The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship 2027 (JJ/WBGSP) offers fully funded master’s scholarships to professionals from eligible developing countries who want to pursue development-related graduate studies at selected universities around the world.
For the 2027 cycle, the World Bank has confirmed 44 participating Master’s programmes at 24 universities in the United States, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Japan. These programmes cover important development fields including public policy, economic policy, public health, infrastructure management, environmental management and other development-related disciplines.
The scholarship provides substantial financial support, including full tuition, a monthly living allowance, round-trip economy airfare, basic medical insurance and travel allowances.
Applicants from many African countries are eligible. Cameroon, Nigeria, and Ghana are all on the World Bank’s official 2027 list of eligible countries, along with numerous other African and developing countries.
However, there is an important point prospective applicants should understand: although the World Bank has already announced the 2027 scholarship cycle, the actual scholarship application windows begin in January 2027. Applicants should start preparing now, as admission to an eligible participating Master’s programme is required before they can submit the scholarship application.
Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship 2027 at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program |
| Abbreviation | JJ/WBGSP |
| Study Level | Master’s |
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Participating Programmes | 44 |
| Participating Universities | 24 |
| Host Regions | USA, Europe, Africa, Oceania and Japan |
| Window 1 | January 18 – February 26, 2027 |
| Window 2 | March 29 – May 21, 2027 |
| Eligible Applicants | Nationals of eligible developing countries |
| Cameroon | Eligible |
| Nigeria | Eligible |
| Ghana | Eligible |
What is the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program?
The JJ/WBGSP is a scholarship programme funded by the Government of Japan and administered by the World Bank.
It targets professionals from eligible developing countries who have relevant professional experience and a record of contributing to their countries’ development.
Unlike scholarships that can be used for virtually any university or degree, the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship 2027 is tied to specific participating Master’s programmes.
For 2027, there are 44 participating programmes across 24 universities.
Therefore, being admitted to an unrelated Master’s programme at one of these universities does not automatically make an applicant eligible. The specific programme itself must appear on the World Bank’s 2027 participating programme list.
Scholarship Benefits
The JJ/WBGSP provides comprehensive financial support to selected scholars.
The scholarship covers:
- Tuition for the eligible graduate programme
- Cost of basic medical insurance obtained through the university
- Monthly subsistence allowance for living expenses
- Accommodation and food through the monthly allowance
- Books through the monthly allowance
- Economy-class airfare between the scholar’s home country and host university
- A US$600 travel allowance for each eligible trip
The exact monthly subsistence allowance varies according to the country where the scholar studies.
Scholarships cover the duration of the graduate programme or two years, whichever is shorter.
What is Not Covered?
Despite its extensive benefits, applicants should understand that certain expenses are excluded.
The scholarship does not normally cover:
- Visa application costs
- Residence permit fees
- Expenses for spouses, children or other family members
- Additional travel during the programme
- Extra courses that are not required for the degree
- External language training
- Computers and other educational equipment
- Certain research and supplementary educational expenses
- Field trips, seminars and workshops not covered by the programme
- Internship-related expenses
Applicants should therefore plan for some personal expenses even if they receive the scholarship.
Participating Universities and Programmes
The 2027 scholarship covers selected programmes at universities across several regions.
Participating institutions include universities such as Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, Yale University, University of California Berkeley, Australian National University, University of Tsukuba and Erasmus University, among others.
However, applicants must pay attention to the exact Master’s programme listed by the World Bank.
For example, some participating areas include:
- Public Policy
- Development Practice
- Economic Policy Management
- Global Leadership
- Public Health
- Global Health Policy and Management
- Climate Change
- Environmental and Resource Economics
- Environmental Management and Development
- Systemic Risk
- Policy Economics
- Global Urban Development
The programmes are divided into Application Window 1 and Application Window 2.
Applicants should first identify a programme that matches their academic and professional background and then check that programme’s university admission requirements and deadline.
Who can apply for the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship in 2027?
Eligibility requirements are strict.
Broadly, applicants from developing countries must:
- Be a national of an eligible developing country that is a member of the World Bank.
- Not hold dual citizenship with a developed country.
- Be in good health.
- Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
- Have earned that degree at least three years before the applicable scholarship deadline.
- Have relevant paid development-related professional experience.
- Be employed in development-related work in a paid full-time position when submitting the scholarship application.
- Obtain unconditional admission, except for financing, to an eligible JJ/WBGSP participating Master’s programme.
- Study outside their country of citizenship and their country of residence.
- Meet all additional conditions contained in the applicable 2027 application guidelines.
Applicants must generally have accumulated at least three years of paid development-related employment after completing their bachelor’s degree, with that experience acquired within the six years preceding the relevant application deadline.
Special consideration regarding employment opportunities may apply to nationals of countries classified under the programme’s provisions for fragile and conflict-affected states.
Are Cameroonians, Nigerians and Ghanaians Eligible?
Yes.
The World Bank’s current JJ/WBGSP eligible-country list specifically includes:
- Cameroon
- Nigeria
- Ghana
Many other African countries are also included, such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Therefore, African professionals should not assume that the programme is primarily intended for Asian applicants simply because of the name “Joint Japan/World Bank”.
It is a global development scholarship with substantial participation from eligible developing countries.
The Professional Experience Requirement
The professional experience requirement is one of the most important requirements and could disqualify otherwise strong candidates.
JJ/WBGSP is generally targeted at applicants who already have meaningful professional experience rather than students progressing directly from a bachelor’s degree to a master’s.
Applicants normally need at least three years of paid development-related employment acquired after obtaining their bachelor’s degree and within the relevant six-year period.
Furthermore, applicants generally need to be working in a paid, full-time, development-related position when submitting their scholarship application.
Development-related experience can cover a broad range of areas. Therefore, candidates should carefully study the official guidelines to determine whether their employment fits the programme’s definition.
You Must First Obtain University Admission
Another crucial feature of the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship 2027 is that applicants cannot simply complete a public scholarship form now.
The process begins with the participating university.
Candidates must apply to one or more of the eligible 2027 Master’s programmes and obtain unconditional admission, except for financing.
Participating universities then shortlist candidates who satisfy the scholarship requirements.
The JJ/WBGSP application link is subsequently provided to eligible candidates who have been admitted and shortlisted by their participating university.
This means applicants should not wait until January 2027 to begin preparing.
University admission processes may have earlier deadlines and require documents such as academic transcripts, references, proof of English proficiency, CVs and other programme-specific materials.
Application Windows for 2027
There are two application windows.
| Application Round | Opening Date | Closing Date |
|---|---|---|
| Window 1 | January 18, 2027 | February 26, 2027 |
| Window 2 | March 29, 2027 | May 21, 2027 |
The applicable window depends on the master’s programme in which you are participating.
Window 1
Window 1 runs from January 18 to February 26, 2027.
Participating programmes in this round include programmes at institutions such as Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, UC Berkeley, University of Tsukuba, Yale University, Brandeis University and Williams College.
Window 2
Window 2 runs from March 29 to May 21, 2027.
It includes another group of participating programmes at universities across different countries.
Applicants should therefore first identify their chosen programme, rather than assuming they can select either application window.
How to Apply for the JJ/WBGSP 2027
You can understand the application process in five main stages.
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
Confirm that your nationality appears on the World Bank’s current eligible-country list and that you satisfy the academic and professional experience requirements.
Step 2: Choose a Participating Master’s Programme
Review the 44 programmes that have been approved for the 2027 scholarship cycle.
Do not choose a programme just because the university itself participates. Your exact master’s programme must be on the approved list.
Step 3: Apply for University Admission
Follow the admission process of the university that offers your selected programme.
University admission deadlines are separate from the World Bank scholarship deadlines.
Step 4: Obtain Unconditional Admission
Applicants must obtain unconditional admission to an eligible programme for the upcoming academic year, except for financing.
Step 5: Complete the Scholarship Application
Eligible candidates who the participating university has admitted and shortlisted can access the JJ/WBGSP scholarship application.
Therefore, applicants should be cautious about websites claiming to provide a universal public “apply now” form for the 2027 scholarship.
Important Points Before Applying
Applicants should remember that:
- JJ/WBGSP is for eligible Master’s programmes, not for general undergraduate or PhD funding.
- Only designated participating programmes are eligible.
- University admission comes before the scholarship application.
- Professional experience is a major eligibility requirement.
- Scholarship applications are divided into two windows.
- The scholarship application link is provided to eligible shortlisted candidates.
- Scholars are expected to return to their home countries after graduation and use their knowledge and skills to contribute to development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship 2027 fully funded?
Yes. The scholarship covers tuition, basic university medical insurance, a monthly living allowance, round-trip economy airfare and travel allowances.
Can Cameroonians apply?
Yes. Cameroon is included on the World Bank’s current list of eligible countries.
Can Nigerians apply?
Yes. Nigeria is an eligible country.
Can Ghanaians apply?
Yes. Ghana is also included.
Can I apply for a PhD?
No. The developing-country scholarship covered here is for designated participating Master’s programmes.
Can fresh graduates apply?
The programme generally requires applicants to have substantial paid work experience in development. In addition, the bachelor’s degree must normally have been obtained at least three years before the relevant application deadline. Consequently, most recent graduates will not meet the standard requirements.
Can I apply to any Master’s programme at a participating university?
No. Only the 44 programmes specifically designated as JJ/WBGSP participating programmes for 2027 are eligible.
Is the scholarship application currently open?
The 2027 cycle has been officially announced, but the first scholarship application window opens on January 18, 2027. The second opens on March 29, 2027. Applicants should use the current period to secure admission to an eligible participating programme.
How much is the monthly stipend?
The World Bank does not provide one universal stipend amount because the monthly subsistence allowance varies according to the host country.
Final Note
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship 2027 is one of the major fully funded master’s opportunities available to experienced professionals from developing countries.
For eligible Africans, including applicants from Cameroon, Nigeria and Ghana, the programme provides an opportunity to pursue selected development-related Master’s degrees with tuition, living expenses, basic medical insurance and international travel covered.
However, preparation must begin well before the World Bank scholarship portal opens. Applicants should first review the 2027 participating programmes, identify suitable universities and begin their admission applications.
The first scholarship window runs from January 18 to February 26, 2027, while the second runs from March 29 to May 21, 2027.
