Travel and Fieldwork Grants

The MPhil Latin American Studies is a twenty-one-month programme which spans six academic terms, plus fieldwork research in Latin America, for up to 3 months, carried out in between the first and second academic year. Students are strongly encouraged to seek funding to cover the expenses of their fieldwork. 

Latin American Centre MPhil Fieldwork Travel Grant

Current on-course Graduate Students studying an MPhil in Latin American Studies can apply for up to £1,000 to cover the expenses of fieldwork research carried out in Latin America between their first and second academic year. The value of the grant is at the discretion of the fund committee, up to £1,000.

How to apply

Submit a research proposal, budget and a cover letter, together with a letter of support from your supervisor, by email to the LAC Administrator by Thursday of Week 0, Trinity Term.

Carlos de Sola Wright Memorial Fund

The Carlos de Sola Wright Memorial Fund considers applications for financial assistance to fund fieldwork-related expenses from postgraduate students at Oxford whose research or study may be considered likely to further the advancement or welfare of the people of Central America (for the purpose of the fund Mexico is not regarded as part of Central America). Priority will be given to research or study concerning El Salvador. Please note the Carlos de Sola Wright Memorial Fund will not fund tuition/college fees nor living expenses.

How to apply

Eligible candidates should send the following documents by email to the LAC Administrator. Applications should arrive by Monday of Week 2 of each term:

• A completed Carlos de Sola Wright Application Form
• A letter of support from the student's supervisor
• A curriculum vitae
• A summary of not more than 500 words of the student's research
• A covering letter stating the subject of the thesis, and whether the student holds a State award and if so, what steps have been taken to claim additional expenses and with what result. If the applicant does not hold a State award, how he or she is at present supported. 

It is hoped to make known the results of applications within 3 weeks of the application.

The David Nicholls Awards

The David Nicholls Memorial Trust is committed to assisting original research about Caribbean societies, and the region at large, and has established several awards in memory of David Nicholls. Postgraduate students attending academic institutions in the UK or in the Caribbean are eligible to apply.

This award is to support original research to be included in the submission of a dissertation or thesis for a postgraduate degree that requires substantive fieldwork in the Caribbean, with a minimum stay of two weeks in the region. It is intended as a contribution towards the applicant’s research expenses such as travel to and subsistence in the Caribbean, and most other costs incurred directly in relation to the research project up to £1,500. The award cannot be used for the purchase of research equipment.

How to apply

Please visit the David Nicholls Memorial Trust and submit your application by April 1st each year.
 

Clough Travel Fund – The Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

The Clough Travel Fund awardstravel grants for undergraduate or graduate students of Japanese in the University to enable them to visit Japan or Japan and Korea for the study of the language or literature. 

How to apply

Applications should consist of the Trust Fund Small Grant application form, two references and a covering letter and be sent to the Trust Funds Administrator, The Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Pusey Lane, Oxford, OX1 2LE or by email to trustfunds@ames.ox.ac.uk. An application may be submitted at any time.

Sasakawa Fund Travel Grant at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

The Sasakawa Fund awards travel grants to fund travel and research in Japan by senior or junior members of the University of Oxford, or alternatively to students from the UK or other countries currently on a course or starting a course at Oxford University which requires some period of study in Japan.

How to apply

Please complete the Trust Fund Small Grant form and submit to trustfunds@ames.ox.ac.uk no later than Friday of sixth week in any term for consideration later that term. 

The Lady Marks Charitable Trust

The fund assists students and early career scholars studying at an UK university to support research on modern Japan (from the Meiji period onwards), including its history, culture, politics and economy. The maximum given to any individual will not normally exceed £2,500 and typically 4 grants are awarded per year. 

Grants may be used to support a range of research related activities, including travel for research purposes, acquisition of materials, editing and publication (receipts may need to be produced as evidence of such expenditure).

Application is open to all graduate students, but preference may be given to non-Japanese students engaged in the study of Japan.

How to apply

All applicants are asked to send a reference along with the completed application form. In the case of graduate students, this reference should be from the applicant’s supervisor. Preference will be given to first time applicants.

The deadline for applications will be 31st March. Late applications will not be considered. Please note that the planned expenditure must relate to the following academic year. Applications cannot be made retrospectively. Successful applicants will be notified in June. All application forms should be emailed to: markscharity@rathbones.com

The Storry Memorial Travelling Bursary

A bursary of £600-£800 is offered towards the cost of travel to Japan for the purpose of studying some aspect of modern Japan.  The bursary is open to postgraduate students and undergraduates alike.

How to apply

A detailed account of the projected visit and its purpose should be submitted to the Administrator (administrator@nissan.ox.ac.uk) of the Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies by Friday of week 1 of Trinity Term.

Applicants should also ask one referee, who should normally be their supervisor, to send a reference to the Administrator by the same date.

The successful applicant will be informed as soon as possible.

Royal Society for Asian Affairs (RSAA)

The awards are open to applications from students, young researchers and early career academics and aim to support funding the travel element of practical projects and research that have the potential to contribute to advances in scholarly or other public knowledge in relation to Asia. Individuals have the opportunity to receive a grant of up to £2,000.

How to apply

Please find the full details and an application form on the RSAA website.

The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation PhD Travel/Research Grants

The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation have PhD Travel/research grants to go to Japan. These grants are intended to be used towards activity (such as accommodation, travel, subsistence, exchanges, workshops, etc.). Standard travel grants between the UK and Japan are £2,000, and up to £2,500 for visits of more than two weeks. This also includes travel for PhD students from UK universities wishing to visit Japan for dissertation research or to complete fieldwork. Applications for longer-term fieldwork of six months or more in Japan can also be considered, with grants of up to £5,000.

How to apply

More details and deadlines can be found on the GBSF website.

Arthur Stockwin Scholar's Fund

The Arthur Stockwin Scholar's Fund supports St Antony's College MPhil and DPhil students to do fieldwork and research in Japan with a grant of up to £6,500. The award is open to students of any nationality and who are pursuing any discipline. The fund does not offer funding for internships, attending conferences or training courses in Japan.

How to apply

Applications are open once a year with dates announced on the St Antony's College website. The successful applicant will be informed 3-4 weeks after the closing date.
 

CSASP Funding

Small grants in support of fieldwork or other research in India are available from various funds, e.g. the Radhakrishnan Memorial Bequest. For details, see the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies website.

The Charles Wallace India Trust

CWIT enables Indians in the early to mid stages of their careers to spend time in the UK, helping them to achieve artistic, academic and professional ambitions and to broaden their international contacts.

How to apply

Find out more on the British Council India website.