SOAS, University of London Scholarships for International Students 2027
To help students manage tuition and living expenses, SOAS, University of London connects to scholarships across different funding levels. Here are several top options to review first.
Among the university based funding routes linked to SOAS, University of London, these scholarships tend to stand out for their level of support and overall value. Academic Excellence Scholarship is usually considered partially funded, and typical coverage can include a £5,000 tuition fee discount. A strong option is Bursaries which is partially funded and often covers A cash award of £2,500 per year or one-time award of £10,000 for the Rahim Lalji Development Studies Bursary, £5,000 tuition fee waiver for the CSJR Postgraduate Student Bursary, and £5,000 tuition fee waiver for the Xia Jing Shan Bursary. International Postgraduate Scholarships is partially funded, and coverage often includes £8,000 tuition fee waiver.
To broaden funding options beyond institutional awards at SOAS, University of London, these external and government scholarships are commonly considered as well. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships is fully funded and typically covers full tuition fees, thesis grant, and living allowance of up to £1,652 per month. Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program is commonly categorized as fully funded support, and coverage that often includes Round-trip economy airfare between your home country and the host university at the beginning and end of your studies and plus a $600 travel allowance per trip, full tuition for your graduate program and basic medical insurance provided by the university, and a monthly stipend for living expenses, including accommodation, food, and books. The amount varies based on the host country. With Saïd Foundation Scholarship, students may receive fully funded support, and coverage frequently includes full tuition, living and maintenance costs, and arrival allowance.
To see every scholarship associated with this institution and compare coverage and eligibility, browse the sections below.
SOAS, University of London Scholarships for International Students
The scholarships at SOAS, University of London can help fund your study expenses. There are currently 10 scholarships being offered to international students at the SOAS, University of London, all with varying requirements, benefits, and application processes. We have compiled them in this list to help you find the scholarship that best fits you.
Undergraduate Scholarships
Graduate Scholarships
External Scholarships
There are many degrees that are open to international students right now — find yours.
SOAS, University of London Admissions
Here are the official admission pages for SOAS, University of London:
| Degree | Admissions Pages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | International Students Admissions Page |
| Master's | International Students Admissions Page |
SOAS, University of London Application Deadlines
| Degree | Admission Deadline |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's (Regular Application) | January 13, 2027 |
| Master's | July 31, 2026 |
Tuition Fees at SOAS, University of London for International Students
Indicative annual tuition fee ranges for international students at SOAS, University of London. Exact fees vary by program, so always confirm the current cost on the university's official tuition fee pages.
| Degree Level | Typical Annual Range |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Tuition | 22,870 GBP |
| Master's Tuition | 25,320 – 27,730 GBP |
Please note that tuition fees can vary based on the specific program you choose. For the most accurate and current fee information, consult the official tuition fee pages linked above.
SOAS, University of London Scholarship Recipients
International students who received scholarships to study at SOAS, University of London, documented by Global Scholarships.
Scholarship Recipient Insights at SOAS, University of London
8 degree-study stories.
Featured Recipients
| Nationalities | Stories per nationality |
|---|---|
| Indian, Pakistani | 2 each |
| Brazilian, Canadian, Jordanian, Kenyan | 1 each |
Degrees Reported
| Degree level | Stories | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | 1 | Law (LLB) |
| Master’s | 7 | Law (LLM); Gender Studies; Environment, Politics and Development; Migration, Mobility and Development; Gender Studies (Middle East Pathway) |
Funding Routes Reported by Featured Recipients
| Funding route | Stories | Recipients |
|---|---|---|
| Chevening Scholarships | 7 | Rafiah Farrukh Rashid, Amna Feroz, Linda, Abhishek Kumar, Rajesh Ranjan, Mona Perlingeiro, Rahaf Aloran |
Reported Funding Coverage
| Recipient and degree/program | Reported coverage |
|---|---|
| Rafiah Farrukh Rashid — LLM Law | Chevening Scholarships: tuition, accommodation, monthly stipend, visa application fee, medical tests and flights. |
| Amna Feroz — LLM Law | Chevening Scholarships: tuition, living expenses and travel. |
| Linda — MA Gender Studies, 2024/2025 | Chevening Scholarships: tuition, monthly living/accommodation stipend, return airfare, visa fees and relocation allowance. |
| Abhishek Kumar — MSc Environment, Politics and Development, 2023–2024 | Chevening Scholarships: tuition, living stipend, visa costs, international travel and additional allowances. |
| Rajesh Ranjan — Master’s Law | Chevening Scholarships: tuition, living stipend, airfare, visa fee and NHS fee. |
| Mona Perlingeiro — MSc Migration, Mobility and Development, 2024–2025 | Chevening Scholarships: monthly London stipend approximately £1,693. |
| Rahaf Aloran — MA Gender Studies, Middle East Pathway | Chevening Scholarships: full tuition, monthly stipend, return flights and arrival allowances. |
Examples of Featured Recipients’ Application Backgrounds
| Recipient and degree/program | Scholarship/application route | Reported background and preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Rafiah Farrukh Rashid — LLM Law | Chevening Scholarships | University of London external LLB with two distinctions/merits and about 3.5 years at two law firms, including Lahore High Court practice. Researched modules/clinics and sought alumni advice. |
| Amna Feroz — LLM Law | Chevening Scholarships | University of London external LLB, 2:2, completed in 2017. Refined four essays with Chevening alumni and gave referees context about achievements and goals. |
| Linda — MA Gender Studies | Chevening Scholarships | LLB at Mount Kenya University, statistics/data-science/Python training and over eight years in refugee protection, logistics and GEDI work. Connected humanitarian leadership with intersectional justice. |
| Abhishek Kumar — MSc Environment, Politics and Development, 2023–2024 | Chevening Scholarships | MA Social Work at TISS, 2013–2015, urban-development fellowship and field/policy work in coal-mining and tribal communities. Highlighted community-led skills/livelihood initiatives. |
| Rajesh Ranjan — Master’s Law | Chevening Scholarships | BA LLB Constitutional Law Honours, 7.65/10; courts/NALSA experience and leadership in a rural community library/computer-lab project. |
| Mona Perlingeiro — MSc Migration, Mobility and Development, 2024–2025 | Chevening Scholarships | Social Sciences degree, 2009–2017, followed by a specialization in Globalization, Power and Society. Migration-policy work and research groups collaborating with UNHCR strengthened her profile. |
| Rahaf Aloran — MA Gender Studies, Middle East Pathway | Chevening Scholarships | Bachelor’s French Language and Literature, 3.8 GPA and First Class Honours; Amazon compliance work and independent women’s-rights initiatives. Connected policy/risk skills with advocacy. |
How Recipients Met Language Requirements
| Language requirement route | Stories / total degree-study stories | Recipients and examples |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 2/8 | Linda — MA Gender Studies: IELTS Academic 8.0; Rahaf Aloran — MA Gender Studies, Middle East Pathway: IELTS Academic 8.0 after two weeks of practice. |
| IELTS taken for the application | 1/8 | Rajesh Ranjan — Master’s Law: appeared for IELTS, using online practice tests. |
| English-test exemption based on prior degree and English qualifications | 1/8 | Amna Feroz — LLM Law: universities granted requested IELTS exemptions based on her University of London external degree and CIE English qualifications. |
Academic and Campus Experiences
| Recipient and degree/program | Reported experience |
|---|---|
| Abhishek Kumar — MSc Environment, Politics and Development, 2023–2024 | Valued political ecology, political economy, qualitative analysis and approachable faculty. Wished the core curriculum included more data analysis, visualization and digital research methods; used libraries and seminars across London. |
| Mona Perlingeiro — MSc Migration, Mobility and Development, 2024–2025 | Highlighted learning and social exchange with classmates from different nationalities and professional backgrounds. |
| Rahaf Aloran — MA Gender Studies, Middle East Pathway | Describes faculty expertise in Middle Eastern gender dynamics, critical theory and intersectional research; valued writing support, wellbeing services, immigration guidance and student debates. |
Application Timelines Reported by Recipients
| Recipient and degree/program | Application or scholarship route | Reported application timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Kumar — MSc Environment, Politics and Development, 2023–2024 | Chevening Scholarships | Started programme research nearly half a year in advance → began essays three to four months in advance → revised with alumni/mentors → received the 2023 scholarship and began SOAS study. |
| Mona Perlingeiro — MSc Migration, Mobility and Development, 2024–2025 | Chevening Scholarships | Applied four times over four years: two unsuccessful applications, one interview-stage attempt without selection, then success on the fourth attempt → completed the MSc in the 2024–2025 cohort. |
Other Offers in Featured Applicants’ Journeys
| Recipient | Reported alternative | Decision described in the story |
|---|---|---|
| Amna Feroz | Harvard University — Harvard Law School admission with a full tuition waiver based on financial need. | Reports earning her LLM at SOAS, University of London with Chevening Scholarships. |
| Abhishek Kumar | Admission to related Environment/Development programmes at University of Sussex and University of Leeds. | Chose Chevening-funded SOAS study; described Chevening as the most comprehensive support and aligned with long-term goals. |
What Recipients Pursued After Studying at SOAS, University of London
| Recipient | Degree/program at SOAS, University of London | Reported outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Akhtar Mohammed | LLB Law | Completed LLM Banking, Finance and Securities Law at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, with 3.9 GPA; reported being a New York-qualified lawyer based in Vancouver. |
| Amna Feroz | LLM Law | Reported working as an in-house lawyer in Pakistan. |
| Abhishek Kumar | MSc Environment, Politics and Development, 2023–2024 | Private Sector Advisor with GIZ on Just Transition in coal-mine closure/repurposing in India; based in Delhi with intervention work in central India. |
Applicants Who Chose Another University
| Applicant and intended degree/program | Offer from SOAS, University of London | University/program chosen | Reason described in the story |
|---|---|---|---|
| Himanshu Pahwa — Master’s study in public policy/governance | Unconditional admission | University of Sussex / IDS — Master’s Governance, Development and Public Policy, with Chevening Scholarships in 2022–2023. | Sussex was his first choice because of its academic strength and curriculum relevance. |
| Adnan Anjum Saeed Akhter — Master’s Development Studies | Admission offer | University of Sussex / IDS — Master’s Development Studies, Governance/Democracy/Development focus. | Preferred IDS’s academic rigor and practitioner-oriented research to examine governance problems encountered in Pakistan. |
| Swaleha J. Khowaja — Master’s study in mental health | Admission offer | King's College London and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine — joint MSc Global Mental Health with Chevening Scholarships. | N/A |
| Souhardya De — Bachelor’s History | International Academic Excellence Scholarship | University of Bristol — Bachelor’s History with Think Big funding. | N/A |
A Selected Scholar’s Application Example
| Recipient and intended degree/program | Reported preparation |
|---|---|
| Haris Amir — MA Gender Studies, selected for the 2024–2025 cohort | Received Chevening Scholarships after four years of gender-rights advocacy. Researched faculty, workshops and community engagement, then connected each university’s offerings with specific gaps in Pakistan’s gender/sexuality context; revised essays with alumni and practised mock interviews. |
What Scholarship Recipients Say
Advice and insights from international students who successfully secured funding to study at SOAS, University of London.
"It covered all my tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs for the duration of my LLM program at SOAS, University of London."
"It is very important to understand the mission of the scholarship and to assess if your goals align with the scholarship’s mission."
"I’m currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Gender Studies at SOAS, University of London, as a proud 2024/2025 Chevening Scholar."
"My experience was fantastic. The most valuable aspect was the opportunity to meet people from many different nationalities, backgrounds, and professional experiences. This diversity made the academic and social experience extremely enriching."
"MA in Gender Studies at SOAS, University of London offered a unique understanding of gender dynamics in diverse contexts and also valuable skills like critical analysis and research expertise, which would enable me to challenge queerphobia and foster an inclusive environment in Pakistan."
"I’d encourage you to pick a university that promotes interdisciplinary learning, one that doesn’t just ask you to focus on a single area in isolation. Engaging with diverse perspectives is key, as we all come from different backgrounds and have unique worldviews."
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about scholarships, admissions, and studying at SOAS, University of London.
Yes. SOAS has scholarships/bursaries specifically tied to online (distance learning) programmes; one example is the DS-CeDEP Online Learning bursary, where “each award will act as a fee waiver towards tuition fees” for selected online MSc programmes.
- Example online-eligible programmes under this bursary include: MSc Climate Change and Development, MSc Humanitarian Action, MSc International Development, and MSc Sustainable Development.
SOAS scholarships are generally aligned with SOAS’s subject strengths in arts, humanities, languages, and social sciences, so you’ll commonly see funding linked to areas like law, development studies, politics/international studies, economics, anthropology, history, languages, and related interdisciplinary programmes.
- Real recipient examples: Rajesh Ranjan studied Law (LLM), Linda studied Gender Studies (MA), and Abhishek Kumar pursued “MSc in Environment, Politics, and Development.
SOAS offers a mix: some scholarships are open to “any” nationality, some are restricted by fee status (Home/UK vs Overseas), and others target specific countries/regions (for example, select GREAT Scholarships for specific nationalities).
- GlobalScholarships SOAS recipient examples span multiple nationalities: Linda is Kenyan (“My name is Linda, and I’m from Nairobi, Kenya”), Haris Amir is from Pakistan, and Abhishek Kumar and Rajesh Ranjan are from India.
- Examples of targeted funding you may see on SOAS lists include awards for Overseas applicants, awards for the UK (Home) fee category, and some country-specific scholarships (e.g., certain GREAT Scholarships in specific years).
Often yes, SOAS requires applicants to demonstrate English at the level needed for the programme (commonly via IELTS/TOEFL or accepted alternatives), but exemptions can apply depending on your prior education and the evidence you provide.
- In Linda’s case, she shared: “I also met the language requirements with an IELTS (Academic) score of 8.0.”
- Amna Feroz described an exemption route: “I was exempted from taking IELTS because I had completed my degree in English.”
- Haris Amir highlighted how real applicants prepare: “I bought the Cambridge IELTS book and practiced daily,” and he also used YouTube channels for practice.
Yes. For many postgraduate taught programmes, SOAS indicates it will consider applicants with a UK bachelor’s degree at 2:2 or above (or an international equivalent), although some programmes (and many scholarships) set higher academic thresholds.
- Amna Feroz is a helpful real-world example that a non-perfect classification can still be workable: she said, “I had 2:2 division in bachelor’s,” and still secured admission to SOAS for her master’s.
- Important: scholarship cutoffs can be higher than admission cutoffs (for example, some SOAS bursaries/scholarships require a 2:1 or equivalent, and merit awards may prefer first-class profiles).
It depends on the scholarship, but common patterns are: (1) apply to SOAS first (or by the scholarship deadline), (2) meet the academic threshold (often 2:1/first-class or equivalent for merit-heavy awards), and (3) submit a strong personal statement showing fit and impact. Some awards also assess financial need, and external schemes (like Chevening) add work-experience and leadership requirements.
The documents depend on level and route (undergraduate via UCAS, postgraduate via SOAS, and online learning via the distance learning portal), but common items are transcripts/certificates, proof of English (if required), identification, and a strong statement.
- Postgraduate taught (typical): degree transcripts (and certificate if completed), certified translations if not in English, proof of English level (if applicable), passport ID page, CV/resume, and a supporting statement (SOAS advises: “Your statement should be written in your own words; please do not use templates”).
- Undergraduate (UCAS): evidence of qualifications/predicted results, a reference, an application fee, and a personal statement.
- From a recipient perspective, the written narrative really matters. Linda said, “starting my personal statement earlier—it deserves time and honesty.”
For undergraduate applications, you apply via UCAS and UCAS charges an application fee. For postgraduate taught applications submitted directly to SOAS, SOAS’s doesn’t charge an application fee; application fee may change, so confirm in the relevant application portal and your applicant guidance.
There are many degrees that are open to international students right now — find yours.
About the Author: Hyun Lee
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