CSJR Postgraduate Student Bursary

Candidates will be assessed on their academic merit and personal statements by a selection panel. The centre reserves the right not to make an award in the event that no suitable application is received.

Candidates will be assessed on evidence that the primary focus of their study is Japanese Buddhism and that they have sufficient knowledge of Japanese to use sources in Japanese.

The assessment of your application will be based on the information in your application for admission. Selectors will be looking at academic references, degree results, statement, CV, research proposal (MPhil/PhD applications only) and other relevant information.

You must submit a complete application of your programme as soon as possible and then submit an application for this scholarship in order to be considered. Complete applications for admissions can take up to 4 weeks to be considered by the department, although this duration can vary depending on the time of the year. You should be prepared to wait up to 6 weeks in busy periods.

You will need to have an unconditional offer for your programme by the time the scholarship panel meet. We will not consider late or incomplete applications.

This scholarship is open to Home and Overseas fee status applicants. Applicants must:

• Be new admissions (programmes starting in September 2026).
• If applying for an MA, focus on Japanese Religions and/or Japanese Buddhism. You should include evidence of this in the statement of your application and it should be reflected in your choice of modules.
• Give evidence in the statement of their application of their ability to use sources in Japanese.
• If applying for the MA scholarship, possess or expect to be awarded a first class honours degree from a UK university or international equivalent. Applicants with a non-UK masters degree must be in the top rank as evidenced by references and transcripts. Applicants with a 2:1 may also apply but will not be given preference.
• If applying for the MPhil/PhD scholarship, possess or expect to be awarded a first class honours masters degree from a UK university or equivalent. Applicants with a non-UK masters degree must be in the top rank as evidenced by references and transcripts. Applicants with a 2:1 may also apply but will not be given preference.
• Meet the English language condition of their offer of admission to study at SOAS, if applicable. If your offer is conditional on English, please arrange your English test and ensure you meet the English requirements as soon as possible.
• Have applied to SOAS but are not required to have received an offer of admission by the scholarship deadline. You will need to have received an offer by the time the relevant panel meets to discuss scholarship applications.