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.

Fall 2019 Bridging Scholarships

Applications are now being accepted from students who will study abroad in Japan beginning in Fall 2019, for a semester or an academic year.

Benefits

Bridging Scholarship recipients receive a stipend of $2,500 (for students on semester-long programs) or $4,000 (for students on academic year programs).

Eligibility and Qualifications

1. Undergraduate students majoring in any field of study are eligible to apply for Bridging Scholarships.
2. Japanese language study is not a prerequisite.
3. 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.
4.  Students studying in Japan on summer programs are not eligible to apply.
5. 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.

Application Procedure

Applications for Bridging Scholarships for study in Japan during Fall 2019 or the academic year 2019-2020 should be submitted to AATJ by the deadline of April 10, 2019. Please submit the following, either by applying online or by using the application form that can be downloaded from this website.

Application Requirements

Whether submitted electronically on on paper, applicants application should include the following:

1. An application form.
2. A short essay (up to 500 words) introducing themselves, explaining their interest in study in Japan, and outlining what they hope to achieve by participating in a study abroad program.
3. A transcript from applicants college or university.
4. A letter of recommendation from someone who knows applicants and is knowledgeable about their abilities and potential, preferably a professor or instructor in their major field. (This may either be submitted together with the application or mailed/emailed separately to the AATJ office; it must be received by the application deadline date in order for application to be considered.)

Online Bridging Scholarship Application form

Paper Scholarship Application Form

If applicants prefer not to apply for the scholarship online, the application is available as a Microsoft Word fillable form. Applicants can download this form to their computer, fill it out on computer, save it, print it, and mail it. Type the information in the shaded boxes (boxes will expand as they type); tab between boxes; click mouse or type an “x” to fill in a Yes/No box.

Download the Microsoft Word Form.

PLEASE NOTE: The application deadline is NOT a postmark deadline; application materials should be received by that date, whether they are submitted online or in paper form.