Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program

One-year fully funded scholarships for applicants from developing countries wishing to pursue full-time taught Masters study in selected programmes and Schools at the University of Leeds.

UK/International: International
Value - what funding is on offer: Full tuition and fees, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, and travel allowance.
Who is eligible: For nationals from developing countries with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their country's development efforts. Please see Conditions for more details.
Deadline: 23 May 2025, 12pm noon EST.

How to apply

There are two application rounds in the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJWBGSP). The University of Leeds is participating in Application Window 2 which runs from March 25 to 23 May 2025 at 12:00 noon EST.

Further information, including eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found at the World Bank Scholarships Program website. 

Completed applications, including two professional references, must be submitted online by 23 May 2025, 12pm noon EST.

Eligible University of Leeds courses, participating in session 2025/26:

• Master of Public Health (International)
• MSc Sustainable Cities
• MSc Water Sanitation and Health Engineering
• MSc Sustainable Food Systems and Food Security

Please note that applicants must have submitted a complete study application by 1 March 2025.

Stage 1: Shortlisting

For students applying to MSc Sustainable Cities, MSc Water, Sanitation and Health Engineering, or MSc Sustainable Food Systems and Food Security, please complete the relevant Expression of Interest Form:

• Expression of Interest Form MSc Sustainable Cities and MSc Sustainable Food Systems and Food Security – Deadline 1 March 2025
• Expression of Interest Form MSc Water, Sanitation and Health Engineering – Deadline 1 March 2025

This form is essential for expressing your interest in the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJWBGSP) for these programmes. The respective Schools will then provide a shortlist of eligible applicants.

For students applying to the Master of Public Health, eligible applicants will be shortlisted and contacted directly by the School and do not need to complete an Expression of Interest Form, but must submit their course application by 1 March 2025 in order to be considered.

Stage 2: Application

All shortlisted applicants will be provided with a link to complete the online JJWBGSP application form.

How the scholarships are awarded

Schools provide a shortlist of applicants for each JJWBGSP Participating Program. Final decisions on awards will be made by the JJWBGSP Secretariat.

Conditions

Details on eligibility criteria for each call for applications are provided in the Application Guidelines (PDF), and the detailed eligibility criteria are strictly adhered to. No exceptions are made.

Broadly speaking, Developing Country nationals must:

• Be a national of a World Bank member developing country on World Bank website’s list.
• Not hold dual citizenship of any developed country.
• Be in good health.
• Hold a Bachelors (or equivalent) degree earned at least 3 years prior to the Application Deadline date (ie no later than 23 May 2022).
• 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. The only exception to this criterion is for developing country nationals from a country that is on the list of Fragile and Conflict States featured in Annex 3 of the Application Guidelines (PDF). In such cases, we do take into consideration the limited employment opportunities in those countries.
• On or before the scholarship application deadline date, be admitted unconditionally (except for funding) for the upcoming academic year to at least one of the JJ/WBGSP participating Masters programs, located outside of the applicant’s country of citizenship and country of residence listed at the time the call for scholarship applications opens. The letter of admission must be uploaded before submitting the scholarship application.
• 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 with the term "close relative" defined as: Mother, Father, Sister, Half-sister, Brother, Half-brother, Son, Daughter, Aunt, Uncle, Niece, or Nephew.
• Individuals who have previously been offered a JJWBGSP scholarship but declined it, or have previously received a JJWBGSP scholarship but did not graduate, are not eligible to reapply.