World Bank–Japan scholarship offers $600 travel grant, monthly stipend

Detailed information has been released for the 2026 Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Programme (JJ/WBGSP), a joint initiative of the World Bank and the Government of Japan that supports postgraduate studies in development-related fields.

Under the programme, students can apply for 44 master’s degree programmes at 24 universities across different regions of the world, including the United States, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Japan.

The scholarship primarily supports students interested in pursuing higher education in areas related to development.

Fields of study include economic policy management, tax policy, infrastructure management and other development-focused disciplines.

Scholarship benefits

Selected candidates will receive a comprehensive funding package that includes:

* Full tuition fees

* Basic health insurance arranged through the university

* A monthly stipend (amount varies by country)

* Economy-class airfare for travel to and from the host country

* A $600 travel allowance per trip

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must meet several requirements to qualify for the programme:

* Be a citizen of a World Bank member developing country

* Not hold dual citizenship with any developed country

* Have obtained a bachelor’s degree at least three years before the application deadline

* Possess at least three years of full-time work experience in a development-related field within the past six years

* Be currently employed in a development-related role at the time of application

* Must not have previously declined or failed to complete the scholarship

The application link for the scholarship is not publicly available. Only candidates who have been admitted to an eligible master’s programme without funding and are shortlisted by the participating university will receive the application link.

Selection process

Eligible applications will be independently assessed by two evaluators using a 1 to 10 scoring scale based on four criteria:

* Professional experience – 30%

* Professional recommendation letters – 30%

* Commitment to contributing to the development of the home country – 30%

* Academic background – 10%

Application timeline

The application process is conducted in two rounds according to the academic calendars of participating universities.

* First round: 15 January – 27 February 2026 (already completed)

* Second round: 30 March – 29 May 2026

The programme is designed to build a pool of skilled professionals from developing countries who can contribute to sustainable development in their home nations.