Pre-Application Requirement

Applicants must already hold an offer for the SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art (conditional or unconditional) prior to submitting a scholarship application.

Programme of Study

This scholarship supports students completing the following module pathway for the SOAS-Alphawood Postgraduate Diploma in Asian Art:

Arts of India (28 September - 17 December 2025)
Analysing and Exploring the Arts (28 September - 17 December 2025)
Arts of China (18 January - 09 April 2026)
Arts of the Islamic World or Arts of Southeast Asia (04 May - 22 July 2026)
Independent Study Project in Asian Art History (04 May - 05 August 2026)

Scholarship Eligibility

Applicants must be either the first in their family to go to university or permanent resident in a country where there is conflict, extreme challenge or adversity.

Education

Please give details of universities or colleges attended and degrees obtained, dates of study and final award/grade:

Employment

If applicable, please give details of relevant employment, with current or most recent first

Applicants must provide a supporting statement (two pages maximum) stating why they wish to take this programme and how this scholarship will make a difference to them, indicating how they see it relating to their current and/or future professional development.

This statement must also speak to how they meet the eligibility criteria as either the first in their family to go to university or permanent resident in a country where there is conflict, extreme challenge or adversity.

Statement of Financial Need

Applicants must provide a recently submitted piece of academic work at least 1000 words in length, or equivalent piece of writing from a professional context (i.e. auction or museum catalogue essay).

If you have not recently submitted a piece of academic work, please produce a new piece of writing on an art historical topic of your choosing at approximately 1000 words in length.

All applicants are required to be supported by two references.

The referees must be people who are familiar with your academic and/or professional work. We would expect at least one reference from your current, or most recent, place of study. If your most recent academic study was more than five years ago, and you feel other experience is more relevant, work-related references only will be acceptable.

Referees should provide an opinion on the applicant’s suitability for the programme of study as a scholarship student. References must be in English and must be provided by the scholarship application closing date.

References can be submitted directly by email to: asianart@soas.ac.uk

Under the Data Protection Act, applicants have the right to see references supplied as part of their application.

Referee #1

Referee #2

Scholarship Terms

- The scholarship cannot be held along with any other major scholarship.

- The scholarship is specifically to support in-person study in London and online modules cannot be taken as part of the programme for the scholarship holder

- It is expected that the successful candidate dedicates themselves to the course full-time and will not undertake any further form of work or study during term-time

- The successful candidate is expected to attend all teaching sessions.

- Continuation of the award will be conditional on satisfactory attendance and contribution, which will be assessed at the end of every term as well as monitored throughout.

- London residency during term-time is a requirement. The scholarship includes a stipend of £18,700 to cover accommodation and living costs, paid in three instalments over the course of the academic year.