Scholarships
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.
YFU offers over 200 full and partial merit-based scholarships and need-based financial aid scholarships to students every year. We are in the process of updating several of our scholarship programs below. Deadlines will be updated as they become available for those “TBD” programs.
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. 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 must submit essay responses, a host family introduction letter, and teacher recommendations by the scholarship deadline. Students can apply for multiple scholarships with only one application and one application fee.
National Scholarships
Country | Limited to | Deadline |
Choice | Feb 28, 2024 |
+ Holcomb & Farnell Foreign Study Fund
The Holcomb and Farnell Foreign Study Fund is a needs-based, partial scholarship applicable to the Winter/Spring Semester or Winter/Spring Year program of any YFU country. This scholarship is funded by Sharon Holcomb and Fred Farnell, who wish to provide young Americans with a life-changing study abroad experience similar to the one Sharon had as a YFU exchange student to Germany.
Japan | Jan 31, 2024 |
+ Japan-America Friendship Scholars (JAFS)
Choice | Feb 28, 2024 |
+ Karla Topolka Scholarship Fund
Japan | Jan 31, 2024 |
+ Kikkoman National Scholarship
The Kikkoman National Scholarship is a merit-based, full scholarship applicable to the Summer program in Japan. This scholarship is funded by the Kikkoman Corporation and aims to further Japan-American relations by helping motivated American students learn the language and culture of Japan.
Japan | FCCLA Members | Jan 31, 2024 |
+ Kikkoman/FCCLA Scholarship
Japan | Feb 28, 2024 |
+ The Alan Hershey Legacy Scholarship for Japan Exchange
Choice | Ongoing |
+ YFU Legacy Grant
Choice | Feb-28, Sept 15 |
+ YFU Financial Aid Fund
The YFU Financial Aid Fund offers needs-based, partial Financial Aid and is applicable to any YFU program. The YFU Financial Aid Fund is made possible by generous donors to Youth For Understanding USA’s scholarship fund.
Germany | Feb 28, 2024 |
+ YFU Stiftung and Stipendium Program
The YFU Stiftung and Stipendium Scholarship is a need-based, partial scholarship applicable to the Fall Semester or Fall Year program in Germany. This scholarship aims to provide minority American students with an educational and fulfilling intercultural experience in Germany.
Choice | Feb 28, 2024 |
+ Jason Pollington Latin America Scholarship
Choice | Feb 28, 2024 |
+ YFU Passport to Equity
Choice | Feb 28, 2024 |
+ Culture Connect Scholarship
Regional Scholarships
Country | Limited to | Deadline |
Germany | See Eligibility | Nov 8, 2023 |
+ Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange
The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Scholarship is a merit-based, full scholarship applicable to the Fall Year program in Germany. The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program (CBYX) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by YFU USA. This prestigious scholarship aims to further German-American relations by helping motivated American learn the language and culture of Germany. Students applying for the YFU CBYX scholarship must reside in one of the following states:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Iowa
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Tennessee
- Wisconsin
Germany | MI | Feb 28, 2024 |
+ Germany For You
The Germany For You Scholarship is a full scholarship applicable to a two (2) week summer program in Germany. This scholarship is funded by private German individual and corporate funders and aims to provide educational and fulfilling cultural exchange programs to motivated American students from Michigan. Priority will be given to students residing in the Great Lakes Bay region of the state.
Japan | CA | Jan 31, 2024 |
+ Kikkoman/Folsom, CA
The Kikkoman Folsom Scholarship is a merit-based, full scholarship applicable to the Summer program in Japan. This scholarship is funded by the Kikkoman Foods Foundation and aims to provide educational and fulfilling cultural exchange programs to motivated American students at the following Folsom, California schools:
- Folsom High School
- Cordova High School
- Oak Ridge High School
- Vista del Lago High School (Folsom)
Japan | WI | Jan 31, 2024 |
+ Kikkoman/Walworth County, WI
- Elkhorn High School
- Badger High School
- Big Foot High School
- Williams Bay High School
- Delavan-Darie High School
- East Troy High School
- Faith Christian High School
- Walworth Christian High School
- Whitewater High School
Choice | See Eligibility | Feb 29, 2024 |
+ WEH Foundation Scholarship
- Sacramento County, California
- El Dorado County, California
- Placer County, California
- Nevada County, California
- Alpine County, California
- Amador County, California
- Calaveras County, California
- Sutter County, California
- Yuba County, California
- San Joaquin County, California
- Washoe County, Nevada
Employee Scholarships
Country | Deadline |
Choice | TBD |
+ Chevron Culture and Travel Program
Choice | TBD |
+ The Espon American Inc. International Scholarship
Choice | March 15, 2024 |
+ Mazda Canada Inc Scholarship
Japan | Feb 29, 2024 |
+ Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc.
Japan | TBD |
+ Sony Corporation of America Scholarship Program
The Sony Corporation of America Scholarship is a merit-based, full scholarship and is only available to students who have a parent or legal guardian employed at select divisions at Sony.