10 Sensei-tional Scholarships to Study Abroad in Japan

So you’re heading off for a study abroad experience in the island country of Japan? That’s an incredible opportunity for a student of any age or discipline! You’re definitely going to enjoy this next adventure in your learning journey. And, if you want to take advantage of all of the resources available to you, your next step should likely be to consider your options for funding — including the possibilities for scholarships to study abroad in Japan.

As you begin that research, it might help you to know that in Japan, study abroad scholarships are designed to provide support for your education while creating opportunities for you to gain exposure to Japanese culture through an immersive experience.

In terms of access, from generalized support made available through the Japanese government, to highly specialized programs dedicated to specific courses of study, there are countless programs available for scholarships for study abroad in Japan—making your plans to continue your education in the Land of the Rising Sun an incredibly promising option for international learning.

RELATED: The Pros & Cons of Study Abroad in Japan

10 scholarships for studying abroad in Japan

1. The Bridging Scholarship 

If you know you want to study abroad in Japan, but you’re not sold on any specific program, scholarships like this one make it possible! This scholarship is open to undergraduate learners in any field of study as long as they can provide evidence that they will receive college credit for their courses upon their return to the U.S.

There are one hundred opportunities offered during two funding cycles per year, provided by a consortium consisting of a combination of private donor foundations and major corporations. The scholarship requirements include a post-study report on the experience, which must be completed within 90 days of leaving Japan.

• How much? Scholarships are in the form of stipends that range from $2,500 USD for semester-long study to $4,500 USD for year-long programs. Students in summer programs are not eligible to apply.
• Offered? Varies; offered two times per year.
• Deadline? Varies; offered two times per year.

2. Tanaka + Green Scholarship

The Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C. launched this scholarship program in 2014 in order to honor two past presidents of the Society (both of whom made contributions to promoting American and Japanese friendship and understanding within the community).

This generous scholarship is technically open to anyone, but preference is given to those who are enrolled in Japanese studies, have taken Japanese language classes, are related to members of the Society, or are residents of the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland, even if they are studying at colleges across the United States.

• How much? Scholarships range from up to $4,000 USD for one academic semester and up to $5,000 USD for one academic year.
• Offered? Varies; offered annually.
• Deadline? Fall of each year; announced annually in early Spring.

3. Freeman-ASIA Award from the Freeman Foundation

When traveling to Japan, study abroad scholarships like this will cover the kinds of costs not typically included in tuition fellowships and other programs. This could include paying for airfare, covering the cost of books and materials, or arranging transportation when in-country.

Designed to support undergraduate learners at two-year or four-year programs, these scholarships are based on financial need and are available to anyone pursuing schooling in East or Southeast Asia.

• How much? Scholarships range from $3,000 USD for summer study; $5,000 USD for one semester or quarter; up to $7,000 USD for an academic year.
• Offered? Varies; offered annually; must apply through your home institution.
• Deadline? All applications for 2020-2021 study will open in early 2020.

4. Fund for Education Abroad Foundation for Global Scholars Scholarship

This program is dedicated to providing support for underrepresented learners looking for scholarships for studying abroad in Japan. With a focus on minority, community college, and first-generation college students, FEA considers financial need to be a primary eligibility requirement.

While not country-specific, the program length must be at least four weeks (summer programs are eligible), and you must be able to demonstrate that the courses you take abroad will transfer credits to your U.S.-based home institution.

• How much? Scholarships range from a minimum award of $1,250 USD for summer study; $5,000 USD for one semester or quarter; and up to $10,000 USD for an academic year.
• Offered? Offered annually, with additional partnered scholarships also available.
• Deadline? Applications are closed for the 2020-2021 academic year; check back for the next application period.

5. TEAN Scholarships from The Education Abroad Network

If you’re looking for a variety of options to study abroad in Japan, scholarships offered through TEAN will get you started! This network of programs includes everything ranging from the super-specialized (think photography with a portfolio requirement) to the need-based and more general merit-based programs.

There’s even a full-ride scholarship to a program of your choosing. Unlike most programs, they also offer a second opportunity for funding (called a TEAN Sequel Grant) in case you’d like to return to Japan for even more onigiri study snacks — and learning!

• How much? Scholarships range from a minimum award of $250 USD for supplemental support, all the way up to a full-ride program. See the aggregated list for details.
• Offered? Offered annually, with additional partnered scholarships also available.
• Deadline? Spring, Winter, and Full-Ride applications are due annually in October, while Summer applications are due in March, and Fall applications are due in April.

6. Japan Foundation Fellowship Program

If you’re looking for scholarships to study abroad in Japan because you’re a researcher in areas connected to Japanese studies, this fellowship program provides an excellent opportunity for you! Scholars working in the social sciences or humanities with a specific focus on Japan are eligible for this annual award.

The areas of greatest interest to the Foundation are opportunities to support arts and cultural exchange, strengthen cultural exchange in Asia, increase Japanese intellectual exchange, and develop Japanese language education overseas. This program offers opportunities primarily to honors-level undergraduates and graduate/post-graduate researchers.

• How much? Varies
• Offered? Offered annually, with additional partnered scholarships also available.
• Deadline? Varies annually, with program-specific information available on the website.

7. Rotary Peace Fellowship

As an example of a specialized opportunity for scholarships for study abroad in Japan, this fellowship is not only dedicated to a specific topic (peace studies), it’s also only available for international learners studying in a handful of countries around the world.

This is one of the rare, open-focus options available for certificate or graduate learners, and it includes full financial support; meaning that you will also receive funds for airfare, tuition, room, and board.

Every year, 100 scholarships are awarded, with an even split between graduate and certificate learners, and post-fellowship support is also provided through a variety of other programs.

• How much? Varies. See the informational website for details.
• Offered? Offered annually, with guidelines and requirements available to outline the necessary steps for eligibility and application.
• Deadline? The 2021-2022 deadline will open in February 2020.

8. USAC / University Studies Abroad Consortium Scholarships

You might know that the University Studies Abroad Consortium helps learners connect with meaningful travel opportunities for study abroad; but did you also know that they offer specific support for finding scholarships for studying abroad in Japan?

With an extensive database of available scholarships and programs, you can select by virtue of program first, country second, or you can simply look at all of the USAC scholarships specifically focused on Japan, without any particular program-connected restrictions. 

Additionally, some colleges and universities work with USAC to provide their learners with unique opportunities. Is your school on that list?

• How much? Varies. See the informational website for details.
• Offered? Offered annually, with guidelines and requirements available to outline the necessary steps for eligibility and application.
• Deadline? Check back for the next open application period.

9. The Toshizo Watanabe Study Abroad Scholarship Program

If your goal is to connect with a larger network of support, even after you study in Japan, study abroad scholarships like this one are a great place to start!

The U.S.-Japan Council has specialized programs for emerging leaders, for women in leadership, and for STEM—and they offer annual scholarships through an endowment made possible by the generosity of Mr. Toshizo Watanabe, for whom the scholarship is named.

With preferences for those who have not been abroad before, or those who are first-generation college students, this award is designed for those who plan to study abroad for one full semester, up to one academic year. It is also open to undergraduate and graduate learners alike.

• How much? Up to $25,000 USD for a one year (or less) course of study.
• Offered? Offered annually, with guidelines and requirements available to outline the necessary steps for eligibility and application.
• Deadline? Check back for the next open application period.

10. Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

If you’ve received (or can prove that you will receive) a Federal Pell Grant for your undergraduate studies, this is one of the scholarships for studying abroad in Japan you will definitely want to explore—especially if you’re looking for something to cover the cost of a shorter stay.

Gilman awards cover as short a program as two-weeks-long for community college students, and as short as three-weeks-long for four-year degree learners. Sponsored by the United States Department of State, the focus of this opportunity is to provide study abroad access to those with financial need, with a focus on language and cultural exchange.

• How much? Each year, the program will award over 2,900 scholarships of up to $5,000 USD per scholarship.
• Offered? Offered annually, in cycles, with guidelines, requirements, and selection criteria available to outline the necessary steps for eligibility and application.
• Deadline? Varies; the application cycles are outlined on the program website.

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Get those essays ready for Japan study abroad scholarships!

Nail that application and you’ll be here in no time!

Are you already imagining yourself flying in to Narita and taking the express train to Tokyo? Can you hear the sizzle of the yakitori grill after a late night of studying? Have you started plotting out which kinds of cultural experiences you will discover, based on the study abroad program you plan to pursue?

With such easy access to useful information about scholarships for study abroad in Japan, it’s time for you to start plotting out your requirements list and gathering the materials you need to write the kinds of essays that will connect and impress!

But even if you’re just thinking about how to proceed, with so much available funding there’s nothing to hold you back from an exceptional experience! As you review our suggested list, from the types of scholarship programs available to which program provider will best help you land some funding, you’ll find all kinds of options to make your time as rewarding as possible.

So, before you pack your bags and get your passport and documents ready for travel, make sure you take a bit of time to think through what you want to do (and where you want to do it), and let the resources we pulled together help you find the perfect opportunity for you. With so many scholarships to study abroad in Japan awaiting you, you’ll soon be on your way!

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