Japan

The Global Community Fellowship is a 13+ month program for recent university graduate and experienced professionals.  Fellows work at NGOs, schools, universities, and social enterprises across Asia to support community development, capacity-building, and education.  By working directly with communities, Fellows get hands-on experience learning how organizations in Asia are using creative and innovative methods of addressing critical social challenges.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Living and housing stipend while working at your post (based on local cost of living)
• Approximately three weeks of training
• Travel, emergency medical, and evaluation insurance
• Access to mental health support services
• Inta-Asia travel for program activities
• Mini-grants for language study

The University of Arizona's Center for East Asian Studies offers scholarships for participants in the Arizona in Kyoto program, our affiliated program at Konan University in Japan, or any other programs approved by the Department of East Asian Studies (EAS). Please consult the EAS study abroad advisors if you have questions about whether or not the program is EAS approved.

This scholarship is for students with at least a 3.5 GPA interested in traveling to Japan.

The Bridging Project offers scholarships to American undergraduate students preparing to study abroad in Japan in a credit-bearing semester or academic-year program.  In addition to receiving a cash stipend, Bridging Scholars participate in cohort programming designed to assist students build a future as a global citizen with a lifelong connection to Japan.

Qualifications:
1. Applicants must be U.S. citizens enrolled as undergraduates in a college or university in the United States before and during the time they study abroad.
2. Students majoring in any field of study are eligible to apply.
3. Japanese language study is not a prerequisite.
4. Students must study in a semester (at least 3 months) or an academic-year program in Japan and must earn credit that will transfer to their home campus in the U.S.
5. Students who have already begun their study abroad in Japan are not eligible to apply.
6. Scholarships must be used for tuition, travel, or daily cost-of-living expenses.

Scholarship Amounts:
1. Semester scholarship: $2,500 cash stipend.
2. Academic-year scholarship: $4,500 cash stipend.

Application Deadline:
For study abroad in the 2026–2027 Academic Year, Fall 26, and Spring 27 there will be one application deadline: March 15, 2026.

Email: operations@bridgingfoundation.org with questions.

Application Link: https://bridgingfoundation.smapply.us/

The Japanese Government Monbukagakusho, (MEXT) Scholarship program accepts applications from candidates who will be studying in Japan, are U.S. citizens, and reside or attend school in AZ or CA.

The Freeman-ASIA program is designed to support U.S.-based undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are planning to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia.