By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The 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’s degree program in a development-related topic.
Subject to available funding, JJ/WBGSP offers scholarships for 41 Participating Master’s Programs in 24 universities across the U.S., Europe, Africa, Oceania and Japan in key areas of development, including economic policy management, tax policy, and infrastructure management.
Please note that if you are not admitted to one of these 41 Participating Master’s Programs, you are not eligible to apply for a JJ/WBGSP Scholarship in 2025.
Benefits
A JJ/WBGSP scholarship provides tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance.
Eligibility Requirements:
Applicants 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Be a former beneficiary of JJ/WBGSP scholarship.
Application details
Based on the academic calendar of JJ/WBGSP Participating Programs, the application process is organized in two rounds:
Window 1 (open from January 13 to February 28, 2025 at 12:00 noon EST)
Window 2 (open from March 25 to May 23, 2025 at 12:00 noon EST)
Click here to begin your application.
The JJ/WBGSP is a scholarship program for citizens of certain developing countries who have relevant professional experience and have contributed to their countries' development. The scholarship supports master’s programs in development-related fields across various global universities, covering tuition, travel expenses, health insurance, and providing a monthly stipend.
Eligibility criteria include being a national of a World Bank member developing country, not holding dual citizenship with a developed country, good health, a bachelor's degree obtained at least three years before applying, and relevant paid work experience in development. Applicants should not be affiliated with World Bank Group staff or be previous JJ/WBGSP beneficiaries.
The application is conducted in two rounds: the first from January 13 to February 28, and the second from March 25 to May 23, 2025. Interested individuals can apply through the provided link.
