Scholarships and Financial Aid

There is no way around it: Japan is an expensive place to study. It is helpful to approach study in Japan as an investment. A JCMU education will continue to bring returns for many years, the same as other investments.

The first step in financing your investment is visiting your campus financial aid office. (Students who will be enrolled through Michigan State University may consult the "Obtaining Financial Aid from MSU" page.) Make sure all the necessary forms, such as the FAFSA, are completed and submitted properly.

The second step is to consult your campus study abroad office. Ask about the programs listed below or scholarships particular to your campus. If your home university is not a member of the JCMU consortium, then inquire about your home university's policy toward off-campus programs. Many universities will sign a "temporary consortium agreement" allowing you to use your current financial aid when you enroll at JCMU.

The next step is to consult many of the reference books and scholarship search services available in libraries and on the Internet. A good place to start is the Grants and Related Resources Home Page provided by the MSU library. More creative suggestions can be found on MSU's Office of Study Abroad web page "You Can't Afford NOT to Go!" . The following resources also may be of particular interest to JCMU students. They are listed for reference only; no endorsement is implied. Please consult the scholarship-specific site for additional information. Generally, deadlines are late September - mid-October for Spring & Summer programs and February or early March for Fall and Academic Year programs.

Special Announcements and Upcoming Deadlines

**Freeman-ASIA - Application Deadline for Summer 2007 - March 2, 2007 and for Fall 2007 & Academic Year 2007-2008 - April 6, 2007

**Gilman Scholarship - Application Deadline for Fall 2007 and Academic Year 2007-2008 - April 3, 2007

**ATJ Bridging Scholarship - Application Deadline for Fall 2006 and Academic Year 2006-2007 - April 4, 2007 (tentative)

**Morgan Stanley Japan Scholarship - Application Deadline for Academic Year 2007-2008 - April 4, 2007 (tentative)

Scholarship Information

  1. Just for JCMU Students SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS FROM MICHIGAN'S PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

  2. The U.S. federal government has recently started the Gilman Scholarship program to support study abroad students.

     

  3. The Institute for International Education (IIE) has recently received a grant from the Freeman Foundation to offer Awards for Study in Asia.

  4. IIE's Midwest Office offers grants to students at Midwest colleges and universities. To be eligible, one must be a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident status, be in good academic standing, and have had no previous study abroad experience. Applicants are required to submit a transcript and a letter of recommendation and complete an application which includes a statement of proposed study.

  5. The Association of Teachers of Japanese Bridging Project Clearinghouse announces a new program of financial support for American students participating in study-abroad programs in Japan. Funding from several private foundations and major corporations, including Northwest Airlines, Lockheed Martin, the Starr Foundation, and the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission, has made it possible for ATJ to award scholarships to assist with travel and living expenses for a semester or a year of study in Japan. Undergraduate students majoring in any field of study are eligible to apply for these scholarships; Japanese language background is not a requirement.

  6. This site is The National Security Education Program (NSEP) is a federal program supporting study abroad in underrepresented areas of the world, including Japan. Consult your study abroad office to identify the local NSEP representative.

  7. Try the Racoon Foundation web site, for information about scholarships and other useful topics for international students in Japan.

  8. The Japan America Society of Chicago offers scholarships to students enrolled at post-secondary institutions in selected Midwestern states.

     

  9. The Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE) has a number of scholarships students at member universities, including most JCMU member schools.

     

  10. The Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), which consists of Big Ten universities and the University of Chicago, if offering scholarships for foreign language study to graduate students at CIC member universities.

     

  11. The Japanese American Citizens League offers a variety of scholarships to its members.

  12. **For Graduate Students!!: The Blakemore Foundation: Blakemore Freeman Fellowships for Advanced Asian Language Study. These grants are intended for those pursuing professional, academic, or business careers that involve the regular use of an Asian language.

     

  13. Community of Science, Funding Opportunities Database: An easy-to-use web database which provides a multitude of useful grant and scholarship information based on individual preferences:

     

  14. Try the College Board's Scholarship Search Service.

     

  15. Fast Web: Allows you to create a free Fastweb mailbox, which is filled with updated information pertaining to your individual preferences.

  16. For Candian students wanting to study in Japan ScholarshipsCanada.com is a great place to start researching.

     

  17. The University of Minnesota's study abroad scholarship search directory.

  18. The Itoh Scholarship Foundation..

  19. Studyabroad.com has a useful financial aid advisory page.

     

  20. A variety of financial aid links can be found at Finaid.org.

  21. Student Loans for study abroad can be found at Study Abroad Loans.

  22. Student loan information for international students can be found at International Student.com.