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The scholarship is thanks to a generous donation by the late martial arts writer and philanthropist Dr Louis Cha, who studied for his PhD at St John’s at the age of 81 in 2005-2010.

Under the pen name Jin Yong, Dr Cha was internationally renowned for his novels and supported cultural and academic activities inside and outside Chinese communities. His financial legacy to postgraduate research at St John’s stemmed from his appreciation of the College’s commitment to scholarship on China and his confidence in our ability to maintain traditions of excellence in a field of study dear to his heart.

Who is eligible?

You will be eligible for the Louis Cha Scholarship if you hold an offer from St John’s College to read for an MPhil or PhD in the relevant research area: literature, history and culture of early and dynastic China (pre-1912).

How long does the Louis Cha Scholarship last?

This scholarship will last for the duration of your course up to a maximum of three years and will comprise:

• a maintenance grant (currently £20,700 per annum)
• the approved University Composition fee.

The scholarship value will be reduced appropriately to take account of any payment from other funding sources.

Note that the College can only offer a transfer place to a member of another Cambridge college if they are successful in one of our funding competitions and St John’s is going to fully fund their new course.

Members of other Cambridge colleges who already have full funding are not eligible to apply for this scholarship. If a successful applicant subsequently receives substantial funding from another source, then our offer of a scholarship and place at St John's will no longer apply.

How do I apply for a Louis Cha Scholarship?

You must specify St John’s as your first choice of College when you apply through the University’s Postgraduate Admissions Office to read for an MPhil or PhD.

If your application is accepted by the relevant University department it will be passed to St John’s and we will then consider you for a place in the College.

There is no separate application for the Louis Cha Scholarship unless you are a current PhD student at St John’s (see How do I apply as a current PhD student at St John’s? below). You will be considered if your University application has arrived at St John’s before 1 March to read for your MPhil or PhD degree in the relevant subjects, starting in the October.

The successful candidate will be notified by the end of May.

How do I apply as a current PhD student at St John’s?

If you are a current PhD student wishing to apply for the Louis Cha Scholarship, email the St John’s Postgraduate Office for information. Completed forms should be sent to the Postgraduate Administrator by 1 March.