Japanese Studies Scholarships
Language and Culture that Move Business
Why Japanese Studies? Japan is an important trading partner of the United States. U.S.-Japan alliances have become strong in almost every area, including business and industry. Next to English, Japanese is the language used most often online. Today’s professional in any field with Japanese language and culture skills will have an advantage.
Scholarship Programs
Consulate General of Japan in New York, Japanese Government Scholarship ProgramsSeveral funding opportunities exist under the umbrella of the Japanese Government Scholarship Programs:
- The Japanese Study Scholarship gives undergraduates studying the Japanese language or culture the opportunity to study abroad for a year. The Research Student Scholarship provides funding for college graduates and those in graduate school to spend either 18 months or two years in Japan.
- High-school graduates can opt to attend vocational training in Japan for three years under the Vocational School Scholarship.
- Another option is to sign up for five years of education in Japan under the Undergraduate Student Scholarship. Those accepted into this program will receive a year of Japanese language training and then start working on their undergraduate degree in Japan.
All of these programs pay a monthly stipend and an arrival allowance. Airfare to and from Japan is also paid for. The Consulate in New York will assist with applications from U.S. citizens only; students from other countries are to apply for this program at the Japanese Embassy in their country of origin.
Bridging Scholarships for Study in JapanThrough the Bridging Scholarships program, 100 undergraduate students will receive funding for living and travel expenses to allow them to study in Japan for a semester or an entire academic year. Applicants can be pursuing any major; please note that majoring in Japanese is not a prerequisite for receiving financial assistance; it is enough that participants have an interest in learning about Japan’s language and culture.
Students planning on being in Japan for one semester will receive a stipend of $2,500; those who are staying for the full academic year will receive $4,000. In addition to an application, applicants are also required to submit a personal essay, an official transcript, and a letter of recommendation.
Valparaiso University, Indiana, Chinese and Japanese Studies ScholarshipAs many as five freshman or transfer students who have selected Chinese and Japanese Studies as a major will receive up to $5,000 in scholarship funds in addition to any other scholarships, loans, or grants these individuals may already have been awarded. Funding is renewable for a further three years. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of a statement indicating their interest in this field of study and a letter of recommendation from a teacher. To receive funding for subsequent years, a GPA of 2.75 or more is required; in courses related to the student’s chosen major, he or she must maintain a GPA of at least 3.25.
The Japan Exchange and Teaching Alumni Association of Northern California (JETAANC)JETAANC provides a scholarship worth $1,000 to a high school student who is planning on attending either a college or university. The recipient must be able to demonstrate an interest in Japan or its culture in order to be considered for funding.
University of Pittsburgh, Asian Studies CenterThe following scholarship programs are available to Japanese Studies majors at UP:
- The Japanese Studies Undergraduate Scholarship is awarded to a student who has previously studied the Japanese language, for a minimum of two years, as well as taken courses on Japan. The $2,000 is to be used toward tuition.
- The Study-in-Japan Scholarship pays $5,000 for a year or $2,500 per semester toward tuition for those students who have demonstrated a significant interest in Japanese studies. Preference will be given to applicants who have studied the Japanese language for at least two years.
- The Japanese Summer Language Study Scholarship provides $2,000 to help defray the cost of studying in either the United States or Japan. In this case, preference is given to those applicants who have studied Japanese for at least a year.
International students, including those majoring in Japanese, can apply for partial tuition scholarships at Linfield College. To be considered, interested persons must include a personal letter with their application.
Old Dominion University, Virginia, Department of Foreign Languages and LiteraturesInternational students pursuing a minor in Japanese Studies at Old Dominion are eligible to apply for a merit-based, partial tuition scholarship. The International Student Scholarship provides funding ranging from $4,000-$8,000 per year and can be renewed for an additional three years.
To be considered for this assistance, applicants must be new students who rank in the top 10% of their class. Candidates will submit an undergraduate application form, a Financial Need Analysis Form, two letters of recommendation, a personal essay, and SAT scores, if available. A TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550/213 or proof of proficiency in English is also required.
