requirements may vary by participating master’s program and application window. Applicants should therefore check the official 2027 instructions before submitting their applications.

Does JJ/WBGSP Require IELTS?

The JJ/WBGSP does not publish one universal IELTS score requirement for all participating programs. Instead, each university and master’s program sets its own English-language requirements.

Applicants should therefore check the English proficiency requirements for their chosen participating program. Some universities may require IELTS, TOEFL, or another accepted English test, while other programs may have different requirements.

Is There an Age Limit for JJ/WBGSP?

The current general eligibility criteria for developing-country nationals do not specify a general maximum age limit. Instead, the program considers factors such as the applicant’s bachelor’s degree date, professional development-related work experience, current employment, and admission to a participating master’s program.

Selection Process

JJ/WBGSP follows a structured assessment process for eligible applications.

Two qualified assessors independently review each eligible application and consider four main factors:

The World Bank also considers geographical distribution, gender distribution, and unusual circumstances or hardships when selecting finalists.

After completing the master’s degree, scholars from developing countries commit to returning to their home countries and using their skills to support social and economic development.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How to get a scholarship in Japan from Pakistan?

Pakistani students can apply for several scholarships to study in Japan, including the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program when their selected master’s program appears on the eligible participating-program list. JJ/WBGSP applicants must meet the developing-country eligibility requirements, have relevant professional experience, and obtain admission to an eligible participating master’s program. The official eligible-country list includes Pakistan.

Who is eligible to apply for the MEXT scholarship in 2026?

The MEXT Scholarship is a separate scholarship program offered by the Government of Japan. MEXT sets different eligibility requirements for each scholarship category, academic level, and application route. Students interested in the Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship should follow the separate JJ/WBGSP eligibility requirements.

What are the eligibility requirements for the JICA scholarship in Japan in 2026?

The JICA scholarship is also separate from the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program. JICA offers different scholarships and training opportunities, each with its own eligibility requirements. For JJ/WBGSP, applicants generally need eligible nationality, a bachelor’s degree earned at least three years before the deadline, at least three years of paid development-related work experience, and admission to a participating master’s program.

What is the Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship?

The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is a scholarship program funded by the Government of Japan and administered by the World Bank. It supports eligible citizens of developing countries who want to pursue selected master’s degree programs in development-related fields. For 2027, the program includes 44 participating master’s programs at 24 universities across the United States, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan.

Who is eligible for the Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship?

The scholarship generally accepts citizens of eligible developing countries who hold a bachelor’s degree earned at least three years before the application deadline and have at least three years of paid development-related work experience. Applicants also need an unconditional admission offer, except for financing, from an eligible participating master’s program and must meet the other requirements in the official guidelines.

What are the eligibility requirements for JJ/WBGSP?

For the 2027 cycle, applicants generally need to meet several requirements. They must hold citizenship from an eligible developing country, must not hold dual citizenship of a developed country, and must meet the program’s health requirements. They also need a bachelor’s degree earned at least three years before the deadline and at least three years of paid development-related employment within the previous six years.

Applicants must also work full-time in development-related employment when they apply and must obtain unconditional admission, except for financing, to a participating master’s program.

Is the Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship fully funded?

Yes. The JJ/WBGSP provides full financial support to eligible scholars. The benefits include tuition, basic medical insurance through the university, a monthly subsistence allowance, economy-class round-trip airfare, and a US$600 travel allowance for each trip. The scholarship normally covers the graduate program duration or up to two years, whichever comes first.

How much does the Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship pay?

The monthly living allowance varies by host country, so JJ/WBGSP does not provide one fixed monthly amount for every scholar. The allowance helps scholars cover living expenses such as accommodation, food, and books.

In addition, scholars receive a US$600 travel allowance for each scholarship-related trip, along with economy-class airfare.

Which countries are eligible for the World Bank Scholarship?

The JJ/WBGSP accepts citizens from countries on the World Bank’s official eligible developing-country list. The World Bank can update this list for each application cycle, so applicants should check the latest official list before applying.

Can Pakistani students apply for the Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship?

Yes. Pakistani students can apply because Pakistan appears on the current JJ/WBGSP eligible-country list. However, Pakistani applicants must also meet the academic, professional experience, employment, admission, and other requirements for the 2027 scholarship cycle.

What universities are eligible for the Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship?

For 2027, 24 universities offer participating JJ/WBGSP master’s programs across several regions. These institutions include Australian National University, Brandeis University, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, University of California Berkeley, University of Tsukuba, Williams College, Yale University, University of Oxford, London School of Economics, Stanford University, University of Tokyo, and others.

However, applicants cannot use the scholarship for every master’s program at these universities. They must apply to a master’s program that the World Bank specifically lists as a JJ/WBGSP Participating Program.

Which master’s programs are covered by JJ/WBGSP?

The 2027 scholarship covers selected master’s programs in development-related fields. Examples include Public Policy, Development Studies, Development Economics, Climate Change, Environmental Management, Public Health, Global Health, Tax Policy, Infrastructure Management, Sustainable Cities, Water and Sustainable Development, and International Policy.

Conclusion

The Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship 2027 supports experienced professionals from eligible developing countries who want to pursue selected development-related master’s programs. Unlike general scholarships that students can use at many universities, JJ/WBGSP only supports officially listed participating programs.

For Pakistani applicants, the program offers an opportunity to pursue a development-related master’s degree through an eligible participating program. However, applicants must meet more than the nationality requirement. They also need relevant professional experience and admission to an eligible participating master’s program before they can proceed with the scholarship application.

The two 2027 application windows run from January 18 to February 26, 2027, and March 29 to May 21, 2027. Applicants should start with university admission because the scholarship application process requires admission to a participating program and university shortlisting.

Apply Now

👉 Official Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program:
World Bank — JJ/WBGSP Official Page

👉 Official 2027 Participating Programs:
JJ/WBGSP Participating Master’s Programs 2027