Internship Scholarships

The Yamagata Fund and the Richard and Melissa Smith Fund provide financial support to BYU–Hawaii students pursuing in-person internships in Oceania and the Asian Rim. This page walks you through what the scholarship covers, who is eligible, how to apply, how the funds work, what is expected after your internship, and what happens if you withdraw from the scholarship.

These funds exist to help BYU–Hawaii students explore career opportunities in Oceania and the Asian Rim following graduation. The financial support is supplemental and is not intended to cover the full cost of the internship experience. The amount you receive varies depending on the location and duration of your internship.

In most cases, the scholarship will cover the cost of a round-trip flight to and from your internship destination. All travel arrangements must be made through BYU–Hawaii Travel Services. Please do not book your own airfare, as independently purchased tickets are not eligible for reimbursement.

In addition to airfare, you will receive a cash deposit to your student account to help offset basic living expenses during your internship. The amount of support varies based on your internship details, and it is typically disbursed by Financial Services before the internship begins.

The scholarship is open to students from all disciplines and academic programs. To be considered for funding, you must meet each of the following requirements.

Photo by BYUH Photography

You must complete an approved internship application in Handshake before you can be considered for funding.

Your internship must be related to your major.

You must be in good standing with the school and have a CGPA of 2.5 or higher. Good standing includes having no honor code holds and no financial holds.

Your internship must be worth 3 credits (135 hours) or more, and you must be in the country of the internship for a minimum of 3 weeks.

BYU-Hawaii requires all international students seeking internships to meet the International Student Services (ISS) requirements in order to pursue the internship.

The application process begins in Handshake and continues through a scholarship application form once your internship is approved.

In your Handshake internship application, select "Yes" when asked whether you are seeking funding.

Once your Handshake internship application is fully approved, you will receive an email from Career Services with a link to the Internship Scholarship Application Form.

The form will ask you to provide the following:

• Full name
• Student ID number
• Major
• Contact information
• Citizenship
• Internship location and duration
• Visa status (if applicable)
• A commitment letter outlining your intention to live and lead in Oceania and the Asian Rim

The following guidelines explain how awards are granted, how funds are delivered, and how they may be used.

Funding is available solely for internships that are conducted in person and have received full approval through a Handshake application.

Awards are granted to students who clearly show how their internship will help them lead and serve in Oceania and the Asian Rim after graduation, in harmony with the mission of BYU-Hawaii.

Each student may receive internship funding once per academic year. Participation in Yamagata-supported employment events, such as the Boston Career Forum, does not affect your eligibility for this internship funding.

You must resolve any outstanding financial obligations before departing for your internship.

Funds are deposited directly into your student account, or into your designated bank account if you have set up eRefund. Career Services and Financial Aid will notify you by email once the deposit is made. Funds will only be available after the add/drop date for the semester in which you are registered for the internship.

Scholarship money may not be applied to past-due student account balances. It is intended only for internship-related expenses, and recipients are responsible for managing the funds prudently throughout the internship period.

As part of this funding, recipients are required to submit a short video overview of their internship at the completion of their experience. Failure to submit may result in the return of awarded funds.

Your video is due 2 weeks after your internship end date. It should be a 3 to 5 minute video interview that gives a professional summary of your internship and explains how the experience contributed to your skill development, networking opportunities, and understanding of your field of study.

1. Introduction and Internship Overview: Share your role, key responsibilities, and overall experience during the internship.
2. Appreciation Message: Acknowledge the donor and express gratitude for their financial support.
3. Career Impact Summary: Highlight how this internship will support your career and professional goals.
4. Visuals: Include pictures or videos from your internship to bring your story to life.

If you need to withdraw from your internship scholarship, please be aware of the following.

If you withdraw from the scholarship by ending your internship before the official end date listed on your Handshake application, you will be required to repay the full amount of the internship scholarship you received. If full repayment is not immediately possible, you must meet with Financial Services to arrange a repayment plan before you are eligible to re-enroll.

Ending your internship early and withdrawing from the scholarship, especially if the internship is a graduation requirement, may impact your academic progress and graduation timeline. In this case, you must consult with your academic advisor and financial aid counselor to adjust your academic plan accordingly.