The order of operations here is unlike almost every other award. Admission comes first, and it is the university, not the World Bank, that opens the door: the link to the scholarship application is sent only to candidates who already hold an unconditional offer from one of the 44 participating master's programmes and who that university has shortlisted as eligible. Someone not admitted to one of those 44 programmes cannot apply at all in 2027.
The practical step that follows is to contact the university offering the target programme and ask whether both conditions are met, before counting on anything.
This is a scholarship for working professionals, not for new graduates. The bachelor's degree must be at least three years old, the applicant must be in a paid full-time development-related job at the moment of applying, and must have at least three years of paid development-related work since the degree, earned within the last six. The single exception is for nationals of countries on the programme's Fragile and Conflict States list, where limited employment opportunities are taken into account.
The programme must also be outside both the country of citizenship and the country of residence, which rules out studying at home.
Funding covers tuition, basic medical insurance through the university, flights at each end with a US$600 travel allowance per trip, and a monthly subsistence allowance whose level depends on the host country. It runs for the length of the programme or two years, whichever is shorter.
The exclusions are long and specific: visa and residence permit fees, anything for family, extra-curricular courses, credits beyond the degree minimum, language training not built into the programme, additional travel, research and field trip costs, workshops and internships, and computers.
Scoring is published, which is rare and useful. Two assessors score independently out of 10, with professional experience, references and commitment to the home country each worth 30% and educational background just 10%. Academic record is the smallest component of the four.
After scoring, the Secretariat balances geography and gender, weighs hardship, and favours candidates with limited access to money for study abroad. Finalists then go to a Steering Committee of World Bank Board members and management for approval.
Two disqualifications are permanent: declining a JJ/WBGSP award once, or receiving one and not graduating.
The programme page and the 2027 eligible countries list were checked on 22 September 2026. The World Bank publishes the window dates without a time zone, so no clock time is given here.