Sasakawa Studentships

The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation is pleased to announce the twelfth year of the Sasakawa Japanese Studies Postgraduate Studentship Programme, designed to support the development of the study of Japan in the UK. 

Launched and administered by the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation and funded by The Nippon Foundation, the Programme is providing up to 30 postgraduate studentships annually across the UK, each worth £15,000.

SOAS can nominate up to three students for studentships of £15,000 (untaxed), which will be paid to awardees in three instalments: £5,000 at the start of Terms 1, 2 and 3.

Important information for MPhil/PhD candidates and for 2-year full-time taught master's candidates: This studentship is for one year only. Award holders are be welcome to reapply in open competition for this studentship (subject to availability) in subsequent years. This scholarship cannot be held with a fully-funded scholarship. Otherwise, this studentship is not a full scholarship and may be used to supplement partial funding from elsewhere.

Eligible programmes

• Any full-time postgraduate taught master's degree programme (new admissions starting a master’s degree at SOAS in September 2025) with a dissertation on a theme connected with Japan.
• Current master’s students enrolled in year 1 of a two-year full-time degree and entering year 2 in 2025/26, with a dissertation on a theme connected with Japan.
• Any full-time MPhil/PhD student (new admissions and current SOAS MPhil/PhD students) whose thesis topic focuses on any aspect of Japan.
• Part-time programmes are not eligible. Current part-time students must change to full-time status if their application is successful and they elect to accept this award.
• Please note that this scholarship cannot be held during the PhD Extension of Writing-Up (Continuation) status.

Candidate criteria

• For postgraduate taught master's degree applicants must write their dissertation on a theme connected with Japan.
• For MPhil/PhD applicants, the research proposal must focus on Japan.
• Applicants must possess a first class or a good upper-second class undergraduate degree or a good merit or distinction (or equivalent) at a master's level.
• Postgraduate taught master's degree applicants must be either a UK citizen (no matter their current residency) or settled in the UK or have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 3 years immediately preceding the start of their master’s course.
• MPhil/PhD applicants must have completed at least one-year postgraduate study at a UK institution of higher education.

Additional Criteria For New Admissions (starting in September 2025/26):

• Applicants should include details of their skills in Japanese, if any, and future academic or career plans. While Japanese language is not essential, it is desirable so it will be helpful if the applicants’ referees comment on their skills in Japanese in the areas of reading, composition and speaking, if applicable.
• New applicants must have applied to SOAS but are not required to have received an offer of admissions by the scholarship deadline. An offer will need to have been received by the time the relevant panel meets to discuss scholarship applications.
• Applicants must meet the English language condition of their offer of admission to study at SOAS as soon as possible. If your offer is conditional on English, please arrange your English test and ensure you meet the English requirements as soon as possible.

Additional Criteria For Current Students:

• Those who have already accepted full scholarships for 2023/24, 2024/25 or 2025/26 from other funding sources are not eligible.
• PhD students in one of the first three years of their full-time course may apply. Students undertaking a writing-up or examination year of study are not eligible.

Please note that this scholarship does not cover funding or even allow for Pre-sessionals. 

Candidate assessment

Candidates will be assessed:

• On academic merit by a Selection Panel consisting of three academic members. A list of nominees will be selected by the Steering Committee of the Japanese Research Centre (JRC) and submitted to the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation which will decide all finalist awardees.
• On evidence that the primary focus of the candidate's study is Japan.
• For postgraduate taught master's degree applicants only: academic references, degree results, statement, CV and other relevant information in your application will be considered to assess the above criteria.
• For MPhil/PhD only: academic references, degree results, statement, CV, research proposal and other relevant information in your application will be considered to assess the above criteria.

Scholarship application and deadline

• Scholarship applications must be received no later than 12:00 PM (midday) UK local time on 12 March 2025.
• New applicants only: you must also submit a complete application to your programme as soon as possible and then submit an application for the scholarship. Please note that complete applications for admission can take 4 weeks to be considered by the department, although this duration can vary depending on the time of year. You should be prepared to wait up to 6 weeks in busy periods.
• Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Notification of results

Applications are considered by an assessment committee and the tantosha are notified informally in May with formal confirmation in June. There may be some changes in circumstances with nominations unable to take up places. 

In that case the assessment committee will assess other candidates from across the field of applications.