Asian Studies (MA)

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 from a range of disciplinary angles, develop your language proficiency, and approach Asia from a critical perspective. Our language offerings include Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Sanskrit and Tibetan as well as courses in Classical Chinese and Classical Japanese.  

The programme consists of one-year specialisations in East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian as well as the Global Asian specialisation, with an emphasis on a disciplinary approach to the study of Asia. Themes covered by the curriculum include history, heritage, arts and politics, postcolonialism, democratization and illiberalism, politics, economy and international relations, society, inequality and resistance, as well as courses on philosophy, religion, language and linguistics.  The two-year specialisations in Chinese, Japanese  and Korean studies  are part of a selective programme and include a compulsory year abroad, advanced language training and field research abroad.

As an MA student, you will have the opportunity to work with experts in Asian studies specialised in a broad range of disciplines. Small-scale seminars offer a space for intensive discussion to develop your ideas and research. The Asian Library provides a rich collection of resources, including publications from the region, as well as special collections of historical texts and manuscripts.  

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Master or Research Master? 

While the MA Asian studies and Research MA Asian studies share electives, there are important differences between the programmes. The Research MA Asian studies is a two-year, selective programme. Academic research, in form of a 30EC thesis, is a central component of this programme. The ResMA is suitable for students with a strong interest in academic research and are considering a PhD trajectory. For more details on the contents, also visit the Research Master Asian Studies website. 

What are your career prospects?

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, a multidisciplinary approach, intercultural competencies and research skills, including journalism and publishing, international trade and marketing, public relations, education and development aid, and in government, international organisations and NGOs.

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Is Asian Studies the programme for you?

• Do you wish to deepen your understanding of Asia, and pursue further research in the history, philosophy, religion, arts, culture, economics, politics, international relations, language, or societies of Asia?
• Do you wish to develop your language proficiency in Mandarin, Japanese or Korean to the highest level of proficiency?
• Do you want to extend your knowledge of a specific country or region, or develop your expertise in a specific field such as arts and visual culture, politics and history, inequalities and social change, language and linguistics, or international relations or economic development?

Find the programme which suits your interests best within the seven different specialisations in Asian studies 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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