Asian Studies (MA)
The Master’s in Asian Studies at Leiden University is your opportunity to earn a specialised qualification from one of the leading centres for Asian studies in Europe.
Specialisations
Why study Asian Studies at Leiden University?
The Asian Studies master's programme provides you with the opportunity to deepen your understanding of the region through the lens of specific disciplines, strengthen your language proficiency, and develop a critical perspective on Asia. The programme consists of one-year regional specialisations in East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia as well as the Global Asia specialization (previously History, Arts and Culture of Asia, and the Politics, Society and Economy of Asia specialization) with a focus on themes and issues as well as connections within the region.
The two-year specialisations in China, Japan, Korea are part of a selective program which includes a year abroad with intensive language study and field research. Expertise in Asia at Leiden University is internationally renowned and spans the whole of Asia. Small classes give you direct and regular contact with your lecturers, many of whom are at the leading edge of Asia-related research worldwide. Students can also make use of our extensive collection in the Asian Library, which includes academic publications from the region, as well as special collections of historical texts and manuscripts.
Our language course offerings include Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Sanskrit en Tibetan.
Learn more about the study programme
Master or Research Master?
Apart from the study content, there can be other arguments to choose for either a master’s or a research master’s programme. Have a look at the table in pdf for a quick overview of the differences. For more details on the contents, also visit the Research Master Asian Studies website.
Asian Studies at Leiden University
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As a graduate of the MA in Asian Studies, you are qualified to work within a variety of fields where there is a demand for expertise in Asia, including journalism and publishing, international trade and marketing, business, public relations, education and development aid, and in government, international organisations and NGOs.
Find out more about the career prospects
Is Asian Studies the programme for you?
Do you feel invested in Asian history, arts or culture, or economics, politics and society? Do you wish to understand and examine Asia from the perspective of Asia itself? Expand your knowledge by deepening your understanding with one of our regional specialisations in Asian Studies. Will it be Chinese Studies? Or Indonesia? Do you wish to combine regional knowledge with a specific disciplinary approach such as politics, sociology, or art history? Find the programme which suits your interests best within the eight different programmes Leiden University has to offer!
Do you want to find out if you are eligible for this Master's Programme?
Check the admission requirements
A centre of expertise on languages and cultures of the world
If you’re interested in languages and cultures, Leiden University is the best place to study. The university’s global expertise places our programmes at the top. In Leiden and The Hague, we study languages and cultures from all regions of the world and from prehistory to the present day. In this way, we create a broad view of the world; the key to mutual understanding.
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