Scholarship Students
Scholarship Students

The Centre for Anthropology and Mental Health Research in Action (CAMHRA) at SOAS University of London is offering prestigious Masters Scholarships for the 2026/2027 academic year. These fee-only scholarships support outstanding candidates pursuing postgraduate study and research in the anthropology of mental health.

CAMHRA, based in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, serves as a global hub for innovative anthropological research, education, and public engagement on mental health issues. The scholarships are available annually until 2028/29.

Key Scholarship Details

  • Scholarship Name: CAMHRA Master’s Scholarships
  • Value: Full tuition fee waiver (covers the full cost of tuition for the programme duration; for part-time students, funding extends over two years)
  • Number of Awards: Full-time equivalent of three overseas fee places and four home fee places available each year
  • Additional Opportunity: One international scholarship per year may include an exceptional circumstances stipend for living costs (primarily for students resident in or citizens of Afghanistan, Iran, or Iraq; amount aligned with UKRI levels, e.g., around £22,780 including London weighting for recent years—region may vary)
  • Duration: Supports full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years) study starting in 2026/27
  • Note: These are tuition fee scholarships only (no standard living stipend except in exceptional cases). They do not cover pre-sessional courses.

Eligible Programmes

  • MA Medical Anthropology and Mental Health (full-time or part-time)
  • MRes Social Anthropology (full-time or part-time), provided your proposed research topic focuses on the anthropology of mental health using ethnographic methods

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the CAMHRA Masters Scholarship 2026, applicants must:

  • Be UK (home) or Overseas candidates
  • For MA Medical Anthropology and Mental Health: Hold a minimum 2:1 bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a social science/humanities subject, or in health sciences (e.g., medicine, psychology, nursing, social work)
  • For MRes Social Anthropology: Hold a minimum 2:1 bachelor’s or master’s degree; applicants without a prior anthropology degree must have a master’s in another field
  • Have a strong, well-developed research idea for a project that employs ethnographic methods to investigate an issue related to mental health
  • Have submitted an application to the relevant MA or MRes programme at SOAS (an offer of admission is not required by the scholarship deadline)
  • The scholarships welcome applications from diverse backgrounds, especially those with lived experience of mental health services, current practitioners, or underrepresented groups in anthropology

Benefits and Impact

These scholarships enable talented individuals to advance anthropological understanding of mental health, contributing to global and local knowledge, policy, and practice. Successful scholars will join a vibrant research community at CAMHRA.

How to Apply for the CAMHRA Masters Scholarship 2026 (Step-by-Step Guide)

  1. Apply to your chosen programme first:
  2. Prepare your scholarship application:
    • Outline your motivations for studying the anthropology of mental health.
    • Detail your proposed research topic and how it uses ethnographic methods.
    • Explain how the degree will enable you to make a positive impact on mental health issues globally or locally.
    • Engage with relevant publications, including work by CAMHRA academics.
    • Use your authentic voice—avoid AI-generated text.
    • If eligible, declare interest in the exceptional circumstances stipend.
  3. Submit your scholarship application:
  4. Next steps after submission:
    • Shortlisted candidates will be contacted in June 2026 and invited to an online interview.
    • Successful applicants will be notified by the end of July 2026; unsuccessful candidates will be notified thereafter.

Application Deadline: 30 April 2026 (11:59 pm UK time)