SOAS, University of London offers scholarships for studying postgraduate taught courses (Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate or Master’s) and research degrees (MPhil/PhD).
Recently awarded a transformational £20 million gift from Alphawood Foundation, Chicago, to advance the study and preservation of Buddhist and Hindu art in Southeast Asia, SOAS is establishing an ambitious academic program that seeks to build on its world-leading research expertise and existing institutional links in Southeast Asia. As part of this, the Alphawood Scholarship Program has been created to bring outstanding students to SOAS who will undertake a range of postgraduate studies that focus on Buddhist and Hindu art in Southeast Asia. These scholarships will be awarded to candidates who intend to help the preservation and advancement of Southeast Asian art in the region through teaching, further study or any other activity. Up to 13 Alphawood scholarships will be available in 2014/15. Of these, it is likely that 10 will be for postgraduate taught courses (Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate or Master’s), while up to three will be available for research degrees (MPhil/PhD). The Alphawood scholarships will cover tuition fees in full (at the overseas rate), a generous stipend to cover the costs of living and studying in central London, as well as flights to and from the UK and provision of English language or other pre-course training (at SOAS), if deemed necessary.
Study Subjects and Level:
Postgraduate Taught Courses
The total length of the postgraduate courses is a calendar year which the visa, air ticket and accommodation will cover.
Scholarships will be available for students the following programs within the Department of History of Art and Archaeology:
- Postgraduate Asian Art Diploma (any combination of three modules from the Diploma, including the Southeast Asian art module). Teaching starts September 2014. Each module has essays and an exam. Applicants must have a BA or BSc and can already hold an MA to be eligible to apply
- Postgraduate Asian Art Course Certificate (Southeast Asian Art module only)
- MA Arts of Asia and Africa
- MA Contemporary Art of Asia and Africa
- MA History of Art and/or Archaeology
- MA Religious Arts of Asia
In addition, the scholarships are open to those taking the following MA programs where the major course relates to Southeast Asian art:
- MA South East Asian Studies
- MA Asian Pacific Studies
There are three course units for the MA degrees which may be made up of six half units; two terms, the first beginning late September 2014. Each course is assessed by written work and presentations. There are no exams. A dissertation of 10,000 words is written from late May and submitted 15 September 2015. It must be on Southeast Asia. Students must have a BA or BSc and in many cases a previous MA is desirable.
Depending on the combination of courses, the degree may vary such as Religious Arts or Contemporary Art.
Postgraduate Research
The scholarships are open to any full-time MPhil/PhD student (new admissions only) whose thesis topic focuses on Southeast Asian art.
If it is felt that students require additional language or academic preparation prior to taking up these postgraduate studies, scholarships may also be awarded to students undertaking the FDPS Premasters (Foundation Diploma for Postgraduate Studies) or Presessional English Courses in the IFCELS (International Foundation Courses and English Language Studies) Department at SOAS. These requirements will be decided on an individual basis during the selection stage and candidates will be informed accordingly.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for these scholarships you should:
- Normally be resident in one of the following countries: Burma (Myanmar), Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand or Vietnam.
- Demonstrate your interest in Southeast Asian art and your intention to pursue teaching, further study or otherwise make a positive impact on the study, preservation or advancement of Southeast Asian art in the region after your studies at SOAS.
Scholarship Open for:
Students of Burma (Myanmar), Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand or Vietnam can apply for these scholarships.
Number of Scholarships:
Up to 13 Alphawood scholarships will be available in 2014/15. Of these, it is likely that 10 will be for postgraduate taught courses (Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate or Master’s), while up to three will be available for research degrees (MPhil/PhD).
Scholarship Value:
The Alphawood scholarships will cover tuition fees in full (at the overseas rate), a generous stipend to cover the costs of living and studying in central London, as well as flights to and from the UK and provision of English language or other pre-course training (at SOAS), if deemed necessary.
Selection Criteria:
Candidates will be assessed by a Selection Panel comprising three academic members of staff:
- On academic merit and promise; financial need may also be taken into consideration.
- On past experience in the field of Southeast Asian art, as well as your intention to make a significant impact on the preservation and advancement of the field after your studies.
- Academic references, statements and other relevant information in your application will be considered to assess the above criteria.
Notification:
Successful candidates will be notified by the end of April. If you have not heard by the end of April, you should assume that your application was unsuccessful.
How to Apply?
The application process requires two steps:
STEP 1: Please apply for the relevant program
- If you are applying for the Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate, please complete the Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate application for admission.
- If you are applying for one of the Master’s programs, please complete the Postgraduate online application form.
- If you are applying for an MPhil/PhD, please complete the Postgraduate online application form.
STEP 2: Once you have submitted your application for admission, you can then apply for this scholarship via this link to the on-line scholarship application.
Application Deadline: 14 March 2014.
For further information: The Alphawood Scholarships at SOAS
