How to Apply

Applications for the 31st Class (2027–2028) are open now.

Learn more about how to apply below or access the application portal here.

Recently, the Mansfield Foundation was informed that the U.S. Air Force has paused program support for the Mansfield Fellowship Program until further notice. USAF applicants will not be eligible for selection in the upcoming application cycle. Please direct any questions to Stephen Ching, Japan Country Director, USAF (stephen.ching.4@us.af.mil).

Application Overview

The application has three main components:

1. Mansfield Fellowship Program Application Form
2. Agency Authorization Form
3. Three Letters of Reference

Mansfield Fellowship Program Application Form is broken down into the following sections:

Each applicant must complete the online application form which includes the following sections:

• Section 1 – General Information
• Section 2 – Professional Experience and Education
• Section 3 – Japan and Foreign-Culture Experiences
• Section 4 – MFP Essays and Placement Proposal Submission
  • Section 4a – Personal Statement (500 words or less)
  • Section 4b – Lifestyle Adjustment Essay (300 words or less)
  • Section 4c – Initial Placement Proposal (3-5 proposed placements; 300-word summary)

Following these initial four sections, applicants must submit a signed Agency Authorization Form from their U.S. Home Agency approving their participation in the Fellowship during the pre-departure period and Fellowship in Japan. Applicants can download the Agency Authorization Form here.

Applicants from the legislative and judicial branches are not required to submit an agency authorization form.

Finally, the application requires two recommendation letters (one page or less on agency letterhead) from individuals from the applicant’s U.S. home agency. Applicants may also choose to submit an optional third recommendation letter from a relevant contact outside the U.S. home agency. Thus, recommendations should fall into the following categories (please see the “MFP Recommender Registration” section for more details): 

1. Current and Immediate Supervisor (mandatory)
2. Additional U.S. Home Agency Official (mandatory) 
3. Character Reference (optional) 

Individuals providing reference letters cannot be related to the applicant. When the applicant registers a recommender on this online application portal, an email will be automatically sent to that individual.

Recommenders must submit their reference letter using the online portal before the application deadline for the application to be considered complete.

**Please Note: Due to internal firewalls specific to the Department of Defense and U.S. military, recommenders from these agencies may have difficulty receiving emails generated by the recommender registration process and may also have difficulty submitting letters of recommendation through the online application system when using DOD- or military-affiliated devices. Applicants from these agencies are advised to use non-DOD-affiliated email addresses for their recommenders. Applicants should also advise their recommenders to submit letters of recommendation from non-DOD/military-affiliated devices (i.e., a personal computer).

Timeline

August 2026 | Application opens

November 2, 2026 | Application closes at 11:59 p.m. EDT

Mid-November 2026 | Invitations to candidates selected for interviews

November 16–20, 2026 | Virtual language assessments

December 1–3, 2026 | Interviews

Note: Candidates who are local to the DC area and/or willing to self-fund travel to the Foundation’s DC office will participate in in-person interviews. Candidates who are unable to join in-person will participate in virtual interviews held via Zoom.

Early December, 2026 | Candidates notified of selection for the 31st Class

January 20, 2027 | Signed Three-Party Agreements Due

Note: Candidates are encouraged to determine who within their home agency is the appropriate individual to sign their Three-Party Agreement as soon as possible to avoid delays after selection.

February 1, 2027 | Pre-departure training begins

July 1, 2027 | Fellows begin program in Japan

June 30, 2028 | Program ends

Information Sessions

The Foundation will host four information sessions during the application period. Each session will cover the same basic information and provide opportunities for prospective candidates to have their questions answered in real time. Please find the information session schedule and RSVP form here:

Session #1: Wednesday, September 9 from 12:00-1:00 PM EDT (Hybrid from the Foundation’s DC Office and via Zoom)

Session #2: Thursday, September 24 from 7:00-8:00 PM EDT (Virtual via Zoom)

Session #3: Wednesday, September 30 from 12:00-1:00 PM EDT (Hybrid from the Foundation’s DC Office and via Zoom)

Session #4: Tuesday, October 6 from 7:00-8:00 PM EDT (Virtual via Zoom)

Additional information sessions may be arranged with specific agencies. If you would like to arrange a session for your agency, please contact MFPinfo@mansfieldfdn.org.

Questions

Technical issues with the application portal should be directed to the Embark Applicant and Recommender Support Team at: help@embark.com.

Please see the Mansfield Fellowship Program FAQ page if you have any questions about the program. Further questions about the program should be directed to MFPinfo@mansfieldfdn.org.