Asian Studies (research)

The research master's in Asian Studies gives you access to Leiden University's leading expertise in the countries of Asia. Designed for high-achieving students, Leiden University's research MA Asia Studies offers access to unique resources and expertise. Asian Studies at Leiden University has a reputation for excellence that is unmatched in Europe. You can choose subjects from a curriculum that spans the entire Asian region, both in geography and time.

You will be able to focus your studies on a country or region, such as China, Japan, Korea, South Asia or Southeast Asia, or on a discipline, such as politics, religion, art, or languages and literature, with the option to work with a primary language. A comparative, area studies approach to learning encourages a contextual understanding of the issues at hand. The programme not only encourages intra-Asian comparisons, but cooperates closely with the MA Middle Eastern Studies (research) programme. This cooperation is formalised, for example, through a common introductory course on Area Studies.

The courses in the first year of the programme develop your academic skills to an advanced level. In the second year, you will do research on a topic related to Asia and, where appropriate and possible, in a specific place in Asia. You may also combine this research with attending courses at another top university, here or abroad.