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3995 Fashion Square Boulevard
Saginaw, MI, 48603
United States

800.833.6243

Intercultural student exchange programs for high school students, 
teenagers, youth, host families, schools & communities to more than 70
foreign countries.

JAFS

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Japan-America Friendship Scholars

(JAFS)

Eligible Countries

Japan

Please refer to individual country pages for program duration and departure times.

Programs

Summer

Deadline

Jan 31, 2024

Scholarship Amount

The scholarship covers $5,995 of the program fee. Students are responsible for a $4000 program tuition contribution.

Eligibility

  • Summer: 50 scholarships open to students who meet the age requirements defined on the Japan country page.

  • Students who have Japanese language experience or are motivated to learn Japanese.

  • Students must hold a 3.0-grade point average or better on a 4.0 scale.

  • Only US citizens may apply.

  • Previous recipients of a YFU scholarship to Japan are not eligible.

Age Requirements

Students must be born between April 1, 2006 - March 31, 2009. For additional information please visit the Japan country page.

Complete Application Includes

  • Complete Online Application

  • 3 Short Answer Essay Questions

  • $75 Application Fee (non-refundable)

  • Candid and Headshot photos

Additional required information post-application submission includes:

  • Teacher Recommendation

  • Health certificate

  • School certificate

  • Parent-student agreement

  • Interview by YFU Volunteer

Application Fees

$75 (non-refundable)

Scholarship Covers

  • Round-trip international airline travel

  • Round-trip domestic airline travel

  • Placement with a carefully selected host family

  • Regional orientation for scholarship recipients and parents

  • Preparatory materials

  • Mandatory Japan-specific orientation

  • Support services in host country

  • Comprehensive Insurance

Scholarship Recipients are Responsible for:

  • Passport

  • Visa fees (if necessary)

  • Any excess luggage tariffs

  • Personal spending money

  • Tuition balance not covered by the scholarship is due two weeks after award notification

  • Upon returning home, scholarship winners must submit a 2-3 page essay titled 'YFU Experience in Japan' detailing their exchange in Japan. These essays are submitted to the Japanese government to encourage funding for future programs.

  • Upon returning home, scholarship winners are expected to complete at least one presentation in their school or community to share their experiences, teach others about the culture in their host country, and encourage other students to participate in foreign exchange.

Orientation

Japan scholarship winners will participate in a special mandatory Japan online Pre-Departure Orientation.

Notes

  • All applicants will be notified of their status (via email) in October for winter programs or April for summer.

  • The Japanese government sponsors this scholarship and therefore students may not miss orientation, or arrive late in Japan. Additionally, students may not schedule to leave the program early or extend their stay in Japan.

  • The flight purchased for this program is a roundtrip ticket and therefore students’ flights may not be rearranged to include any destinations other than their departure gate and Japan.

  • Scholarship programs are subject to change or cancellation without prior notice.

PLEASE KEEP A COPY OF THIS PAGE AND YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS FOR YOUR REFERENCE.

If applying for multiple scholarships, please indicate each scholarship's name and code on your application. All scholarship recipients are required to travel on the YFU group travel dates, and to complete the entire program. For more information regarding YFU and the scholarship selection process call 1.800.TEENAGE or refer to the Scholarships Overview section of this website.