2026 Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program

The Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program is open to citizens of eligible developing countries who wish to pursue development-related Master’s programs at selected universities across the United States, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan.

The scholarship is funded by the Government of Japan in partnership with the World Bank and supports studies in key development fields such as economic policy management, tax policy, and infrastructure management. Subject to available funding, the program offers scholarships for 52 participating programs across 24 universities worldwide.

To align with different academic calendars, the 2026 Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship application process is organized in two rounds. Application Window 1 runs from January 15 to February 27, 2026, while Application Window 2 runs from March 30 to May 29, 2026.

After completing their degree, scholars are required to return to their home country and apply their new skills toward social and economic development.

Scholarship Summary

• Host: Government of Japan | World Bank
• Study Abroad: Study in USA | Study in UK | Study in Europe | Study in Asia | Study in Australia
• Category: Postgraduate Scholarships | Masters Scholarships
• Eligible Countries: All Developing Countries
• Reward: Full Scholarship | Monthly Stipend | Accommodation | Air-Ticket
• Deadline: May 29, 2026

To be considered for the Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be a national of a World Bank member developing country
• Not hold dual citizenship of any developed country
• Be in good health
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent earned at least three years before the application deadline
• Have three years or more of recent development-related work experience after earning a Bachelor’s degree
• Be employed in a paid full-time development-related position at the time of submitting the scholarship application
• Have at least three years of paid development-related employment acquired within the past six years from the application deadline

The Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program provides the following benefits to successful applicants:

• Economy class air travel between the scholar’s home country and the host university at the start and end of the study program
• A US $500 travel allowance for each trip
• Full tuition fees for the graduate program
• Basic medical insurance obtained through the university
• A monthly subsistence allowance to cover living expenses, including accommodation, food, and books. The allowance amount varies depending on the host country

  All scholarships cover the duration of the graduate program or two years, whichever is shorter.

To apply for the Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program, interested and qualified applicants should follow the steps below:

• Visit the official Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship application page
• Click on the “CLICK HERE TO APPLY” button
• Complete and submit the online application before the deadline

The final application deadline for the 2026 Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship Program is May 29, 2026.