Job Overview: Reader/Professor in Japanese and Comparative Buddhism (Numata Chair)

SOAS University of London is seeking a distinguished scholar to fill the Numata Chair in Japanese Buddhism. This senior academic appointment, supported by Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai (BDK), is designed to anchor the study of Japanese Buddhist traditions within a global, comparative, and decolonial framework. Based in the heart of Bloomsbury, the successful candidate will lead the MA in Buddhist Studies and serve as a pillar of the world-renowned Centre of Buddhist Studies, bridging ancient texts with contemporary global issues.

Job Summary

Employer: SOAS University of London (Department of History, Religions and Philosophies)
Location: Bloomsbury, London, United Kingdom
Role Type: Full-time (35 hours per week)
Salary: £62,739 – £71,982 per annum
Closing Date: 30th April 2026
Interview Date: Week commencing 25th May 2026

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership: Lead and manage the MA Buddhist Studies programme, ensuring high-quality, research-led teaching.
Academic Instruction: Teach across East Asian religious and philosophical traditions, specializing in Buddhist texts, history, and the intersection of Buddhism and contemporary society.
Research Excellence: Advance original scholarship in Japanese Buddhism within the broader context of East Asian traditions (China, Korea, Vietnam).
Comparative Framework: Contribute to the university’s mission of decolonizing the curriculum by countering Eurocentric models in the study of religion and philosophy.
Public Engagement: Act as a leading voice for Buddhist Studies, engaging with global stakeholders and the Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai (BDK) partnership.

Requirements & Qualifications

Education: A PhD in Buddhist Studies, Japanese Religions/Philosophy, Religious Studies, or a closely related field.
Language Proficiency: Fluency in Japanese is mandatory for research and textual analysis.
Specialist Knowledge: Deep expertise in Japanese Buddhism and broader East Asian Buddhist thought.
Methodology: Ability to apply critical, interdisciplinary, and global perspectives to historical and contemporary religious issues.
Right to Work: Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK; however, SOAS is able to offer sponsorship for international candidates.

Salary & Benefits

Competitive Senior Salary: A range of £62,739 to £71,982, reflecting the seniority of the Reader/Professor rank.
Research Environment: Access to the UK’s premier intellectual home for the study of Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Strategic Role: The prestige of a named chair (Numata Chair) with significant influence over the direction of the Centre of Buddhist Studies.
Location: Work in the academic heart of London, with proximity to the British Library and specialized research collections.

Job Description

Are you a visionary scholar ready to lead the conversation on Japanese Buddhism in a globalized world? SOAS University of London is looking for a Numata Chair who can weave together the profound history of Japanese Zen, Pure Land, or Nichiren traditions with the pressing philosophical questions of the 21st century. At SOAS, we don’t just study history; we challenge the frameworks through which history is understood. We are the UK’s path-breaking institution for decolonial and interdisciplinary research, and we need a leader who shares our commitment to transformative education.

As the Reader or Professor in Japanese and Comparative Buddhism, you will be the guardian of the MA Buddhist Studies programme. Your role will be dual-faceted: you will dive deep into classical Buddhist texts and historical lineages while simultaneously exploring how these traditions interact with modern ethics, politics, and social movements. Whether you are lecturing on the development of the Kamakura schools or supervising doctoral research on Buddhist responses to environmental crises, your work will be at the absolute frontier of the field.

You will join a department that is unique in its geographic and thematic breadth. We pride ourselves on being an intellectual home for those who seek to understand the interconnected religions and philosophies of the world without a Western-centric lens. With the support of Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai, you will have a platform to engage the public and the global academic community, ensuring that Japanese Buddhism remains a vital part of the global intellectual discourse.

If you possess a PhD, fluency in Japanese, and a passion for research-led teaching that changes perspectives, we encourage you to apply. Join us in Bloomsbury and help lead the world in making sense of the religious traditions that have shaped—and continue to shape—our global history.

Expert Guide: Finalizing Your 2026 Academic Report

With the addition of this SOAS Professor role, your 2026 dataset now covers every level of the UK educational system, from Primary School Tutoring to Numata Chair Professorships. To help you conclude this project, consider these three final syntheses:

The “Senior Tier” Comparison: Compare the SOAS Professor (£72k) against the City St George’s Senior Lecturer (£64k) and the UEL Data Governance Officer (£52k).
Language-Specialist Opportunities: A summary of roles in your list that require specific linguistic fluency (Japanese vs. Italian vs. Bengali).

Sponsorship Insights: A guide to which 2026 roles offer UK Visa Sponsorship (SOAS) versus those requiring existing right to work (UCLan/UEL).

SOAS University of London: A Global Perspective in Bloomsbury

The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) is a world-renowned institution located in the heart of London’s Bloomsbury district. Established in 1916, it is the only university in the UK specializing in the study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. SOAS is celebrated for its unique “non-Western” lens, interrogating global challenges—from climate change and human rights to migration and finance—through the cultures and languages of the Global South. Its Russell Square campus serves as a global crossroads where 130+ nationalities converge, creating one of the most diverse and politically engaged student bodies in the world.

The company culture is defined by intellectual activism and radical inquiry. SOAS is not just a place of study; it is a community dedicated to “shattering preconceptions.” The environment is characterized by intense debate, a passion for social justice, and a commitment to decolonizing the curriculum. In 2026, the university launched its 2026–2030 Strategy, which focuses on deepening regional engagement, bolstering research intensity, and empowering graduates to contribute to a “globally just future.” It is a small, close-knit, and high-energy campus where the library—one of only five National Research Libraries in the UK—serves as the intellectual heart of the school.

Key University Highlights (2026)

Feature	Details
Global Specialist	2nd in the world for Academic Reputation (QS 2025)
National Ranking	Top 75 in the UK (Times/Sunday Times 2026)
Development Studies	Ranked 5th in the world (QS 2025)
Research Power	81% of research rated “World-Leading” or “Internationally Excellent”
Student Diversity	130+ nationalities; 15:1 student-to-staff ratio
Unique Asset	Home to the Brunei Gallery & a National Research Library
2026 Initiative	Launch of a “reimagined” online degree portfolio

Academic & Research Strengths

SOAS is organized into specialist schools that blend regional expertise with disciplinary rigor:

Development, Environment & Policy: A global leader in tackling inequality, poverty, and climate policy.
Arts & Humanities: Renowned for Anthropology (Top 20 globally), History of Art, and Linguistics.
Law & Social Sciences: Specializing in International Law, Human Rights, and the politics of the Global South.
Languages & Cultures: Offering a vast range of non-European languages, from Arabic and Chinese to Swahili and Sanskrit.

Student Life & Facilities

The Library: A brutalist masterpiece by Sir Denys Lasdun, housing 1.2 million volumes and acting as a global hub for scholars of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
The Brunei Gallery: A public space hosting rotating exhibitions that showcase the contemporary and historical cultures of SOAS’s specialist regions.
Global Hub: Located just steps from the British Museum and Senate House, students have access to the wider University of London network while maintaining a small-campus feel.
Digital Transformation: The new 2026 online portfolio offers “assessment-led” learning without traditional exams, designed for career-focused global learners.

To apply for this job please visit vacancies.soas.ac.uk.