The Centre for Global Finance (CGF) scholarship 2025/2026

Deadline: no later than 12pm (UK local time) on 1 July 2025

Scholarship Overview

The SOAS Centre for Global Finance (CGF) is pleased to invite applications for one PhD Scholarship starting in September 2025. 

This scholarship is designed to support students wishing to undertake full-time doctoral research in Finance and support the research of the AXA Chair in Global Finance, held by Professor Hong Bo, in the School of Finance and Management at SOAS University of London.

There is one scholarship available to a Home status student. The scholarship will be given for a period of three academic years from September 2025 to enable completion of the PhD Programme pursued by the scholarship recipient. The scholarship includes tuition fees for 3 academic years of full-time study and a maintenance stipend of £16,802 per year.

Eligible programmes

Candidate Criteria

  • This scholarship is open to Home fee status applicants only.

  • New admissions only (programmes starting in 2025/26).

  • Applicants must possess a first-class or good upper-second class undergraduate degree (or its equivalent in the case of non-UK degrees) plus a master’s degree with a good merit or distinction from a UK university (or international equivalent).

  • Applicants must submit a research proposal in the area of Applied Finance and Financial Economics. 

  • Applicants are expected to demonstrate the ability to apply theories in analysing practical issues and are willing to work with large data.

  • Applicants should include in their personal statement details of their research skills and future academic or career plans. 

  • Please note that this scholarship does not cover funding or even allow for Pre-sessional courses.

Candidate assessment

  • Candidates will be assessed based on the candidate criteria outlined above by a selection panel.

  • The assessment of your application will be based on the information provided in your scholarship application and in your online application for admission. The panel will review details such as degree results, personal statement and other relevant information.

  • Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by a panel of members from the Centre for Global Finance and the School of Finance and Management.

  • Applicants must hold an offer of admission to pursue the full-time PhD Programme in Finance by the time the selection at SOAS takes place. It is expected that the selection will start shortly after the scholarship’s deadline.

  • Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Scholarship application procedure

To apply for this scholarship, applicants should follow the following steps:

Step 1: Apply for your programme

Please apply for your programme by 15 June 2025. Further information about the MPhil/PhD in Finance and Management degree programme can be found on the course webpage, including how to apply.

Guidance for applying to a Research Programme and information on making a complete application can be found on the How to Apply webpage.

Step 2: Apply for the scholarship

You must apply for this scholarship by 12:00pm (midday) UK local time on 1 July 2025 via the online application form.

Notification of results

The scholarship shortlisting and awarding period is expected to be completed by the end of July at the earliest. Successful candidates will be contacted first, and once all awards have been allocated, unsuccessful candidates will be notified.

Enquiries