The Toshizo Watanabe Study Abroad Scholarship

渡邉利三寄付奨学金
For Japanese Students’ International Study in the U.S.

www.usjapancouncil.org/watanabe-scholarshipObjectives
In this document, participants will learn:• About the U.S.-Japan Council & WatanabeScholarship• Features of the Watanabe Scholarship• Eligibility criteria• What is covered• Scholarship application process (incl. Requirementsand Timeline)• What makes the Watanabe Scholarship unique• Tips for completing the application

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About USJC

 develops and connects diverse leaders to create a stronger U.S.-Japan relationship USJC brings together leaders of the United States and Japan from acrossbackgrounds, sectors, and generations to partner for a better future for the AsiaPacific region and beyond

 USJC invests in the next generation of leaders from the United States and Japan Learn more at www.usjapancouncil.org
3About the Scholarship• Created in 2016
• Made possible by a $10 million endowment gift
• Named for Mr. Toshizo Watanabe, a successful
Japanese businessman who had a life-changing
SAB experience in the United States• To support international study in either the U.S.
or Japan• Decrease financial burden of international study• Give opportunity to those with leadershipexperience/potential

4Eligibility• Undergraduate and graduate students• Degree-seeking & exchange programstudents• Any field of study or major• Any school or approved program(*no language schools*)• A minimum one (1) semester up to one (1)year of study(*No summer/winter only programs orinternships*)• JapanU.S.

• Students with financial need
• No fixed scholarship amount5

Eligibility
1) Japanese citizens and permanent residents2) Currently enrolled student in good standing at a highschool, college or university in Japan, or degree-seeking
student currently studying in the US (If going to grad school
and currently not enrolled, must have proof of undergrad degree)3) Will be in a credit-bearing course at a college, university
or approved study center**Language schools are not eligible**4) Has financial need
5) Preference given to students who are:••from single parent households / orphans
first-generation
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Application Requirements• Online Application Form• All materials in English• Essay(s)• Resume• Recommendation letter (1)• SAB certification form*• Financial certification form*• Transcripts (optional)• Language proficiency scores (optional)• No interview
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Scholarship Statistics
Scholarship Statistics

67% Female
33% Male

90% Undergraduate
Average Award: $9,480
10 % Graduate
Total Awarded: $1,858,111

39% from Single
Parent Households

11% TOMODACHI
Program Alumni

Data reflects cohorts 2016-17 through 2023-24.

82024-2025 Cycle Application Timeline*
Date
Jan. 8 - Feb. 19, 2024

Application Period (Online)

Apr. 22 – May 17, 2024

Finalist Notification

May 20 – May 31, 2024

Scholarship Decisions Announced

June 28, 2024

Scholarship Acceptance Deadline

July 1, 2024

Scholarship Disbursement Begins*Schedule subject to change• There is only one application cycle(If studying abroad only for Fall 2024 or Spring 2025, you must apply for this cycle. Same deadlines apply.)• Apply for study abroad between Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
• Link to the online application will be posted on the Watanabe webpage• If selected, you cannot defer the scholarship to the next cycle
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Most Frequently Asked Questions• What is the possibility of receiving the scholarship? (How many people apply yearly?)→ We are not able to disclose that information. You have a chance to get thescholarship if you apply!
• When is the application deadline?
→ February 19, 2024 @ 11:59 pm (Eastern Time)(日本時間: 2月20日午後1時59分)• Is the Watanabe Scholarship limited to certain schools?
→ No, it can be for any schools of your choice and the ranking of the school does notmatter.
However, scholarship CANNOT be applied for language schools.
• I am a degree-seeking student. Can I get the scholarship for 4 years straight?
→ Each application covers for one academic year. You must reapply every year.
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IMPORTANT APPLICATION COMPONENTS
Essay (subject to change)
Prompt #1 (required)➢

Motivation to study abroad➢Long & short-term goals➢

Skills you want to develop during study abroad➢

Financial barriers

Prompt #2 (optional)❑Chance for student to share unique feature/fact
about yourself❑

This help us learn what is special about you

Prompt #3 (required for some)• Explain if you have previous international
experience• How will this time be different?
• Why should we support you going abroad again?

Recommendation Letter❖ASK YOUR RECOMMEDER IN ADVANCE❖English❖Address the prompts❖Position doesn’t matter, how well theyknow the student does
❖Do NOT send more than one, it will not
help and may harm your chances ofgetting the scholarship

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What is covered with this scholarship?
APPROVED Home School Tuition (max $6,000/year) Program Tuition & Fees
 Room & Board Health Insurance Books and School Supplies (max$1000/year)

 Travel (max $1600/year) Miscellaneous (max $1000/year)

NON-APPROVED
 Visa application/Passport Fees
 Domestic Travel
 Activity Fees (formal or informal)
 Work-Study Testing Fees

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Calculating Need (i.e. How much to apply for)Total Cost of Attendance (TCOA) – Total Existing Financial Resources you Have (EFR) ==TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED FROM WATANABE (ARW) // FINANCIAL NEED (FN)
Total Cost ofAttendance－Total Existing
Financial Resources=TOTAL AMOUNT REQUESTED FROMWATANABE // FINANCIAL NEED

$ 0.00－$ 0.00=$ 0.00

Important!
Know your study abroad program costs.
You can find this information on:• Home school study abroad office​• Host school website/study abroad office​Don’t know which school you will go to?
That’s OK!
•••

Search the tuition for the schools you are interested in
Pick the program/school with the highest tuition
for your calculation
Scholarship amount can be lowered, but not increased13Online Application and Additional Information

Japanese page ofthe scholarship2020-2021

Watanabe Scholarship Webpage: https://www.usjapancouncil.org/watanabe-scholarship/
FAQ page for Japanese applicants: https://www.usjapancouncil.org/ja/watanabe-faq/
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What Makes the Watanabe Scholarship Unique?
• Connected to the U.S.-Japan Council Network• Dedicated leadership opportunities during the SAByear: Watanabe Leadership Weekend
 Regional USJC Events
 TOMODACHI Program Opportunities
 TOMODACHI Generation

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What Makes the Watanabe Scholarship Unique? (cont’d)• You can reapply for more than one year (degreeseeking students/graduate students)• You can combine the Watanabe Scholarship withother scholarships (up to the full cost of attendance)• No repayment/work requirements after thecompletion of your study period• Can apply at any stage of your study abroad planning• You apply for the scholarship directly. School has norole in the application process.
• Scholarship is paid directly to the school, not thestudent.
• Scholarship is paid in one lump sum. No monthlypayments
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Application and General Scholarship Tips
• Be honest. In your essay, don’t write what you
think we want to hear.
• One Recommendation is required (DO NOTSEND EXTRAS, they won’t increase yourchances and they may cause problems withyour application)• Scholarship is about opportunity and access.
Tell us how this scholarship can make adifference for your life (short-term and longterm).
• Know your SAB budget early. Need to beaccurate in your cost of attendance estimates.
• Ask for the amount you need. Asking for lesswon’t increase your chances.

Resources
FAQ page
USJC Website
Recommenders who know you as a person
Yourself
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For More Information

Check out the FAQ page and any related updates visit the webpage
https://www.usjapancouncil.org/ja/watanabe-faq/
http://www.usjapancouncil.org/watanabe-scholarshipJapanese Webpage↓https://www.usjapancouncil.org/ja/watanabe-scholarship/18