East Asian Studies (MA) (60EC)
Career prospects
Where do our graduates work?
As a graduate of the MA in Asian Studies, you are qualified to work within a variety of fields where there is demand for expertise in Asia, including journalism and publishing, international trade, marketing, business, public relations, education, development aid, and in government, non-profit and international organisations.
Examples of the diverse roles of our graduates include:
- Curator at a museum
- Collections manager at a natural history museum
- Project officer for heritage at a governmental agency
- Art teacher at a secondary school
- Auctioneer at an online auction house
- Research consultant at a recruitment company
- Teacher of art and theory at an art school
- Freelance artist and illustrator
- PhD candidate
- Market researchers at a Korea trade center
- Japanese language teacher
Research Master
If you have ambitions to pursue a PhD position or a career as a researcher outside of academia you can apply for the two-year Research Master in Asian Studies on completion of the programme.
Isa van Dam
Graduate East Asian Studies
What I enjoyed most about the programme is how it lets you step outside your own specialisation and explore the different regions of Asia. Temporarily distancing yourself from the topics you are most familiar with helps you to challenge yourself, get inspired, and expand your knowledge in unexpected ways.
In my experience, the Asian Studies master’s allows you to really dig into your academic interests. There’s a great mix of courses that are both fun and intellectually challenging. Smaller class sizes also help you to build stronger connections with professors, which is particularly beneficial for those aiming to pursue a career in academia (like me!).
By developing and maintaining good professional relationships with professors in my area of interest, I was lucky to get a lot of support. Many of them were eager to encourage my passions and opened doors for me within academia. Thanks to their help, I worked as a student assistant for the Modern Korean History course during my master’s, and even after completing my master’s degree, I’ve continued to work on several academic projects.
Anyone currently trying to find a PhD position knows how limited opportunities are and how competitive it is, especially in the fields of humanities and social sciences. If you are truly passionate about pursuing an academic career, I’d advise you to stay proactive, look out for opportunities, and don’t be afraid to ask your professors for guidance. After all, they’ve been in your shoes, and scholars are often happy to support those who share their research interests and passions.
In which sector do students find jobs?
- 21 % Communication and marketing
- 14 % Education
- 7 % Advice
- 7 % Health and welfare
- 7 % Travel agency/aviation
- 7 % Art and culture
- 7 % IT
- 7 % Government and semi-government
- 21 % Other
This graph is based on alumni data from the MA East Asian Studies 2020 through 2024.
Career preparation
Find out how this programme exactly prepares you for your future career and check our career preparation activities.
Knowledge and skills
Launch your career with a master’s degree
Continuing your studies after your bachelor's degree pays off. Graduates with a master's degree are more likely to find higher-level positions: 77% start at a university of applied sciences (hbo) or university level, compared to 63% of graduates who only hold a bachelor's degree. This difference remains visible in the long term. After more than two years of work experience, 87% of master's alumni work at a university of applied sciences or university level, compared to 76% of bachelor's alumni.
A unique strength on the job market
As a Humanities graduate, you have developed talents that are in high demand on the job market. Intercultural skills, written communication, and social awareness are qualities that clearly distinguish Humanities graduates on the job market. Your ability to think analytically and creatively also gives you an edge.
Internships
Do you consider to put your knowledge into practice during your studies? Determine whether an internship could be an option for you. Start orientating your possibilities by visiting an internship information session. This way you can receive information about the internship procedure and listen to tips of former interns.
Notice that you will search for an internship yourself to find a place of your interest. Do you need some help with this or the application process? Do not hesitate to contact the Career Service. When you have found an internship, inform us. Then, the internship coordinator advises you how to proceed and provides your internship plan with feedback so it can be submitted for approval to the board of examiners.
Humanities Career Service
Our staff can help you identify both the career that is right for you, and the necessary steps to get you there. Our team at the Humanities Career Service provides all Leiden University humanities students with professional advice and guidance on everything from internships and career planning to job applications. Humanities Career Service also organises regular workshops on topics such as effective interview skills and creating a successful CV.
Workshops and courses
The Humanities Career Service offers you various (online) workshops, webinars and info sessions. Check our overview of career activities.
LU Career Zone
The Leiden University Career Zone is an online career portal that helps you to prepare for the job market. Here you can find information, tools and tips to help you gain more personal insight, learn about the job market, develop your application skills, plan your academic and professional career, find job vacancies and discover what the Career Service can do for you.
Ask Alumni: Leiden University Mentor Network
Join the Mentor Network to contact alumni with experience on the labour market and ask them for advice. More than 1200 alumni are happy to help you!
Jelle on finding an internship via Leiden University's Mentor Network
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