Centre of Buddhist Studies

The Khyentse Foundation, as part of its continued support of the study and academic research on Buddhism, has partnered with the SOAS Centre of Buddhist Studies to award an outstanding dissertation on the subject, written by a SOAS Postgraduate student. 

Once a year, outstanding MA dissertations, MPhil/PhD chapters, or research articles can be nominated by SOAS staff members. Upon examination of the writing sample by the Centre of Buddhist Studies' managing committee, the winner will be awarded a prize of £1,300.

For PhD students and Postdoctoral Fellows for research on a wide range of topics relating to Buddhism. The Foundation offers five global competitions to support research and teaching. There are no restrictions as to the location of work proposed, or the citizenship/residence of applicants. 

The final products of research supported may be in any language. Although the final products of research can be in any language, all applications must be submitted in English.

Postgraduate additional awards for fieldwork. Approximately twenty five awards are offered to provide some financial support to SOAS-registered postgraduate students to conduct MPhil/PhD fieldwork abroad. These awards do not cover conference attendance and are not offered more than once during an MPhil/PhD studentship. Normally these awards do not cover more than the price of a budget return airfare.

Research Student Fellowship. Some nine student fellowships are offered for postgraduate research to students registered full-time for a research degree. The value of this fellowship is the remittance of tuition fees at UK/EU rates and annual bursary of approximately £9,350. For students paying the overseas tuition fee, the remaining tuition fees payable are deducted from the bursary award. However, Overseas fee payers are recommended to apply for an ORS award, which meets the difference between the higher and lower fees.

Bursaries. Approximately eight Bursaries are offered to students who propose to register full-time for Taught Masters courses at the School. The current value of the Bursaries is just over seven thousand per annum; the Bursary does not carry remission of tuition fees. Candidates must possess a good honours degree from a UK university or equivalent qualification, although not necessarily in a branch of Oriental or African studies.

Further details on these Scholarships can be found on the Scholarship pages.

Taught Masters Prizes. Four Prizes are awarded to those finalists who, in the opinion of the Scholarships Committee, have most distinguished themselves in all elements of the examination for the Taught Masters degree. The Prize takes the form of a cheque.

Frederick Richter Memorial Prizes. There are three Frederick Richter Memo-rial Prizes: two undergraduate prizes and one postgraduate prize. This prize is awarded for the most meritorious work done by a university student during the year in the field of Oriental art, literature or music. The prize takes the form of a cheque.

These awards are available to students intending to commence a full-time research degree, and to students who are in their first year of full-time research degree study at the school. These awards are available only to students who are liable to pay tuition fees at the rate for international students.

Felix scholarship is offered to students registered for a Masters or research (MPhil/PhD) degree. It is available only to Indian citizens under age of 30, who have at least a first class honours degree from an India university. Students with degrees from universities outside India do not qualify.