Daiwa Scholarships in Japanese Studies 2024 Entry

• Tuition fees
• A maintenance grant of £1,200 per month for periods spent in the UK and ¥260,000 per month for periods spent in Japan to cover accommodation and living costs while on the programme.
• The Foundation will contribute £1,000 towards the cost of one economy class return air fare 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 will contribute £1,000 towards the cost of one economy class return air fare per annum between the UK and Japan in the case of relevant travel being undertaken.

The Daiwa Scholarships in Japanese Studies is a postgraduate programme to support the study of Japanese Studies in either Japan or the UK.

In the first seven years of this new programme, Scholarships have been awarded to 23 individuals, focussing on Japan in a variety of areas such as archaeology, art, history and Japanese literature both in the UK and Japan.

The intention is to support postgraduate studies related to Japan at a university in Japan or the UK.

Scholarships will be awarded to cover the period required to attain the degree in question. In cases where the applicant has already begun his or her studies, the Scholarship will fund the whole remaining period required.

Up until 2022 the intention was to support six individuals in any given year, of whom at least three must study full-time at a university in Japan.

From 2023, the number is likely to be two or three per year.

Candidates for the Daiwa Scholarships in Japanese Studies must be:

• British citizens
• Holders of (or currently completing) a degree in Japanese Studies, defined as a course focusing primarily on the study of Japan, and containing a substantial Japanese language component. Applicants who hold (or are completing) combined honours courses where Japanese accounts for at least 50% of the course are also eligible to apply.
• Holding an offer for PhD Japanese Studies, or enrolled on the programme.

 The academic requirements for PhD Japanese Studies are:

• Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:1 or above (or overseas equivalent); and
• Master's degree in a relevant subject - with an overall average of 65% or above, a minimum mark of 65% in your dissertation and no mark below 55% (or overseas equivalent).

1. You should submit a programme application to PhD Japanese Studies before applying for a Daiwa Scholarship in Japanese Studies.
2. You must then begin your funding application directly with the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation. You will need to create an account, complete the application form and upload copies of your Bachelor's and Master's degree certificates and transcripts; evidence of Japanese language proficiency; and a photograph (headshot). You will also need to arrange for 2 academic referees to provide references to  scholarships@dajf.org.uk. The deadline for applications is  Thursday, 25 January 2024.
3. If you are shortlisted for interview, these will take place on Friday 8 March 2024 at Daiwa Foundation Japan House in London.

Your PhD Japanese Studies application should contain:

• A 1,500 word PhD research proposal
• Copies of the academic transcript and certificate from both your Bachelor's and Master's degrees. If your Master's degree is pending, please provide an interim transcript.
• An up to date academic CV, detailing your education and qualifications; employment history; publications; and any other relevant information.
• You must nominate two academic referees. Your referees will be contacted directly via the Referee Portal following submission of your application form. You may wish to contact your referees to request they submit your reference in a reasonable timeframe as this forms part of the review process.
• International applicants must additionally provide English Language evidence (e.g IELTS)  

• Strong Japanese language ability will be a key selection criterion.
• Of those applicants seeking funding for courses at UK universities, preference will generally be given to students who will undertake part of their studies in Japan. You do not need to be affiliated to a Japanese university, and there is no restriction on the length of the stay in Japan, but this has to comprise a valid part of the Scholar's course in some sense.
• Scholarships will not be awarded to former recipients of Daiwa Scholarships, or to the same individual more than once.

Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation

The Daiwa Scholarships in Japanese Studies application must be submitted to the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation by Thursday 25 January 2024.

In advance of this, you should submit a programme application for PhD Japanese Studies.

In February 2024, applicants will be notified whether or not they have been shortlisted for interview.

Interviews will take place on Friday 8 March 2024. Applicants will be notified of the final outcome soon after the interview.