2026 Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program: Eligibility, Benefits & How to Apply
The 2026 Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program offers a chance for people from developing countries to study master’s degrees in development fields. This program funds studies at 24 universities in the U.S., Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan. It focuses on areas like economic policy, tax policy, and infrastructure management.
Scholarship Summary
The Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program, or JJ/WBGSP, comes from the Government of Japan and the World Bank. It targets citizens of World Bank member developing countries. You can study in the USA, UK, Europe, Asia, or Australia for postgraduate or master’s programs.
Key facts include:
- Eligible countries: All developing countries.
- Rewards: Full tuition, monthly stipend, housing, and air tickets.
- Deadline: May 29, 2026.
Applications open in two rounds to match school calendars. Round 1 runs from January 15 to February 27, 2026. Round 2 is from March 30 to May 29, 2026.
After you finish, you must return home to apply your skills for your country’s growth.
Scholarship Details
This program supports 52 master’s programs at select universities. These cover key development topics such as economic policy management, tax policy, and infrastructure. Schools are located in the U.S., Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan.
The goal is to train leaders who can help their home countries. Funding depends on availability each year.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the 2026 Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program, you need to meet these rules:
- Be from a World Bank member developing country.
- Hold no dual citizenship in a developed country.
- Stay in good health.
- Have a bachelor’s degree earned at least three years before the deadline.
- Show three or more years of paid work in development fields after your bachelor’s.
- Work full-time in a development job when you apply. This job must start within six years of the deadline.
These steps ensure applicants have real experience to build on.
Benefits
The scholarship covers your full costs for up to two years or the program length, whichever is shorter. You get:
- Economy class round-trip air travel from home to the university, plus a $500 travel allowance each way.
- All tuition and basic medical insurance from the school.
- A monthly allowance for living costs like housing, food, and books. The amount changes by host country.
This support lets you focus on studies without money worries.
How to Apply
Go to the official site to start your application for the 2026 Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program. Click the apply button on the World Bank page: www.worldbank.org/en/programs/scholarships/jj-wbgsp.
Follow the steps there to submit all documents. Make sure you apply in one of the two windows. Check deadlines closely.
The final deadline is May 29, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the 2026 Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship?
Citizens of World Bank member developing countries with a bachelor’s degree, at least three years of development work experience, and current full-time employment in the field qualify.
What benefits does the scholarship provide?
It covers full tuition, economy class air travel, a monthly stipend for living costs, housing, books, and basic medical insurance.
When are the application deadlines for 2026?
Round 1 is from January 15 to February 27, 2026, and Round 2 runs from March 30 to May 29, 2026.
How do I apply for the scholarship?
Visit the official World Bank page at www.worldbank.org/en/programs/scholarships/jj-wbgsp, follow the steps, and submit all documents during the open application windows.