- Economic Policy Management
- Tax Policy
- Infrastructure Management
The Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC), a premier research and data arm of the World Bank is committed to supporting students and emerging researchers, aligning with the World Bank’s mission to develop innovative approaches to capacity building and knowledge sharing within the developing world. This initiative is a vital part of the commitment to promote economic development and shared prosperity by investing in education and building human resources.
Since its inception in 1982, the DEC’s scholarship programs have cultivated a vibrant community of over 7,000 skilled and experienced development professionals and scholars, enabling them to drive meaningful change in their countries and inspire future generations. Since 1987, the JJ/WBGSP has empowered more than 7,000 mid-career professionals from 160 developing countries and Japan to pursue graduate degrees in development-related fields, fully funded by the Government of Japan on an annual basis.
World Bank Scholarship 2025 – Overview
| Name of Scholarship | Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) 2025 |
| Provider | The World Bank Group |
| Eligibility | Graduate Students Enrolled in 41 Participating Master’s Programs in 24 distinguished Universities |
| Benefits |
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| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Website | https://www.worldbank.org/en/programs/scholarships/jj-wbgsp |
World Bank Scholarship 2025 – Eligibility Criteria
In order to become eligible for the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) 2025, the applicants must satisfy the criteria mentioned below. These criteria must be strictly adhered to, with no exceptions made.
- Applicants should be Indian nationals, and they should not be holding dual citizenship in a developed country.
- They should possess a Bachelor’s degree earned at least 3 years before the scholarship deadline.
- Applicants must be employed full-time in development-related work at the time of application for the scholarship programme. They should have at least three years of relevant paid experience after having earned a Bachelor’s degree, acquired within past six years.
- They must not be a staff or a close relative of staff of the World Bank Group (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Development Association, International Finance Corporation, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, and International Center for Settlements of Investment Disputes).
- Applicants must be admitted unconditionally to at least one of the participating programs for this scholarship outside India for the academic year 2025.
World Bank Scholarship 2025 – Benefits
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) offers the following benefits:
- Scholars will be provided with economy-class airfare for travel between their home country and the host university at the beginning of their studies and immediately after the end of the scholarship programme.
- In addition to the round-trip airfare, a USD $600 travel allowance will be granted for each journey.
- Funding is available for the tuition fees of the graduate program and the expense of basic medical insurance obtained through the university.
- While on campus during the duration of the scholarship, scholars will receive a monthly allowance to cover all living costs (including housing, food, and books). The amount of this allowance depends on the host country.
The JJ/WBGSP scholarship does not cover the following expenses:
- Visa application costs
- Expenses related to bringing or supporting family members of the scholar
- Extra-curricular courses or training
- Courses that do not meet the minimum credit requirements to earn a graduate degree
- Language training not offered by the graduate program
- Additional travel during the study program
- Expenses related to research, supplementary educational materials, field trips, participation in workshops or seminars, internships, or educational equipment such as computers
- Resident permit fees
Additionally, the JJ/WBGSP scholarship may only supplement and does not duplicate any other source of financial support or fellowship that an applicant may have. If an applicant is awarded another scholarship or fellowship, they must provide documentation related to it to the JJ/WBGSP Secretariat.
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World Bank Scholarship 2025 – Required Documentation
- Document proof of relevant work experience
- Bachelor’s degree diploma
- Diploma of the most advanced graduate degree (if applicable)
- Curriculum Vitae in prescribed format
- Unconditional admission letter from the institution
- Two recommendation letters
Important Notes:
- An unconditional admission letter is mandatory.
- Proof of work experience and degrees must be translated into English if they are in another language. Applicants need to upload both the original and translated documents in the application form. The translation doesn’t need to be certified, and free online tools can be used. A certified translation is not mandatory.
- Students are requested to refer to the official application documents for detailed guidelines and formats.
World Bank Scholarship 2025: Application Process
- Visit the official scholarship website.
- Navigate to ‘Application Window #1‘ or ‘Application Window #2‘ and click on it.
- Choose the desired program and click on it, and it will redirect to the respective application page of the institution.
- Complete the application on the institution’s website and submit it.
- Acquire the unconditional admission letter from the respective institutions.
- Submit the application form on the website of the World Bank Scholarships Program along with the required documents.
(Note: The link to the online application form will only be communicated by JJ/WBGSP participating programs to the applicants they have shortlisted as eligible.)
World Bank Scholarship 2025 – Selection Process
Each eligible application is independently reviewed by two qualified assessors who provide the score on a scale of 1 to 10, considering four main factors and their overall cohesion:
- Quality of Professional Experience (30% weight)
- Quality of Professional Recommendation (30% weight)
- Quality of Commitment to Your Home Country (30% weight)
- Quality of Educational Background (10% weight)
The JJ/WBGSP Secretariat calculates the average score received from both assessors and uses the following criteria to select the finalists:
- Ensuring a broad geographical distribution of awards.
- Maintaining a reasonable gender distribution among the awardees.
- Consideration of unusual circumstances or hardships while evaluating employment experience and other aspects of the application.
- Prioritise applicants with limited access to financial resources for pursuing studies abroad, when other conditions are equal.
Once the finalists are determined, the JJ/WBGSP Secretariat presents the list to the JJ/WBGSP Steering Committee, which consists of members from the World Bank Board of Directors and management for approval. Winners are notified shortly after this approval who must provide the following information:
- Proof of identification, such as a passport or birth certificate.
- A medical certificate that is less than three months old, dated from the start of the program.
Failure to provide the aforementioned documents will result in disqualification.
Also Read: Top 10 Scholarships for CA Students in India and Abroad
World Bank Scholarship 2025 – Important Dates
To accommodate the academic calendar of JJ/WBGSP Participating Programs, the application process is organised in two rounds with the following application window:
Application Window 1: 13th January – 28th February 2025 (12:00 Noon EST)
Application Window 2: 25th March – 23rd May 2025 (12:00 Noon EST)
Applicants will be able to apply for the scholarship on the official website once the application window opens.
World Bank Scholarship 2025 – Additional Information
- Applicants must apply through a PC/laptop, and not through a mobile phone.
- Applications delivered in person, by fax, email or postal mail will be disqualified.
- Applications started before the window period will be disqualified.
- Submission of multiple applications will result in disqualification.
- If an applicant gets selected for multiple participating programs, they must select only one before applying. Transfer of program after scholarship selection will not be permitted.
- Candidates who are selected for studies in the US must travel to the US on a J-1 Visa.
World Bank Scholarship 2025 – Contact Details
Address
The World Bank
1818 H Street, NW Washington, DC
20433 USA
Email ID: indiainfo@worldbank.org
Phone Number: (202) 473-1000/(91-11) 41479301
World Bank Scholarship 2025 – FAQs
Can students who are already enrolled in one of the participating programs apply for this scholarship?
No, this scholarship is open to students who currently possess an unconditional admission letter to one of the participating programs. Students who are already enrolled are ineligible to apply.
Can the Indian students living outside India apply for this scholarship?
No, only those students who are currently residing in India can apply.
How long will the scholarship support last?
The scholarship support and benefits will last for the duration of the graduate program, or two years, whichever is less.
I’m from a developing country, but my country isn’t listed in the dropdown menu. Am I eligible?
No, JJWBGSP scholarships have strict nationality criteria with no exceptions.
Is there an age limit for applicants?
No, there’s no minimum or maximum age limit applicable.
Can I apply before receiving an admission letter?
No, an unconditional admission letter (except for financing or medical requirements) is mandatory for eligibility.
What is the particular requirement for students who choose to study in the USA?
Scholars who wish to pursue and are selected for studies in the US must travel to the US on a J-1 Visa. Travel through any other means is not permitted, and will result in disqualification.
If a student has completed their application for their desired Master’s degree program, can they apply for this scholarship?
Students must have secured an unconditional admission letter from the respective institution in order to apply for this scholarship.