Eligible Programmes

• Any full-time, one-year taught Master's programme at SOAS.

• Two year programmes are not eligible

• Part-time programmes are not eligible

Candidate Criteria

• Applicants must have an unconditional or conditional offer to study for a full-time, one-year taught Master's programme at SOAS in the academic year 2017-18 by the scholarship deadline

• Applicants who are studying on a Master’s programme or have been awarded a Master’s degree are not eligible to apply.

• Applicants must clearly demonstrate financial need. Priority will be given to those with the lowest adjusted gross income (AGI) from last year. Important: applicants must submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by 1 April 2017 and indicate SOAS as a School.

• Applicants who are the first in their family to go to university or who come from a challenging financial background are encouraged to apply for the scholarship.

• Applicants must have graduated from a US high school and have obtained their undergraduate degree at a US College or University.

• Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

• Applicants must have an unweighted GPA of at least 3.50 in their undergraduate degree.

• Applicants must provide clear intentions of how they would plan to give back to SOAS as a student and as an alumni

Candidate Assessment

• Candidates will be assessed on the quality of their application by a Selection Panel consisting of three academic members.

• The assessment of your application will be based on the quality of the information provided in your scholarship application and in your on-line application for admission.

• Selectors will be looking at the degree results and also at academic references, statement and other relevant information including financial information as determined by the data submitted on your FAFSA.

• Selectors will look at the clarity of your goals at both SOAS and beyond

• Selectors will consider relevant extra-curricular involvement and leadership experience

• Selectors will require clear intentions of how you plan to give back to SOAS as a student and as an alumni

Scholarship Application Deadline

• Unfortunately, this scholarship opportunity will not be available for the 2021-2022 academic cycle due to our inability to fundraise on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope to resume for the 2022-2023 academic cycle. Please check back later for more details.

         Scholarship Recipients

2019-20

Montita Sowapark - M.A. Medical Anthropology

2018-19

Cynthia Magallanes-Gonzalez - M.A. Migration and Diaspora Studies

“I feel so lucky to have had the time and support to cultivate my academic interests in and beyond the classroom, to develop strong friendships with interesting people from all over the world while living at International Students House (ISH), and to build relationships with wonderful mentors at SOAS.”

2016-17

Donya Nasser - M.A. Iranian Studies

Prior to coming to SOAS, Donya was working two jobs - for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under Obama as a Policy Fellow, and as the U.S. Youth Representative to the United Nations. Donya was particularly interested in studying Iranian Studies and Farsi, and found the perfect combination at SOAS.

As a passionate advocate for equality and social justice, and chose to focus

on gender in Iran for her dissertation. Her studies also enabled her to learn toread and write in Farsi - skills she had not yet acquired, despite growing up speaking Farsi. Donya has enjoyed and greatly appreciated her time at SOAS, as well as having the opportunity to live in the International Student House and to have a mentor in long-time AFSOAS President Brooke Beardslee.

“The John Loiello AFSOAS FISHL Scholarship gave me the housing and tuition and it even gave me a mentor...their support means the difference between my getting this incredible MA in Iranian Studies and not being able to go at all.”

2014-15

Cristina Leifson - MSc Violence, Conflict, & Development

As the inaugural John Loiello-AFSOAS Scholarship recipient, Cristina wanted to study somewhere that shared her unending passion for the world and would encourage her ambition and independence. She decided to pursue an MSc in Violence, Conflict, and Development at SOAS in order better understand many of the world’s conflicts and what she could do to help alleviate human suffering. While in London, she worked as a Researcher for Justice Mexico Now in providing research on the violation of the rights of migrant farm workers in Mexico, especially those in agricultural communinities. Today, Cristina is based in Washington, D.C. where she works as the Executive Assistant to the Vice President of International Programs at Save the Children