About the Scholarship
PIA, thanks to the support of the United States Japan Foundation, is pleased to offer a scholarship to students from Japan who want to study English, volunteer in an American workplace, and explore culture in the U.S.! The scholarship will provide financial support for ~50% of the tuition and fees (up to $5,000) for a five- or six-month course of study in PIA’s Intensive English and Service Learning or Community Service courses. Scholarships will be awarded based on financial need with consideration of academic performance and advisor recommendations.
Intensive English, Service Learning, and Community Service
All scholarship recipients will enroll for at least one term of Intensive English courses in grammar, reading, writing, speaking, and listening. During this term, they will also enroll in a Service Learning or Community Service elective course. In these courses, students learn about workplace culture in the U.S., prepare a resume and cover letter, and research and select their volunteering sites. There are two options for sponsorship applicants to choose from:
Option 1: Intensive English + Service Learning
- Start date: September 24, 2025
- End date: February 12, 2026
- Service Learning students volunteer with local nonprofit organizations for 20 hours per week for six weeks.
- Total hours: 260 (classes) + 120 (volunteering)
Option 2: Intensive English + Community Service
- Start date: September 24, 2025
- End date: March 19, 2026
- Community Service students attend regular Intensive English courses for two terms and volunteer one day per week for nine weeks.
- Total hours: 443 (classes) + 35 (volunteering)
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- be at least 18 years old
- demonstrate financial need
- meet English proficiency requirements
- submit required documentation
Service Learning or Community Service is recommended for students with intermediate English proficiency. Students may enroll in service learning or community service when they have reached CEFR level B1 or higher. Students may demonstrate they have reached this level through any one of the following achievements:
- Completion of PIA level 2 courses OR
- TOEFL iBT score of 42 or higher OR
- TOEFL Essentials score of 5 or higher OR
- IELTS score of 4 or higher OR
- Duolingo English Test score of 60 or higher OR
- EIKEN grade 2 or higher and a PIA speaking test OR
- TOEIC 500 or higher and a PIA speaking test
Important Dates
- Application for Fall 2025 Open: April 1, 2025
- Application Due Date: May 16, 2025
- Decision Date: May 23, 2025
Application Process
Now: Fill out the online application and provide the following:
- A letter of recommendation (from a non-family member)
- An essay on the following prompts:
- Why should you receive the scholarship? What do you hope to bring back to Japan at the end of your study experience?
- A tax statement (納税申告書)
- A recent bank statement with a minimum deposit of $5000
- A letter of financial support if the bank statement is not in the applicant’s name
- A copy of the applicant’s passport
- Transcripts for the past 2 years
- Official English test scores taken within one year
Later: The applicant will be contacted for an interview via Zoom.
Contact Information
For more information, please email Miwako Murakami at info@piaschools.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the scholarship merit-based or need-based?
- The scholarship is need-based, but certain academic qualifications apply.
- Do I need to have certain grades to be qualified for the scholarship?
- No, but higher grades are preferable. Your grades will be a part of the decision-making process.
- What level of English proficiency is required to apply?
- For Service Learning: Overall CEFR Level of B1 or higher. Some A2-level skills may be acceptable. Overall TOEFL score of 42 or higher and 12 or higher on the speaking section, Overall IELTS score of 5 or higher and 5 or higher on the speaking section. Overall Duolingo English Test score of 60 or higher, A2+ or higher on speaking section.
- For Community Service: Overall CEFR Level of A2+ or higher. Overall IELTS score of 4.5 and 4.5 on the speaking section. Duolingo English Test score of 25 or higher, CEFR A2 on speaking section.
- Does it affect my qualification if I have additional scholarships?
- No, additional scholarships will not affect your eligibility.
- How much do I need to show in the bank statement?
- A minimum of $5000 is required by the applicants. This can be from your personal bank or other sources (e.g. family, other scholarship, etc.)
- When and how do I know your decision?
- All application materials must be submitted by the end of day on May 9, 2025 (PDT). Scholarships will be awarded on May 16, 2025 (PDT).
