Asian Languages and Cultures: Scholarships and Fellowships

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

This scholarship provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study abroad programs worldwide. The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are planning to study abroad. The program aims to diversify the kinds of students who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go by supporting undergraduates who might otherwise not participate due to financial constraints. Ideally, students should begin their application one full semester before their study abroad program is scheduled to begin. https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/

Boren Scholarship

The National Security Education Program’s 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 Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. 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. Maximum scholarship awards are: $10,000 for a semester and $20,000 for a full academic year. 

https://www.borenawards.org/apply-now

The Bridging Scholarship for Study Abroad in Japan

The Bridging Project offers scholarships to American undergraduate students participating in study-abroad programs in Japan. 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 and must be enrolled as undergraduates in a college or university in the United States before and during the time they are studying abroad. Award amounts vary from $2,500 for semester-long programs to $4,000 for academic year programs. https://bridgingfoundation.smapply.us/

Fund for Education Abroad

FEA is committed to increasing the opportunities for dedicated American students to participate in high-quality, rigorous education abroad programs by reducing financial restrictions through the provision of grants and scholarships. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled as undergraduates in US universities/colleges who plan to study abroad for at least four weeks.

https://fundforeducationabroad.org/

Go Overseas Scholarships

Go Overseas scholarships are available to students currently enrolled in, or in the process of applying to, any study abroad program. The scholarship is awarded based on the creativity and analytical thinking displayed through writing samples and/or video submissions. 

https://www.gooverseas.com/scholarships

JASSO

The Student Exchange Support Program (Scholarship for Short-Term Study in Japan) scholarship, funded by the Japanese government is available for qualified students accepted by Japanese universities, graduate schools or colleges of technology under the student exchange agreement on a short-term basis from about three months to one year. The award recipients are selected by Waseda University and students are notified after their arrival in Japan.

https://www.jasso.go.jp/en/ryugaku/scholarship_j/index.html

Monbukagakusho- Japanese Studies

The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) offers scholarships for non-Japanese nationals wishing to study in Japan. The Japanese Studies scholarship allows U.S. citizens the opportunity to spend a year continuing their study of Japanese language or culture at one of several universities in Japan. This is a highly competitive scholarship for undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 30 with a strong knowledge of Japanese language. Please contact your local Japanese Consulate for more details.

U.S. citizens living in MN should apply through the Consulate General of Chicago.

https://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/mext-scholarship-info.html

Mondale Scholarship 

The Japan America Society of Minnesota (JASM) awards the Mondale Scholarship to undergraduate students enrolled in Minnesota colleges & universities and North Dakota State University who want to broaden their knowledge of Japan through a combination of study and travel. 

https://www.mn-japan.org/Mondale-Scholarship

Rainbow Scholarship

This scholarship through the Fund for Education Abroad will be awarded to a deserving LGBTQI student who aims to participate in a high-quality, rigorous education abroad program. Applicants must meet general FEA scholarship eligibility requirements & preferences. Students interested in being considered for this annual scholarship should indicate this through their application forms.

https://fundforeducationabroad.org/the-rainbow-scholarship/

Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship

The Ambassadorial Scholarships program helps further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographical areas. The program sponsors academic year scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students as well as for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies. While abroad, scholars serve as goodwill ambassadors to the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others the experiences that led to a greater understanding of their host country. Contact your local Rotary chapter for more information.

https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/scholarships

Wollitzer Merit Scholarship in Area or Comparative Studies
CIEE specific. $2,500 toward semester program or 3 Block Program costs, $1,500 for Quarter or 2 Block Program costs, or $750 toward summer program or Single Block Program costs. Qualifying programs: CIEE summer, semester, block-based, or year-long programs in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Please check the home page of your program of interest to see what awards are offered for that program. https://www.ciee.org/go-abroad/college-study-abroad/scholarships/merit-scholarships

Freeman-ASIA
Freeman Awards for Study in Asia provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. https://www.iie.org/programs/freeman-asia

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

This scholarship provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study abroad programs worldwide. The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are planning to study abroad. The program aims to diversify the kinds of students who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go by supporting undergraduates who might otherwise not participate due to financial constraints. Ideally, students should begin their application one full semester before their study abroad program is scheduled to begin. https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/

Stephen M Lew Lifetime Friendship Award

CIEE Summer programs in China. This award was established by a group of CIEE alums who met Stephen during a CIEE Beijing summer program in 2002. While Stephen’s life was sadly cut short, this award seeks to honor his legacy and the lifelong friendships that the summer in Beijing forged.  It is hoped that this award will give other students the opportunity to experience their own rewarding memories studying abroad and form relationships that last a lifetime. $1,000 toward summer program costs. https://www.ciee.org/go-abroad/college-study-abroad/scholarships/merit-scholarships

Huayu Enrichment Scholarship

This scholarship is offered to foreign individuals interested in studying Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan, and is available for 2, 3, 6, 9, or 12 months. https://depart.moe.edu.tw/CHICAGO/News2.aspx?n=C39B3566A41136FF&sms=F5BFFBFF80036060

Boren Scholarship

The National Security Education Program’s 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 Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. 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. Maximum scholarship awards are: $10,000 for a semester and $20,000 for a full academic year. 

https://www.borenawards.org/apply-now

Fund for Education Abroad

FEA is committed to increasing the opportunities for dedicated American students to participate in high-quality, rigorous education abroad programs by reducing financial restrictions through the provision of grants and scholarships. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled as undergraduates in US universities/colleges who plan to study abroad for at least four weeks.

https://fundforeducationabroad.org/

Go Overseas Scholarships

Go Overseas scholarships are available to students currently enrolled in, or in the process of applying to, any study abroad program. The scholarship is awarded based on the creativity and analytical thinking displayed through writing samples and/or video submissions. 

https://www.gooverseas.com/scholarships

Rainbow Scholarship

This scholarship through the Fund for Education Abroad will be awarded to a deserving LGBTQI student who aims to participate in a high-quality, rigorous education abroad program. Applicants must meet general FEA scholarship eligibility requirements & preferences. Students interested in being considered for this annual scholarship should indicate this through their application forms.

https://fundforeducationabroad.org/the-rainbow-scholarship/

Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship

The Ambassadorial Scholarships program helps further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographical areas. The program sponsors academic year scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students as well as for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies. While abroad, scholars serve as goodwill ambassadors to the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others the experiences that led to a greater understanding of their host country. Contact your local Rotary chapter for more information.

https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/scholarships

Wollitzer Merit Scholarship in Area or Comparative Studies
CIEE specific. $2,500 toward semester program or 3 Block Program costs, $1,500 for Quarter or 2 Block Program costs, or $750 toward summer program or Single Block Program costs. Qualifying programs: CIEE summer, semester, block-based, or year-long programs in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Please check the home page of your program of interest to see what awards are offered for that program. https://www.ciee.org/go-abroad/college-study-abroad/scholarships/merit-scholarships

Freeman-ASIA
Freeman Awards for Study in Asia provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. https://www.iie.org/programs/freeman-asia