Freeman Foundation East Asia Internships
Potential companies interested in hosting a student for summer internships, please go to the company page for more details.
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Freeman Foundation East Asia Internship Scholarship
Ohio State’s East Asian Studies Center, with generous funding form the Freeman Foundation, will provide scholarships to select undergraduate students to participate in summer internships in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, or other select Asian countries.
Scholarship applicants have two options. Track One is for students who choose to pursue an internship arranged through Ohio State’s Office of International Affairs. These global education programs include Fisher Global Internships: Japan, Education Abroad Network (TEAN): Tokyo Internship, and ISA Advanced Language Internship Program in Seoul, South Korea. These programs are run by "third-party providers" and include support services, such as meeting students at the airport and having an on-site resident director. Students choosing this option must apply for the desired internship program separately and then also submit an application for a Freeman Foundation East Asia Internship Scholarship, which would provide funding for up to $6,500 of the costs associated with the program.
Track Two is for students who hope to use scholarship funds for internships approved directly by the East Asian Studies Center. In this case, the scholarship awards (up to $6,500) would go directly to students to cover airfare, housing, and other expenses. Track Two internships would not include some of the support services which third-party providers offer for Track One programs. For students hoping to pursue Track Two, please contact EASC to determine if there are any internship openings.
Specific placements and participating companies and organizations may vary. Attend one of the online information sessions to learn more about placements.
Download the Freeman Foundation internship flyer
Award Information
- $6,000-6,500
- 6-8 week internship experience in South Korea, Japan, or Taiwan.
- Students will maintain normal, full-time working hours (40 hours per week).
Eligibility
- Enrolled as a degree-seeking undergraduate student at Ohio State in any major.
- Already completed 30 hours of coursework by start of internship.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Demonstrate an appreciation for and ability do adapt to diverse cultures. You do NOT need to have a background in an East Asian language.
- Have at least one semester remaining at Ohio State after the internship.
- Preference given to US citizens. International applicants are eligible to apply. You cannot be placed in a country in which you are fluent in the language or have lived for an extended period (more than two years).
Requirements
- Must take a 1-credit course in the Autumn 2025 semester.
- Required to join pre-internship orientation sessions in Spring 2025.
- By the start of the internship, you must have a passport with at least 6 months of validity (at the end of the internship).
- You must enroll in Ohio State’s international supplemental travel insurance. See here for more information.
- Participants who terminate their internship before the program end date, or who do not successfully complete the required 1-credit course at the end of the program, will be required to pay back the full amount of the scholarship.
To Apply
- Students will be required to submit an application, current CV, one-page statement of purpose, and provide two letters of recommendation. The application form and instructions will be released in Nov. 2024. (NOTE: You must arrange for letters of recommendation to be submitted directly by the letter writers to easc@osu.edu by the January 10 deadline.)
- Students are not required to have any level of proficiency in an East Asian language. However, if you have studied an East Asian language, include this in your application as this could impact where you are placed.
- Applications are due January 10, 2025.
Schedule (tentative)
- Attend one of the online information sessions: Nov-Dec 2024
- Application deadline: January 10, 2025
- Results released: February 14, 2025
- Interviews with potential companies: March-April 2025
- Placements set: end of April 2025 (approximate)
- Internship period: 6-8 weeks, depending on location and company; May-August 2025
- Required 1-credit course: Autumn 2025
Information sessions
Tuesday, November 5, 4:00-5:00 pm
Thursday, November 14, 2:00-3:00 pm
Wednesday, November 20, 7:00-8:00 pm
Monday, December 9, 6:00-7:00 pm