The Felix Scholarships are a long-standing and highly regarded funding scheme associated with SOAS University of London, established to support outstanding students from developing countries who wish to pursue postgraduate study in the UK. Rooted in a mission of promoting international understanding and development through education, the Felix Scholarships have supported successive generations of students from across Africa and Asia in particular, helping them access world-class postgraduate education at SOAS.
What Is the Felix Scholarship?
The Felix Scholarship Trust funds a select number of master’s students each year at SOAS University of London, an institution internationally recognised for its specialist focus on Asia, Africa, and the Middle East across the humanities, social sciences, law, and development studies. Because SOAS’s academic strengths align closely with the scholarship’s development-focused mission, Felix Scholars often pursue programmes directly relevant to governance, economics, law, area studies, or international development in their home regions.
Who Funds It?
The scholarship is funded by the Felix Scholarship Trust, an independent charitable trust that works in partnership with SOAS University of London to identify and support outstanding candidates. The Trust’s funding model reflects its founding commitment to supporting talented students from countries with more limited access to postgraduate scholarship opportunities.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for a Felix Scholarship, applicants generally need to meet the following criteria:
- You must be a national of, and permanently resident in, one of the eligible developing countries specified by the Felix Scholarship Trust, which has historically focused on nations in South Asia and East Africa, among others.
- You must be applying for, or have received, an offer for an eligible full-time master’s programme at SOAS University of London.
- You must demonstrate strong academic ability and a clear commitment to contributing to development in your home country or region after completing your studies.
- You are generally expected to show that you would be unable to fund your studies at SOAS without scholarship support, reflecting the Trust’s focus on students facing genuine financial barriers.
- Applicants are typically required to intend to return to their home country to apply their skills and knowledge following graduation.
What the Scholarship Covers
Felix Scholarships are designed to be comprehensive, generally covering:
- Full tuition fees for the master’s programme at SOAS
- A living stipend to cover accommodation and daily expenses while studying in London
- Return travel costs between the scholar’s home country and the UK
- Access to a supportive Felix Scholars community at SOAS, including networking and mentoring opportunities with fellow scholars and alumni
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Confirm your country eligibility: Check the current list of countries eligible for Felix Scholarships, as this list is reviewed periodically and may not include every developing country.
- Apply for admission to an eligible SOAS master’s programme: Submit your application for a relevant SOAS postgraduate course, ensuring it aligns with the Felix Scholarship’s focus on development-related fields.
- Complete the Felix Scholarship application: Alongside or following your course application, complete the specific Felix Scholarship application form, which typically includes questions on your academic background, financial need, and development plans.
- Provide supporting references and documents: Prepare academic transcripts, references, and any financial documentation required to demonstrate your eligibility and need.
- Selection process: The Felix Scholarship Trust, often in coordination with SOAS, reviews applications and shortlists candidates based on academic merit, need, and development impact potential.
- Final notification: Successful candidates are informed of their scholarship award and supported through visa and travel arrangements ahead of their studies.
Practical Tips for a Strong Application
- Choose a course aligned with development goals: Since the Felix Scholarship has a strong development mission, selecting a SOAS programme closely tied to governance, law, economics, or area studies can strengthen the coherence of your application.
- Be clear and honest about financial need: Because the scholarship targets students who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK, provide specific, accurate details about your financial situation.
- Articulate a genuine return plan: Explain concretely how you intend to use your SOAS education to contribute to your home country’s development after graduation.
- Apply early to the course itself: Because scholarship consideration is closely tied to your SOAS admission, submitting a complete and timely course application is an important first step.
- Seek strong academic and character references: Choose referees who can speak both to your academic ability and to your commitment to positive change in your community.
Why Felix Scholars Value the SOAS Community
Beyond the financial support it provides, the Felix Scholarship is often described by past recipients as valuable for the close-knit community it fosters among scholars who share a common commitment to development-focused work. Because SOAS itself specialises so heavily in the study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, Felix Scholars frequently find themselves surrounded by classmates, faculty, and fellow scholars who bring deep regional expertise and a shared sense of purpose to their studies. This environment can be especially valuable for students who plan to return home to work in government, civil society, or international development, since the connections and perspectives gained during a Felix Scholarship often extend well beyond graduation into long-term professional and academic networks. For applicants weighing multiple scholarship options, this sense of community and shared mission is a distinctive feature that sets the Felix Scholarship apart from more broadly focused funding schemes.
For full details on eligible countries,
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