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The University of Edinburgh: East Asian Studies
| Institution | The University of Edinburgh View institution profile |
|---|---|
| Department | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
| Web | https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying |
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
Summary
Make an original, positive and lasting contribution to East Asian studies. A PhD is an opportunity to expand upon your interests and expertise as part of an active research community making impact across the globe. Join us at the heart of Scotland’s capital and festival city.
Over the course of your PhD, you will complete an original body of work under the expert guidance of at least two supervisors. Your thesis will be around 80,000 words. Our programme includes access to skills training, including research methodologies specific to East Asian studies.
Having been established over 50 years ago, Edinburgh’s expertise in this area supports both in-depth and diversified, disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research on the political, cultural and economic factors shaping international relations in the East Asian region and, comparatively, across the globe.
We have particular strengths in:
-
ancient philosophy and religion
-
the comparative politics of East Asia
-
classical and modern literature
-
media and films
-
imperialism, colonial rule and decolonisation
-
political and economic transformation
We are able to support PhD theses crossing boundaries between East Asian studies and other disciplines, including:
-
comparative literature
-
film studies
-
translation studies
Our East Asian Studies Collection includes one of the largest collections of East Asian digital resources in the UK and Europe.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 12 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
Make an original, positive and lasting contribution to East Asian studies. A PhD is an opportunity to expand upon your interests and expertise as part of an active research community making impact across the globe. Join us at the heart of Scotland’s capital and festival city.
Over the course of your PhD, you will complete an original body of work under the expert guidance of at least two supervisors. Your thesis will be around 80,000 words. Our programme includes access to skills training, including research methodologies specific to East Asian studies.
Having been established over 50 years ago, Edinburgh’s expertise in this area supports both in-depth and diversified, disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research on the political, cultural and economic factors shaping international relations in the East Asian region and, comparatively, across the globe.
We have particular strengths in:
-
ancient philosophy and religion
-
the comparative politics of East Asia
-
classical and modern literature
-
media and films
-
imperialism, colonial rule and decolonisation
-
political and economic transformation
We are able to support PhD theses crossing boundaries between East Asian studies and other disciplines, including:
-
comparative literature
-
film studies
-
translation studies
Our East Asian Studies Collection includes one of the largest collections of East Asian digital resources in the UK and Europe.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 12 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
Make an original, positive and lasting contribution to East Asian studies. A PhD is an opportunity to expand upon your interests and expertise as part of an active research community making impact across the globe. Join us at the heart of Scotland’s capital and festival city.
Over the course of your PhD, you will complete an original body of work under the expert guidance of at least two supervisors. Your thesis will be around 80,000 words. Our programme includes access to skills training, including research methodologies specific to East Asian studies.
Having been established over 50 years ago, Edinburgh’s expertise in this area supports both in-depth and diversified, disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research on the political, cultural and economic factors shaping international relations in the East Asian region and, comparatively, across the globe.
We have particular strengths in:
-
ancient philosophy and religion
-
the comparative politics of East Asia
-
classical and modern literature
-
media and films
-
imperialism, colonial rule and decolonisation
-
political and economic transformation
We are able to support PhD theses crossing boundaries between East Asian studies and other disciplines, including:
-
comparative literature
-
film studies
-
translation studies
Our East Asian Studies Collection includes one of the largest collections of East Asian digital resources in the UK and Europe.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 12 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
Make an original, positive and lasting contribution to East Asian studies. A PhD is an opportunity to expand upon your interests and expertise as part of an active research community making impact across the globe. Join us at the heart of Scotland’s capital and festival city.
Over the course of your PhD, you will complete an original body of work under the expert guidance of at least two supervisors. Your thesis will be around 80,000 words. Our programme includes access to skills training, including research methodologies specific to East Asian studies.
Having been established over 50 years ago, Edinburgh’s expertise in this area supports both in-depth and diversified, disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research on the political, cultural and economic factors shaping international relations in the East Asian region and, comparatively, across the globe.
We have particular strengths in:
-
ancient philosophy and religion
-
the comparative politics of East Asia
-
classical and modern literature
-
media and films
-
imperialism, colonial rule and decolonisation
-
political and economic transformation
We are able to support PhD theses crossing boundaries between East Asian studies and other disciplines, including:
-
comparative literature
-
film studies
-
translation studies
Our East Asian Studies Collection includes one of the largest collections of East Asian digital resources in the UK and Europe.
| Study type | Research |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 12 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
MSc
Summary
East Asian countries are inseparably linked by their politics, histories, societies and cultures. Our MSc programme in East Asian Studies is distinct for its border-crossing focus, enabling you to take a transnational and comparative approach to East Asian Studies, or to concentrate on China, Japan or Korea.
With two of the world’s leading economic powers situated in East Asia, there is huge potential for both regional conflict and cooperation. Taking East Asian Studies is as relevant and critical now as it has been at any time since the end of World War II.
Programme pathways If you have completed a degree in Japanese, Chinese or Korean Studies, you may wish to use this opportunity to start learning about another country in East Asia, either on its own or in comparison.
Alternatively, you can opt to deepen your knowledge of the country you already specialise in.
Depending on the courses you take, you will graduate with a masters (MSc) in:
-
East Asian Studies
-
East Asian Studies with Japanese Studies
-
East Asian Studies with Chinese Studies
-
East Asian Studies with Korean Studies
When you apply, you can indicate which pathway suits you best, and we will confirm your choice when you have joined the programme and selected your courses.
Why Edinburgh Our programme is carefully designed to introduce skills and knowledge in a way that is clear, coherent and interconnected, supporting your academic development and research training towards your dissertation.
You will study in a stimulating, interdisciplinary environment and an international community of learners, each bringing their own perspective to class.
Our programme draws on unparalleled staff expertise across the East Asian region and across disciplines. Our thriving Asian Studies department has expertise in Japanese, Chinese and Korean Studies, and a great programme of cultural events, including its own seminar series.
You will benefit from the resources of a leading cultural capital city, from the University of Edinburgh Library (some two million borrowable volumes) to the National Library of Scotland. A compact, green and historic city, with excellent restaurants, cinemas and theatres, it’s a great place to live and study.
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Summary
East Asian countries are inseparably linked by their politics, histories, societies and cultures. Our MSc programme in East Asian Studies is distinct for its border-crossing focus, enabling you to take a transnational and comparative approach to East Asian Studies, or to concentrate on China, Japan or Korea.
With two of the world’s leading economic powers situated in East Asia, there is huge potential for both regional conflict and cooperation. Taking East Asian Studies is as relevant and critical now as it has been at any time since the end of World War II.
Programme pathways If you have completed a degree in Japanese, Chinese or Korean Studies, you may wish to use this opportunity to start learning about another country in East Asia, either on its own or in comparison.
Alternatively, you can opt to deepen your knowledge of the country you already specialise in.
Depending on the courses you take, you will graduate with a masters (MSc) in:
-
East Asian Studies
-
East Asian Studies with Japanese Studies
-
East Asian Studies with Chinese Studies
-
East Asian Studies with Korean Studies
When you apply, you can indicate which pathway suits you best, and we will confirm your choice when you have joined the programme and selected your courses.
Why Edinburgh Our programme is carefully designed to introduce skills and knowledge in a way that is clear, coherent and interconnected, supporting your academic development and research training towards your dissertation.
You will study in a stimulating, interdisciplinary environment and an international community of learners, each bringing their own perspective to class.
Our programme draws on unparalleled staff expertise across the East Asian region and across disciplines. Our thriving Asian Studies department has expertise in Japanese, Chinese and Korean Studies, and a great programme of cultural events, including its own seminar series.
You will benefit from the resources of a leading cultural capital city, from the University of Edinburgh Library (some two million borrowable volumes) to the National Library of Scotland. A compact, green and historic city, with excellent restaurants, cinemas and theatres, it’s a great place to live and study.
| Study type | Taught |
|---|---|
| Level | SCQF Level 11 |
| Entry requirements | Entry requirements for individual programmes vary, so please check the details for the specific programme you wish to apply for on the University of Edinburgh website. You will also need to meet the University’s language requirements. |
| Location | Central area campus George Square Edinburgh EH8 9JZ |
Edinburgh. Extraordinary futures await.
The University of Edinburgh is one of the world's top universities, consistently ranked in the world top 50, and placed 34th in the QS World University Rankings 2026.
Our position as one of Britain’s leading research universities was reaffirmed by the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF). The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top research-intensive universities, ranked 4th in the UK for research power (Times Higher Education, Overall Ranking of Institutions), with 90% of our research activity classified as world leading or internationally excellent in the 2021 Research …
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