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YFU offers over 200 full and partial merit-based scholarships and needs-based financial aid to students every year.

To be considered for scholarship awards, students must meet the eligibility requirements listed on the individual Scholarship Information pages below and demonstrate characteristics like flexibility, tolerance and open-mindedness. In addition to the standard application and fee (if required), students also need to submit essay responses, a host family introduction letter and teacher recommendations by the scholarship deadline. Students can apply for multiple scholarships and pay only one fee.

Through the generosity of numerous corporations, governments, foundations and individuals, YFU awards more than $2.3 million in partial or full study abroad scholarships annually. Students are encouraged to consider all of their scholarship options and apply to as many as they qualify for by the December 1 scholarship application deadline!

Sony Corporation of America Scholarship Program

YFU Scholarship Information Sheet

At a Glance

Application Deadline

Program Length


January 7

- Summer

Eligible Countries

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

Scholarship Amount

  • This is a full scholarship.

Eligibility

  • Full scholarships available for high school students who are children of full-time U.S. employees of Sony Corporation of America (SCA) (including Sony/ATV, Sony DADC, Sony Biotechnology Inc.), Sony North America (SNA), Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), Sony Music Entertainment (SME), or Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE).
  • Previous recipients of a YFU scholarship are not eligible. Employee must have completed one full year of employment prior to the deadline.
  • To enable Sony to award scholarships to as many different families as possible each year, only one scholarship per employee family may be awarded in a given program year.
  • Academically, the applicant must have a “B” average or better (3.0 on a 4.0 scale).
  • This program is not open to children of Japanese transfers.
  • Parent must be a full-time U.S. employee of SCA (including Sony/ATV, Sony DADC, and Sony Biotechnology Inc.), SNA, SPE, SME, or SIE at the time the student departs for Japan.
  • U.S. citizens or students with permanent U.S. residency may apply.
  • All applicants will be notified of their status (via email) in April.

Orientation

  • Japan scholarship winners will participate in a special mandatory Japan Pre-Departure Orientation.
  •  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. All students must fly to and from Japan together.

Age Requirements

  • Students must be born between April 2, 2002 and April 1, 2004.

 

Application Fee

  • $75 (non-refundable) due at the time of application

Complete Application Includes

  • Complete Online Application
  • 1 Teacher Recommendation
  • Host Family Letter
  • 3 Short Answer Essay Questions
  • Application Fee (non-refundable)
  • Health Certificate
  • Parent-student agreement
  • 5 Candid photos
  • 1 Passport sized photo

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
  • Three-day Japan-specific orientation at the beginning of the program
  • Support services in host country

Scholarship Recipients Are Responsible For

  • Passport
  • Visa fees (if necessary)
  • Any excess luggage tariffs
  • Required overseas medical insurance (many insurance policies will cover students while traveling abroad)
  • Personal spending money
  • 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.
  • Within one month of returning home, the student must provide a report and photos detailing their exchange experience to their scholarship sponsor.

 

 

 

APPLY NOW!

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 web site.