The specialisations Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, and Korean Studies are two years in duration and include a year abroad, where you will intensify your language proficiency, and deepen your knowledge and experience the country of your choosing. Advanced proficiency in the relevant language is a prerequisite.

All three programmes require the completion of a bachelor’s degree in Chinese studies, Japanese studies or Korean studies, depending on the programme. Disciplinary specialisation is at the core of each, and involves the development of fluent modern language skills. Classical language training is also an option, which is unique to Leiden. You will spend a year at a university in the relevant country, and write an MA thesis. Places in these specialisations are limited.

The specialisation East Asian Studies is a one-year programme that offers the possibility of in-depth analysis of one country in East Asia, either China, Japan, or Korea, in fields such as history, sociology, philosophy, economics, linguistics, politics and international relations.

Advanced knowledge of an East Asian language is required. The programme is similar to that of the related two-year specialisations, but with the advantage of allowing you to choose from a broader range of elective courses, including those on other Asian regions or countries outside the area of your specialisation, and develop advanced language proficiency. 

The specialisations History, Arts and Culture of Asia, and Politics, Society and Economy of Asia are one-year specialisations that take a disciplinary approach to Asian Studies. Knowledge of a relevant language is not required, although you have the option of learning one of the many Asian languages taught at Leiden University.

History, Arts and Culture of Asia takes a humanities approach to pre-modern, modern or contemporary Asia. Politics, Society and Economy of Asia takes a social sciences approach to modern or contemporary Asia. You are free to choose a specific region or take a transnational approach to  Asian.

The specialisations South Asia and Southeast Asia are one year in duration and focus on deepening your knowledge of countries in the region. Knowledge of a relevant language is not required, although some individual courses require knowledge of a classical or modern South or Southeast Asian language. Students have the option of learning one of the many Asian languages taught at Leiden University.

South Asian Studies focuses on pre-modern, modern or contemporary South Asia, in fields such as social history, politics, Buddhism, Sanskrit and Tibetan studies. The focus of the 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, Islam and ecology.

We also offer the 2-year Research Master Asian Studies.