Asian Studies (60 EC): Politics, Society and Economy

Programme

Electives

Our program features a broad range of courses which enable students to deepen their understanding in a number of fields. To help you orient yourself, the following course clusters provide an idea of themes which are central to our program.

Politics, Economy and International Relations: East Asia: Economy and Sustainability, China in Global Cyberspace, China’s International Political economy, State, economy, and politics of China and India, Contemporary Indian Politics, Economic development and social change in Southeast Asia, Political Economy of Southeast Asia, Modern Japanese International Political thought, The Past in the Present: Nation-building in Modern China,

Society, Inequality and Resistance: Narratives of Identity and difference, Lives on the Margins –Korean Penninsula Migration and Identity, Historicizing Gender and Sexuality, Cultural Politics of Discrimination, Asia’s Muslim Futures, Cultures of Resistance in South Asia and the World, Urbanity and Digitality across Asia, Creativity and Culture in Contemporary China.

Postcolonialism, democratisation and illiberalism: Democratizing Histories, Cultures of Resistance: South Asia and the World; Nation-building in Modern China, Contemporary Indian Politics, Histories of Southeast Asia, Labor in Asia, Cultural Politics of Discrimination.

February start

Students who start in February, the Spring Semester, take the compulsory Introduction to Asian Studies (10 EC) and write their MA-thesis (15 EC) in the second (fall) semester. In the spring semester they take 30 EC Courses and Electives and 5 EC Core Course in the fall semester.

First semester (Spring semester)

Electives (select 30 EC from Spring selection of Electives, see first tab, September start)

Second semester (Fall semester)

Introduction to Asian Studies 10 EC
MA Thesis Asian Studies 15 EC
Electives (select 5 EC Fall selection of Electives, see first tab, for the next academic year starting in September.) (the new programme is published around May of your first semester)

More info

1-year Master Asian Studies

Objectives

In the one-year Master’s program in Asian Studies you will be able to deepen and broaden your knowledge of Asia as a whole or one of the regions within Asia. The different specialisations offered within this program cater for students both with and without prior proficiency in one or more Asian languages. In Asian Studies, you may focus on a specific region, choosing between China, Japan, Korea, South Asia or Southeast Asia. Alternatively, you may opt for an interregional, disciplinary emphasis, focusing on History, Arts, and Culture topics in the HAC specialisation, or on issues in Politics, Society and Economy in the PSE specialisation. The MA also has a special track Critical Heritage Studies that can be taken as part of one of the tracks. The rich collections of the University Libraries in Asian Studies incorporate both the long textual tradition of Leiden University and the most up-to-date theories and approaches of history, literature, linguistics and the social sciences. Museums and other long-standing institutions in Leiden related to Asia provide much material for study. The one-year Master Asian Studies specifically encourages in-situ internships as part of the curriculum.

Programme Structure

The master’s program in the one-year Asian Studies Master is divided into two semesters (each subdivided into two periods for some courses). Each semester consists of 30 EC. Students take the compulsory course Introduction to Asian Studies (10 EC) in their first semester. Students in the East Asia track also take compulsory language courses (total 15 EC) in their first and second semester. For students outside the East Asia track, a maximum of 15 EC beginner or intermediate language course credits can be applied toward degree requirements. MA East Asia Students can only count the Advanced Language credits that are a compulsory part of their program (15 EC) toward graduation.

In addition to this, students take Elective courses that are specific to their specialisation – Core Electives. Students are permitted to choose one of the Electives outside their own specialisation, but within the Asian Studies Master, to a maximum of 10 EC. In their second semester students take again one or two Core Electives for a minimum of 15 EC, or fulfill this partially by an internship, and write their MA-Thesis (15 EC).

Master’s thesis and requirements for graduation

In order to graduate, students must have successfully completed the 60 EC programme, including the MA thesis. The thesis is written in English and up to 15,000 words in length, including footnotes and bibliography. More details on the procedures regarding the MA-Thesis can be found in the course description and the thesis protocol.

Specialisations

The 1-year MA programme in Asian Studies offers the following specialisations:
History Arts and Culture
Politics, Society and Economy
East Asian Studies
South Asian Studies
Southeast Asian Studies

Pre-master

Asia is an important region to know whether you are interested in history, the arts or contemporary popular, economics and business, or world politics. Students who did not focus their prior studies entirely or only partially on Asia, or who completed a Bachelor’s degree from a university if applied sciences (HBO) can be admitted after completing an individual bridiging program. Depending on your background, the Pre-Master program varies between 15EC and 60EC. The required elements and size of the Pre-Master program will be decided by the Admissions board. Language courses are not part of the Pre-Master program. Interested students should directly apply for admission to the Master and will receive an offer which includes Pre-Master requirements. For more information on the application procedure, visit our program page.
For questions, please contact the study adviser of the MA Asian studies

Career Preparation

Career Preparation in the MA Asian Studies

In completing the MA in Asian studies, you will not only develop your knowledge and insight into the region, but will also develop skills which are relevant and useful for the job market and thereby enhance your ‘employability.’ 'Employability' consists of the following aspects:

1. Discipline-specific knowledge and skills
Knowledge and skills specific to your study programme.
2. Shared transferable skills
These are skills that are relevant to every student and that you can use in all kinds of jobs irrespective of your study programme, for example:
researching, analysing, project-based working, generating solutions, digital skills, collaborating, oral communication, written communication, presenting, societal awareness, independent learning, resilience.
3. Self-reflection
This concerns self-reflection in the context of your (study) career, including reflecting on the choices you make as a student during your studies, what can you do with your knowledge and skills on the labour market?
In addition, reflecting on your own profile and your personal and professional development. Who are you, what can you do well, what do you find interesting, what suits you, what do you find important, what do you want to do?
4. Practical experience
Gaining practical experience through work placements, projects, practical (social) assignments, which are integrated into an elective, minor or graduation assignment.
5. Labour market orientation
Gaining insight into the labour market, fields of work, jobs and career paths through, for example, guest speakers and alumni experiences in the field, career events within the study programme, the use of the alumni mentor network, speaking with people in the field, and walking along/visiting companies in the context of a particular subject.

Adding to these general skills, enrollment in the MA Asian studies means you will develop a critical understanding of the region, learn to work very independently in designing your thesis project and pursuing independent research using original sources, depending on your specialization, acquire fluency in one of the languages taught in the program, and are able to be empathetic and understand the world from more than your own perspective.

Job search related activities

Every year, various activities take place, within, alongside and outside of your study programme, which contribute to your preparation for the labour market.
On the program level, this includes:

• Career days organized by BA study associations related to Japan, Korea, and China

• A PhD workshop

The faculty and university also organizes a number of activities

• Workshops and faculty career events organised by the Humanities Career Service

• Humanities Career Event

• International internship info session

Contact and further information

Humanities Career Service The Humanities Career Service offers information and advice on internships, study (re)orientation and master's choice, orientation on the labour market and careers.

Leiden University Career Zone Leiden University Career Zone is the website for students and alumni of Leiden University to support their (study) career. You can find advice, information, (career) tests and tools in the area of (study) career planning, career possibilities with your study, job market orientation, job applications, the Alumni Mentor network, job portal, workshops and events and career services.

Workshops and events
On the Workshop calendar you will find an overview of career and application workshops, organised by the Humanities career Service.