Scholarships - FAQs
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Will I need an offer of admission before I apply for a scholarship?
You will need an OFFER of admission before the scholarship deadline in order to apply for most scholarships. Please submit an admissions application well in advance of the scholarship deadline. Allow time to obtain references and transcripts. A COMPLETE application for admission will normally take up to 4 weeks to be considered, but this can vary. In busy periods you should be prepared to wait up to six weeks.
Application for a scholarship is a separate process from the application for admission.
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Can my referees email their references?
We would prefer the references to be posted to us. However, if this is not possible, please write a note on your scholarship application saying that references will be emailed directly to us by your referees to: scholarships@soas.ac.uk
IMPORTANT: Emailed references must clearly state in the subject of the email: your full name, the name of the scholarship you have applied for (ie SOAS Masters Scholarships, HSBC scholarships, etc).
References must be sent from the referee's work email address with a scanned copy of the reference written on letter headed paper. References sent from a private email account are unacceptable.
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Does SOAS provide funding for Undergraduate and/or Postgraduate studies?
At present, scholarships awarded by SOAS are mainly available for postgraduate studies.
Home/ EU undergraduates should refer to http://www.soas.ac.uk/registry/funding Overseas undergraduates may contact the British Council in their home country for information on sources of funding. -
Can I email my scholarship application to you?
Where possible we have developed online scholarship applications. In other cases the scholarship application form must signed, dated and submitted by post. In some cases you will be required to provide multiple copies. Please refer to each scholarship page for instructions on how to apply. -
Can I apply for more than one scholarship?
Yes, you can apply for more than one scholarship. If you are successful, more than one scholarship or award may be held concurrently provided they do not cover the same are of funding. -
How are the scholarships decided?
The selection criterion for most scholarships is academic merit. Candidates will be assessed by an Advisory Panel consisting of three academic members, normally one from each Faculty.
The assessment of your application will be based on the information in your application. Selectors will be looking at the degree results and also at academic references, statement and other relevant information. Decisions are final.
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Am I eligible to apply for scholarships?
Before submitting a scholarship application, we strongly suggest you read carefully the eligibility criteria to check your eligibility. Each scholarship has its own criteria. Remember that you may need an offer of admission before you apply for most SOAS scholarships.
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Do the Scholarships cover fees and/or living expenses?
The amount of each scholarship may vary, so please check the details of the particular scholarship you are interested in.
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Can I provide a professional reference instead of an academic one?
Normally academic references are required. However, if candidates are unable to provide academic references because their referees are difficult to locate, candidates may submit professional references as long as they are relevant to the programme/scholarship they are applying for. Candidates are advised to write a brief covering letter explaining why they are providing professional references instead of academic ones. -
Why can't the Scholarship office use the transcripts and references that I sent to the Admissions office?
Application for a scholarship is a separate process from the application for admission. Your completed scholarship form will be sent to an academic selection panel so we need our own copies of your references and transcripts in order to process the scholarship application within a short time frame.
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If I am not successful in my application for funding, can I pay my tuition fees by instalments?
No, tuition fees are payable annually at enrolment (except for students who are formally sponsored and can provide acceptable evidence of sponsorship at enrolment or before)
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If I withdraw from my programme of study, do I have to pay back any award funds allocated?
Yes. Any reduction in funding will be made pro-rata.
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Will you contact my referees?
No, it is your responsibility to contact your referees and ensure they submit the references for your scholarship application by the due deadline. -
Can I download the scholarship application from the website?
Yes, scholarships application forms and online scholarship forms (for some scholarships) may be downloaded or accessed from the scholarships website: www.soas.ac.uk/scholarships
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Do you provide support in the search for other sources of funding outside SOAS?
SOAS can point students in the right direction for information on sources of funding. Links to external sources of funding are also available on the main scholarship page. Funding Websites & Publications of interest: The Grants Register 2004 (Macmillan) and the Charities Register. These publications can be found in large public libraries and in the SOAS Careers Office and SOAS Library.
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Can I apply on-line for scholarships?
Yes, there are on-line forms for some scholarships. Where there is no online form, candidates must download the relevant scholarship application form from the scholarships website: www.soas.ac.uk/scholarships and return it by post once completed. -
Can I defer my scholarship?
No, it is not normally possible to defer a SOAS scholarship.
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Can I submit copies of my transcripts for my scholarship application or do I need to submit a copy certified by the awarding university or public notary.
For the scholarship applications, copies of your transcripts are sufficient as long as you provide a copy certified for your application for a place to study.
If you have a non-UK qualification, you must also provide, the explanation of the marking system used by your institution in awarding your degree(s) for the scholarship application. -
On the scholarship application, I am required to provide an Applicant ID, where can I find this number?
On the scholarship application, I am required to provide an Application ID number. Where can I find this number?
The application ID is your unique number generated to you in an email when you submit your online application for admission. Current student at SOAS should provide their student ID number (six digit number in the student card). -
Do SOAS Masters Scholarships cover both maintenance and fees?
The total value of the SOAS Masters Scholarships (2012-2013) was £15,568. Fees are deducted from this amount and the remainder can be used toward maintenance. For example, a UK/EU fee paying student was awarded a SOAS Masters Scholarship of £15,568 (2012/13 rate) to read for the MA Human Rights Law. Fees of £8,840 were deducted leaving a remainder of £6,728 to be used towards maintenance. -
Is there any funding from the Overseas Reserch Student Awards Scheme (ORSAS) to study at SOAS?
No. There is no funding available for new SOAS applicants from the ORSAS. -
When should I submit my SOAS Research Scholarships & SOAS Doctoral Scholarships application, will I be considered for both scholarships?
The SOAS Research Scholarships & SOAS Doctoral Scholarships application form may be used to apply for both scholarships. By submitting a scholarship application, you will automatically be considered for both the SOAS Doctoral Scholarships and the SOAS Research Scholarships provided you meet the eligibility criteria. -
May I use the same two referees for the scholarship and the application for admission?
Yes, you may use the same two referees but you must provide two sets of references, one for your scholarship application and one for your admissions application at SOAS.
