Sasakawa Studentship
Masters by Research
Studentship
Key facts
Start dates
September 2025
Application deadline
3 March 2025
Location
Course length
Full time: 1 year
Part time: 2 years
More details
Eligibility: Home/EU with settled status
Bursary: £15,000 towards living expenses
Fees: Applicants will be responsible for paying their own fees.
This course is not available to students classed as International for fees purposes.
Overview
The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Oxford Brookes University is pleased to invite applications for the Sasakawa Masters by Research Studentship in Japanese studies, made possible through the generosity of The Nippon Foundation and the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation.
Oxford Brookes University offers a broad range of expertise on Japanese culture and language, but we would be particularly interested in candidates researching ageing and care, marginalised groups, contemporary religious practice, film, literature song, or popular culture. The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is home to the Europe Japan Research Centre, where you can find information and links to staff members' profiles and research.

Additional details
The faculty can nominate up to 3 candidates for a Masters by Research degree. The award is £15,000 (max) for the 2025/26 academic year. The award for part-time students will be £7,500 a year for 2 years (pending renewal of the scheme).
Please note that although you may use your studentship to help towards the cost of your fees, you will be responsible for paying your fees.
Applicants may be of any nationality, but must be either UK citizens (regardless of their current residency) or settled in the UK or have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 3 years immediately preceding the start of their Masters course.
How to apply
Entry requirements
A good first degree (2:1 or above) or be predicted to obtain one. You must be either a UK citizen (regardless of your current residency) or settled in the UK or have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 3 years immediately preceding the start of your MA course.
The research proposal must focus on Japan. It is important that you and your referees comment on your skill in Japanese in the areas of reading, composition and speaking as relevant to the proposed research.
Interviews may partly be conducted in conversational Japanese, if relevant to your project.
Proposals that seek to bridge or expand the disciplinary strengths in the Faculty are especially welcome.
Application process
To request application information please contact hss-researchdegrees@brookes.ac.uk with “Sasakawa Masters by Research studentship” clearly labelled in the subject line.
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on: