SSRC-JF Next Gen Japan Study Tour Grants

The SSRC-JF Next Generation Japan Studies Development Program Study Tour Grants are administered by the Social Science Research Council with support from the Japan Foundation. The program is intended to strengthen Japan-related education and international engagement at United States colleges and universities by funding immersive study tours in Japan for undergraduate and master's degree students. The grants are institutional awards designed to support faculty-led educational travel experiences that deepen understanding of Japanese society, culture, and contemporary issues through direct engagement, academic lectures, and field-based learning opportunities. The program emphasizes the importance of international collaboration and experiential learning as a means of addressing global challenges and cultivating long-term academic and professional interest in Japan. Eligible applicants are US-based colleges and universities with 501(c)(3) status or another qualifying tax-exempt designation. The applying institution assumes responsibility for all organizational and administrative aspects of the study tour, including selecting student participants, arranging logistics, preparing itineraries, and securing any additional funding or insurance required for the trip. Each application must designate a faculty member as the project director. The project director is responsible for all academic, practical, and logistical components of the tour and application process and must accompany students during the travel period. Although prior experience with Japan is preferred, faculty members without such experience may still apply if they demonstrate consultation with educators who teach Japan-related content. The program further expects participating faculty to integrate Japan-focused content into future coursework. The study tours funded through this opportunity must include a minimum of five student participants and at least five days of course-related activities in Japan. The educational itinerary must be directly connected to a current undergraduate or master's course and include at least two academically oriented lectures delivered by universities or relevant organizations in Japan. Tours must also include visits to museums, historical sites, and other culturally relevant institutions that contribute to students' understanding of Japanese culture and society. At the conclusion of the tour, participating students are required to submit reflective essays of at least 1,000 words. The host institution must submit a final report containing participant lists, finalized itineraries, syllabi, student essays, and an educational module suitable for inclusion in the SSRC's open-access curriculum repository. Final reporting is due one month after the completion of the study tour. Funding through the program is capped at $32,500 per study tour. Of this amount, up to $5,000 may be used for educational support activities such as lecturer honoraria, interpreter services, and local transportation by mini-bus. An additional allocation of up to $2,500 per participant and project director may be used for international airfare, accommodations in Japan, domestic transportation within Japan, and overseas travel insurance. The participant support category is capped at a total of $27,500 regardless of the total number of students participating beyond eleven individuals. The grant explicitly excludes support for meals, museum admission fees, and similar incidental expenses. No cost-sharing or matching requirement is specified in the program materials. Priority consideration will be given to applications from liberal arts colleges, research universities, and community colleges located in the US South and Midwest. Preference is also extended to proposals that demonstrate strong alignment between the itinerary and course curriculum, close collaboration with Japanese academic or institutional partners, and interdisciplinary participation from students across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The application process requires submission through the SSRC online application portal and includes a cover sheet, curriculum statement, educational itinerary, faculty curriculum vitae, estimated budget, and institutional support confirmation. The curriculum statement must explain how the study tour content connects to broader academic objectives and future course integration. Applications are currently open. The first deadline is June 1, 2026, for study tours beginning between July 15, 2026 and January 15, 2027. The second application round is due November 1, 2026, for tours beginning between January 16, 2027 and July 30, 2027. Applicants will receive notification of results approximately one month after each deadline. The opportunity is recurring on an annual basis with multiple cycles each year. Questions regarding the program may be directed to the official program email address at japan@ssrc.org. The official program guidelines are available through the SSRC website as a downloadable PDF document.

Align the educational itinerary closely with the course syllabus; demonstrate collaboration with Japanese academic or institutional partners; include interdisciplinary student participation; clearly explain how Japan-focused content will be integrated into future coursework.