50 Top Japanese Language and Cultural Studies Degree Scholarships

Few nations have affected the world of today as much as Japan. From anime and entertainment, to cuisine, global trade, and modern management practices, Japan has a central place in today’s interconnected world. For individuals looking to gain exposure and language experience in the thrilling and exceedingly interesting nation of Japan, there are also many ways to fund your learning process. Below we’ve selected 50 of the most lucrative scholarships for Japanese language and cultural studies degrees.

AEF Scholarship

• 20000
• Ascend Educational Fund provides grants to international learners and children of migrants who graduate from a high school in New York City to attend public or private colleges and universities, regardless of their race, racial origin or legal status. Applicants must be born outside the United States or have two parents born outside the United States, be a graduate senior at a high school in New York City boroughs, and have to enroll full-time in the current academic year in an accredited public or private college / university. Refer to the website of the scholarship company for more information or to apply.
• NYC

APIASF General Scholarship Program

• 20000
• The Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) is the nation’s leading 501(c)3 non-profit agency offering financially-needed grants to Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (APIAs). To complete the application, candidates must register to have a free account on the website of the scholarship provider. Applicants must be of U.S.-defined asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity. Census. Census. Be a permanent US citizen, state, or legal resident. Shall have a minimum combined GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale and be registered as a U.S. accredited college or university undergraduate in the fall of 2018. Applicant may qualify for federal financial assistance using the Free Student Aid Service (FAFSA) software. Please send one Recommendation Letter online. Refer to the website of the scholarship company for more information or to apply.
• Financial Need

Central California Asian Pacific Women Scholarship

• Varies
• CCAPW scholarships offer financial support to Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women from Fresno City , California, who seek higher education. Applicants will be judged based on the following: first generation undergraduate, academic performance, leadership, API group engagement and ethnic diversity. Applicants may be an undergraduate / continuing master, master / continuing graduate, or student re-entering a college or university. There are also special honors for students who research health and/or business. Refer to the website of the scholarship company for more information or to apply.
• Fresno City Residents

Frederick and Demi Seguritan Scholarship

• 5000
• The Frederick and Demi Seguritan Scholarship is given to Asian Americans of the first generation who have a demonstrated interest in business (business major not required). Registered students must be an incoming student studying full time with a minimum of 3.0 GPA at an accredited four-year college / university and must be able to show financial need. Must also be a resident of California’s Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara and Solano County. Refer to the website of the scholarship company for more information or to apply.
• First Generation Asian Americans

Intel Scholarship For Employees’ And Retirees’ Children

• 4000
• The Andy Grove Scholarship for Intel Employees’ Children is a prestigious scholarship program in which scholarships amounting to approximately $1.4 million are provided annually in the following countries or sites; Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil , Canada , China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Germany, Hong Kong , India , Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan , Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Pakistan The Andy Grove Scholarship for Intel Employees’ Children is a prestigious scholarship program in which scholarships amounting to approximately $1.4 million are awarded annually in the following countries or sites; Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil , Canada , China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Germany, Hong Kong , India , Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan , Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Pakistan Check the website of the scholarship company for more information or to apply.
• Intel Employee Children

KYTESOL ESL/LEP Student Scholarship Opportunity

• 1500
• KYTESOL (Kentucky English Teachers of Speakers of Other Languages) provides a grant to an ESL / LEP student who graduates from a Kentucky high school dependent on funding availability. Qualified candidates must be senior in Kentucky High School, be an ESL / LEP student with a language other than English (and have been enrolled in ESL through middle or high school years), have a 2.5 GPA, show financial need, and expect to enter a post-secondary institution (college, university, vocational or technical) in Kentucky for two or four years. In Certain receivers will be informed. Refer to the website of the scholarship company for further details or to submit.
• Kentucky Student

Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance Scholarship

• 2500
• The scholarship Matt Fong Asian Americans in Public Finance recognizes the legacy of former California state treasurer Matt Fong for his commitment to public service, his strong role in state politics, and his positive influence on creating doors for Asian Americans in the public finance field. Applicants must be an new student, junior or senior in the current school year at a four-year college / university, and must be registered in a California college or university. Applicants must have a minimum of 3.0 GPA and prove financial need in accounting, political science, public policy, corporate management or relevant fields and be of Asian descent (at least 50 per cent). Many that have history of voluntary involvement or charitable work are granted priority. Please check the website of the scholarship provider for more details or to apply
• California College

Oregon-Idaho Conference Ethnic Leadership Award

• 750
• The Oregon-Idaho Conference Ethnic Leadership Award is a part of an Oregon-Idaho Conference church with one undergraduate, or professional, ethnic student. Applicants are tested mainly for their organizational abilities or future leadership competencies. Even the economical necessity is taken into consideration. Refer to the website of the scholarship company for further details or to submit.
• Ethnic Student

The Fulbright Program

• Varies
• The Fulbright Program runs internationally in more than 155 countries and has given the ability for nearly 310,000 individuals to read, lecture, or perform research in each other’s countries and share ideas. The criteria for fullbright qualifications differ according to policy and country of citizenship. Please see the participating countries website for detailed contact details, eligibility criteria and restrictions on the number of awards each region. Refer to the website of the scholarship company for further details or to submit.
• Graduate

The Tang Scholarship

• 60000
• The Tang Scholarship is built to support LGBT youth pursue educational goals and aspirations without becoming shameful. This scholarship grants up to four exceptional students a year, a reward of up to $15,000. Applicants must be self-identified as Asian / Pacific Islanders (at least 25% Asian / Pacific Islander ancestry), homosexual, gay , bisexual or transgender and active with the LGBT community; be a high school graduate of one of the nine counties of the Bay Area: Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Napa, Sonoma or Solano; and have full-time enrollment in an approved 2-or-4 year college; It needs a GPA of at least 3.0. Refer to the website of the scholarship company for further details or to submit.
• LGBT Youth

Tina E. Yeh Community Service Fellowship

• 3000
• The Tina E. Yeh Community Service Fellowship enables Yale undergraduates and new graduates by summer internships to become active in community service. Winner(s) can win an internship experience of 10 weeks at a non-profit agency supporting the Asian American community. Applicant must be a graduate of Yale or a recent alum; be of Asian ethnic origin, and prove financial need. Refer to the website of the scholarship company for further details or to submit.
• Yale Students

Alabama Student Grant Program

• 1200
• The Alabama College Grant Program is a federal funding initiative intended to offer financial support for academic education to citizens of the State of Alabama. Applicants must have received a certificate of graduation from a high school or a recognised equivalence of that graduation; be a resident of Alabama as specified in the Alabama Stud and Grant Program Act 90; be a citizen of the United States or in the process of becoming a citizen of the United States; and not be enrolled and do not wish to enroll in a course of study leading to a degree; Refer to the website of the scholarship company for further details or to submit.
• Alabama Student

Center for Asia Pacific Studies Graduate Fellowships

• 5000
• The USF Center for Asia Pacific Studies offers financial assistance to students at the MA in Asia Pacific Studies (MAPS) each year to pursue their studies at USF, by research or internships overseas. Applicants should be new 2nd year students who possess a GPA of 3.5 or higher in the MA program in Asia Pacific Studies. Please check the website of the scholarship provider for more details or to apply
• MA in Asian Pacific Studies Studnet

Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship

• Varies
• The Charles L. Hebner Memorial Scholarship is awarded to citizens of Delaware considering full-time attendance at the University of Delaware or Delaware State University. Qualified candidates must be high school seniors with an unweighted accumulated GPA of at least 3.0 and a total score of at least 1000 on the SAT or equal performance on the ACT, lawful US nationals, file FAFSA and major in the humanities or social sciences (political science majors would be preferred). A total GPA of 3.0, available for up to three additional years. Refer to the website of the scholarship company for further details or to submit.
• Delaware Students

Paul S. Honda Scholarships

• 1000
• A respected member of the Senior Advisory Council of PAAC, late Paul S. Honda set up an endowment for this scholarship fund to support Asian Studies and Foreign Studies in higher education. Each academic year, four $1,000 scholarships are granted in his name to graduating seniors who have shown a willingness to pursue post-secondary asian studies, foreign relations, or a related area, and have been actively involved in PAAC. Refer to the website of the scholarship company for further details or to submit.
• Post Secondary

Richard Louie Memorial Internship for High School Students

• 1500
• The Freer Gallery of Art and the Smithsonian’s museums of Asian art, Arthur M. Sackler Galleries, are giving high school students a paying internship. Richard Louie Memorial Interns are given a $1500 stipend following the effective conclusion of a two hundred-hour internship program. The required period of two hundred hours of internship must be done within one year. As their schedules are versatile and special to each assignment, interns coordinate their schedules with their workers instructor in collaboration. There is no accommodation or transportation. Applicants must be seniors in high school, age 16 or above. Students who are fluent in an Asian language and/or who have proven senior citizens curiosity in Asian art and culture are granted priority. Applications are available 3 times a year. Refer to the website of the scholarship company for further details or to submit.
• Internship

Two Ten Higher Education Scholarship

• 16000
• In addition to academic achievement and personal integrity, Two Ten Higher Education Scholarships is a merit-driven scholarship initiative, with rewards focused on financial necessity. In the footwear sector, candidates or their parents must have a minimum of two years’ jobs (1,000 hours for two years). Students must be enrolled in, or are preparing to enroll in, an approved two- or four-year college, university, vocational / technical school, or nursing school and retain a minimum of 2,5 GPA to extend the award. Refer to the website of the scholarship company for further details or to submit.
• Merit Based

Washington HECB American Indian Endowed Scholarship

• 2000
• A highly trained American Indian community is crucial to improve the economic sufficiency and stability of American Indian communities within the Washington state. To this end, the US Indian Endowed Scholarship (AIES) was founded by Washington State in partnership with the American Indian Community and other private sector partners. This initiative offers affordable college scholarships for easily attainable, low-income local students who have strong social and cultural links throughout the state to an American Indian tribe or group. The winners display intellectual excellence and a dedication to helping Washington’s American Indian populations.
• American Indian

Marjorie Skiff Rose Scholarship

• 6640
• The Marjorie Skiff Rose Scholarship is available to new full-time students who are enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder. To be eligible for this honor, you must be a native of Colorado and show financial necessity, a solid academic record and proof of professional honesty and good citizenship.
• UC Boulder Student

Hazel Gates Woodruff Memorial Scholarship

• 3000
• The Hazel Gates Woodruff Memorial Scholarship at the University of Colorado, Boulder in the College of Arts and Sciences is available to new full-time freshmen. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and also be a native of Colorado and a citizen of the United States.
• UC Boulder Student

Wollitzer Merit Scholarship for Area or Competitive Studies

• 2500
• The Wollitzer Merit Scholarship for Field or Academic Research is accessible via the Council on Foreign Educational Exchange program for students preparing to study abroad. To apply for this award you must display high achievement and aim to research in Africa , Asia or Latin America or undertake comparative studies.
• Comparative Studies

William and Effa McMeans Scholarship

• 2000
• Awarded to prospective freshmen students who intend to enter the University of Iowa, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the William and Effa McMeans Scholarship. To be considered for this award you must be named a National Merit Scholar.
• Iowa Student

Sven Peterson Memorial Scholarship – UCSD

• 2000
• At the University of California , San Diego, the Sven Peterson Memorial Scholarship is open to full-time sophomores and juniors at Warren College. You ought to get at least 3.0 GPA and be majoring in a discipline other than life sciences or engineering. To be considered for this distinction, you must also have been included on the Provost’s Honors list for at least one quarter of your academic career.
• UC San Diego Student

Arts and Science Alumni Affiliate Scholarship – Oakland University

• 2000
• Alumni Associate Scholarship for the Arts and Sciences at Oakland University is open to full-time juniors and seniors. To be considered for this distinction, you must have earned at least 59 points, achieve a minimum of 3.0 GPA and be majoring in the arts & sciences.
• Oakland University Student

Robert T. and Charlotte F. Otten Scholarship

• 1800
• The Robert T. And Charlotte F. Otten Scholarship is free to Calvin College applicants. You must prove dedication to the liberal arts and you must have a minimum of 3.0 GPA to apply for this distinction. Students who intend to seek a future in college or university education, or in a field where the emphasis on the liberal arts is a formative force, would be granted priority.
• Calvin College Student

Asa Iokepa de Neeve Aloha Memorial Scholarship

• 1500
• At the University of Colorado, Boulder ‘s College of Arts and Sciences, the Asa Iokepa de Neeve Aloha Memorial Scholarship is open to full-time incoming freshmen. You must graduate from Longmont High School, take part in community service programs and prove financial support to apply for this honor.
• UC Boulder Student

Humanities & Social Sciences Tiger Athletic Foundation Scholarship

• 1000
• The Tiger Athletic Foundation Scholarship in Arts & Social Sciences is open to students at Louisiana State University. You need to be enrolled in the College of Humanities & Social Sciences, prove financial need, and have a minimum of 3.4 GPA to apply for this grant.
• LSU Student

Catherine F. Vuozzo Scholarship

• 1000
• The Catherine F. Vuozzo Scholarship is valid at University of Maryland , College Park, for full-time undergraduate Liberal Arts Majors. Your selection for this award will be focused on academic excellence, financial need and an essay (2 pages double spaced) on the issue, “What does it mean to be a ‘trained’ person? What is the position of the discipline in which you are majoring in the development of trained people?” You must also send one letter of recommendation from a faculty member.
• UM College Park Student

American Association of Japanese University Women Scholarship Program

• 2000
• Applicants must commence their college junior or senior year, or be in a California program at graduate level. They ought to be prepared to attend the awards show at their own cost in Los Angeles. Applicants must show a commitment to assume a leadership role in their preferred field of research and contribute to partnerships and cultural interactions between the U.S. and Japan. Students may also write an article explaining how their research can relate to leadership or the U.S.-Japan relations.
• California Student

Hiliary Echo Douglas Memorial Scholarship

• 10000
• Applicants must be residents of the United States and are already enrolled in an approved educational institution. Students to schedule a minimum of 30 days of travel abroad. Students with unmet financial needs and students who are historically underrepresented in international education (first generation college students, ethnic students, community college students, veterans, students with disabilities and returning learners) are granted priority.
• Study Abroad

USC East Asian Studies Opportunities

• Varies
• Undergraduate students who are majoring in any field of study may apply for these scholarships. Studying Japanese isn’t a requirement. Before and after the period they study abroad, students must be U.S. nationals and must be registered as undergraduates in a college or university in the U.S .. Their thesis in Japan must last for at least three months, and they must receive credit which will be passed to their US home campus. Bridging Grant winners receive a $2,500 (for semester-long programs students) or $4,000 (for school year programs students) stipend. Students working on summer programs in Japan are not qualified to apply.
• Student Abroad

Hawaiʻi/Wisconsin Luce Graduate Field Study Fellowships for Research or Advanced Language Study in Southeast Asia

• 6000
• These scholarships are applicable to graduate students of UH Mānoa for undertaking advanced language training or field study in Southeast Asia during the above listed award era. Cambodian (Khmer), Tagalog, Ilokano, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese are qualifying languages provided at UHM. We can assess language training sites in conjunction with CSEAS. The scholarships are funded by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to promote South East Asian studies.
• UH Manoa Student

Hawaiʻi/Wisconsin Luce Undergraduate Southeast Asia Language Fellowships

• Varies
• These scholarships are applicable to graduate students at UH Mānoa to perform advanced language training or field study in Southeast Asia during the above listed award era. Cambodian (Khmer), Tagalog, Ilokano, Indonesian, Thai and Vietnamese are qualifying languages provided at UHM. The locations of language teaching would be listed in collaboration with CSEAS. The scholarships are sponsored by a Henry Luce Foundation grant to promote South East Asian studies.
• UH Manoa Student

The Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Scholarship/Program

• Varies
• Diversity Abroad will offer $500 scholarships for the fall and spring semesters as well as summer months, in partnership with the AIFS Foundation. Five scholarships are valid for each course, and there are two summer scholarships available. Students moving overseas are required to qualify for the entire fall, spring or summer terms. It actively promotes economically marginalized students, first-generation students with disabilities and ethnically and culturally diverse students to apply. Press on the “demand permission” button above, or visit http:/www.diversityabroad.com/overseas ambassadors for specifics of the submission and more background.
• Financial Aid Scholarship

Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program

• Varies
• The CLS initiative is part of an attempt by the US government to greatly increase the number of Americans learning and acquiring vital foreign languages. Application is welcomed to students from various backgrounds and majors. Participants are required to pursue their language learning throughout the scholarship era, and eventually incorporate their essential language skills throughout their potential professions. CLS offers intensive scholarly training in fifteen languages per summer, which are vital to American national security and economic growth. CLS members are symbols of patriotism, expressing American ideals and spreading American impact overseas.

The Boren Scholarship

• Varies
• First and foremost, the Boren Awards for Foreign Research are language scholarships: they offer support for undergraduates and graduate students to receive long-term cultural and linguistic immersion abroad. The core mission of the program is to include expertise in languages vital to U.S. national security to the U.S. Government. As such, it’s mainly targeted at candidates involved in a job in the U.S. federal government.
• Undergraduate and Graduate

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences (JSPS) Fellowship

• Varies
• JSPS offers fellowship services for overseas scholars with an outstanding record of academic accomplishments in performing joint studies, meetings, and exchanges of views with Japanese researchers. The projects seek to further advance scientific efforts of the overseas researchers thus fostering science and internationalization in Japan. The “JSPS Foreign Fellowships for Research in Japan” comprises of two schemes for mid-career and senior scholars: “Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research in Japan” for young students, and “Invitational Fellowships for Research in Japan.”
• Undergraduate and Graduate

The Blakemore Foundation Language Grant

• Varies
• Since 1990, the Blakemore Foundation has provided over $18 million in grants to graduating adults, undergraduate freshmen, doctoral students and working professionals for a full-time intensive Asian language research academic year abroad, with funding from The Freeman Foundation. The fellowships pay fees and a stipend for associated jobs, daily housing and commuting expenses. Applications are recommended for superior candidates seeking employment in fields such as education, international business, accounting , law, pharmacy, STEM (science , technology , engineering, math), media, art, teaching, social or NGO job, and community service.
• Undergraduate and Graduate

Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan

• Varies
• The Bridging Project provides grants to undergraduate American students enrolled in Japanese study abroad programmes. Support from private donors and large U.S. companies, through grants to the non-profit U.S.-Japan Bridging Project, allows about 100 scholarships to be awarded annually to help students with the travel and living costs they may pay when studying overseas in Japan for a semester or a year. For Bridging Scholarships applicants are approved twice a year.
• Study Abroad

The Foundation for Asia Pacific Education

• Varies
• Several delegates support their JASC / KASC / CHASC exposure each year through need- and merit-based scholarships. While ISC does not explicitly offer scholarships, we’ve assembled a collection of options to assist you in your quest. If you have any financial assistance queries please email us at [email protected].
• Need-Based

The Gilman Scholarship

• Varies
• The Benjamin A. Gilman Foreign Scholarship from the U.S. Department of State is a grant program that encourages students with minimal financial resources to research or work overseas, while learning capabilities that are vital to our national security and economic growth. The Gilman Scholarship Initiative is available to U.S. residents undergraduate students who obtain funds from a two-year, four-year college or university Federal Pell Grant to enroll in foreign research and internship programs around the globe.
• Need-Based

The Freeman Asia Awards for Study Abroad in Asia

• Varies
• A Freeman-ASIA grant offers need-based support to help the winner with the cost of traveling abroad and associated costs including airfare, general cost of life, local accommodation, reading, etc. Freeman-ASIA may ask for applications from U.S. nationals or permanent residents studying at the undergraduate level at a college or university of two to four years who show the necessity to study abroad in East to Southeast Asia.
• Cost of Travel

Foundation of Asian Pacific Education

• Varies
• The Foundation will promote this goal by granting scholarships to help students gain foreign exposure in the Asia Pacific region. Children from underrepresented communities in international education are a priority. We show our dedication to these core principles through awarding scholarships to benefit students who would otherwise be unable to access an accessible international education.
• Underepresented Communities

Gilman International Scholarships for Undergraduate Study Abroad

• Varies
• The Benjamin A. Gilman Foreign Scholarship of the U.S. Department of State is a incentive program that encourages individuals with minimal financial resources to research or work overseas, while acquiring essential expertise for our national security and economic growth. The Gilman Scholarship Program is available to U.S. residents college students who earn a two-year or two-year Federal Pell Grant support.
• Need-Based

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Fellowships

• Varies
• Scientific Research Grants-in-Aid are public funds designed to greatly expand all experimental studies (research focused on the researcher’s own ideas), from fundamental and practical studies in all disciplines, from the arts and social sciences and natural sciences. The grants include budgetary funding for innovative and groundbreaking research initiatives which will shape the foundations for social change. The study proposals are chosen using a selection method for peer review (selection by several scholars whose area of expertise is similar to the applicant’s).
• Research

Monbukagakusho Scholarships For Japanese Studies

• The Japanese Studies Scholarship for university students who want to study Japanese studies is a one-year scholarship. At the point of admission, candidates must be registered as undergraduate students outside Japan, and must be registered in the home institution until they move to their home country. Applicants must also be U.S. citizens, above the age of 18 and under 30 as of September 1, who are either major or minor in a area relevant to the Japanese language or culture. Applicants must also know the Japanese language well.
• Study Abroad

Monbukagakusho Scholarships Research Student Scholarship

• The Study Student Scholarship is open to members of universities or colleges that have achieved 16 years of schooling. The study field must be connected to the Primary Undergraduate of the claimant. As of April 1, candidates must either be U.S. citizens, be under 35 years of age and have a sufficient standard of Japanese skills. Until testing, candidates with less than a college degree of Japanese proficiency would be required to take part in a six-month language course in Japan.
• Study Abroad

Monbukagakusho Scholarships Senshu Gacko Scholarship

• The Senshu Gakko Scholarship is for students who want to begin their next academic year studying at Japanese technical or vocational schools. The definition for these scholarships is from April to March, for three years. One year of learning the Japanese language is preceded by two years of research in the area selected. Applicants must be US citizens in good health, at least eighteen years of age and under twenty-two years of age as of April 1, and must have completed a standard twelve-year school training programme or similar before the scholarship period starts. Applicants may learn Japanese and can undergo professional Japanese language instruction. Industrial Engineering, Construction, Electrical Engineering, Computing, Telecommunications, Healthcare, Child Education, Secretarial Studies, Hotel Management, Tourism, Fashion / Dressmaking, Design, Photography are but not limited to the research fields available.
• Study Abroad

Monbukagakusho Scholarships In-Service Training For Teachers

• The In-Service Program for Teachers scholarship is given to teachers who want to prepare for professional development at Japanese universities. Applicants must be under the age of 35 as of October 1, and able to research at a university chosen by the Monbukagakusho in Japan from October to March. As a matter of practice, candidates must be recent graduates in university or teacher training and may serve as teachers in primary or secondary schools, or as workers at teacher training establishments with at least 5 years of experience in their terms of employment. Members of teaching workers at the universities are not exempt.
• Study Abroad