Funding

The Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies has a number of scholarship and funding opportunities across a wide range of subjects. Please see below for a list of the opportunities that are currently known to the Faculty and which may be available in the current admissions cycle. It is possible that further scholarships may become available at a later point.

It is important to note that the below is not an exhaustive list and you should check the main University website and college websites for more funding opportunities, including those where a separate application may be required. The fees, funding and scholarship search tool is a helpful way to find these.

Undergraduate Funding

Please find information for funding through the university scholarships and search page. The Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies does not maintain any specific funding options for undergraduate students. 

Graduate Funding

Please note, these are only available for graduate students. 

For the majority of Oxford scholarships, all you need to do is submit your graduate application by the January deadline for your course. There’s no separate scholarship application process or extra supporting documentation required for funding. Based on the information supplied in your graduate application, you will be automatically considered for scholarships where you meet the eligibility criteria with most scholarships using academic merit and/or potential as the basis on which award decisions are made.

The vast majority of college scholarships do not require you to select that particular college as your preference on the graduate application form. They will consider all eligible applicants who apply by the relevant deadline. If you are selected for a college scholarship, we will move your place to the relevant college.

University and Faculty Scholarships

A scholarship programme for graduate students pursuing a master’s degree in Classical Armenian Studies at Oxford has been established, following a substantial gift from the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) London Trust.

Oxford is the leading university for Armenian studies in the UK, where the subject has been pursued since the mid-nineteenth century. By providing support for one graduate student per year for five years, this scholarship programme will play a key role in helping to foster greater understanding of Armenian culture and heritage.

The creation of the AGBU London Trust Scholarship represents the next stage in an already fruitful partnership between Oxford and the organisation, which has, for the past seven years, provided financial support to Armenian students reading a range of subjects at the University. The new scholarship programme, which will be open to students from all over the world, aligns with the AGBU’s mission to uphold Armenian heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programmes.

How to apply

If you fulfill the eligibility criteria and apply for your course by the relevant January deadline for your course you will be automatically considered. 

 

The Black Academic Futures Scholarships offer UK Black and Mixed-Black students financial support to pursue graduate study at Oxford.

Up to 30 scholarships are available for applicants who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, who are of Black or Mixed-Black ethnicity and who hold an offer for either a taught or research postgraduate degree, starting in the 2022-23 academic year. This includes all full-time and part-time DPhil and master’s courses.

These scholarships support students across the University and are open to all subject areas, with some funding dedicated to supporting students on specific courses.

How to apply

There is no separate application process. All you have to do is submit your completed graduate course application, including ethnicity information, by the relevant funding deadline for your course and you will automatically be considered. 

Information about the programme can be found here, along with a list pf the growing number of targeted graduate scholarships for under-represented groups across the University and its colleges.

 

The Clarendon Fund offers around 150 new fully funded scholarships each year to outstanding graduate scholars.

How to apply

If you fulfil the eligibility criteria and apply for your course by the relevant January deadline you will be automatically considered.

For more information, including details of the selection process, visit the Clarendon website

The Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Graduate Scholarship Programme funds full-time graduate degrees in various subjects within the Humanities. The scholarship will cover course fees and a grant for living costs for the full duration of your fee liability.

How to apply

To be considered for this scholarship, you must select ‘Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Postgraduate Scholarships in the Humanities’ in the funding section of the University’s graduate application form. You must attach the Ertegun supporting statement and upload it with your graduate application form by the January deadline. 

For further information on these scholarships please see the dedicated Ertegun Graduate Scholarship Programme in the Humanities website. You will be able to find resources available to scholars such as sections on Ertegun House, scholar experience, alumni profiles, news and events.

The Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies is pleased to offer, in 2024-25, one or more graduate scholarships of between £8,000 - £15,000 for MPhil or DPhil students whose study or research focuses on Buddhist Studies (including all areas, historical periods, and aspects of this field). The scholarships have been established thanks to a generous donation made by the GS Charity Foundation in support of Buddhist Studies at Oxford.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified individuals who are applying to an MPhil or DPhil course at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies for entry in October 2024, or current students studying for an MPhil or DPhil at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. This scholarship may be held in conjunction with other partial awards, but the total value of your scholarships should not exceed the combined cost of course fees in full and a grant for living costs at a rate agreed with Graduate Admissions and Recruitment.

  • Prospective applicants for graduate study

Applicants applying for a new course for entry in October 2024, and who submit their application to the University by the January deadline at the latest, will automatically be considered.

  • Current students

On-course students should submit an application form to graduate.administrator@ames.ox.ac.uk by Wednesday 8 May 2024 at the latest.

 

The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic merit and potential. In making a decision between equally qualified applications, preference will be given to students with a research interest in Chinese Buddhism, or in Chinese Buddhist sources.

The scholarship is open to UK, EU, or Overseas students and will be tenable only for one year at a time. Students holding the scholarship who would wish to reapply for it for the following year would be required to submit a new application for that year, which would be considered competitively alongside other applications for that year.

Renewal is contingent on satisfactory progress: MPhil students must pass all their Qualifying Examinations with no mark lower than 65; evidence of satisfactory progress will be sought from supervisor(s) of DPhil students.

Not offered in 2023-24.

The Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies is pleased to offer up to three graduate scholarships for £8000 for Master's or DPhil students whose study or research focuses on Buddhist Studies (including all areas, historical periods, and aspects of this field). The scholarships have been established thanks to a generous donation of the Lingyin Temple (Lingyin si), an ancient and important Buddhist temple in Hangzhou, China.

The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic merit and potential. If there are more than two equally qualified applications, preference will be given to students with a research interest in Chinese Buddhism, or in Chinese Buddhist sources.

The scholarship is open to UK, EU, or Overseas students and will be tenable only for one year at a time. Students holding the scholarship who would wish to reapply for it for the following year would be required to submit a new application for that year, which would be considered competitively alongside other applications for that year.

Renewal is contingent on satisfactory progress: MPhil students must pass all their Qualifying Examinations with no mark lower than 65; evidence of satisfactory progress will be sought from supervisor(s) of DPhil students.

The Open-Oxford-Cambridge DTP offers a number of doctoral studentships each year, across the range of arts and humanities subject areas. In addition to funding for fees and living costs, OOC DTP students benefit from being able to access a variety of other funding sources and a wide range of training available at the three partner universities.

How to apply

In order to be considered for OOC DTP funding you must select 'AHRC: OOC DTP' in the funding section of the University’s graduate application form. You also need to complete an OOC DTP application form (which can be downloaded here) and upload it with your graduate application form by the January deadline. 

Please see the OOC DTP 'How to apply' guidance here for more information about the application process, eligibility and FAQs.

These scholarships have been established by the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies to allow graduates to pursue study of benefit to the Muslim world.

How to apply

In order to be considered for this funding you must select 'Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies' in the funding section of the University’s graduate application form. You also need to complete an Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies Scholarships Supporting Statement  (the statement form can be downloaded here) and upload it with your graduate application form by the January deadline. 

For more information please see the OCIS Scholarships page.

The Sasakawa Fund is pleased to offer scholarships for students who have been accepted by the University to undertake a graduate degree in October 2024 or who are currently undertaking such a course. The scholarships will be awarded to (a) applicants who are Japanese nationals currently on a course or starting a course at Oxford University, or alternatively (b) students from the UK or other countries currently on a course or starting a course at Oxford University which requires some period of study in Japan. Please note that students on the fourth year of a DPhil programme are not eligible to apply.

The awards, of up to £12,500, will be made for one year in the first instance and may be renewed for one or two further years, subject to satisfactory progress and the length of your study. Eligibility for a full or partial Sasakawa Fund Scholarship will take account of any substantial funding from another source.

The Sasakawa Fund Scholarship has been established thanks to a generous donation made by the Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation.

 

To apply, please complete the Scholarship Application Form, along with:

  • one reference (to be sent by the referee directly)
  • a Curriculum Vitae
  • a statement of research interests (of no more than six pages) including an outline and research proposal (for research degree applicants only) OR
  • a personal statement (of no more than six pages - for taught degree applicants only).

Please send your application as a PDF directly to the Trust Funds Administrator on trustfunds@ames.ox.ac.uk, with all documents included in the same PDF, if possible, to arrive by Friday 31 March 2024

The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme cultivates the leaders of tomorrow by providing outstanding university graduates and professionals from developing and emerging economies with the opportunity to pursue fully-funded graduate studies at the University of Oxford, combined with a comprehensive programme of leadership development, long-term mentoring and networking.

How to apply

In order to be considered for this funding you must select 'Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme' in the funding section of the University’s graduate application form. You also need complete a Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships Statement and upload it, together with your graduate application form, by the relevant funding deadline (the statement form can be downloaded here).

Eligible courses in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies are:

  • MSc Contemporary Chinese Studies (course administered by OSGA)
  • MSt Islamic Studies and History
  • MSt Jewish Studies
  • MSt Korean Studies
  • MSc Modern Middle Eastern Studies
  • MSc Modern South Asian Studies (course administered by OSGA)

Further information about this scholarship programme, including residency and course eligibility, can be found on its funding page here.

College-based Scholarships

The Oxford-Ko Cheuk Hung Graduate Scholarship is available for applicants who are ordinarily resident in UK and who are applying to the MSt Traditional China. The scholarship covers course fees and a grant for living costs. Awards are made for the full duration of your fee liability for the agreed course. 

How to apply

If you fulfill the eligibility criteria and apply for your course by the relevant January deadline for your course you will be automatically considered. 

College

The scholarship is only tenable at St Cross College. All eligible applicants will be considered for this scholarship, regardless of which college (if any) you state as your preference on the graduate application form. However, successful applicants will be transferred to St Cross College in order to take up the scholarship.

This is a joint award offered by University College and the Faulty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies for an award of £12,000 p.a. for the period of fee liability and is available for those applying to a graduate course in the area of Chinese Studies.

How to apply

If you fulfill the eligibility criteria and apply for your course by the relevant January deadline for your course you will be automatically considered. 

College

The scholarship is only tenable at University College. All eligible applicants will be considered for this scholarship, regardless of which college (if any) you state as your preference on the graduate application form. However, successful applicants will be transferred to University College in order to take up the scholarship.

Please see here for further details of funding offered by University College.

Four fully funded scholarships are available for applicants who are permanent residents of Japan, Chinese mainland or Hong Kong SAR and have completed the majority of their formal education in their country/region of permanent residency. For all those who will commence study on a course offered by St Antony's College in 2024/25 (DPhils, MPhils and MSc are all eligible).

Swire Scholarships | St Antony's College (ox.ac.uk)

For an applicant who is a Kenyan citizen to study for a one-year Master’s degree in the academic year 2024-25 at St Antony’s College. The scholarship will be for a value of up to £40k. 

Swire and Oxford & Cambridge Society of Kenya Scholarship | St Antony's College

Postgraduate Loans and External Funding

UK Masters and Doctoral Loans

The UK government offers a loans scheme for UK students who started a Master's course between 2016/17 and 2021/22 and EU students between 2016/17 and 2020/21 to fund full-time and part-time master’s courses. More information about the loans is available on the master's loans web page.

Doctoral students from England and Wales who started a doctoral programme between 2018/19 and 2021/22 and EU students between 2018/19 and 2020/21 may be eligible for a doctoral loan. Full details are available on the doctoral loans web page.

US and Canadian Loans

If you are a US or Canadian citizen, you may be able to take out a loan to meet your costs of study. Please see the information on the University's US and Canadian Loans page for further information.

External Funding

A list of major sources of funding provided by organisations external to the University is provided on the Graduate Admissions External funding page. This funding is managed by organisations external to Oxford and therefore they will use different application processes and closing dates. If you have any questions about an external funding opportunity, please contact the relevant organisation directly.