Scholarships
Scholarships available for Japanese Studies students
Nissan Institute Scholarships
The Nissan Institute offers partial scholarships for up to three students on the MSc/MPhil in Japanese Studies. If you would like to be considered for one of these scholarships you should make it clear in your personal statement at the time of application.
The Sasakawa Japanese Studies Postgraduate Studentships
Application deadline: 10th March, 2025
The Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies, University of Oxford invites applications for up to three Sasakawa Postgraduate Studentships in Japanese Studies, with the generous support by the Nippon Foundation and the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation.
The Faculty can nominate the candidate for the MSc/MPhil/DPhil studentship of £15,000. This studentship is initially for one year only, but may be renewable subject to satisfactory progress in subsequent years, up to a maximum of three years, beginning in September of the 2024/25 academic year. Please note that you will be required to reapply for the studentship each year, and that the GBSF will consider these applications on their merits. The GBSF cannot make a recurrent three year commitment to any one PhD candidate from year one.
Swire Scholarships
Application deadline: 4 March 2025 at 5pm UK time
Swire Scholarships are open to 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. The scholarship covers 100% of the course fees, a grant for living costs of £17,442 per year (2025/26 rate). Economic airfares to and from London are provided at the beginning and end of the scholarship. MSc, MPhils and DPhils are all eligible for these scholarships: Swire Scholarships at St Antony's College.
Snowdon Trust Master's Scholarships
The Snowdon Trust Master’s Scholarship has been designed to identify and accelerate exceptional Disabled Students through higher education, creating the influencers of the future.
Each candidate will bring something different to the programme. Successful candidates will demonstrate that they have some or all of the following attributes:
– Exceptional leaders, with the ability to create change within and beyond their academic field.
– Individuals that have shown excellence within their chosen subjects.
– Demonstrated leadership potential with a proven drive for success.
– Ability to create change and drive Disability issues.
– Proven achievements in academia, employment, or voluntary activities.
The Snowdon Trust are searching for applicants who can communicate their aspiration to become an exceptional leader, a role model, or a pioneer in their area of expertise. Ideal candidates will also demonstrate how the scholarship will create profound impact on their current circumstances, future influences, and opportunities. This includes how the Scholarship will support them as a Disabled Person to overcome barriers inflicted by society, including attitudinal, physical, social, emotional and many more.
Current and past Snowdon Scholars are invited to become members of the Disabled Leaders Network. https://www.snowdontrust.org/financial-awards/scholarships/
Scholarship funding available at New College, Oxford
Various scholarships available for postgraduate students at New College. This includes the Aso Group Scholarship for a student with Japanese as a first language (preference for a student from Fukuoka Prefecture).
Scholarship funding available at Balliol College, Oxford
Various scholarships available for postgraduate students at Balliol College. This includes the Jason Hu Scholarship, worth £10,000, which is open only to candidates who are citizens of Taiwan, China or to candidates to Asia as a whole. There are no special restrictions as to the subject or degree for which the Scholars read. No separate application is required for this award, if you are eligible then you will be considered as part of your main university application.
Oxford School of Global and Area Studies DPhil Scholarships
Application deadline: 28 January 2025
OSGA is pleased to offer 2 departmental awards of £60,000 for incoming students to the DPhil Area Studies programme.
Awards will be paid in 3 annual instalments of £20,000 for full time applicants or 6 annual instalments of £10,000 for part time applicants. All applicants who submit their application by the deadline will be automatically considered for these awards. Scholarships are awarded on academic merit and it is intended that these awards will assist with living expenses whilst studying at Oxford. Full terms and conditions will accompany any funding offer and recipients will be asked to confirm their formal acceptance of these during the admissions process.
Daiwa Scholarships in Japanese Studies
Application deadline: 30 January 2025
Interviews: 7 March 2025
The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of the Daiwa Scholarships in Japanese Studies to support postgraduate study of Japanese Studies in either Japan or the UK commencing in either spring or autumn 2025. British citizens who hold or are completing a degree in Japanese Studies, defined as a course focusing primarily on the study of Japan, and containing a substantial Japanese language component and with strong Japanese language ability are eligible to apply. Applicants who hold (or are completing) combined honours courses where Japanese Studies accounts for at least 50% of the course may also apply.
The scholarship includes all tuition and examination fees (up to home fee level in the UK), a maintenance grant of £1,400 per month for periods spent in the UK and ¥280,000 per month for periods spent in Japan to cover accommodation and living costs, and the cost of one economy class return air fare per year between the UK and Japan in the case of Scholars who will be flying out to Japan to begin their course of study. The Foundation also takes out private medical insurance on behalf of the Scholars studying in Japan.
Oxford-Uehiro Graduate Scholarships
Inspired by the story of the Choshu Five, the Oxford–Uehiro Graduate Scholarship Programme provides full funding for up to five Japanese students to undertake a postgraduate course (except MBA) at Oxford each year. Scholarships will cover the course fees and living costs of students. If you fulfil the eligibility criteria and apply for your course by the relevant December or January deadline for your course you will be automatically considered for the Oxford-Uehiro scholarship as part of the standard admissions process, or contacted directly by the University and invited to apply.
ESRC Studentships
ESRC studentships in Japanese Studies are available on the Area Studies Pathway, see the ESRC website for eligibility rules.
Fees and Funding
Search the University website for further funding opportunities:
