Only 44 specific master's programs at 24 universities participate in JJ/WBGSP. This is not all programs at these universities — only the specific approved programs. If your program isn't on this list, it doesn't qualify regardless of how development-related it is. A public policy program at a non-listed university simply isn't eligible, full stop.
The program list is set by the JJ/WBGSP Secretariat and can change from cycle to cycle — universities are added and removed. The list below reflects the most recently published (2026) cycle and is the best available guide while the 2027 list is pending — the official 2027 participating-programs list had not yet been released at the time of writing. Always verify against the official World Bank JJ/WBGSP page before submitting any university application.
Critical: Two Windows, One Application
The program list is divided into Window 1 (January–February) and Window 2 (March–May). You must apply to a program in its correct window — you cannot apply to a Window 2 program during Window 1 and vice versa.
Some universities appear in both windows — but with different programs in each. Columbia University SIPA appears in both windows but offers different degrees in each. The same applies to the University of Tokyo. Do not assume that a university's presence in one window means all of its programs are eligible in that window.
You may submit only one scholarship application per annual cycle. Choose your window and program carefully.
typically January 15 – February 27 (2027 dates to be confirmed) • 9 universities • 13 programs
United States
Brandeis University – Heller School for Social Policy and Management
- ● MA in Global Sustainability Policy and Management
- ● MA in Global Health Policy and Management
- ● Master of Public Policy
Strong fit for: health systems, environmental governance, social policy, public management.
United States
Columbia University – School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)
- ● MPA in Economic Policy Management
- ● MPA in Global Leadership
Columbia appears in both windows — but with different specific programs. Confirm which program is in which window before applying.
United States
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
- ● Master of Public Health (MPH)
Strong fit for: public health professionals, epidemiologists, health systems workers.
Netherlands
KIT Royal Tropical Institute / Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
- ● MS in Public Health and Health Equity
Focused on global health equity, health policy, and health systems in low-resource settings.
United States
UC Berkeley – Goldman School of Public Policy
- ● Master of Development Practice (MDP)
Interdisciplinary program bridging natural sciences, social sciences, and management for sustainable development.
Japan · Also in Window 2 (different school)
University of Tokyo – Graduate School of Public Policy (GraSPP)
- ● MPP International Program — offered in both English-track and Japanese-track streams
Note: The University of Tokyo appears in both windows — GraSPP (public policy) is in Window 1; the Graduate School of Agriculture is in Window 2. These are different schools within the same university.
Japan
University of Tsukuba
- ● Master's in Economic and Public Policy
Policy economics with a development focus, taught in English at Tsukuba's Tokyo campus.
United States
Williams College – Center for Development Economics (CDE)
- ● MA in Policy Economics
One of the most development-focused economics programs in the network — designed specifically for development economists and economic policy practitioners.
United States
Yale School of Management
- ● Master in Systemic Risk
Focused on systemic risk analysis in financial, environmental, and public health systems. Strong fit for central bankers, financial regulators, and risk management professionals from developing countries.
typically March 30 – May 29 (2027 dates to be confirmed) • 16 universities • 31 programs
Australia
Australian National University – Crawford School of Public Policy
- ●Master of Climate Change
- ●Master of Environmental and Resource Economics
- ●Master of Environmental Management and Development
- ●Master of Public Policy
Strong for climate policy, environmental governance, natural resource management, and Pacific-region development professionals.
United States · Also in Window 1
Columbia University – School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)
- ●Master of Public Administration (MPA)
- ●MPA in Development Practice
Different programs from Window 1. Check which specific Columbia program matches your goals and which window it falls in.
Netherlands
Erasmus University – IHS Rotterdam & ISS The Hague
- ●MSc Urban Management and Development (IHS Rotterdam)
- ●MA in Development Studies (ISS The Hague)
Two programs within the Erasmus ecosystem but at different institutes — IHS for urban specialists, ISS for broader development studies.
United States
Harvard Kennedy School
- ●MPA in International Development (MPA/ID)
The MPA/ID is widely regarded as one of the most rigorous development policy programs in the world. Highly competitive within the JJ/WBGSP pool. Strong fit for economists and policy analysts.
Netherlands
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
- ●MSc Water and Sustainable Development — available in four specialization tracks: Water Management, Water Supply Engineering, Sanitation, and Hydroinformatics
The leading institution globally for water and sanitation education. If your development work is in WASH, water supply infrastructure, river basin management, or flood risk, this should be on your shortlist ahead of more generalist programs.
Japan
Keio University
- ●Master in Taxation Policy and Management
Specifically designed for tax policy professionals and revenue authority staff from developing countries. One of the most targeted programs in the network.
United Kingdom
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
- ●MSc Development Management
- ●MSc Development Studies
- ●MSc Global Health Policy
- ●MSc International Social and Public Policy
Four distinct programs covering different aspects of development. Choose based on your specific work — not based on the general LSE brand. The program fit with your professional experience matters more than the university name.
Japan
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)
- ●Tax Course of the Public Finance Program
GRIPS is Japan's primary graduate school for public policy. This specific tax program is for revenue and finance professionals. If you work in tax administration and want to study in Japan, GRIPS and Keio are both options worth comparing.
Japan
Saitama University
- ●International Graduate Program on Civil and Environmental Engineering
Technical engineering program for civil infrastructure and environmental engineering professionals. Less well-known globally but highly specific — strong for infrastructure engineers from developing countries.
United Kingdom
SOAS University of London
- ●MSc Development Economics
- ●MSc Economics
SOAS has particular strength in Africa, Asia, and Middle East regional expertise. Good fit for economists whose development work is regionally concentrated in these areas.
United States
Stanford University
- ●Master in International Policy (MIP)
One of the most competitive programs in the JJ/WBGSP network given the university brand. The MIP is a one-year professional degree at the Freeman Spogli Institute focused on international policy analysis.
France
Université Clermont-Auvergne – FERDI
- ●Master in Economic Policy Management
FERDI (Foundation for Studies and Research on International Development) specializes in economic vulnerability and development for low-income countries. Less well-known than US/UK options but highly targeted.
United Kingdom
University of Leeds
- ●Master of Public Health (International)
- ●MSc Sustainable Cities
- ●MSc Water Sanitation and Health Engineering
- ●MSc Sustainable Food Systems
Leeds has a notably diverse development offering — spanning public health, urban planning, WASH engineering, and food systems. If your work spans any of these areas, Leeds deserves serious consideration even without the global name recognition of Oxford or LSE.
United Kingdom
University of Oxford – Blavatnik School & Other Departments
- ●MPP – Blavatnik School of Government
- ●MSc Refugees and Forced Migration Studies
- ●MSc International Health and Tropical Medicine
Three very different programs under the Oxford umbrella. The Blavatnik MPP is broad government/policy; the refugee studies MSc is specialized; the tropical medicine MSc is for health professionals. Choose the one that matches your actual work, not the most prestigious-sounding title.
Japan · Also in Window 1 (different school)
University of Tokyo – Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences
- ●International Program on Agricultural Development Studies (IPADS)
Specialized for agricultural development and food security professionals. Different from the Window 1 GraSPP public policy program — this is applied agricultural science and rural development.
Japan
Yokohama National University
- ●Infrastructure Management Program (Graduate School of Urban Innovation)
- ●Master's Program in Public Policy and Taxation
Two distinct programs: one for infrastructure engineers (urban infrastructure, transport, utilities), one for public policy and taxation professionals. Yokohama is a less globally prominent name but the programs are technically focused and cost-effective for development work.
How to Choose the Right Program
This is the most important decision in your JJ/WBGSP application — and the one where most people go wrong. The instinct is to apply to the most prestigious university on the list. Resist that. The scholarship scoring rewards fit between your development work and the program, not the university's global ranking.
Match Program to Your Work
- →A water engineer should look at IHE Delft or Leeds (Water Sanitation) before Harvard or Oxford
- →A tax policy specialist should compare GRIPS and Keio before LSE or Stanford
- →An agricultural development professional should consider U Tokyo Agriculture (IPADS) before a general public policy program
- →A public health official with hands-on clinic experience may fit Johns Hopkins MPH better than a policy-focused health program
Consider Slot Competition
- →Every program has exactly 5 scholarship slots per year regardless of how many applicants it receives
- →Programs at Harvard, Oxford, and Stanford likely attract the most JJ/WBGSP applicants from the eligible pool
- →Specialized programs (IHE Delft, Saitama, FERDI) may have fewer applications from the eligible pool — an advantage for well-matched candidates
- →The quality of your application matters more than program selectivity — a strong application to a niche program beats a mediocre one to Harvard
Practical Questions to Ask Yourself
- 1.What specific development problem am I trying to solve in my home country?
- 2.Which skills do I currently lack that would help me solve that problem?
- 3.Which program on this list most directly teaches those skills?
- 4.Can I credibly connect my 3+ years of work experience to the program's content?
- 5.Is this program in Window 1 or Window 2, and when is the university's own admission deadline?
- 6.Does my home country's development context align with the program's geographic or sectoral focus?
Before You Apply: Critical Checks
Only 5 Slots Per Program
Every participating program has exactly 5 scholarship slots per annual cycle. There is no overflow or waitlist. The university nominates candidates; the Secretariat awards up to 5. If all 5 slots are filled by stronger applications, yours does not advance regardless of your score.
Columbia and Erasmus: Dual Presence
Columbia University SIPA appears in both windows with different programs. Make absolutely sure you know which specific program is in which window. Applying to a Window 2 Columbia program during Window 1 is an application to a program that isn't open in that window.
University Deadlines Are Separate
University application deadlines and scholarship window deadlines are completely independent. Many universities require applications months before the scholarship window opens. Contact each university directly to confirm their admission deadline. Missing the university deadline means you cannot receive a nomination.
Next Step
Ready to Apply?
Once you've identified your target program and confirmed your eligibility, the next step is understanding how the two-stage application process actually works — university admission first, then the scholarship portal.
How to Apply →