Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Fellows can be nominated by an existing Fellow or they can self-nominate for Fellowship; nominations are typically processed within one month.^[1] Students are also eligible to become Student Fellows if they are enrolled in an established course of education.^[1]

Members of the society were originally styled 'member' rather than 'fellow' and used the post-nominal letters MRAS or variations such as FMRAS (foreign member) or CMRAS (corresponding member).^[11][12] The use of FRAS by members of the society dates back to at least the 1870s, including the physician and writer on India John Forbes Watson,^[13] and the writer on India and co-founder of the India Reform Society John Dickinson.^[14] No post-nominals are assigned by the society in its charter, byelaws or standing orders, but their use is recognised in reference works.^[4][15] The society's fellowship postnominal FRAS is identical to that for fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society.^[4] This has caused confusion, such as in the case of sinologist Charles Henry Brewitt-Taylor, a fellow of the astronomical society.^[16]