The first semester consists of the compulsory core course Introduction to Asian Studies that all students of the MA in Asian Studies have to take. You must also choose two or more elective courses that introduce the issues, debates and methodologies of one of the humanities disciplines within Asian Studies.

If you start the programme in the spring semester (February), you will take the Introduction to Asian Studies in your second semester.

In your second semester you will again take one or two electives for a minimum of 15 EC, or fulfill this partially by an internship, and write your MA-Thesis (15 EC).

If you have a special interest in heritage studies, it is possible to focus on Critical Heritage studies of Asia and Europe within the History, Arts and Culture programme. Inspired and supported by the Asian Heritages research cluster of the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), these courses allow you to explore the contested character of all representations of culture, the plurality of notions of heritage in Asian and European contexts, and the way distinct and conflicting values of indigenous, local communities and official state discourses are negotiated.

The curriculum includes courses in critical approaches to heritage studies, and heritage and policy making, and a number of electives that focus on heritage management, specific subjects/regions of Asia, and/or the study of Asian languages.

In addition to the curriculum of the MA Asian Studies/HAC programme, there are two compulsory courses for the focus on Critical Heritage Studies:

• In the first semester (start September), students should attend the course Critical Approaches to Heritage Studies, taught by Dr. Elena Paskaleva. This course is offered at the Faculty of Humanities.
• In the second semester (start February), students should attend the course The Politics of Destruction: Targeting World Heritage, taught by Dr. Elena Paskaleva. This course is offered at the Faculty of Humanities.
• Once a term, Professor Michael Herzfeld delivers a guest lecture and meets with all students during individual appointments. For more information regarding his visits, please contact Dr. Elena Paskaleva.

Following the MA degree at Leiden University, you also have the opportunity to pursue a Dual Degree Programme, which is offered by Leiden University, the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) and one of our Asian partner universities, including the National Taiwan University and Yonsei University in South Korea.

As far as certification in the Dual Degree Programme is concerned, upon successful completion you will have obtained two diplomas in total: the Leiden University MA diploma, the partner university MA diploma and a separate certificate for the programme in Critical Heritage Studies of Asia and Europe, issued by IIAS.

For more information about Critical Heritage Studies or the Dual Degree Programme, please contact dr. Elena Paskaleva. If you would like to apply for admission to Critical Heritage Studies, you are required to indicate this in your motivation letter with your application.