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OIP NOTICE FOR ALL JAPANESE PROGRAMS:

For your OIP application to Japan, several letters of recommendation and/or a language evaluation are required. Unfortunately, most of our program sponsors will only accept letters of recommendation submitted on their own university form.

To save time and assist your faculty recommenders, we encourage you to use the application forms for the specific programs you are applying to. If you are applying to two programs through OIP, you will need to ask your faculty to write their letter of recommendation on multiple forms.

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Students interested in applying for the Hikone JCMU program as a 1st or 2nd choice program must complete the JCMU application form, JCMU personal essay form, and provide letters of recommendation on the JCMU forms. You can access the JCMU application online, and will find the letters of recommendation available electronically in the application. You can type your information onto the form, and then print it out and give it to your faculty recommender to complete or you can direct the faculty to the JCMU website and have them complete the letter of recommendation electronically, print them out and then submit them to the OIP. The faculty recommender should return the completed form/s to the OIP by the OIP deadline.  

Because of an early deadline for the JCMU program, interested students must submit all JCMU application materials (application, personal essay, Dean’s Reference Letter, copy of valid passport, 2 letters of recommendation, and statement of information verification) to the OIP by Sept 18, 2009 for consideration for Winter 2010. These materials are in addition to the OIP online application.

Students must also provide an official transcript for JCMU specifically, even if it is your 2nd choice. They will not accept unofficial transcripts.

For this program, do not complete the OIP letters of recommendation/ language evaluation form. Please contact the Japan program advisor oip-japan@umich.edu if you have any questions.

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For cost information click below:

• Fall and Academic Year
• Winter

All students interested in applying to study in Japan for Winter 2010 or for AY 2010-11

The Bridging Scholarship program will award 20 scholarships to American students participating in study-abroad programs in Japan that begin in Spring (U-M Winter) 2010. Undergraduate students majoring in any field of study and attending any recognized exchange or independent program in Japan are eligible to apply for these scholarships.

Recipients of Bridging Scholarships will receive stipends of $2,500 or $4,000, depending on the length of their study program in Japan. 

The scholarships are funded by donations from U.S. corporations and foundations to the U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation. Since 1999, the Bridging Scholarship program has awarded 950 scholarships to students studying abroad in Japan. Most recently, 68 students from colleges and universities in 29 states received scholarships for study in Japan beginning in the Fall 2009 semester.

The deadline for applications for Spring (U-M Winter) 2010 scholarships is October 6, 2009. Applicants will be notified of the results by November 25. 

Selection will be based on academic potential and financial need. The scholarships are administered by the Association of Teachers of Japanese.

Spring 2010 programs are those beginning between January and April 2010 and continuing for at least three months.

Students planning to study abroad in Japan beginning in Fall 2010 or for the 2010-2011 academic year should apply in April 2010 for the Fall 2010 scholarships.

Information on the Bridging scholarships and downloadable application forms are available at ATJ's website.

13-18 Michigan in-residence credits per term

• Sophomore standing
• Minimum 2.5 GPA
• No Japanese language prerequisite

The JCMU term and academic year programs provide intensive Japanese language training (from beginning to advanced levels) as well as social science, environmental science, and humanities coursework on pre-modern and modern Japan. All instruction is in English, and courses are taught by either special visiting scholars or Shiga University faculty. Special efforts are made to coordinate the language and non-language courses, which typically incorporate field trips and/or guest lecturers. Supervised independent study is also possible. Individuals with demonstrated linguistic proficiency may enroll in general Shiga University courses taught in Japanese.

Host university web link: Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU)
Guide for Accepted Students: JCMU Program Handbook (PDF)
Specific Funding Opportunity: Bridging Scholarships for Study in Japan
General OIP Study Abroad Manual (PDF)
Talk with a program Student Alum: E-Advisor
Talk with Japan’s Study Abroad Advisor: oip-japan@umich.edu

OIP Study Abroad Programs
Non-OIP Study Abroad Programs
OIP Study Abroad Fair
Applying
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