Yes, Japan is expensive. But the cost of study abroad need not be prohibitive. And there are sources of financial aid for overseas study.

The first place to check is your campus international programs or study-abroad office. If you go to Japan through your school's exchange program, your tuition at the overseas college or university you attend will usually be the same as a your tuition at home. If you receive financial aid, it should apply to your study abroad.

Many universities also have special scholarships for study abroad, using funds contributed by foundations, companies, or alumni groups. Ask your Japanese teacher or to the department of Japanese or Asian studies on your campus about these and other scholarships.

In addition to financial aid from your own college or university, there are independent sources of scholarships and grants for study abroad. Many universities and programs in Japan offer their own scholarships to overseas students. Check with the International office at your host school for information.

Scholarship Suggestions

Association of International Education Japan (AIEJ)

Scholarships for international students at Japanese 4-year universities.

Contact: AIEJ

2-79 Aomi

Koto-ku

Tokyo 135-8630 JAPAN

Tel: 011-81-3-5520-6131

Fax: 011-81-3-5520-6121

Website: http://www.aiej.or.jp

E-mail: nippon@aiej.or.jp

Blakemore Asian Language Fellowships

Scholarships for advanced language training for students planning to pursue careers related to Asia.

Contact: Griffith Way, Trustee

Blakemore Foundation

1201 Third Avenue, 40th Floor

Seattle, WA 98101-3099

Tel: 206-583-8778

Fax: 206-583-8500

Website: http://www.blakemorefoundation.org

E-mail: blakemore@perkinscoie.com

Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan

Administered by the Association of Teachers of Japanese and funded by donations from American businesses and foundations, these scholarships offer stipends of $2,500 and $4,000 to American undergraduate students studying abroad in Japan on semester- or year-long programs. Applications are received twice a year, in April and October. Since 1999, almost 200 students have been funded for study in Japan.

Contact: ATJ Bridging Project

279 UCB

Boulder, CO 80309-0279

Tel: 303-492-5487

Fax: 303-492-5856

Website: http://www.colorado.edu/ealld/atj/Bridging/scholarships.html

E-mail: atj@colorado.edu

College Women's Association of Japan - Undergraduate Scholarships for Non-Japanese Women

For non-Japanese women studying Japanese language, humanities and liberal arts.

Contact: CWAJ Scholarship NJW

Lion's Garden Ikedayama #312

5-22-2 Higashi Gotanda

Shinagawa-ku

Tokyo 141 JAPAN

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for Undergraduate Study Abroad

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the Institute of International Education, this program enables students who have limited financial means the opportunity to participate in study abroad opportunities worldwide. The program provides awards of up to $5,000 for U.S. citizen undergraduate students at two- and four-year institutions to pursue country-based semester or academic-year long study opportunities abroad. To be eligible students must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant at the time of application and cannot be studying abroad in a country currently under a U.S. Department of State Travel Warning or in Cuba. For more information, full eligibility criteria, application deadlines and the online application please access the Gilman Program website at www.iie.org/gilman. Application Deadlines: Fall Term/Academic Year Programs - April 15; Spring Term Programs - October 15.

Information on deadlines and application forms are available at http://www.iie.org/gilman.

Harry S. Truman Scholarship

Scholarships for international study for students who show great leadership ability, are interested in government and intend to go to graduate school.

Contact: Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation

712 Jackson Place NW

Washington, DC 20006

Tel: 202-395-4831

Fax: 319-337-1204

Website: http://www.truman.gov

E-mail: truman@act.org

IES Achievement Scholarships

The Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) Achievement Scholarship Program is open to students who will be studying on an IES program and have a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or above. IES merit scholarships range from $500 to 50% off the IES program fee. Applications and application requirements can be found at http://www.iesabroad.org/info/finaid.html.

IIE Freeman Awards for Study In Asia (Freeman-ASIA)

For three years, beginning with Summer 2001 programs, this program supports students studying in East and Southeast Asia. Awards range from $3,000 to $7,000 depending on the length of the program. Students must demonstrate financial need, and priority will be given to students with no previous experience in Asia. As a condition of the award, upon their return to the U.S., students must agree to promote study in Asia by sharing their experiences with peers on their home campuses and in their communities.

The application can be completed and processed completely online, at http://www.iie.org/pgms/Freeman-ASIA. For further information, contact Rachel Goldberg or Mark Neighbors by telephone at (212) 984-5542 or by email at Freeman-ASIA@iie.org.

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellowships

JSPS is an independent administrative institution, established for the purpose of contributing to the advancement of science in all fields of the natural and social sciences and the humanities. As a Japanese national core funding agency, JSPS carries out a variety of programs, including funding research, fostering researchers, and promoting international scientific cooperation. For more information on JSPS's activities and fellowship program, please visit http://www.jsps.go.jp/english/index.html.

Monbukagakusho Scholarships

The Japanese Government Ministry of Education and Science (Monbukagakusho) is offering four types of scholarships for the 2003 or 2004 academic year. The Monbukagakusho scholarships will enable foreign students from 110 countries to study and research a broad range of topics in Japan. For applications and deadlines please contact the Consulate General of Japan nearest you.

(1)The Japanese Studies Scholarship is a one-year scholarship for university students who wish to pursue Japanese Studies. Applicants must be enrolled as undergraduate students outside Japan at the time of applying and must be enrolled in the home institution at the time when they return to their home countries. Applicants must also be US nationals, over 18 and under 30 years of age as of September 1, 2003, specializing in a field related to the Japanese language or Japanese culture as either a major or minor. Applicants must also have a good knowledge of the Japanese language.

(2)The Research Student Scholarship is available to university or college graduates who have completed 16 years of education. The area of research must be related to the applicant's undergraduate major. Applicants must also be US nationals, be under 35 years of age as of April 1, 2004, and have a high-level of Japanese proficiency. Those applicants with less than a college-level of Japanese proficiency will be asked to participate in a six-month language course in Japan prior to research.

(3)The Senshu Gakko Scholarship is for students who wish to study at Japanese technical or professional schools beginning in the academic year 2004. The term of these scholarships is for three years, from April 2004 through March 2007. One year of Japanese language study is followed by two years of study in the chosen field. Applicants must be US nationals in good health, at least eighteen years and less than twenty-two years of age as of April 1, 2004, and must have completed a twelve year regular course of school training or equivalent before the term of the scholarship begins. Applicants must study the Japanese language and will receive technical training in Japanese. Fields of study available include, but are not limited to: Civil Engineering, Architecture, Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Telecommunications, Nutrition, Infant Education, Secretarial Studies, Hotel Management, Tourism, Fashion/Dressmaking, Design, Photography.

(4)The scholarship for In-Service Training for Teachers is offered to teachers who wish to study at Japanese universities for professional improvement. Applicants must be under 35 years of age as of October 1, 2003, and be willing to study Japan from October 2003 to March 2005 at a university selected by the Monbukagakusho. In principle, applicants must be university or teacher training college graduates and must work as teachers in primary or secondary schools, or on the staff at teacher training institutions who have at least 5-years experience in their terms of service. University academic staff members are not eligible.

For information regarding the any of the four scholarships listed above, please contact the Consulate General of Japan nearest you.

National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships

Government-funded scholarships for study in areas of the world outside western Europe, Canada, and Australia. Recipients are required to fulfill a service requirement by working in higher education or for the US government. Application available online. The national deadline for applications is usually in mid February. However, most campuses have a local representative to assist with the application process. Contact your university's study abroad office to find out if your campus has an earlier deadline.

Contact: 1400 K St. NW Suite 650

Washington, D.C. 20005

Tel: 202-326-7711, 1-800-618-6737

Fax: 202-326-7698

Web site:http://www.iie.org/nsep

Email:nsep@iie.org

National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Graduate Fellowships

Government-funded scholarships for study in areas of the world outside western Europe, Canada, and Australia. Recipients are required to fulfill a service requirement by working in higher education or for the US government. Application available online. The national deadline for applications is usually in January. However, most campuses have a local representative to assist with the application process. Contact your university's study abroad office to find out if your university has an earlier deadline.

NSEP David L. Boren Graduate Fellowships

Academy for Educational Development

1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20009-5721

Web site:http://nsep.aed.org/

Email:nsep@aed.org

Reitaku Foundation of America

Two full scholarships to study for one year at Reitaku University near Tokyo.

Contact: Reitaku Foundation of America

5335 Wisconsin Ave., N.W., Suite 900

Washington, DC 20005

Tel: 202-537-7423

Fax: 202-537-7455

E-mail: ricejp@erols.com.

The Rotary Foundation

Various scholarships for study in Japan at varying levels of language ability.

Contact: Scholarships Program Supervisor

The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International

One Rotary Center

1560 Sherman Avenue

Evanston, IL 60201

Web site:http://rotary.org

E-mail: scholarshipinquiries@rotaryintl.org

Sankei Grants for Non-Japanese Students

Scholarships for students of advanced level Japanese to study in Japan.

Contact: The Sankei Shimbun

Sankei Media Services

1-7-2, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku

Tokyo 100-77 JAPAN

Tel: 011-81-3-3275-8696

Council International Study Programs awards Bowman Travel Grants to high school and undergraduate students participating in study, work, and volunteer programs in non-traditional destinations (including Japan). Applicants must fulfill at least one of the following eligibility criteria: