World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (WBGSP)

In 1987, the World Bank, with funding from the Government of Japan, established the World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (WBGSP) for graduate studies in subjects related to economic development. Each year, the Program awards scholarships to individuals from World Bank member countries to undertake graduate studies at renowned universities throughout member countries of the Bank.



Conditions

Eligibility:

To apply for a JJ/WBGSP scholarship under the Regular Program, an applicant must:

1.
Be a national of a World Bank member country eligible to borrow.
2.
Applicants born before April 1, 1968 will not be considered.
3.
Have, by March 31, 2008, at least 2 years of recent full time professional experience acquired after a university degree, in the applicant’s home country or in another developing country.
4.
Hold a bachelor's degree or its equivalent.
5.
Be in good health.
6.
Be of good character.
7.
Not be a permanent resident or a national of any industrialized country.
8.
Not be residing in an industrialized country for more than one year.
9.
Executive Directors, their alternates, staff of the World Bank Group (the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, International Development Association, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, and International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes), consultants, and relatives of the aforementioned are excluded from consideration.

Program of Study:

1.
Eligible applicants should propose a program of study related to development at the master's level, in fields such as economics, health, education, agriculture, environment, natural resource management, or other development‑related subject.
2.
The proposed program of study should start during the academic year 2007/2008 for a maximum duration of two years.
3.
The JJ/WBGSP Program does not support applicants who are already enrolled (i.e., taking classes) in graduate degree programs.
4.
Applicants should submit evidence of current unconditional admission to at least one development-related university master’s degree program and proof of application to a second such program in one of the Program’s host universities.
5.
Only admissions in permitted universities will be considered.
6.
The Program does not support studies in the applicant’s home country.
7.
The Program does not support applicants for MBA, M.Phil. or Ph.D. degrees.
8.
The Program does not support legal studies such as J.D., L.L.M. or S.J.D. except for L.L.M.’s related to human rights, environment, or good governance.

Selection Criteria:

1.
Eligible applications are assessed according to three main factors: academic excellence, professional experience, and relevance of program of study.
2.
Priority is given to candidates from the public sector with a high potential to impact the development in their own countries after completion of their studies.
3.
To the extent permitted by Program requirements and selection standards, the JJ/WBGSP:

o
Seeks to maintain a reasonably wide geographical distribution of awards and gives priority to applicants from low income countries.
o
Supports promising female candidates.
o
gives priority to those candidates who, other things equal, have limited financial resources.
o
Encourages studies in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), among which are poverty, education, gender equality, maternal health.

Address

The JJ/WBGSP Secretariat
MSN J2-204
1818 H Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20433, USA

URL

http://go.worldbank.org/NV4RFT1BP0