Study-away Scholarships and Internship Opportunities for Students of Japanese

Scholarships and Internships

A. Summer Study Fellowship

Middlebury Summer Program Scholarships
Middlebury College has a top-flight language immersion program that is held over the summer in Vermont. The college awards financial aid to need based qualified Language School applicants. During the summer of 2007, 39 percent of Language Schools students received grants. The average award was $4,400.

You do not need to be enrolled in a Middlebury College degree program to qualify for a grant.To be considered for a grant you must: 1) be accepted by one of the ten Language Schools, and 2) have completed a Middlebury College Language Schools Financial Aid Application, including all other requested documentation. All financial aid is based on financial need as determined by Student Financial Services.

All Language Schools students at all levels of study are eligible to apply for financial aid.

The financial aid forms are available on their website starting November 1st. Their financial aid runs out, so be sure to apply as possible.

http://www.middlebury.edu/academics/ls/finaid

  1. Semester/Year-long Fellowships for Junior Year Study Abroad

1. Association of Teachers of Japanese Bridging Project Clearinghouse (ATJ)
Offers scholarships for travel and living expenses for a semester or year for undergraduate students wishing to study in Japan. Japanese language background is not required. Awards range from $2,500 - $4,000, depending on the length of the study program in Japan. Each recipient will be expected to send a brief report about his or her study in Japan to the ATJ office within 60 days of returning from abroad.

Undergraduate students majoring in any field of study are eligible to apply for these scholarships. Japanese language study is not a prerequisite. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must be enrolled as undergraduates in a college or university in the United States before and during the time they are studying abroad.
Applications for Bridging Scholarships are accepted twice a year: the next deadline, for students who will be studying in Japan beginning in Spring 2008, is October 5, 2007.

See website http://www.colorado.edu/ealld/atj

2. Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
The Institute of International Education (IEE) announced that US undergraduate students receiving federal Pell Grants for college study can apply for assistance under the new Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.
820 scholarships of up to $5,000 will be awarded this academic year for U.S. citizen undergraduates to study abroad. Award amounts will vary depending on the length of study and student need with the average award being $4,000. Undergraduate students who are receiving federal Pell Grant funding at 2-year or 4-year colleges or universities are eligible to apply.
This congressionally funded program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and is administered by the Institute of International Education -- Southern Regional Center in Houston, Texas.

The deadline for fall study-away will fall in early April. The deadline for spring study-away in early October.

Application are available on the program's website http://www.iie.org/gilman

Eligibility for the Gilman International Scholarship Programs is determined using the following criteria:
1. The applicant is a citizen of the United States.
2. The applicant is an undergraduate student in good standing at an institution of higher education in the United States.
3. The applicant is applying to or has been accepted for up to one academic year of study on a program of study abroad approved for credit by the student's home institution. Proof of program acceptance is required for final award disbursement.
4. The applicant is receiving need-based student assistance from the federal government under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. Title IV student financial aid includes Pell Grants, Work-Study, Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants.

3. The Garden Club of America Summer Scholarships for Environmental Studies
The mission of GCA is, in part, to protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and actions in the field of conservation and civic improvement. GCA offers various scholarships to encourage studies and careers in the environmental field. These awards are not specifically for study abroad but may be used for that purpose. Scholarships are in the amount of $1,500 each. Application Deadlines: Typically early February. For more information and applications, visit  gcamerica.org/scholarships.php3.

4. Monbukagakusho Scholarships
Monbukagakusho (Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, Technology and Culture; Government of Japan) offers scholarships to undergraduate students wishing to pursue a year of study in Japanese language and culture at Japanese universities.  Available to undergraduate students who are studying Japanese language and/or culture as their major or minor, and must have a high level of Japanese language proficiency.
Deadline: Friday, March 9.
For application contact: Consulate-General of Japan in Boston, 600 Atlantic Avenue, 14th Floor, Boston, MA 02210 Tel: (617) 973-9772 Fax: (617) 542-1329

5. Boren Scholarships provide up to $20,000 to U.S. undergraduate students to study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad, including Japan and China. Boren Scholarships are funded by the National Security Education Program (NSEP), which focuses on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. national security. Applicants should identify how their study abroad program, as well as their future academic and career goals, will contribute to U.S. national security, broadly defined.  NSEP draws on a broad definition of national security, recognizing that the scope of national security has expanded to include not only the traditional concerns of protecting and promoting American well-being, but also the challenges of global society, including sustainable development, environmental degradation, global disease and hunger, population growth and migration, and economic competitiveness.

The Boren Scholarship application deadline is February 11, 2009. All supplementary hard copy materials should be submitted to your Boren campus representative (Stephen Hall or Cindy Stocks) by the earlier on-campus deadline. 

6. Rotary Foundation Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships are for either three or six months of intensive language study and cultural immersion in another country and provide a flat grant of US$10,000 or its equivalent for 3 months and US$15,000 or its equivalent for 6 months.  Funds are intended to defray costs associated with round-trip transportation, language training expenses, and homestay living arrangements. Applications are considered for candidates interested in studying Arabic, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Swedish.
Some Rotary districts may only offer one type of scholarship (or none at all); applicants must check with the local club regarding availability.

Eligibility Criteria

  • All applicants must be citizens of a country in which there are Rotary clubs. (See the list of non-Rotary countries.)
  • Applicants must have completed at least two years of college-level coursework or equivalent professional experience before commencing their scholarship studies.
  • Initial application must be made through a Rotary club in the applicant's legal or permanent residence or place of full-time study or employment.
  • Candidates cannot be Rotarians, Honorary Rotarians, or employees of a club, district, or other Rotary entity or of Rotary International. Spouses, lineal descendants (child or grandchild by blood or legal adoption), spouses of lineal descendants, and ancestors (parent or grandparent by blood) of persons in the foregoing categories are also ineligible. Please note that Rotarians and their relatives remain ineligible for scholarship awards for 36 months after a Rotarian has resigned from club membership.
  • The scholarships are not appropriate for students seeking to continue studies already begun at a foreign institution.
  • Persons with disabilities and members of Rotaract clubs are eligible and encouraged to apply.
  • In addition to the criteria listed above, applicants for Academic-Year and Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships must be proficient in the language of the proposed host country. Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarship applicants must have completed at least one year of college-level coursework or equivalent in the proposed language of study.

C. Scholarships available to graduating seniors

1. Blakemore Freeman Fellowships for Advanced Asian Language Study
Blakemore Freeman Fellowships are awarded for study of the principal modern languages of East and Southeast Asia such as: Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Khmer, Tibetan, Thai, Burmese, Korean
To be eligible for a grant, an applicant must:

  • Be pursuing an academic, professional or business career that involves the regular use of a modern East or Southeast Asian language
  • Have a college undergraduate degree
  • Be at or near an advanced level in the language as defined below
  • Be able to devote oneself exclusively to language study during the term of the grant; grants are not made for part-time study
  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States

"Professional or business career" includes, but is not limited to, careers in computer science, engineering, international business, journalism, law, medicine, NGO work, and teaching. 
The deadline usually fallsin December.

2. Fulbright U.S. Student Program
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for U.S. graduating college seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study abroad for one academic year. In academic year 2006-2007, more than 1,200 Americans are studying abroad in over 140 countries with either full or partial support from the Fulbright Program. Please see www.us.fulbrightonline.org for more information.
Bowdoin administers an internal deadline that falls in early to mid-September.
For details, see http://www.us.fulbrightonline.org/home.html

D. Internships/Jobs in Japan
1. The Pasona Internship Program is a non-profit organization which allows outstanding undergraduate and graduate students to participate in a two month internship at a Japanese company. The internship provides the student with valuable opportunities to learn Japanese business practices and to receive on-the-job-training. Since the start of the program in 1987, over 300 students have had the unique experience of working for a Japanese company.
Pasona Internship Program interns will be provided with the following: 160,000/month, round-trip airfare up to $1000 and company-sponsored housing
For further information call the Pasona Internship Program at (212)661-5110 or send e-mail to nambufdn@pasona.com


2. Kiyosato-Educational-Experiment-Project/Brian Kane Fellowship of Yamanashi prefecture’s Yatsugatake region. It is a one-year contractual, paid position (with the possibility of renewal), consists of two main duties: teaching English to junior high school students and adults and working in the International Relations Department at KEEP. ¥250,000 monthly stipend, housing provided.
For more information, see http://www.keep.or.jp/english/bkf.html

3. IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) .
Their goal is to provide students in higher education with technical experience relevant to their studies. They therefore provide paid internships over the summer to students with technical backgrounds. Disciplines include the sciences, engineering, architecture, and economics. Contact: IAESTE/U.S.,0400 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 250,Columbia, Md 21044-3510
United States of America.
Tel:  +1 410 997 3068, 997 3069
Fax:  +1 410 997 5186
E-mail: United_States@iaeste.org
Homepage: www.iaesteunitedstates.org

Since interviews for these positions happen in Feburary/March, you are encouraged to contact IAESTE by January.

5. JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching Program)
The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program seeks to help enhance internationalization in Japan by promoting mutual understanding between Japan and other nations. The program aims to enhance foreign language education in Japan, and to promote international exchange at the local level by fostering ties between Japanese youth and foreign youth. It gives interested candidates the opportunity to work as an Assistant Language Teacher or Coordinator for International Relations. The deadline falls in the month of November.
For details, see http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/JETProgram/homepage.html

6. Institute of International Public Policy
http://www.uncfsp.org/iipp/content/program.cfm#reqs
Deadline March 16

The IIPP Fellowship program provides students with specially designed education and training experiences critical to entry and advancement in international affairs careers. Students are recruited from across the nation and apply as sophomores to participate in a multi-year sequence of summer policy institutes, study abroad, intensive language training, internships, and graduate study, complemented by career development services along the way. UNCFSP is aided in the student recruitment effort by its institutional partners and distinguished selection panels comprised of practitioners, academics, graduate school admissions directors, foundation executives, and IIPP alumni.
Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Sophomore student, enrolled full-time at four-year (baccalaureate) institution;
U.S. citizen o-scholarships-internshipsr permanent resident (documentary support required)
Minimum 3.2 grade point average (on 4.0-scale)
Strong interest in international affairs
Underrepresented minority.
The programs they offer include (1) Junior Summer Policy Institute (2) Sophomore Summer Policy Institute (3) Summer Language Institute (covers instruction at Middlebury) (4) Internship

  1. International University of Japan Internship Search Database
    http://www.iuj.ac.jp/career/getstart/index.cfm?OpenPage=internlist&Tab=resources
  2. Jintern <http://jintern.com/>
    puts you in immediate touch with companies looking for interns. Job descriptions, dates, application procedures are all here.
  3. American Chamber of Commerce in Japan
    <http://www.accj.or.jp/>offers a resume service for job and internship hunters. They have a new Job database <http://www.ecentral.jp/>to which you can subscribe for free and get company notices of openings via email.
  4. Access Navigator <http://www4.access-t.co.jp/webnavi2005/top/> has a list of Japanese companies currently seeking internships. All information is in Japanese, and the list is divided into industry sectors.
  5. A companion page to Access is provided by JMAM Internships.
    <http://www.internships.jp/student/english.html> They have an English /guide/ to their website, but the details and positions are in Japanese. You can enter your information for companies seeking an intern to find you, and approach the various companies hoping to find an intern. You can do that in English.
  6. Yamasa <http://www.yamasa.org/internships/indexe.html> internship
    listing page trying to be the comprehensive source (but not that much listed). Has some good leads for good companies, but also features programs with internships as part of their education.
  7. ICNJ Internship
    <http://www.intercareer.com/japan/njs/intern/internship.html> listings for Japan. Front part is in English but many internship job descriptions are in Japanese.
  8. InternInAsia.com <http://www.interninasia.com/> is sponsored by a Non-profit organization called MOPRA and helps US citizens find internships in China and Japan. You can register online for consideration, get a newsletter, etc. See here for more info.
  9. The World Association of Former United Nations Interns and Fellows <http://www.wafunif.org/>has an in-depth and extensive page of info on Internships, etc. *in the UN* and related organizations.
  10. KOPRA - a German business association <http://www.kopra.org/> provides a page for Internships in Japan with German companies. A lot of the information is in German but scroll down for the English. There is an updated and complete contact information for each current listing.
  11. Wetfeet.com <http://wetfeet.internshipprograms.com/> has lists of internships by USA state, and an option for searching for those outside the USA. On the search screen, choose "zzInternational - Various Locations" at the very bottom of the scroll down list. Then either select a TYPE of internship category and/or click the Search Internships bar to see what is available.
  12. Association for International Practical Training (AIPT)
    10400 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 250
    Columbia, MD 21044-3519
    Phone: 410-997-2200
    Fax: 410-992-3924
    -Nonprofit organization that helps to arrange on-the-job training exchanges between the U.S. and other countries for college students, recent grads, and young workers in most majors and career fields.
  13. Forval Foundation
    #411 Tokyo Central Omotesando
    3-15, Jingumae 4-chome
    Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo 150 Japan
    -eight-week paid summer internships in a Japanese company. To be eligible for the program, students must be currently enrolled in a university undergraduate program such as business, economics, politics, or accounting. Preference will be given to students who will have completed their junior year and a minimum of 2 years of college level Japanese prior to the internship. Candidates must submit an application, resume, two letters of recommendation, and an official school transcript. The deadline for application is the end of January.
  14. International Internship Program
    2-22-21 Nishikata
    Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
    Phone:03-3812-2727
  15. International Cooperative Education Program
    Department of Cooperative Education
    Northeastern University
    360 Huntington Ave, 103 Stearns Center
    Boston, MA 02115
    Phone: (617) 373-3400
  16. JAIMS (Japan-America Institute of Management Science)
    6660 Hawaii Kai Drive
    Honolulu, Hawaii 96825-1192 USA
    Phone: (808) 395-2314
    Fax: 808-396-7111 / 808-396-7112
    -Arranges a three-month internship at a company or organization in Japan
  17. Japan US Community Education and Exchange
    1440 Broadway, Suite 501
    Oakland, CA 94612
    Phone: 510-267-1920
    Fax: 510-267-1922
    -Provides fellowship opportunities for nonprofit professionals from the U.S. to work with community-based nonprofit organizations in Japan
  18. Nissan-NPO Learning Scholarship Program
    Nissan Motor Co.
    Global Communications and Investment Relations Department
    Community Relations
    Phone: 81-3-5565-2132
  19. NPO Support Center Japan
    Dai-ni Sun Bldg. 6 F
    8-12-11 Ginza
    Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061 Japan
    Phone: 011-81-3-3547-3206
    -Internships at NPOs in Japan
  20. Princeton-in-Asia (PiA)
    224 Palmer Hall
    Princeton University
    Princeton, NJ 08544
    Phone: 609-258-3657
    -internships in Japan
  21. U.S. State Department
    U.S. Department of State
    HR/REE/REC
    2401 E Street NW
    Suite 518 H
    Washington, DC 20522
    -internships available in the fall, spring, and summer, most of which are unpaid
  22. Internships Series Online - This web site gives you access to 14 searchable directories that provide up-to-date information on over 2,800 organizations offering internships and summer jobs for students. Students and alumni must call 258-3325 for User ID and Password.
  23. Transitions Abroad - A very detailed site with information for those wanting to work, study or travel abroad. Includes listings of programs offering opportunities as well as a classifieds section.
  24. GoAbroad - Can search for study abroad, internships, language schools, volunteer opportunities, teaching, jobs abroad, and adventure trips. Also offers country specific travel guides and tools such as rail pass information and student id cards.

Teaching English in Japan

AEON Corporation
203 North LaSalle
Suite 2100
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-251-0900
Fax: 312-251-0901

The Brian Kane Fellowship
The American Committee for KEEP, Inc.
825 Green Bay Road, Suite 122
Wilmette, IL 60091-2500
Phone: 1-800-368-5337
-Teach English and assist in international exchange activities in Japan

Earlham College Teaching English in Japan Program
GEOS Language Corp.
Simpson Tower, Suite 2424
401 Bay St.
Toronto, ON M5H 2Y4 Canada
Phone: 1-877-584-4367

Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program
Consulate General of Japan
One Alliance Center, Suite 1600
3500 Lenox Road
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: 404-240-4300
Fax: 404-240-4311
-JET Program participants work in Japan for 1-3 years as either Assistant Language Teachers, who are placed mainly in local boards of education or public junior and senior high schools to assist with English-language education, or as Coordinators for International Relations, who work in offices of local government authorities or related organizations engaged in internationalization activities.

Ohayo Sensei
1032 Irving Street, Ste. 508
San Francisco, CA 94122
Email
-English-language teaching jobs in Japan

Other Jobs in Japan

AIESEC
Phone: 212-757-3774
Email
-facilitates work abroad exchange programs between its member countries

American Chamber of Commerce in Japan Employment Central
-Provides information on finding jobs in Japan

Bilingual Jobs.com
Career Strategy, Inc.
Aoyama T&E Bldg., 5 Floor
3-6-20 Kita-Aoyama
Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan, 107
Phone: 011-81-3-5466-8585
-HR consulting, career counseling and executive search firm

Career Forum.Net
152 W. 57th Street
27th Fl., Carnegie Hall Tower
New York, NY 10019
Phone: 1-800-999-0179
-The largest annual job fair for Japanese/English linguists in the world held in October in Boston, MA.

EscapeArtist.com
Rikunabi
-provides employment information and career fair information exclusively for job seekers who are fluent in Japanese, English and/or other languages, studying outside Japan.

Japan Online Network
Japan Pacific Resource Network
310 8th Street, Suite 305A
Oakland, CA 94607
Phone:(510) 891-9045
FAX: (510) 891-9047

The Japan Times
5-4, Shibaura 4-chome
Minato-ku, Tokyo108-8071
Phone: 81-3-3453-5312
-Check the classified section for job listings

Jobs in Japan
Tokyo Connections
-Guide to jobs in Japan

WorkinJapan.com

Japan-related Careers in the United States

Interesse International Inc.
400 Perimeter Center Terrace NE Suite 900
Atlanta, GA 30346
Phone: 770-391-8558

Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Georgia
245 Peachtree Center Ave.
Marquis One Tower, Suite 2201
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-522-0122
Fax: 404-522-7524

JET Alumni Association Job Bank
Management Recruiters Japanese
Hyde Park, Suite 202
1800 South Rutherford Blvd.
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Phone: 615-217-0001
Fax: 615-217-0808

National Association of Japan-America Societies Job Bank
Pasona
3525 Piedmont Road NE
Five Piedmont Center Suite 202
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: 404-848-9221

TOP
3525 Peidmont Rd NE
6 Piedmont Center Suite 412
Atlanta, GA 30305

WIN Advisory Group
PO Box 331014
Murfreesboro, TN 37133-1014
Phone: (800) 874-0665
-search consultant firm specializing in placing professional, managerial and executive candidates with Japanese owned and managed companies in the United States.