Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) - Studentships for Japanese Studies masters programme to doctoral work at Oxford

What you get

You will receive a tax-free living allowance of £20,780 per year (about 24,500 EUR), which is based on the British Research Council’s standard rate. Your tuition fees will be fully covered for the entire duration of the funding, regardless of whether you are classified as a domestic or international student. The funding covers 4.5 years under the ‘1+3.5’ structure: one year for the MSc in Japanese Studies, followed by 3.5 years for the DPhil (PhD), which includes a compulsory 3-month placement. You may also apply for additional funding for fieldwork, conferences and placements. The scholarship is awarded by the Economic and Social Research Council via the Grand Union Doctoral Training Partnership (a joint programme run by the University of Oxford, Brunel University London and the Open University), and this programme is based at the School of Global and Area Studies at the University of Oxford. The scholarship does not cover visa costs, the ‘International Health Surcharge’ or travel expenses for international students.

Who can apply

• Degree: You hold a good bachelor’s degree with distinction (First Class or Upper Second Class from a UK research institution, or an equivalent qualification).
• Your plan: You wish to complete the Master’s programme in ‘Japanese Studies’ and then proceed directly to a PhD (DPhil) programme at Oxford. The scholarship does not apply to a standalone Master’s programme comprising taught modules.
• Field of study: Your field of research falls within the social sciences, with a focus on Japan, such as anthropology, economics, geography, history, international relations, politics, social policy or sociology.
• Master's status: You do not need a Master’s degree. If you already hold a Master’s degree in the social sciences, please apply directly for the PhD programme instead.
• Nationality: The programme is open to both applicants from the UK (domestic) and international applicants. A maximum of 30% scholarships are awarded to international students each year, ensuring that domestic applicants have access to more places.
• Living in the UK: You are a student and will be based in the United Kingdom for the entire duration of the funding period, apart from fieldwork, conferences and training courses abroad.

How to apply

You should apply to the University of Oxford for the degree programme. On the same form, under the ‘Scholarships’ section, select the ESRC Grand Union DTP scholarship and confirm that you intend to proceed to a research degree afterwards. You must also complete the separate application form for the Grand Union DTP and upload it alongside your Oxford application. The deadline is the Oxford application deadline in January.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is very narrowly defined: it funds a specific degree programme (MSc in Japanese Studies leading to a DPhil) at a single leading university, so the pool of eligible applicants is small. If you have excellent grades and a clear plan for a PhD thesis focusing on Japan, your prospects are good. International applicants are competing for an even smaller proportion of places, as no more than 30% places are allocated to them each year; consequently, domestic applicants who clearly meet the criteria have the best chances.