The purpose of the United States Scholars Initiative (USSI) Scholarship, which is made available by the Japan ICU Foundation, is to encourage more foreign undergraduate students from the United States to enrol in degree programmes at foreign Christian University (ICU) in Tokyo, Japan. The following is an outline of the most important information surrounding the USSI Scholarship:
Program Description:
Description of the Programme The goal of the United States Scholars Initiative (USSI) is to provide financial assistance to undergraduate students studying in the United States who have a significant passion for Japan, the Japanese language, the Integrated Curriculum Unit, and the liberal arts. The scholarship is awarded based on excellence and provides financial support for the recipient’s whole undergraduate education at ICU for a period of four years.
Eligibility Criteria:
Eligibility Requirements In order to be considered for the USSI Scholarship, applicants must demonstrate that they meet all of the following requirements:
- Candidates are required to be citizens of the United States.
- They are required to have graduated from a high school located in the United States.
- It is expected that applicants will have a significant interest in Japan, the Japanese language, the ICU, and the liberal arts.
- Candidates are required to have graduated from a high school in the United States.
- Candidates should have a deep interest in the liberal arts education they intend to pursue.
- Only students who are unmarried and do not have any dependents are eligible.
Application Process:
Each year, the application window for the USSI Scholarship is open from the 1st of September to the 1st of December. An application form, a personal statement explaining why the applicant wants to study at ICU and their plans after graduation, a short essay, a copy of the applicant’s transcript from the last three years of secondary school, educational certification (SAT with essay, ACT plus writing, or IB full diploma), and two letters of recommendation are all required of candidates who are interested in applying. In the event that the candidate has not spent the preceding six years in a row attending a school where English is the language of instruction, they will be required to provide a score from either the TOEFL or the IELTS.
Selection Process:
Procedure for Selecting Candidates Following the close of applications, on or before December 15th, USSI finalists will be contacted to schedule interviews. Interviews with the finalists will be part of the process for making the final selection. The application process for ICU will begin in January 2024, and interviews for the USSI Scholarship will take place during that same month. The final choices on admission to ICU and the USSI Scholarship will be communicated in February 2024.
ICU is a private, four-year liberal arts college located in Tokyo, Japan. It is the institution that the recipients of the scholarships will be attending. The goal of the institution is to produce “responsible global citizens” who will contribute to the maintenance of world peace and encourage harmonic coexistence among people of varying ethnicities and socioeconomic statuses. Since its founding in 1953, ICU has been recognised as a leading institution in Japan for the provision of education in the liberal arts.
Note that the information that has been provided is based on the sources that are currently available, and that the dates that have been indicated are for the academic year 2022-2023. The most recent information regarding the USSI Scholarship application procedure and deadlines for the academic year 2023-2024 can be found on the official website of the Japan ICU Foundation, which interested applicants should visit in order to obtain this information.
It is necessary to verify the specifics and deadlines directly with the scholarship sponsor; alternatively, you can refer to the official webpage for the USSI Scholarship for information that is both accurate and up to date.