SOAS Director's Scholarship
The SOAS Director's Scholarship is one of the UK's most generous fully-funded postgraduate awards — full tuition fees plus a London-rate maintenance stipend of around £18,000 for a one-year Master's. SOAS is the UK's leading centre for the study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, so this scholarship is particularly relevant for Sri Lankan applicants in International Development, South Asian Studies, Politics, Law, Economics, and the Languages of South Asia. Only a small handful are awarded each year — highly competitive, but the South Asian specialism gives Sri Lankan applicants a credible angle.
The round for September 2026 entry closed on 14 May 2026. The award runs on an annual cycle tied to admission, so expect a comparable deadline in mid-May for the following year. Confirm the current date with SOAS University of London before planning around it.
SOAS University of London
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
Full Tuition + £18,000 (LKR 7.2M) Stipend
Duration
1-Year Master's
Awards
3 per Year
info How this award actually works
Who awards it
SOAS University of London — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
How you are considered
Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.
What it covers
Full Tuition + £18,000 Stipend. This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.
Where we come in
We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Offer for a SOAS Master's
You must have applied for, or hold an offer for, a one-year full-time taught Master's at SOAS for September 2026 entry by the scholarship deadline. Part-time and PhD students are not eligible.
First-Class Honours
First-class honours undergraduate degree (or equivalent international qualification). Sri Lankan applicants typically need a first-class from Colombo, Peradeniya, Kelaniya, or an upper-second from a leading UK / US / Australian university.
International or UK Applicant
Open to both Home (UK) and Overseas fee-paying students. Sri Lankan citizens applying from Sri Lanka are eligible — and demonstrated South Asian regional connection often strengthens the application.
Financial Need + English
Financial need is a stated selection criterion alongside merit. English requirement is typically IELTS 7.0 overall with at least 7.0 in writing for most SOAS Master's programmes — slightly higher than the UK average.
account_tree Application Process
Apply to SOAS by mid-April
Submit your Master's application via the SOAS online portal. Aim to have your offer in hand at least a month before the scholarship deadline. Late applications without offers are not assessed.
Complete the scholarship application by 14 May
Apply via the SOAS Scholarships Portal. Submit a 1,000-word personal statement covering academic motivation, financial need, and how the award will support your career goals back in Sri Lanka or in international development.
Departmental + central review
Your application is first ranked by the academic department, then forwarded to the Director's Scholarship committee. Shortlisting happens in June. Some applicants are invited for a 20-30 minute online interview.
Final outcome
Successful applicants are notified by late June. The scholarship is paid in instalments — tuition direct to SOAS, maintenance to your UK bank account in 3 termly payments after enrolment.
Why SOAS?
SOAS, University of London, is the only Higher Education institution in Europe specialising in the study of Asia, Africa, and the Near and Middle East. It has trained generations of policymakers, diplomats, and development specialists from across South Asia — Sri Lankan SOAS alumni populate the foreign service, multilateral institutions, and academia.
#1
UK for African & Asian Studies
3
Director's Awards per Year
~£40k
Total Award Value
Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?
Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.
Work out your real number
Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
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Tuition, living costs and the total first-year figure for UK, in LKR as well as local currency.
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Every student visa requires you to show funds. Find out what you need before you commit to an application.
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