The World Bank Scholarships Program contributes to the World Bank Group’s mission of forging new dynamic approaches to capacity development and knowledge sharing in the developing world.
It is an important component of the Bank Group’s efforts to promote economic development and shared prosperity through investing in education and developing human resources in the developing world.
Since 1982, the Program has helped to form a pool of over 6,000 well-trained and experienced development professionals, transforming their countries and positively impacting future generations.
Currently, the World Bank Scholarships Program offers two sources of funding for graduate studies in development-related fields for mid-career professionals and researchers:
ATTENTION: The 2019 call for scholarship applications from developing country nationals for studies at preferred universities and from Japan nationals is closed. In July 2019 a post on this website will notify the public when all scholarships from this call for applications have been awarded. Learn more about how to apply for future JJWBGSP scholarship opportunities for Developing Country Nationals and for Japan Nationals.
ATTENTION: The call for RSMFP fellowship applications from PhD candidates is now open until the application deadline of May 2, 2019. Learn more.
Inactive Program
Japan Indonesia Presidential Scholarship Program (JIPS)
This Program is no longer accepting applications. With a one-time $10 million grant from the Government of Japan, this scholarship supported three cohorts (2008–2010) of 43 Indonesian
The Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program (RSMFP) provides support to developing country citizens (.xlsx) who are current PhD candidates studying in developing countries, funding up to $25,000 to conduct PhD research on a development topic in a World Bank member country other than the Fellow's home country or country of residence. This is a wonderful opportunity for the most promising developing nation researchers to advance their doctoral work with the best international advisors and host institutions in their fields of study.
The call for RSMFP fellowship applications from PhD candidates is now open until the application deadline of May 2, 2019. Learn how to apply.
RSMFP was established in 1982 with $2.8 million in funding from the World Bank and the governments of Bangladesh, China, India, Kuwait, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, and former Yugoslavia.
How to Apply?
What are the RSMFP Benefits?
What is the Selection Process?
Guidance for this call for RSMFP fellowship applications, including this call’s: (i) instructions and requirements to submit an application, the eligibility criteria applicants must meet; and the selection process are provided in the Application Guidelines and FAQs (Updated on April 11, 2019). Please read these documents before starting your application.
Once you are familiar with the application requirements and processes, click HERE to apply, and refer to the Accessing the online application and Navigating the online application to learn how to access and navigate the online application.
Please note:
i) You will be required to upload a proposed budget for RSM financing in the application. The template (Updated on April 11, 2019) you are required to use for this budget can be downloaded here.
ii) Regarding some eligibility criteria you may want to refer to the list of World Bank member countries, and to the list of World Bank member countries that can receive Bank financing.
iii) The FAQs document will be updated on an as needed basis during the call for applications to ensure clarity of instructions.
RSMFP provides up to $25,000 (U.S.) for developing country nationals to travel abroad to conduct development-related PhD research under the supervision of a host advisor at a university, research or development institution in a World Bank member country. The Scholarship covers a 6 to 10 month period. Details on eligible expenditures are provided in the Application Guidelines.
What is the Selection Process?
The RSMFP uses the following process to review completed applications, with the aim to identify eligible candidates with the most innovative and relevant research proposals in the area of development.
Two qualified reviewers independently review each eligible application to assess the following:
Information provided by your PhD thesis supervisor and your host institution research advisor are particularly important elements of your application.
The World Bank Robert S. McNamara Secretariat uses the average score of the two reviewers and the following other aspects to select the finalists:
The finalists are presented to the World Bank Robert S. McNamara Steering Committee (composed of some members of the World Bank Board of Directors and WB management) for final review and selection of the winners of the award. The RSMFP Secretariat notifies the public on this website that the selection is made and individually informs the winners of the Fellowship.
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is open to women and men from 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.
Subject to available funding, JJWBGSP offers scholarships for master degree programs in key areas of development. After earning their degree, developing country scholars commit to return to their home country to use their new skills and contribute to their countries’ social and economic development.
A JJWBGSP scholarship provides tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance. View a detailed list of benefits.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
How to Apply
Selection Process
Scholarship Benefits
Details on Eligibility Criteria for each call for applications are provided in that call’s Application Guidelines, and these detailed eligibility criteria are strictly adhered to. No exceptions are made.
Broadly speaking, Developing Country nationals must:
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.
Applicants can apply for scholarships to both Preferred and Partner Programs. The process to apply to a Preferred Program and to a Partner Program differs:
Those seeking a JJ/WBGSP Partner Program scholarship must first apply for admission to one or more of the Partner Master’s Degree Program(s). See our Announcements posted on the right side of this website for upcoming calls for scholarship applications for developing country nationals to study at one of our partner master programs, as these calls are announced on a rolling basis throughout the calendar year. Inquiries on how to submit an admission application to a partner program should be submitted to the respective university.
After reviewing submitted applications, each Partner Master Degree Program will identify a short list of eligible candidates who will then be invited by the JJWBGSP Secretariat to apply for a JJ/WBGSP scholarship. View the complete list of JJ/WBGSP Partner (.xlsx 15 KB) master degrees offered for cohorts starting their academic year prior to July 2020. The list of JJ/WBGSP scholarships to Partner Master Degrees for cohorts of scholars that start their academic year after June 2020 will be posted in the summer of 2019.
Those seeking a JJ/WBGSP Preferred Program scholarship must apply directly and be admitted unconditionally to one or more of the Preferred Program(s) before submitting a JJWBGSP scholarship through an open call typically announced within the first two months of a calendar year.
ATTENTION: The 2019 call for scholarship applications from developing country nationals for studies at preferred universities is closed. In July 2019 a post on this website will notify the public when all scholarships from this call for applications have been awarded.
The next call for applications for a JJWBGSP Scholarship to one of our Preferred Programs is scheduled to open in March 2020. The list of JJ/WBGSP Preferred Master Degrees offered for cohorts that start their academic year after June 2020 will be posted in the summer of 2019.
When the scholarship applications for the Preferred Program is open, the finalized list of preferred programs, the application guidelines, online application, and a finalized list of eligibility criteria will be available on this site. The scholarship application must be completed online and include two professional references. It must also include an unconditional (except for secured funding) letter of admission from the preferred master’s degree program that the applicant wants JJWBGSP funding. Note that if the applicant is admitted to several master’s degree programs, he/she must choose at the time of submitting the scholarship application which program to attend with JJWBGSP funding. We have requested our preferred master’s degree programs to issue all letters of admission prior to the closing deadline for our scholarship application. Any documents an applicant provides by email, post or any means other than the online application form will not be reviewed.
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:
The JJ/WBGSP Secretariat uses the average score of the two assessors and the following criteria to select the finalists:
The JJWBGSP Secretariat presents the finalists for the preferred program scholarship to the JJ/WBG Steering Committee (composed of members of the World Bank Board of Directors and WB management) for approval. The finalists for partnership scholarship are presented for approval on a rolling basis throughout the year, matching the JJWBGSP Partner university’s admission cycle. In all cases, winners are notified soon after the JJWBG Steering Committee approval.
The JJ/WBGSP scholarship provides the recipient with the following benefits:
Please note all JJ/WBGSP scholarships cover the duration of the graduate program or two years, whichever is less.
The JJ/WBGSP scholarship does not cover:
Note: The JJ/WBGSP scholarship may only supplement, and does not duplicate, any other source of financial support/fellowship you might have. If you are notified to be a semi-finalist or if you are awarded a scholarship, you must inform and document to the JJ/WBGSP at that time if you have other sources of scholarship funds.
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) provides scholarships for no more than a two-year duration to a limited number of Japanese mid-career professionals who are dedicated to the alleviation of poverty and enhanced shared prosperity in developing countries, and who have been admitted to or are currently enrolled in a master’s or PhD graduate degree program outside of Japan and in development-related fields. Graduate degrees related to Foreign Service, Diplomacy, Business (including MBAs) and Law (including LLMs), Medicine (including MDs) are not eligible for financing by the JJWBGSP scholarship.
After earning their degree, Japanese national scholars are expected to advance their professional career with a keen focus on the alleviation of poverty and enhanced shared prosperity in developing countries.
ATTENTION: The 2019 call for scholarship applications from Japan nationals is closed. In July 2019 a post on this website will notify the public when all scholarships from this call for applications have been awarded.
The next call for applications for a JJWBGSP Scholarship will open in March 2020.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
Selection Process
Scholarship Benefits
Details on Eligibility Criteria for each call for applications are provided in that call’s Application Guidelines, and these detailed eligibility criteria are strictly adhered to. No exceptions are made. In general, criteria include:
The JJ/WBGSP uses the following process to review eligible scholarship applications from Japan nationals, with the aim of identifying the candidates with the highest potential, after completion of their graduate studies, to impact international development.
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:
The JJ/WBGSP Secretariat uses the average score of the two assessors and the following criteria to select the finalists:
The JJWBGSP Secretariat presents the finalists to the JJ/WBG Steering Committee (composed of members of the World Bank Board of Directors and WB management) for approval. Winners are by mid-July, after the JJWBG Steering Committee approval.
The scholarship is fully funded by the Government of Japan, and provides for each scholarship recipient the following benefits during the scholarship period:
Please note all JJ/WBGSP scholarships cover the duration of the graduate program or two years, whichever is less.
The JJ/WBGSP scholarship does not cover:
Note: The JJ/WBGSP scholarship may only supplement, and does not duplicate, any other source of financial support/fellowship you might have. If you are notified to be a semi-finalist or if you are awarded a scholarship, you must inform and document to the JJ/WBGSP at that time if you have other sources of scholarship funds.
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