Funding for Buddhist Studies
Scholarships, fellowships and stipends for studying Buddhism and its languages, from a first degree to a postdoc, plus funded PhD places and fellowships open now.
We check each scheme on the funder’s own website (last checked October 2026). Rounds, amounts and rules change, so always read the current call before applying. Know a scheme we’re missing? .
Scholarships and fellowships
- Open · Priority deadline 15 Jan 2027BAMAPhDOnline courses
RYI scholarships and financial aid
Rangjung Yeshe Institute (Kathmandu University Centre for Buddhist Studies) · Kathmandu, Nepal, and online
Who: New and returning students in RYI's BA, MA Preparatory, MA and PhD programmes, with separate awards for ordained monks and nuns, citizens of SAARC countries, and asynchronous online courses.
What it gives: Scholarships for one year, renewable; some run for two to four years. Amounts are not published.
When: Opens 1 November. Priority deadline 15 January, decisions by 28 February; later applications are considered while funds last.
View on the Study Map - See datesMAPhD
BDK Canada Graduate Scholarship (a year in Japan)
BDK Canada, administered through McMaster University · Japan, for students in Canada
Who: Full-time graduate students in Buddhist Studies at a Canadian university, or Canadian citizens in graduate study abroad.
What it gives: A year of study or doctoral research at a Japanese university.
When: A national competition run through McMaster University; check the page for the current call.
View on the Study Map - See datesLanguage
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS)
US Department of State · Abroad, for US citizens
Who: US citizens at a college or university. The 2027 languages include Chinese, Hindi, Japanese and Korean.
What it gives: A fully funded summer of intensive language study abroad.
When: Applications usually close in mid-November for the following summer.
- See datesMAPhD
DAAD scholarships for study and research in Germany
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) · Germany
Who: International graduates coming to Germany: Master's scholarships mainly for graduates from industrialised countries (with separate programmes for developing countries), and doctoral research grants open to almost all countries.
What it gives: Monthly payments, for example €992 for students and €1,300 for doctoral students, plus travel and usually insurance.
When: Each programme has its own call in DAAD's scholarship database; many close about a year before the start of study.
View on the Study Map - See datesMAPhD
Glorisun Graduate Scholarship in Buddhist Studies
University of Oxford, Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies · Oxford, UK
Who: MPhil and DPhil students in Buddhist Studies at Oxford.
What it gives: A graduate scholarship that can be combined with other partial awards.
When: Considered with Oxford graduate applications; see the scholarship page for the current round.
View on the Study Map - See datesMAPhDShort course
Glorisun International Intensive Program on Buddhist Studies
Glorisun Global Network for Buddhist Studies · China and partner universities
Who: Graduate students and early-career researchers from anywhere in the world.
What it gives: An intensive summer programme hosted with a partner university (Peking University in 2026); the network also funds fellowships at its member universities.
When: The call usually appears in spring for the summer programme.
- See datesLanguage
Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (Mandarin study in Taiwan)
Taiwan Ministry of Education · Taiwan
Who: Non-Taiwanese students who want to study Mandarin at a university language centre in Taiwan, a good first step towards reading Buddhist Chinese.
What it gives: NT$28,000 a month in 2026, for 2, 3, 6, 9 or 12 months.
When: Applications through the Taiwan office in your country, usually from February to March or April.
- See datesBAMAPhD
ICCR General Scholarship Scheme (study in India)
Indian Council for Cultural Relations · India
Who: International students from many countries applying for undergraduate, postgraduate or doctoral study in India; Buddhist Studies is among the eligible fields.
What it gives: Tuition and a living allowance; details depend on the country scheme.
When: Applications on the ICCR A2A portal, usually from late February to April. Dates vary by country, so check with the Indian embassy.
- See datesMAPhD
Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship for Research Students
Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT) · Japan
Who: Graduates under 35 who want to do research or a graduate degree at a Japanese university. Most apply through the Japanese embassy in their own country; some through a Japanese university's recommendation.
What it gives: About ¥143,000–145,000 a month, plus tuition and a return flight.
When: Embassy applications usually open in spring and close between April and June, for arrival the following year. Dates vary by country.
- See datesPhDPostdoc
JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships (Short-term)
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science · Japan
Who: PhD candidates close to finishing, and recent PhDs, from North America and Europe, for a research stay hosted by a Japanese university.
What it gives: A monthly stipend and travel for a short research stay.
When: Several rounds a year; your Japanese host applies on your behalf.
- This round has closedPhD
Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Dissertation Fellowships in Buddhist Studies
American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) · Any country
Who: PhD students anywhere in the world writing a dissertation mainly in Buddhist Studies, with coursework and exams finished. No citizenship restrictions.
What it gives: $40,000 for ten months of full-time dissertation work.
When: Deadline in late October each year; results in late spring.
- This round has closedPostdoc
Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Early Career Research Fellowships in Buddhist Studies
American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) · Any country
Who: Scholars whose PhD was conferred recently (for the current round, from 1 January 2019) and who don't hold tenure. No citizenship restrictions.
What it gives: $7,500 a month for six to nine months, up to $67,500, plus a supplement of up to $7,500 for those without a stable post.
When: Deadline in late October each year.
- PausedBAMAPhD
Khyentse Foundation Buddhist Studies and PhD Scholarships
Khyentse Foundation · Any country
Who: Students of all Buddhist traditions studying in a formal setting such as a university or institute, and PhD students in Buddhist or Translation Studies.
What it gives: Individual scholarships; the foundation also funds financial aid at partner institutions such as RYI.
When: Paused since March 2026 while the foundation reviews its programmes. Its grants to universities continue.
Funded positions open now
All 6 PhD, postdoc and fellowship openingsIn much of Europe a PhD is a paid research job, so funded PhD places are advertised like other posts.
Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies Fellowships and Grants
American Council of Learned Societies • Unknown • Added yesterday
This annual program, administered by the American Council of Learned Societies, offers fellowships and grants in Buddhist Studies. Awards support research, writing, translation, teaching and public-facing work in the field. Deadlines vary by competition, so applicants should consult the ACLS program page for current calls and instructions.
FWO Junior and Senior Postdoctoral Fellowships
Ghent Centre for Buddhist Studies • Ghent, Belgium • Added yesterday
The Ghent Centre for Buddhist Studies invites candidates for FWO-funded postdoctoral fellowships at junior and senior levels. The fellowships last between three and six years. They suit early-career and more advanced researchers in Buddhist Studies seeking to be hosted in Ghent. Applications are due November 16, 2026; details are on the centre's join-us page.
CEAS Postdoctoral Associate in East Asian Studies
Council on East Asian Studies, MacMillan Center, Yale University • New Haven, Connecticut, USA • Added 3 days ago
Yale's Council on East Asian Studies offers two-year postdoctoral posts for scholars working on China, Japan, Korea or transnational East Asia, with up to four associates selected. Associates teach one undergraduate seminar, revise their dissertation for publication or start a new project, give a public talk and take part in Council events. Applicants must hold a PhD by June 15, 2027, with preference for those who earned it from 2024 onward and are not in tenured posts. The 2026-27 starting salary is $73,000, plus benefits, moving and research stipends, health insurance and office space. Apply through Interfolio with a cover letter, CV, dissertation abstract, syllabus, course proposal form, research statement, writing sample and three letters.
Reischauer Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship in Japanese Studies (2027-28)
Edwin O. Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies, Harvard University • Cambridge, MA, USA • Added 3 days ago
A one-year postdoctoral fellowship for recent PhDs in any humanities or social science field of Japanese Studies, intended to help turn the dissertation into a publishable manuscript. Applicants must have earned the PhD in 2022 or later, and the degree must be certified by June 30, 2027. The appointment starts in August or September 2027 and carries a $70,000 stipend, up to $5,000 in research funds, benefits, and office space. Fellows live in the Boston/Cambridge area, give a research presentation, and may teach a class. Apply via Harvard's ARIeS system with two references, which are due by January 8, 2027.
Marilyn Yarbrough Dissertation/Teaching Fellowship
Kenyon College • Gambier, Ohio, USA • Added 9 days ago
A one-year fellowship at Kenyon College for doctoral students in the last stage of their PhD, meant to introduce them to teaching at a liberal arts college. Fellows write their dissertation, teach one course each semester and give one lecture or seminar on their research; Religious Studies and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies are among the eligible fields. The fellowship pays a $42,000 stipend with health benefits, housing or a housing allowance, and research and travel support. It is open to US citizens and other protected individuals (not F-1 visa holders) from groups underrepresented in their field or who are first-generation college students. Apply through careers.kenyon.edu with a cover letter, CV and three referees.
Rocher Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Classical Indology
Rocher Foundation • Unknown • Added 2 weeks ago
A 2027 postdoctoral fellowship supporting early-career research in classical Indology. Full details are in the attached announcement image.
Guides to funding
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