🌍 World Bank Scholarships Program 🎓 JJ/WBGSP & Robert S. McNamara Fellowships — Fully Funded Opportunities for Development Professionals 🏛️

Since 1982, the World Bank's Development Economics Vice Presidency has been investing in the next generation of development professionals and researchers from the developing world. Over 7,000 alumni later — across 160 countries — the impact speaks for itself. Two active programmes currently offer fully funded pathways for mid-career professionals and young researchers who want to contribute to global development at the highest level.

Programme 1: Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)

The JJ/WBGSP is one of the most prestigious graduate scholarships available to mid-career professionals from developing countries. Funded solely and annually by the Government of Japan, it has enabled more than 7,000 professionals from 160 developing countries to complete graduate degrees in development-related fields since 1987.

What Is It?

The scholarship supports master's degree studies in 44 Participating Programs across 24 universities in the US, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan — covering key areas of development including economic policy management, tax policy, and infrastructure management.

⚠️ If you are not admitted to one of these 44 Participating Master's Programs, you are not eligible to apply.

Application Windows — 2026

The application process runs in two rounds to accommodate the academic calendars of participating programmes:

📅 Window 1: 15 January 2026 – 27 February 2026

📅 Window 2: 30 March 2026 – 29 May 2026

⚠️ The application form link is only communicated to candidates who have been unconditionally admitted (except for funding) to a JJ/WBGSP participating master's programme AND shortlisted as eligible by the participating university. Contact your target university first.

Who Is Eligible?

🔹 National of a World Bank member developing country on the eligible countries list

🔹 No dual citizenship of any developed country

🔹 In good health

🔹 Holds a bachelor's degree earned at least 3 years before the application deadline

🔹 Currently employed full-time in development-related work

🔹 At least 3 years of paid development-related employment since earning a bachelor's degree — acquired within the past 6 years from the application deadline

🔹 Unconditionally admitted (except for funding) to at least one JJ/WBGSP participating master's programme located outside their country of citizenship and residence

🔹 Not a World Bank Group staff member or close relative thereof

🔹 Not a previous JJ/WBGSP scholarship recipient who did not graduate, or a previous offeree who declined

⚠️ All eligibility criteria are strictly adhered to. No exceptions are made.

Selection Process

Two qualified assessors independently review and score each eligible application on a scale of 1 to 10, based on four factors:

📋 Quality of professional experience — 30% weight

📋 Quality of professional recommendations — 30% weight

📋 Quality of commitment to home country — 30% weight

📋 Quality of education background — 10% weight

Additional selection criteria consider geographical distribution, gender balance, unusual circumstances or hardships, and limited access to financial resources for graduate studies abroad.

The final list of finalists is presented to the JJ/WBGSP Steering Committee for approval.

Scholarship Benefits

✈️ Economy class round-trip airfare between home country and host university + $600 travel allowance per trip

🎓 Full tuition for the graduate programme

🏥 Basic medical insurance obtained through the university

💶 Monthly subsistence allowance while on campus — covering accommodation, food, books, and living expenses (amount varies by host country)

⚠️ The scholarship covers the duration of the graduate programme or two years, whichever is less.

What the Scholarship Does NOT Cover

❌ Visa application costs

❌ Family members' expenses

❌ Extra-curricular courses or training

❌ Language training not provided by the graduate programme

❌ Additional travel during the study programme

❌ Research expenses, field trips, workshops, seminars, or internships

❌ Educational equipment such as computers

❌ Resident permit fees

⚠️ The JJ/WBGSP scholarship may only supplement — and does not duplicate — any other scholarship or fellowship. If awarded another scholarship, you must inform the JJ/WBGSP Secretariat.

Programme 2: Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program (RSMFP)

⚠️ The RSMFP is no longer receiving applications.

The Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program matches aspiring development economics researchers from developing countries with World Bank research economists — creating unique opportunities to participate in rigorous, policy-relevant research in the World Bank's Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC).

Fellows are hosted at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. for 8 months (September to May) and work under the supervision of researchers in the Development Impact (DIME) and Development Research Group departments.

What Fellows Gain

🔬 Professional experience — work on World Bank projects under direct supervision of DEC researchers, with training on cutting-edge research practices and technologies

📚 Capacity building — one-week technical onboarding, hands-on training sessions, and seminars by top economists throughout the programme

📝 Research dissemination — fellows are invited to write a blog based on their fellowship research. The top 4 blogs each year are published on DEC's Let's Talk Development platform

Depending on the nature of projects, fellows may also co-author with DEC researchers, join field missions, or directly engage with World Bank clients.