Bridging Scholarships for Study in Japan

Website: Bridging Scholarships

Description
The Bridging Project offers scholarships to American undergraduate students participating in study-abroad programs in Japan. Funding from private foundations and major U.S. corporations, through donations to the nonprofit US-Japan Bridging Foundation, makes it possible to award about 100 scholarships each year to assist students with the travel and living expenses they will incur while studying abroad in Japan for a semester or an academic year. Applications are accepted twice a year for Bridging Scholarships.

Applications are accepted twice a year for Bridging Scholarships.
Eligibility
  • Japanese language study is not a prerequisite.
  • Undergraduate students majoring in any field of study are eligible to apply for these scholarships.
  • Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must be enrolled as undergraduates in a college or university in the United States before and during the time they are studying abroad.
  • Their study in Japan must last for at least 3 months and must earn credit that will transfer to their home campus in the US.
  • Bridging Scholarship recipients receive a stipend of $2,500 (for students on semester-long programs) or $4,000 (for students on academic year programs).
  • Students studying in Japan on summer programs are not eligible to apply.
Student Type
  • freshman
  • sophomore
  • junior
  • senior
Citizen Type
  • US Citizen
Procedure

Please submit the following to the AATJ office:

  1. An application form can be downloaded from this website (see below). A printed application can be requested from the AATJ office by phone, fax, or e-mail.
  2. A short essay (up to 500 words) introducing yourself, explaining your interest in study in Japan, and outlining what you hope to achieve by participating in a study abroad program (three copies).
  3. An official transcript from your college or university.
  4. A letter of recommendation from someone who knows you and is knowledgeable about your abilities and potential, preferably a professor or instructor in your major field. (This may either be submitted together with the application or mailed separately to the AATJ office; please note that it must be received by the application deadline date in order for your application to be considered.) Faxed or e-mailed letters will not be accepted. 


PLEASE NOTE: Your application must be received by the deadline.  

Service Agreement

Each Bridging Scholarship recipient will be expected to send a brief report about his or her study in Japan to the AATJ office within 90 days of returning from abroad. These reports will be valuable both for students who plan to study abroad in Japan and for teachers and advisors who are helping students to select suitable programs of study.

Contact Information

For further information on the Bridging Scholarships or the application procedure, please contact Susan Schmidt, Executive Director of the Bridging Project Clearinghouse, at the AATJ office: aatj@aatj.org

Bridging Project Clearinghouse
American Association of Teachers of Japanese
Campus Box 366
1424 Broadway
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0366
Phone: 303-492-5487 Fax:303-492-5856
E-mail: aatj@aatj.org
Web: www.aatj.org