Membership

The Society welcomes applications for fellowship from anyone with an abiding interest in Asia.

Our Fellows form a global community of people united by their shared curiosity about Asia. By joining us, you will help to support the Society’s work of promoting the study and appreciation of the cultures, history, languages, and religions of Asia.

Benefits of Fellowship

  • The opportunity to support, and be involved in, the work of a learned society concerned to increase knowledge of Asia.
  • The opportunity to meet leading scholars in the field of Asian Studies.
  • The opportunity to attend, and bring guests, to lectures, seminars and cultural events held at the Society throughout the year.
  • Access to the Library and the Society’s manuscript holdings.
  • Use of the Society’s Reading Room.
  • Discount when hiring the Society’s rooms.
  • Unrestricted free electronic access to all current and archived articles published in the RAS Transactions and the Journal since 1827. Fellows may order the printed version of the current annual volume at a substantially discounted price (currently £20 per annum) here.
  • Discount on reproductions from the RAS collections.

Fellowship Application

Applications are considered regularly by the RAS Council and normally processed within a month. The first payment of subscription is due on application and then annually from the date of first payment. Should your application not be successful we will refund your payment.

Click ‘Apply now’ for your chosen option to proceed with your application. For further information and queries please contact Camilla Larsen by email at cl@royalasiaticsociety.org or phone: 0207 391 9420

UK Fellow

For people based in the UK

£100per year
Apply now
£80 by Direct Debit

Under 30

For anyone under the age of 30

£50per year
Apply now
£40 by Direct Debit

Overseas Fellow

For people not based in the UK

£80per year
Apply now
£70 by Direct Debit

Joint Fellowship

For two Fellows living at the same address

£140per year
Apply now
£120 by Direct Debit

Life Fellowships

Fellowship for life

£2,000
Email to apply
One-off payment

Subscription Payments

This section is for existing Fellows to pay their subscriptions in arrears. Please use one of the following payment options. If you are joining as a new Fellow, please click ‘Apply now’ in the above section and follow the payment instructions.

Fellows who pay UK income tax can complete a Gift Aid Declaration so that the Society can claim the maximum benefit under the new rules for charitable giving. For every £1 you donate – including in the form of your membership subscriptions – the Society will receive an extra 25p, at no extra cost to you. The declaration form can be completed online here.

Pay via PayPal

Click the below button and enter the amount in arrears for payment. You do not need to have a PayPal account to use this option. However, if you are experiencing any problems, please contact us via info@royalasiaticsociety.org.

Set up a recurring payment via PayPal
Set up a recurring subscription via PayPal. You need a PayPal account to use this option. Choose your subscription type from the drop-down menu and click the button.


Payment Options


Set up a Direct Debit

The Society prefers payment by Direct Debit and offers a reduction in fees for fellows choosing this option. Setting up a Direct Debit requires a UK bank account. Please download the Direct Debit Form here and send the completed form to us via info@royalasiaticsociety.org.