Asian Studies (MA)
About the programme
Asian Studies at Leiden University is taught by a team of more than 50 staff members with in-depth expertise on China, Japan, Korea, South Asia and Southeast Asia. The programmeoffers a very broad range of courses in a range of disciplines, from history, art, language aad linguistics to society, economy, politics, and international relations in Asia.
Asian Studies programmes
Two-year specialisations on Chinese, Japanese, and Korean studies
The specialisations Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, and Korean Studies are two years in duration and include a compulsory year abroad, where you will develop your language skills to the highest proficiency level, and deepen your knowledge and experience of the country of your choosing. Advanced proficiency in the relevant language is a prerequisite.
To be admitted to the two year programme, you need to have a high level of language proficiency in Mandarin (HSK 4), Japanese (JLPT2) or Korean (TOPIK 4) and a BA degree with sufficient coursework on the country of specialisation. For details, see the admissions page of the specialisation of your choice.
One-year specialisation East Asian Studies
The specialisation East Asian Studies is a one-year programme which includes advanced language training in Mandarin, Japanese or Korean. Within the programme you will pursue coursework and research in the history, arts and material culture, linguistics, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, economics, linguistics, politics and international relations of East Asia.
The programme is similar to that of the related two-year specialisations, but does not include a year abroad, and instead, enables you to choose from elective courses on China, Japan, Korea or East Asia as a region.
One-year specialisations on South Asia and Southeast Asia
The specialisations South Asia and Southeast Asia studies are one year in duration and provide you with the opportunity to study and conduct research on a topic of interest within the region. Courses on South Asian Studies focus on pre-modern, modern or contemporary South Asia, in fields such as social history, politics, Buddhism, Sanskrit and Tibetan studies. The focus of the South Asia programme is on India and Sri Lanka. Southeast Asian Studies focuses on one or more aspects of countries in Southeast Asia, such as history, anthropology, politics, economics and Islam.
Knowledge of one of the languages of the region is not required to be admitted to the programme. Students can however choose to study Hindi, Sanskrit, Indonesian or Tibetan at entry or advanced level as part of their study programme.
One-year specialisation Global Asian Studies
Within the one-year master's in Global Asian Studies students focus their coursework on a specific discipline or field. Course offerings include, among others, history, arts and politics, culture and identity, language and linguistics, politics, economy and international relationsinequality and resistance. The Global Asian studies specialisation gives you access to a wide range of courses covering the entire region. Knowledge of an Asian language is not required for this specialisation. Students will also follow a professionalisation seminar, which connects their knowledge of Asia to different professional fields.
Research Master Asian Studies
The two-year Research Master Asian Studies is a separate programme, with a central focus on academic research. Have a look at the table in pdf for a quick overview of the differences. See the Research Master Asian studies for more information.
Course overview
For a detailed programme, check out the Prospectus for more information on the courses offered in the various Asian Studies specialisations.
Please note that the guide applies to the current academic year, which means that the curriculum for next year may slightly differ.
'Immerse yourself in everything you can'
After completing my Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, I wanted to continue my studies with a stronger regional focus on Asia. The Politics, Society, and Economy track [from 2026, this specialization can be pursued as part of the new Global Asia track - red.] of the MA Asian Studies programme was a good choice as it allowed me to build on the themes I had explored during my Bachelor’s while specialising in Asia. The wide range of electives made the programme especially appealing, as it gave me the chance to study several sub-regions and how they interact with each other.
One of the highlights of my studies was the traineeship I completed at the Embassy of Sweden in Singapore within the Department for Trade and Promotion. Working in a small team, I was involved in the Embassy’s promotional activities, events, and projects that supported Swedish interests in the region and strengthened Singapore–Sweden cooperation. My responsibilities ranged from planning and attending in-house and outreach events to engaging with Singaporean partners and the Swedish business community, supporting EU-delegation initiatives and reporting on political developments in Singapore.
Throughout my time in Singapore, I built on the knowledge which I had acquired during my courses at Leiden University. I further learnt how to apply and adapt my academic skills from university to a professional setting. On the side of my internship, I conducted field research for my thesis where I applied and developed my personal skills by arranging and holding interviews. That in itself was an invaluable experience.
For anyone that wishes to do something similar, I would strongly recommend immersing yourself in everything you can – especially when it might feel a bit daunting. The majority of my most interesting experiences outside of work came from putting myself in situations where I initially felt a bit hesitant.
Ethan Mark
Senior University Lecturer
“I try to encourage my students to think critically by pushing them to interrogate the categories through which we think and by which we describe the world: where they came from, what forces constructed them, and for what purposes.”
“In a world in which we are so often confronted with the appearance of essential differences, I seek to stimulate an awareness of the interconnectedness of our identities and our histories, informed by an awareness of history itself not as a single narrative of objective facts, but as a field of ongoing contestation between competing narratives and competing political agendas.”
Rianne Schleiffert
Government Trainee at the Ministry of Defense
I apply the skills I developed during my master's degree every day, including critical thinking, writing, and presenting. Spending a year working on a comprehensive thesis also taught me a great deal about perseverance and work ethic. Furthermore, during my placement in Taiwan and now at the Ministry, I find my knowledge of East Asia to be incredibly valuable.
"During my undergraduate studies, I discovered two passions: a deep enjoyment for researching and writing, and an unending curiosity about the East Asia region. I became particularly interested in how China remembers and presents its modern history through various so-called “memory carriers,” including museums, films, (school) books and monuments. Additionally, I was intrigued by how the Communist Party uses history to build legitimacy. This Research Master's program allowed me to delve deeper into my area of interest as I could build my own curriculum, while also continuing to develop my skills as a researcher."
"I am currently a Government Trainee at the Ministry of Defense. This is a 2-year program designed to provide recent graduates with diverse experiences as civil servants. It allows for rotations across various positions within and outside the ministry. Consequently, I have gained valuable and fun experiences in multiple locations, both in the Netherlands and abroad: from Lessons Learned Advisor at the Dutch Helicopter Command, to Innovation and Economic Security Officer at the Netherlands Office Taipei. Currently, I am working as a Policy Officer within the Directorate for International Affairs at the ministry."
Admission and application
Do you want to find out if you are eligible for this Master's Programme?
Check the entry requirements for the Asian Studies specialisations