The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)

 Do you want to pursue a career in economics, public policy, public health, finances, gender studies, engineering, development studies, and social sciences? The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship may be right for you. Here is why and how.

Now this Government of Japan-funded JJ/WBGSP is on its 23rd year. The Program provides scholarship to individuals who are from World Bank member-countries to undertake relevant graduate studies at topnotch universities renowned for development research and training. These universities are in Japan, US, Canada, Ghana, Uganda, Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, and France.


Below are the said universities. You can click on their names for more details.

JAPAN Partner
Japanese Universities with English Courses - Click here
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)
Keio University 
University of Tsukuba 
Yokohama National University

US Partner
Columbia University
Harvard University

CANADA Partner
McGill University

FRANCE Partner
CERDI

GHANA Partner
University of Ghana

UGANDA Partner
Makerere University

COTE D'IVORE Partner
Universite de Cocody

CAMEROON Partner
Universite Yaounde II


Additionally, the World Bank and the Government of Japan require the scholars to return to their home countries on completion of their study programmes and apply their enhanced knowledge and skills to contribute to the development process in their respective regions and communities.

Applicants should:
1. Submit evidence of current unconditional admission (copy of formal admission letter) to at least one development-related university master's degree program and proof of application to another university located in any World Bank member country except the applicant's country. The application will not be processed without this requirement. Preference is given to applicants with more than one admission.
2. Be a national of a World Bank member country eligible to borrow (Click here to know if your country is included)
3. Be between the ages of 25 and 45.
4. Have at least 2, preferably 4 to 5, years of recent full-time professional work experience after a university degree in the applicant's home country or in another developing country and usually in public sector.
5. Hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a development-related field; have a superior record in previous academic work.
6. Propose a program of study related to development at the master's level, in fields such as .
7. Be in good health and be of good character.

Few reminders:
The Program does not sponsor applicants who received their undergraduate degree from an industrialized country unless they spent three years in their home country or another developing country.
The Program does not support those who are residing, working, or studying for a graduate degree in an industrialized country or permanent residents or nationals of industrialized countries.
The Program does not support those with refugee or asylum status.
The Program does not support applicants for MBA, Mphil or PhD
The Program does not support legal studies such as JD, LLM or SJD unless related to human rights, or environment.
The Program does not support individuals who are enrolled in a graduate study program in industrialized countries or whose professional experience has mostly been accrued in these countries.

Goodluck on your application!