About BAJS
The Association was formed in 1974, with the ‘aim to encourage Japanese studies in the UK, in particular by stimulating teaching and research’. With this in mind, the Association’s first Conference was convened in Cambridge at Easter 1975, and since then the BAJS Conference has been an annual event.
From 2010, the BAJS Conference will be held on a tri-annual basis, alternating with the European Association for Japanese Studies and the Joint East Asian Studies Conferences, with opportunities to stage a variety of smaller events during the other two years.
Application Criteria
  • The studentships are open to postgraduate or prospective postgraduate students of all nationalities.
  • You must have been accepted onto a full-time or part-time course at a UK university at the time when you apply for a studentship.
  • Your dissertation (or proposed dissertation) must be in the field of Japanese studies. For PhD students in particular, it will normally be expected that you will be using Japanese language materials in your research.
  • You must use the award either to contribute towards your fees, your maintenance, or your extended fieldwork. Final-year PhD students who wish to apply for writing-up costs should apply for the BAJS John Crump Studentship.
  • You must be a member of BAJS when you apply. (Please note that student membership is free, or £20 if you wish to receive Japan Forum).
  • Successful applicants may re-apply for a studentship in subsequent years, but please note that we particularly encourage new applications.
Application Procedure
  • Application for BAJS Postgraduate Studentships is via the online application form.
  • Once you have submitted your application online, you will be sent an acknowledgement email with a unique application reference number.
  • Your two nominated referees will also be sent an email with this reference number, asking them to respond toapplications@bajs.org.uk with your reference by the application deadline.
  • You must email a scan of a letter of acceptance by a UK University to applications@bajs.org.uk, also citing this application reference number.
  • The next application deadline is 30 April 2012.
Please note, it is your responsibility to make sure that BAJS receives both references and your letter of acceptance, citing your application reference number, by the 30th April deadline.
Awards
  • Up to five individual scholarships of £4,000 will be granted for use in academic year 2011-12. No awards of less than £4,000 will be made.
  • You will not be eligible to receive an award if you accept full scholarships from the AHRC, ESRC, or any other funding body (UK or overseas).
  • If you have a partial scholarship to cover fees only from another funding body, you may use the BAJS studentship for maintenance and/or fieldwork, dependent on demonstrating a need for an extra £4,000 towards your studies.
  • Successful and reserve applicants will be notified in writing in July 2011, and must accept by the end of August. Depending on whether the successful applicants accept the BAJS studentship, reserve applicants will be informed of their success or otherwise by mid-September 2011. Awards will be paid to successful applicants in October 2011.
  • Successful applicants will be expected to acknowledge the support of BAJS in their dissertations, presentations, and any subsequent publications; they will also be expected to submit a 500-word report on how they used the studentship to BAJS council by the end of November 2012.
  • Unsuccessful applicants will be considered for the BAJS Toshiba International Foundation studentship, provided they are eligible.