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Registry

Scholarships and Bursaries

SOAS offers a wide-range of scholarships, bursaries and awards to support students undertaking our degree programmes.  A number of scholarships are also provided by the University of London, the British government and other external organisations.

The scholarships and other awards listed below are distributed through a competitive application process with respect to financial need and/or academic merit. The range of scholarships is diverse – some support students from specific countries or a group of countries, while others focus on particular courses of study or research.

We are working to increase the number of scholarships we provide to our students.  Please continue to check this website as new scholarships will be added in due course.

Economics and Social Research Council (ESRC) Studentships - OPEN

SOAS, University of London has been awarded accreditation as a Doctoral Training Centre in partnership with Birkbeck, the Institute of Education and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

The Bloomsbury Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) is accredited by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) - one of only 21 such centres across the UK.

SOAS will lead or contribute to pathways in social anthropology, international development and politics and international studies.

Economics and Social Research Council (ESRC) Studentship information

SOAS Scholarships

Undergraduate Programmes
Taught Masters Programmes
  • The Ahmad Mustafa Abu-Hakima Bursary (programme must include studying the history of the modern Arab world) - OPEN
  • AKS Postgraduate Bursary (in Korean Studies) - OPEN
  • Bernard Buckman Scholarship (MA Chinese Studies, for UK/EU fee paying students) - OPEN
  • The Canon Collins Scholarships at SOAS.  There are two scholarships available available in 2013-14 for study at SOAS. These scholarships are for Masters study in any subject field. Open a national of and resident in one of the following countries:
    Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe. The application process normally opens in December and closes in February, for study commencing in September the following year. Please go to the Canon Collins website and click "Apply for A Scholarship" and then "Canon Collins Scholarship for Masters Study in the UK" for further information on how to apply.  
  • Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (for students from African Commonwealth countries) - CLOSED
  • D.G.Hall Scholarship (Taught Masters programmes at SOAS, for applicants holding a Burma/Myanmar passport) - OPEN
  • Felix Scholarships (for Indian students) - CLOSED
  • Ferguson Scholarships (for African nationals from an African Country) - OPEN
  • HSBC SOAS Scholarships (MA Sinology & MA Chinese Literature, for UK/EU fee paying students) - OPEN
  • Kamran Djam Scholarships (MA Iranian Studies) - OPEN
  • King Saud Foundation Scholarship- OPEN
  • Professor Stuart Wilson Scholarship (MA South East Asian Studies) -OPEN
  • Said Foundation Scholarships -  The Said Foundation offers scholarships in conjunction with SOAS to enable graduates to pursue postgraduate study or training.  Scholarships are open to Jordanians, Lebanese, Palestinians and Syrians. Application forms must be returned to one of the offices of the British Council by 31 January 2013 (or by email to the Said Foundation if candidates are resident in Syria).
  • Santander Taught Master’s Scholarships (for any full-time taught masters programme in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities and for the full-time MA Linguistics, MA Language, Documentation and Description, MA Applied Linguistics and Language Pedagogy, MA Translation Theory and Practice (Asian and African Languages), MA Comparative Literature (Africa/Asia), MA Cultural Studies & MA Postcolonial studies in the Faculty of Languages and Cultures) - OPEN
  • Sochon Foundation Scholarship (in Korean Studies)- OPEN
  • Standard Chartered Scholarships (for a range of full-time Taught Masters programmes. The programmes relate to Asia, Africa, and the Middle East/NorthAfrica) -OPEN
  • Tibawi Trust Awards (for Palestinian students currently enrolled in a programme at SOAS) -WILL OPEN SOON
  • SOAS Master's Scholarships - Faculty of Arts & Humanities  - (for any full-time taught masters programme in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities) -OPEN
  • SOAS Master's Scholarships - Faculty of Language & Cultures (for the full-time MA Postcolonial Studies, MA Cultural Studies, MA Comparative Literature, MA Linguistics, MA Applied Linguistics & Language Pedagogy, MA Language, Documentation and Description, MA Translation Theory and Practice (Asian and African Languages) - OPEN
  • SOAS Master's Scholarships - Faculty of Law and Social Sciences (for any full-time master's programmes in the Department of Development Studies, Economics, Law, Politics, International Studies and Financial & Management Studies, in the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy and in the the Centre for Gender Studies) -OPEN
  • William Ross Murray Scholarship (LLM, for students from a developing country) - OPEN
MPhil/PhD Programmes
  1. Award for Fieldwork (for students currently enrolled in an Mphil/PhD at SOAS) - OPEN
  2. Aida Sulayman Arif Bursary in Art and Archaeology (for PhD students in need of the bursary to fund the completion of their thesis) - OPEN
  3. AKS Postgraduate Bursary (in Korean studies) - OPEN
  4. Bloomsbury Colleges PhD Studentships - WILL OPEN IN DECEMBER - The Bloomsbury Colleges is a consortium of six University of London colleges. Applications are invited annually for two PhD studentships, each of 3 year's duration, where SOAS is the lead college. The two studentships at SOAS will be for the following projects: 1. Economic and Food Systems Development and the Evolution of Diet-Related Disease (SOAS, LSHTM) and 2. World Music in the British Secondary School Curriculum (SOAS, IOE). Further details of these studentships and information on the application process is now available on the Bloomsbury College website.
  5. Elisabeth Croll Scholarship for fieldwork in China (for students currently enrolled in an Mphil/PhD at SOAS planning to undertake fieldwork in China, including mainland China and Taiwan) - WILL OPEN SOON
  6. Felix scholarships for Indian students - CLOSED
  7. Non-Indian Felix scholarship for a non- Indian student - CLOSED
  8. Jit Kaur Babak&Chanchal Singh Babak Nottingham Research Award (in Punjabi/Sikh Studies or Punjabi/Urdu Literature, for students currently enrolled in an Mphil/PhD at SOAS) - OPEN
  9. The Jordan Travel Grant (for currently enrolled doctoral students in the Dept. of the Study of Religions at SOAS to help with travel expenses) -OPEN
  10. Kamran Djam Scholarships (in Persian Language, Persian Literature and Iranian History) - OPEN
  11. Kayoko Tsuda Bursary for PhD students in need of the bursary to fund the completion of their thesis -OPEN
  12. LCIRAH PhD Studentship attached to the following project: Public investments, agricultural strategy and malnutrition in rural South Asia - NEW  & OPEN
  13. Mo Ibrahim Foundation PhD Scholarships (in the field of Governance for Development in Africa, for African students) - OPEN
  14. Meiji Jingu Japanese Studies Research Scholarships (in Japanese studies)  - OPEN. Two scholarships are offered annually, either for existing PhD students at SOAS, or newly enrolling full-time MPhil students.  Students may be registered in any department, and be of any nationality, but must be working on some aspect of Japanese Studies.
  15. Nohoudh PhD Scholarships (For research on 'The integration of Muslims in British Society') -  OPEN
  16. Ouseley Memorial Scholarship (for research that requires the use of any Middle Eastern or Asian language) - CLOSED
  17. Saraswati Dalmia Scholarship (for MPhil/PhD in the Dept. of History of Art & Archaeology, which involves undertaking research in the filed of modern and contemporary Indian art) - CLOSED
  18. SOAS Doctoral Scholarships (Faculty of Arts & Humanities only) - CLOSED. Any full-time or part-time MPhil/PhD programme (new admissions only) in the following subject areas:
    1. History / 2. Study of Religions / 3. Music / 4. Anthropology & Sociology / 5. Media and Film Studies / 6. History of Art and Archaeology
  19. SOAS Doctoral Scholarships (Faculty of Languages & Cultures only) - CLOSED. Any full-time or part-time MPhil/PhD programme (new admissions only) in the following subject areas: 1.Literary, Cultural or Postcolonial Studies (Asia, Africa, Middle East),  2. African and Asian Cinemas,  3. Classical and Ancient Languages, Literatures and Cultures (China, India, Near East) & 4. Linguistics
  20. SOAS Doctoral Scholarships (Faculty of Law & Social Sciences only) - CLOSED.  Any full-time or part time MPhil/PhD programme (new admissions only) in the following subject areas: 
    1. Development Studies / 2. Economics / 3. Financial and Management Studies / 4. Law / 5. Politics and International Studies
  21. SOAS Research Scholarships (for any full-time Mphil/PhD programme) - CLOSED
  22. Sochon Foundation Scholarship (in Korean Studies) - OPEN
  23. Tallow Chandlers and M W Beer Scholarship (PHD) - (MPhil/PhD in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology with a focus on a food-related topic, for UK/EU fee paying students) - OPEN
  24. Tibawi Trust Awards (for Palestinian students currently enrolled in a programme at SOAS) - WILL OPEN SOON
  25. Wolfson Scholarships (full-time Mphil/PhD programmes in the subject disciplines of Literature, Languages or History, for UK fee paying students) - CLOSED

Funding provided by the British Government - How to apply for AHRC and ESRC studentships at SOAS

External Awards

These awards are not administered by SOAS.  Please contact the organisation directly for information on scholarships and application procedures.

  • The Annemarie Schimmel Scholarship FOR WOMEN (citizens of Pakistan) - Master's Studies in economic development, LLM in Human rights
  • Association of Charitable Foundations - The Association of Charitable Foundations is primarily an information and support organisation for grant-making trusts and foundations in the UK
  • BAJS Postgraduate Studentships - open to postgraduate or prospective postgraduate students of all nationalities. Dissertation (or proposed dissertation) must be in the field of Japanese studies. For PhD students in particular, it will normally be expected that students will be using Japanese language materials in your research.
  • Bestway Foundation - open to students of Pakistani, Indian, Sri Lankan & Bangladeshi origin both home as well as overseas students for undergraduate or post-graduate programmes.  Only considered for tuition fee support.
  • British Council
  • The British Institute of Persian Studies
  • The Charles Wallace Trust - The four Charles Wallace trusts (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Burma/Myanmar) support a number of other fellowship schemes and aid for postgraduate students.
  • Chevening Scholarships - are the UK government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations. The Scholarships are awarded to outstanding scholars with leadership potential. Awards are typically for a one-year Master’s degree. Deadline: December 2012
  • The Citadel Capital Scholarship Foundation - open to Egyptian nationals and residing in Egypt for Master's or Research programmes.
  • Commonwealth Scholarships - open to citizens of a Commonwealth country other than the UK, seeking information about UK scholarships for full-time study at both Masters and doctoral level.
  • Council for British Research in the Levent- to sponsor research throughout countries of the Levant (Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria)
  • Crown Prince's International Scholarship Program
  • The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation - The Daiwa Scholarship is a unique 19-month programme of language study, work placement and homestay in Japan for young and talented UK citizens with strong leadership potential to acquire Japanese language skills, and to access expertise and knowledge relevant to their career goals. No previous experience of Japan or Japanese is necessary. Deadline: Thursday 6 December 2012.
  • The Toyota-Shi Trevelyan Trust -  Scholarships up to £5,000 per award to assist UK resident students pursue a course of study / work placement in Japan. Good knowledge of the Japanese language and pursuing a course in a related field essential.  If you would like to apply, send your C.V. with academic reference and letter outlining your background and intended course of study in Japan to: Peter Anwyl, Secretary, The Toyota-Shi Trevelyan Trust, No 1 Park Crescent, Regent's Park, London W1B 1SH.  email: p.anwyl@ish.org.uk
  • Education UK scholarship database
  • Ford Foundation International Fellowship Program
  • Fundacion Caja Madrid Scholarships - Postgraduate scholarships to study at universities or research institutions of the awardee's choice in the United States, Canada or Europe (outside Spain). Subject areas: social and legal area, biomedical studies, polytechnic area, natural sciences, physics and mathematics, and music.  
  • Fulbright Commission Scholarships - UK Enquiries
  • Gerda Henkel Foundation Grants - for research and PhD scholarships for German and foreign scholars in the fields of historical humanities
  • Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation - Research grants:violence, aggression, and dominance  
  • The Indian National Trust for Arts and Cultural Heritage - INTACH-UK Trust offers travel scholarships to India for UK citizens.
  • Ishibashi Foundation Scholarships- Ishibashi Foundation is offering a scholarship through Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) to graduate students who are planning to conduct research in art history in one of the selected universities in Japan.
  • Japan Foundation Endowment Committee - to provide small grants to support research in the academic field of Japanese Studies within degree-awarding institutions in the United Kingdom.
  • Joint/Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Programme (JJ/WBGS Program) - Eligible applicants should propose a program of study related to development at the master's level, in fields such as economics, health, education, agriculture, environment, natural resource management, or other development‑related subject.
  • The Korean Foundation Graduate Studies Fellowships - for foreign students of good standing who are MA or PhD candidates, currently enrolled on a graduate program, and conducting research on topics related to Korea within the context of humanities, social science studies or arts and culture studies. Deadline: Apr. 30
  • Lanekassen - support for Norwegian citizens.
  • The Leverhulme Trust - Study Abroad Studentships support an extended period of advanced study or research at a centre of learning in any overseas country, with the exception of the USA. Deadline: Monday 7 January 2013
  • Marshall Scholarships
  • MBI Al Jaber Foundation Scholarships - open to all Arab residents of the Middle East who have an unconditional offer for a Master's programme
  • Modern Law Review Scholarships - promotion of legal education, the study of law and all other arts and sciences which may be of interest to those involved in the study or practice of law
  • The National British Federation of Women Graduates Awards - The British Federation of Women Graduates gives awards annually to women in their third year of doctoral studies.
  • The Samsung / Royal British Legion / British Korean Veterans Association Scholarship - It can be used to cover: an intensive Korean language course in the UK before departure, an open return flight to South Korea at the start of a post-graduate course of the winner's choice, university course fees, contribution to accommodation costs and one further return flight to the UK during the study period. It is open to anyone with a family connection to the Armed Forces - a parent, or a grandparent, for example
  • SCAST Financial Support - Awards were made to students who met the basic eligibility criteria and who found themselves in difficult financial circumstances during the course of their programme of study. Applications may be made at any time of the year and will be processed as quickly as practicable by the Trustees.
  • The Society of for Architectural Historians in Great Britain Postgraduate Research Bursaries for architectural history
  • Talentia Scholarship
  • The Thouron Award - Graduates of British universities receive support for up to two years for a graduate (post-graduate) degree program at the University of Pennsylvania. It offers a wide range of postgraduate courses – in the Schools of Arts & Sciences, Architecture & Regional Planning, Law amongst others. Typically, 6 to10 Awards are made each year to British graduates.
  • Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships for Canadian citizen applying to a doctoral program in the social sciences and humanities or registered full-time in the first or second year of such a program at a foreign university
  • Truman Scholarship for US citizens
  • UNDP Asia-Pacific Human Development Academic and Media Fellowships - The Fellowship is intended for young Ph.D. students who are at an advanced dissertation stage working on a topic related to human development – theoretical, applied or policy oriented.
  • Wingate Scholarships - offer funding for Music including composition, musicology and advanced training for performing musicians / Independent Research, in most subjects / field work associated with independent research, post-doctoral or completing a PhD) /Post-Doctoral studies