Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program 2027: Fully Funded Master’s for Development Professionals — Requirements, Benefits & How to Apply

The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is one of the longest-running fully funded scholarships in the world — funded solely by the Government of Japan and administered by the World Bank since 1987, supporting over 7,000 mid-career development professionals from 160 countries to complete master’s degrees at leading universities. Unlike most scholarships aimed at fresh graduates, this one is designed specifically for experienced professionals already working in development-related fields who want to strengthen their expertise and return home with greater impact.

If you’re a working professional in a development-related field researching fully funded master’s opportunities, here’s what you need to know about eligibility, funding, the two-step application process, and the deadlines for the 2027 cycle.

Quick Overview

Funded by Government of Japan, administered by the World Bank

Level Master’s degree

Participating programmes 44 programmes across 24 universities in the US, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan

Application Window 1 18 January 2027 – 26 February 2027

Application Window 2 29 March 2027 – 21 May 2027

Duration of funding Up to 2 years, or the length of the programme, whichever is shorter

What the Scholarship Covers

Full tuition fees
A monthly living stipend
Round-trip international airfare
A USD 600 travel allowance
Health insurance for the duration of the programme

Funding runs for the duration of your master’s programme, capped at two years — so if your programme is shorter, funding matches that shorter length.

Who This Scholarship Is For

This is genuinely different from a fresh-graduate scholarship. You must:

Hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), earned at least three years before the application deadline
Be currently employed full-time in paid development-related work at the time of application
Have at least three years of paid development-related employment, acquired within the past six years from the application deadline
Be a citizen of one of the eligible World Bank member developing countries, and not hold dual citizenship of a developed country
Not be currently studying in a JJ/WBGSP participating programme (existing students in these programmes are not eligible for the award)

One notable exception: applicants from countries on the World Bank’s list of Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations get some flexibility — non-paid or volunteer work can be considered toward the experience requirement, in recognition of more limited formal employment opportunities in those settings.

Eligible development fields are broad, spanning finance and economic policy, governance, education, gender, health, social protection, agriculture, climate change, environment, urban development, water, energy, infrastructure, and work in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.

The Two-Step Application Process (Read This Carefully)

This is the detail that trips up the most applicants: you cannot apply for the scholarship directly.

Apply for and receive unconditional admission (except for financing) to one of the 44 JJ/WBGSP participating master’s programmes — and it must be located outside your own country of citizenship and country of residence.
Only once you’ve been admitted and shortlisted as eligible by that university will you receive a private link to complete the actual JJ/WBGSP scholarship application.

You genuinely cannot begin the scholarship application before securing that unconditional admission letter — the guidelines explicitly warn against even starting the online form before you have it.

Important nuance on “unconditional”: offers that only require a visa, a pre-sessional English/math course, or satisfactory first-year academic performance are still generally treated as unconditional for JJ/WBGSP purposes. But offers conditional on outstanding transcripts, diplomas, or English test scores are not accepted — read your specific offer letter carefully, or check the official guidance if you’re unsure.

Required Documents

One completed online application form, in English or the language of your target master’s programme
Two professional recommendation letters (not academic references) — from people with direct knowledge of your professional, paid development-related work. Academic recommendations from professors based on your time as a student do not qualify.
A CV following the JJ/WBGSP’s specific required format, detailing your employment history since your bachelor’s degree
Scanned copy of your bachelor’s degree diploma (and your most advanced degree, if applicable) — not a transcript
Documentation proving your years of relevant development-related employment
Your unconditional Letter of Admission to a participating master’s programme

Documents not in English must be translated (a certified translation is not required — a free online tool is acceptable).

Application Process

Identify which of the 44 participating master’s programmes fits your field, and check whether it falls under Window 1 or Window 2 — different programmes are assigned to different windows.
Apply for admission to that programme directly, well ahead of the scholarship window, since securing an unconditional offer takes time.
Once shortlisted as JJ/WBGSP-eligible by the university, you’ll receive your private application link.
Line up two professional recommenders early and submit the Recommendation Request Form before completing your own application — this should be done as early as possible, since it’s the applicant’s responsibility to ensure recommenders submit on time.
Complete and submit your full application — form, CV, documents, and both recommendations — before your window’s deadline. Only one application per person is allowed; multiple submissions result in disqualification.
If selected as a finalist, you’ll be asked to submit identification and, later, a medical certificate confirming you’re fit to travel and study — both within strict short deadlines, so respond promptly.

Key Dates

Application Window 1: 18 January 2027 – 26 February 2027
Application Window 2: 29 March 2027 – 21 May 2027
Which window applies to you depends on which participating programme you’re admitted to — check the official participating programmes list for each window

Applications submitted in person, by fax, email, or postal mail — or started before the official window opens — are automatically disqualified. Submit through the official online portal only, and not from a mobile device, since the system is designed for desktop use only.

Official Resources

JJ/WBGSP main page: https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/scholarships/jj-wbgsp
List of eligible countries: https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/scholarships/brief/countries-eligible-for-jjwbgsp-scholarship
Participating Programmes — Window 1: https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/scholarships/brief/jjwbgsp-participating-programs-2022-2024-application-window-1
Participating Programmes — Window 2: https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/scholarships/brief/jjwbgsp-participating-programs-2022-2024-application-window-2
Always confirm your country’s eligibility and your target programme’s specific window on the official pages before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply directly for the scholarship without first being admitted to a programme? No — you must first secure unconditional admission (except for financing) to a participating master’s programme. Only then can you access the scholarship application.

Do I need work experience to apply? Yes — at least three years of paid, full-time, development-related employment, acquired within the past six years, and you must be currently employed in such work at the time of application.

Can academic references count as my two recommendations? No — both must be professional recommendations from people who observed your paid, development-related work; recommendations from professors based on your time as a student don’t qualify.

Can I apply to a programme in my own country? No — your target programme must be located outside both your country of citizenship and your country of residence.

What happens if I submit more than one application? You’ll be disqualified — only one completed application per person is permitted.

Are US-based scholars required to use a specific visa? Yes — recipients admitted to a US university must travel on a J-1 visa; entering the US by any other means results in the scholarship being rescinded.

Don’t Wait on This One

Because the scholarship application only becomes accessible after you’ve already secured unconditional admission to a participating programme — a process that itself takes months — the real starting point isn’t the scholarship window, it’s your master’s programme application. If you’re aiming for the 2027 cycle, start your programme applications now, and line up your two professional recommenders early so they have plenty of time before your window’s deadline.

Want expert guidance through the process? Our experienced student counsellors can help you choose the right participating programme, secure a strong admission offer, and build a competitive JJ/WBGSP application — reach out today.

Follow @stepbystepscholarshipguide for more fully funded scholarship breakdowns, deadlines, and step-by-step application guidance.