Khyentse Foundation Scholarships for Buddhist Studies

Khyentse Foundation Scholarships for Buddhist Studies

Khyentse Foundation Scholarships enable individuals to further their Buddhist study and practice. Since 2006, KF the program has expanded in scale and scope to offer financial assistance to increasing numbers of students around the world, from India to China, from South Africa to North America, and from inner cities to nomadic territories. There are four broad categories of KF Scholarships:

• Buddhist Study Scholarships to support individuals further their studies. KF welcomes applications from individuals as well as from Buddhist institutions that offer study or retreat programs.
• Scholarships to support those attending teachings by Rinpoche and three-year retreat programs guided by Rinpoche.
• Translation Studies Scholarships supporting students in advanced degree programs in translation studies and Buddhist philosophy with the express purpose of training the translators of the future.
• Scholarships offered in collaboration with established Buddhist institutions, including:
  • Rangjung Yeshe Institute in Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Khmer-Buddhist Education Assistance Project (KEAP) on postgraduate education for Cambodian monks

KF Ashoka Grants

For requests that fall outside the criteria for Advanced Study Scholarships, KF Individual Practice Grants or other awards, KF has created a fund for special project grants. This program identifies and supports organizations and individuals working to increase Dharma activity around the world.

The Ashoka Grants Committee considers applications from a broad array of promising organizations and individuals who are actively engaged in projects related to Buddhism. The only applications that are not considered are applications requesting funds for building and construction projects; applications that are incomplete or that do not adequately explain the scope of the project; and applications that have no relevance to Buddhism or Buddhist activity. Past awards have gone to a wide variety of recipients, from children’s educational organizations to organizations dedicated to helping incarcerated people through Buddhist meditation.

• How: Applications are reviewed by the KF Ashoka Grants Committee. Download a form here. Submit to grants@khyentsefoundation.org before the deadline.
• When: Applications can be submitted twice a year, from July 15 through August 15 and from January 15 through February 15. Decisions are made three months after the application.
• How much: Grants range up to US$5,000.

KF Buddhist Study Scholarships  

KF Buddhist Study Scholarships are one-time grants to support individuals who wish to study the Dharma. KF accepts applications from teachers, students, scholars, and translators, from all traditions, schools, and sects of Buddhism.

• When: KF accepts open scholarship applications twice a year, from December 15 through January 15 and from June 15 through July 15.
• How: Applicants can download a form and submit it along with a 400-word essay about themselves and their project. Applications are reviewed by an international selection committee appointed by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.  If you have already received support, please use the Continuing Scholarship Application Form.
• How much: KF Advanced Study Scholarships generally range from US$500 to $3,000, but sometimes more, depending on the project. Our budget has steadily increased since the program was established in 2005 and is currently $30,000 per round of applications.

KF Individual Practice Grants

KF Individual Practice Grants are one-time grants that support individuals who wish to practice Dharma on retreat, public teachings, or other practice environments. KF accepts applications from practitioners, and retreatants from all traditions, schools, and sects of Buddhism.

• When: KF accepts open scholarship applications twice a year, from December 15 through January 15 and from June 15 through July 15.
• How: Applicants can download a form and submit it along with a 400-word essay about themselves and their project. Applications are reviewed by an international selection committee appointed by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.  If you have already received support, please use the Continuing Grant Application Form.
• How much: KF Practice Grants generally range from US$500 to $3,000, but sometimes more, depending on the project. Our budget has steadily increased since the program was established in 2005 and is currently $30,000 per round of applications.

KF Translation Studies Scholarships Working in partnership with 84000 , the foundation has developed the KF Translation Studies Scholarship to support students in advanced degree programs in translation studies and Buddhist philosophy with the express purpose of training the translators of the future. Who is eligible: Students who are enrolled in a program of translation studies or Buddhist philosophy and are on track to become translators or are currently working as translators. Candidates must already have translation experience and be enrolled in an advanced degree program (MA, PhD, or MPhil). Student translators who do not fulfill these criteria are welcome to apply to the Ashoka Grants or Buddhist Study Scholarship programs in June and July respectively. When: Submissions are accepted between February 1 and March 1, and applicants are notified of the outcome by July 1. Where: Students may apply from any accredited university worldwide. How: Applicants can download a form from the KF website. Along with the form, applicants are requested to submit academic transcripts, an academic letter of recommendation, proof of enrollment, a sample translation, a budget proposal, and a 400-word essay. Completed applications should be sent to tss@khyentsefoundation.org. How much: The scholarships vary in size; the maximum amount is US$5,000.

The KF Award for Outstanding Dissertations in Buddhist Studies is presented every year to the best PhD dissertation in the field of Buddhist Studies to a dissertation written during the previous two academic years. The awards are alternated annually between those written in universities in China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan and those written in Europe, including the UK. The dissertation must be based on original research in the relevant primary language, and it should significantly advance understanding of the subject or Buddhist scriptures studied. European dissertations must be written in English. The award consists of US$8,000 to enable the recipient to further his or her research.Accredited institutions that offer PhD programs in Buddhist Studies or Religious Studies in any European country are invited to nominate one dissertation that was completed during the academic year 2012-13 and 2013-14. Nominations will be accepted from October 1 through December 31, 2014.

Nominations must include four separate documents:

• Letter of recommendation by a member of the faculty and/or the chair of the department or institution
• Summary of the dissertation in English (not more than 2 pages)
• One representative chapter of the dissertation
• Full contact details for the department and for the author of the dissertation
• These documents should be submitted by email tojun@khyentsefoundation.org.