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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!

National Scholarships

Scholarship Name Code Country Limited to Deadline Date
Holcomb & Farnell Foreign Study Fund 385 Choice 01/07/2019 7-Jan
Japan-America Friendship Scholars (JAFS) 254 Japan 01/07/2019 7-Jan
Japan-US Senate Youth Exchange (JUSSE) 97 Japan 01/07/2019 7-Jan
Kikkoman National Scholarship 304 Japan 01/07/2019 7-Jan
Kikkoman/FCCLA Scholarship 44 Japan FCCLA Members 01/07/2019 7-Jan
Okinawa Peace Scholarship Program 257 Japan 01/07/2019 7-Jan
The Alan Hershey Legacy Scholarship for Japan Exchange 876 Japan 01/07/2019 7-Jan
The YFU Americas Scholarship 314 Choice 01/07/2019 7-Jan
YFU Community Grant 368 Choice 03/15/2018 15-Mar
YFU Financial Aid Fund 384 Choice 03/01/2019 1-Mar
YFU Stiftung 273 Germany 01/07/2019 7-Jan
YFU Stipendium Program to Germany 305 Germany 10/26/2017 26-Oct

Regional Scholarships

Scholarship Name Code Country Limited to Deadline Date
Alexander Voigt Memorial Scholarship 374 Germany MN 02/15/2019 15-Feb
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange 115 Germany AL, AR, IA, IL, IN, LA, MI, MO, MS, TN, WI 12/11/2018 11-Dec
Goethe Institut - PASCH Schools Scholarship 358 Germany CA, CO, MA, MO, NE, NY, PA, TX, VA 01/07/2019 7-Jan
Japan Business Society of Detroit (JBSD) Foundation 266 Japan MI 01/07/2019 7-Jan
Kikkoman/Folsom, CA 262 Japan CA 01/07/2019 7-Jan
Kikkoman/Walworth County, WI 33 Japan WI 01/07/2019 7-Jan
Norbert Hardner Foundation International Exchange Scholarship 596 Choice PA 02/04/2019 4-Feb

Employee Scholarships

Scholarship Name Code Country Limited to Deadline Date
Chevron Culture and Travel Program 64 Choice 01/07/2019 7-Jan
Epson America, Inc. International Scholarship 7 Choice 01/21/2019 21-Jan
Mazda Canada Inc. 360 Japan 01/07/2019 7-Jan
Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc. 146 Japan 02/22/2019 22-Feb
Sony Corporation of America Scholarship Program 251 Japan 01/07/2019 7-Jan