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David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies
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Japan Service Internship

Dates: Mid-May to early August 2026
Application Deadline: 15 November 2025
Apply Now

Looking for a way to use your Japanese skills to make a difference? Spend time in the rural city of Yuzawa (Niigata Prefecture), with additional time in historic Kyoto and the vibrant cities of Osaka or Tokyo. Students will support an English school for young adults and participate in other meaningful Church service projects, while also engaging in business visits and cultural excursions. This is your change to serve others, deepen your cultural understanding, and experience Japan in a truly transformative way.

Click here to apply today!

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Contact Us

Steve Moody
3069 JFSB
(801) 422-6405
sjmoody@byu.edu

PDF

Program Flyer

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions
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More Information

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Courses

Students are required to enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours during the internship.

Required:
JAPAN 399R—Academic Internship (3 credit hours)

Elective:
JAPAN 321—Advanced Japanese 1: Current Events (3 credit hours)
JAPAN 322—Advanced Japanese 2: Modern Fiction (3 credit hours)
JAPAN 345—Japanese Culture

Other courses, including 400-level courses, may be possible with approval of the program director and ISP

Students may not take any other courses on this program, including BYU Online courses, without approval by the program director and ISP.
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Cost

$5,700–6,200

Includes Latter-day Saint undergraduate full-time tuition (increased cost for graduate and non-Latter-day Saint students), housing, some transportation, and international health insurance.

Does not include international airfare, local transportation, or meals outside of Yuzawa (approximately 1 month).
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Funding Sources

Regular BYU tuition scholarships, Pell Grants, and Federal Insured Student Loans may be applied to study abroad programs.

Students who submit the financial aid section of the ISP application and who have a current FAFSA form on file at the Financial Aid Office (A-41 ASB) will be considered for a Study Abroad scholarship.

Academic departments and colleges may assist with scholarships and grants.

The College of Humanities and Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages may have funding specifically for this internship. Please check with the program director for details.

Private grants and scholarships outside of BYU may also assist (see kennedy.byu.edu/scholarships).
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Preparation

Accepted students are required to participate in the internship preparation course, IAS 369R (1 credit hours), typically during the second block of winter semester prior to departure. It is recommended that students have completed JAPAN 302.

Accompanying spouses need to be credit-bearing participants on the program. Spouses will also need to apply online and take the preparation course. Note that housing accommodations are typically in gender-separate facilities. Married students with accompanying spouses will need to find their own accommodation at their expense.

Students must meet all country- and program-specific COVID and health requirements for travel.

International study programs are physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing and you must be in good health to participate. These programs often take place in international locations that do not have the same level of safety and services in terms of transportation, living conditions, residential accommodations, food, public behavior, and policing that you may be used to on campus. If you have further questions or concerns on this, please see our travel policy.
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Housing

Housing in Yuzawa and Kyoto is included. Housing for stays in other areas during excursions is the responsibility of the student, but will be arranged in consultation with the program director.
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Travel

Students are responsible for purchasing their own airfare to and from the program sites. Airline reservations must be made through BYU Travel. Students should contact a BYU Travel agent.

BYU Travel
280 HRCB
(801) 422-6293
travel@byu.edu
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Application Process

Students must be 18 years of age or older to participate.

Complete the online application here. A nonrefundable $35 application fee is required; applicants will be interviewed once the application is complete.

Students will be notified via e-mail of their acceptance into the program. The first payment is due upon acceptance; please refer to the Payment Information page.

Application Deadline: 15 November 2025
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Program Adjustments

International Study Programs (ISP) reserves the right to cancel this program, revise its offerings, or make any adjustments to the preliminary cost.

If it becomes necessary for ISP to cancel a program, all program payments made to BYU ISP will be refunded to the student’s BYU Financial account.

ISP is the only office authorized to cancel any of its programs.
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Faculty

Steve Moody, Associate Professor of Japanese, is the program director. Please contact him for further details or with any questions.

3069 JFSB
(801) 422-6405
sjmoody@byu.edu
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Contact Us

International Study Programs
101 HRCB
(801) 422-3686
isp@byu.edu
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ISP Student Handbook

To see the student handbook, click here.
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Payment Schedule

To see the payment schedule, click here.