Refugee Student Fund

JICUF believes that supporting education pathways is a crucial step in achieving our mission to nurture global citizens that contribute to the well-being of humanity.

We offer the following programs to help displaced students continue their education in Japan.

Campaign Letter

Dear Alumni and Friends,

Over the last five years, the number of degree-seeking undergraduate international students in Japan has decreased by 9%. To counter this trend, we launched the JICUF Global Scholarship Program earlier this year . Under this program, JICUF has created two initiatives: the Syrian Scholars Initiative and the United States Scholars Initiative.

The Syrian Scholars Initiative (SSI) will provide full scholarships to a total of six Syrian refugee students matriculating between 2018 and 2021. Due to the Syrian Civil war, an estimated 150,000 university-qualified Syrian youths lack access to education. ICU’s unique history and its commitment to international cooperation and peace motivated us to launch SSI. The six SSI recipients will be uniquely positioned to contribute to the rebuilding of Syria.

The United States Scholars Initiative (USSI) will provide full-tuition support to two incoming first-year students from the U.S. starting in 2018. The US-Japan relationship is vital, and yet only 309 US citizens were studying as degree-seeking undergraduates in Japan in 2016. USSI recipients will be in a unique position to play a key role in the future of US-Japan relations.

Will you join our combined efforts to support international students at ICU by making a donation? Increasing the number of international students at ICU is one of President Junko Hibiya’s top priorities. JICUF is unique among charitable organizations in that 100% of the contributions we receive are used directly for programs, and we deduct no overhead costs. Donations to JICUF are tax-deductible according to US tax law. Your support makes a strong impact!

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Paul Hastings
Executive Director

Education Pathways Scholarship

This is a new scholarship for displaced students being launched in spring 2025.
Building on the lessons learnt from administering the Syrian Scholars Initiative (see below), JICUF and ICU will provide a It is a full scholarship for refugee students who have studied Japanese intensively for at least two years in Japan.
Two undergraduate students will be recruited annually for at least four years from 2025 to 2028. The scholarship will cover full tuition and fees, on-campus accommodation and stipend. For more information, visit reedjapan.org/eps.

Japan Ukraine University Pathways

In collaboration with Pathways Japan, the Japan ICU Foundation is committed to supporting education pathways for Ukrainians displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Japan Ukraine University Pathways (JUUP) is a program for admitting students who have fled Ukraine to universities in Japan and enable them to continue their education. Accepted students will be enrolled in partner universities as “auditors.” JUUP provides accepted students with: airfare to Japan, on-campus housing, auditing fee coverage, living expense coverage, and support for visa issuance and residence permit registration.

Syrian Scholars Initiative

The Syrian Scholars Initiative (SSI) is a full scholarship that supports Syrian students who were displaced by the conflict throughout their entire undergraduate education at ICU. It covers tuition, various university fees, housing, living expenses, insurance and one-way travel to Japan.

We have recruited seven Syrian students from 2018 to 2022, and continue to support three students who will graduate between 2025 and 2026. No new students have been recruited after September 2022, as we developed a new scholarship for displaced students, the Education Pathways Scholarship.

Japanese Language School Pathways Program

Japanese Language School Pathways (JLSP) is a program for admitting refugee students from Syria, Ukraine, and Afghanistan to language schools in Japan. Accepted students will be placed in one of the partner schools across Japan. The students will be invited to complete a two-year program to study Japanese intensively. The program will provide students with: Airfare to Japan, tuition coverage, support for visa issuance and residence permit registration, and introduction to part-time job and housing opportunities.

Give to the Refugee Student Fund

Syrian Scholars Initiative

Japan Ukraine University Pathways

Japanese Language School Pathways Program

United States Scholars Initiative

The United States Scholars Initiative (USSI) aims to increase the number of international, degree-seeking undergraduate students from the United States at ICU. This merit-based scholarship will provide full-tuition supportfor four years of undergraduate study at ICU. Starting in 2018, two incoming first-year students will receive the scholarship annually. Please help us support U.S. students study at ICU!

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