Harvard University, Everett Street, Baldwin, Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, 21410, United States
Deadline
May 23, 2025
🌍 Overview
The World Bank’s Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC) offers scholarships 🎓 to students and young researchers, supporting its mission to develop innovative approaches to capacity-building and knowledge-sharing in developing countries 🌎.
This initiative plays a key role in promoting economic development 💰 and shared prosperity by investing in education 📚, capacity-building, and human resource development. Since 1982, the DEC’s scholarship programs have supported over 7,000 professionals 💼 who have returned home to transform their countries and shape future generations.
🎓 Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) 🇯🇵🌏
Since 1987, the JJ/WBGSP has supported over 7,000 mid-career professionals from 160 developing nations 🌍 in completing graduate studies in development-focused fields. This prestigious program is fully funded by the Government of Japan 🇯🇵, allowing scholars to access world-class education and contribute to their country’s progress.
The JJ/WBGSP is open to individuals from eligible developing nations 🌍 who: ✅ Have relevant work experience in a development-related field. ✅ Have a proven history of contributing to their country’s progress. ✅ Are applying for a master’s degree in a development-focused subject.
📌 Important: To be eligible for the 2025 scholarship, candidates must be: 1️⃣ Unconditionally admitted (except for financial proof) to a participating master’s program. 2️⃣ Shortlisted as an eligible candidate by the participating university.
📌 Application Link: The application form will be shared only with shortlisted candidates who meet both eligibility requirements. Applicants should contact the university offering their targeted JJ/WBGSP program to confirm their eligibility.
🎁 Scholarship Benefits
The JJ/WBGSP Scholarship is fully funded and covers: ✔ Full tuition fees 🎓 ✔ Monthly living stipend 💰 ✔ Round-trip airfare ✈️ ✔ Health insurance 🏥 ✔ Travel allowance 🧳
✅ Fully funded education at top universities worldwide 🌎 ✅ Gain in-demand skills in economic policy, urban development, public health, and more 📊 ✅ Network with global professionals and future leaders 🤝 ✅ Make an impact in your home country after graduation 🌍
📢 Application Guidelines for Developing Country Nationals (Window 2)
📅 Updated: March 2025
⚠️ Note: These guidelines are NOT applicable to Japan 🇯🇵 nationals. For their application details, visit: JJ/WBGSP Website.
📝 Application Requirements
To be considered for the JJ/WBGSP scholarship, applicants must meet the following two conditions:
✅ 1. Eligibility Criteria
🔹 Nationality: Must be a citizen of an eligible World Bank member country (see 🌍 Annex 1 for the list). 🔹 No Dual Citizenship: Cannot hold citizenship of any developed country. 🔹 Work Restrictions: Cannot be:
A World Bank Group employee, consultant, or executive director.
A close relative of a World Bank employee (e.g., parents, siblings, children, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews). 🔹 Education: Must have obtained a bachelor’s degree at least 3 years before the application deadline. 🔹 Work Experience:
At least 3 years of paid development-related work since earning a bachelor’s degree.
Experience must be within the past 6 years before the application deadline.
Applicants from fragile or conflict-affected states 🌍 (Annex 3) should provide employment documentation, though limited job opportunities will be considered. 🔹 University Admission: Must be unconditionally admitted (except for funding) to a participating master’s program outside their country of citizenship and residence. 🔹 Not Eligible If:
Previously awarded a JJ/WBGSP scholarship but did not complete the program.
Currently enrolled in a participating master’s program.
⚠️ Important Notes
Applicants must determine their own eligibility. The JJ/WBGSP Secretariat will NOT assess this before submission.
Do NOT submit an application before receiving an unconditional admission letter.
Multiple applications lead to disqualification.
📩 2. Submitting an Application
📅 Deadline: May 23, 2025 (12:00 noon EST)
📌 A complete application must include: ✅ Two professional recommendation letters (submitted online). ✅ One completed application form (in English or the language of the master’s program). ✅ Scanned copies of supporting documents: 1️⃣ Proof of development-related work experience (see FAQs for details). 2️⃣ Bachelor’s degree diploma (and, if applicable, the most advanced graduate degree diploma). 3️⃣ CV in the required format (Annex 4), in English (or French for the GPE program at FERDI). 4️⃣ Unconditional admission letter from a participating master’s program: – Must be from a JJ/WBGSP-listed university 🎓. – Must be outside your country of citizenship and residence. – Cannot be changed after selection.
⚠️ Important! 🚫 Do NOT submit an application before uploading your admission letter. 🌐 If any document is not in English or the language of the master’s program, upload both the original and a translated version. 📌 Certified translations are NOT required—free online translation tools are acceptable.
🗂️ Recommendation Letters Guidelines
🔹 Only TWO recommendations are allowed (one is not enough, three are not permitted). 🔹 Must be from professionals who have directly supervised or observed your development-related work. 🔹 Preferred (but not mandatory): One letter should be from a current or former supervisor. 🔹 Restrictions:
Volunteer work recommendations do NOT count (except for fragile states 🌍).
Professors cannot write a recommendation unless they supervised your paid work. 🔹 Process:
Submit the Recommendation Request Form online.
Confirm your recommenders’ email addresses before submission.
The system will email them a recommendation request within 5 minutes.
Ensure both recommendations are submitted before the deadline—late submissions disqualify your application.
📢 Finalists (June 2025) – Additional Requirements
If selected as a finalist, you must submit:
🆔 Identification: A passport scan (or other legal document with matching name). 💉 Medical Certificate:
Must be from a doctor.
Must state that the applicant is fit to travel and study.
Must be less than three months old before the program starts.
Must be submitted at least 21 days before travel.
📌 For U.S.-based scholars 🇺🇸: Applicants must enter on a J-1 Visa—entering on another visa will cancel the scholarship.
🌍 Annex 1: List of Eligible Countries
To apply for the JJ/WBGSP scholarship, you must be a citizen of one of these developing countries:
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