Apply for the SOAS Teaching Scholarships 2026

Are you planning to pursue a full‑time doctoral degree and gain teaching experience while securing full financial support? The SOAS Teaching Scholarships 2026 offer an exceptional opportunity for doctoral researchers from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Black British applicants to access fully funded MPhil/PhD study at SOAS University of London. These scholarships cover full tuition fees and include a maintenance stipend, helping you focus on your research and teaching development without financial worry.

This award is part of SOAS’s commitment to addressing inequalities in doctoral participation and supporting underrepresented students who are ready to combine academic excellence with impact‑driven research and teaching. It provides doctoral candidates with financial stability, academic community integration, and valuable teaching experience that strengthens both academic and professional development.

What the Scholarship Offers

The SOAS Teaching Scholarships provide extensive financial support to successful applicants who begin a full‑time MPhil/PhD programme in the 2026/27 academic year. Each scholarship:

• Covers full tuition fees for the duration of your three‑year full‑time doctoral degree.
• Includes a maintenance stipend to support living costs, with a minimum amount of approximately £20,622 for the 2026/27 academic year (final figures confirmed closer to September 2026).
• Offers the opportunity to gain structured teaching experience during your doctoral programme.

This combination of financial and professional support enables scholars to deepen their research while developing essential teaching skills that are valuable in academia and beyond.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Doctoral study can be financially and personally demanding, especially for students from underserved regions or backgrounds. The SOAS Teaching Scholarships help remove financial obstacles by providing full tuition coverage and a meaningful stipend, allowing scholars to engage fully in their research.

Additionally, gaining structured teaching experience during your PhD enhances your academic profile and prepares you for future roles in higher education, research, and professional sectors. This blend of research and teaching skill development positions you to make significant contributions to your field and community.

By applying for the SOAS Teaching Scholarships 2026, you are taking a major step toward achieving your doctoral goals with financial peace of mind and a strong foundation for future research and teaching excellence.

Who Is Eligible

The SOAS Teaching Scholarships are open to applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, including:

• Black British students with permanent UK residency and from specified Black or Black British ethnic groups.
• Students ordinarily resident in Africa, Asia, or the Middle East.
• One scholarship is specifically reserved for a Palestinian national who meets the general eligibility criteria, including residence in historic Palestine (Gaza Strip, West Bank, East Jerusalem) or status as a Palestinian citizen in Israel.

To qualify, applicants must also:

• Have received or hold an offer of admission to a full‑time MPhil/PhD research programme at SOAS by the time the scholarship selection panel meets.
• Meet any English language requirements tied to their programme offer by 10 May 2026 if applicable.
• Understand that the Teaching Scholarship cannot be held simultaneously with other major scholarships or studentships.

This inclusive eligibility structure supports talented scholars from underrepresented regions and backgrounds, helping to build a diverse academic community at SOAS.

What the Selection Committee Looks For

Scholarship applications are reviewed by an advisory panel trained in diversity and inclusive assessment practices. The panel evaluates applications based on:

• Academic excellence and research potential, demonstrated by previous results, references, and the strength of the research proposal.
• The widening participation statement, where applicants explain how they meet the eligibility criteria and how the scholarship will benefit their academic journey and future contributions.
• Strength of academic references and evidence of scholarly promise.

The widening participation statement (up to 800 words) is a key part of the application and is an opportunity for applicants to share personal experiences, including overcoming educational or socioeconomic obstacles, being a first‑generation university student, or having faced other challenges that shaped their academic aspirations.

How to Apply

The application process for the SOAS Teaching Scholarships requires you first to apply for admission into a full‑time MPhil/PhD programme at SOAS. Once you have started your programme application, you can submit your scholarship application through the university’s admissions portal.

Application Deadline: 21 March 2026, by 12 noon (UK local time) — all applications must be received by this time to be considered for the award.

Complete applications are essential. Make sure to submit both your doctoral programme application and the teaching scholarship application before the deadline. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.

If no suitable candidates are nominated by the panel, the scholarship may reopen for applications in May 2026; check the official SOAS page  for more information and apply.

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