Apply for the Joint Japan/World Bank scholarship for developing country nationals and Japanese nationals.
Brief description:
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is open to citizens of certain developing countries with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development efforts who are applying to a master degree program in a development-related topic
The objective of the Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarships is to help create an international community of highly-trained professionals working in the field of economic and social development. The community will actively participate in the capacity building efforts in the developing countries.
Program of study:
There are currently 26 masters degree programs to apply for in the Japan Joint/World Bank scholarship.
The proposed program of study should start during the academic year 2022 for a maximum duration of two years (2022-2024). The JJ/WBGSP does not support applicants who are already enrolled (i.e., taking classes) in graduate degree programs.
Applicants should submit evidence of current unconditional admission to at least one development-related university master’s degree program and are encouraged to submit application to a second such program. Applicants are encouraged to apply to one of the Preferred Universities which, other things equal, will have priority in the scholarship award.
The Program does not support studies in the applicant’s home country.
The Program does not support applicants for MBA, MDs, M.Phil. or Ph.D. degrees.
The Program does not support legal studies such as J.D., L.L.M. or S.J.D. except for L.L.M.’s related to human rights, environment, or good governance.
The scholarship program does not sponsor undergraduate studies, distance learning programs, short-term training, conferences, seminars, thesis writing, research projects, and fields of studies not related to development. All these requests will not be considered.
The Program does not support certain other fields of study.
Number of Awards:
Not specified
Target group:
Citizens of World Bank Member Countries eligible to borrow, developing countries and Japanese nationals.
Scholarship value/inclusions
The JJ/WBGSP scholarship offers the following benefits:
- Economy class air travel between your home country and the host university at the start of your study program and immediately following the end of the scholarship period. In addition to the two-way air travel, scholars will receive a US $500 travel allowance for each trip;
- Tuition for your graduate program and the cost of basic medical insurance obtained through the university.
- While on campus during the scholarship period, a monthly subsistence allowance to cover all living expenses (accommodations, food, etc., including books). The amount of the allowance varies depending on the host country.
The JJ/WBGSP scholarship does not cover:
- VISA application(s) costs
- Expenses to bring and/or support a scholar’s family members;
- Extra-curricular courses or training;
- Courses that do not meet the minimum credits required to earn the graduate degree;
- Language training not provided by the graduate program;
- Additional travel during the course of the study program;
- Expenses related to research, supplementary educational materials, field trips, participation in workshops/seminars, or internships; or
- Educational equipment such as computers.
- Resident permit fee
Eligibility:
Applicants from developing countries must:
- Be a national of a World Bank member developing country on this list;
- Not hold dual citizenship of any developed country;
- Be in good health;
- Hold a Bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree earned at least 3 years prior to the Application Deadline date;
- Have 3 years or more of recent development-related work experience after earning a Bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree;
- Be employed in development-related work in a paid full- time position at the time of submitting the scholarship application. Have at least 3 years of paid development-related employment since earning a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent university degree) and acquired within the past 6 years from the date of the Application Deadline. Please see FAQs on how to count qualified part time employment toward this 3-year requirement. Please see Annex 2 of the Application Guidelines for a suggested list of development-related topics. The only exception to this criterion is for developing country nationals from a country that is on the list of Fragile and Conflict States featured in Annex 3 of the Application Guidelines. In these exceptional cases, we do take into consideration the limited employment opportunities in those countries listed in Annex 3.
- On or before the Scholarship Application Deadline date, be admitted unconditionally (except for funding) for the upcoming academic year to at least one of the JJ/WBGSP participating master’s programs located outside of the applicant’s country of citizenship and country of residence listed at the time the call for scholarship applications opens. The letter of admission must be uploaded before submitting your application. For details, see “How to Apply”.
- Not be an Executive Director, his/her alternate, and/or staff of any type of appointment of the World Bank Group or a close relative of the aforementioned by blood or adoption with the term “close relative” defined as: Mother, Father, Sister, Half-sister, Brother, Half-brother, Son, Daughter, Aunt, Uncle, Niece, or Nephew.
Please note: All eligibility criteria are strictly adhered to. No exceptions are made. Eligibility criteria WILL NOT change during an open call for applications. However, this information is subject to change between the close of one application process and the opening of the next.
Selection Criteria:
The JJ/WBGSP uses the following process to review eligible scholarship applications from developing country nationals, with the aim of identifying the candidates with the highest potential, after completion of their graduate studies, to impact the development of their countries.
Two qualified assessors independently review each eligible application and score the application on a scale of 1 to 10, taking into account four main factors and the degree of cohesion among them:
- Quality of Professional Experience (30% weight)
- Quality of Professional Recommendations (30% weight)
- Quality of Commitment to your Home Country (30% weight)
- Quality of Education Background (10% weight)
The JJ/WBGSP Secretariat uses the average score of the two assessors and the following criteria to select the finalists:
- Maintaining a reasonably wide geographical distribution of awards
- Maintaining a reasonable distribution of awards across gender
- Unusual circumstances/hardships, when assessing the employment experience and other aspects of an application;
- Giving scholarships to those applicants who, other things being equal, have limited access to financial resources for graduate studies abroad.
The JJWBGSP Secretariat presents the finalists for the Participating Program scholarship to the JJ/WBG Steering Committee (composed of members of the World Bank Board of Directors and WB management) for approval. Winners are notified soon after the JJWBG Steering Committee approval.
Application instructions and How to Apply
Applications are usually available as: on-line application form presented in English, French, and Spanish or pdf files that can be downloaded from JJ/WBGSP website https://webportalapp.com/sp/closed/developing-country-nationals-w1
It is the responsibility of the applicant to submit the application along with ALL supporting documentation including an admission letter to a master’s degree program in ONE PACKAGE.
It is important to visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.
Application deadline
To accommodate the academic calendar of the JJWBGSP Participating Programs, the next application process will be organized in two rounds:
- Application Window#1
From January 17, 2022 to February 28, 2022 at noon Washington time
JJWBGSP Participating Programs accepting applications under Window #1 - Application Window #2
From March 29, 2022 to May 27, 2022 at noon Washington time
JJWBGSP Participating Programs accepting applications under Window #2
Website:
Official Scholarship Website: https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/scholarships#3
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