East Asian Studies MSc

Level: Postgraduate taught

Subject: Languages, Countries and Cultures

Year of entry: 2026

Study options

Mode of study

On campus

Full-time
  • MSc | 1 year | Start date: September 2026
Part-time
  • MSc | 2 years | Start date: September 2026

Key facts

School

School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Study location

Central Area

Accreditation

Not available

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About the degree programme

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 options

There are two study options for this programme, both starting in September of the academic year. 

Full time

If you take the full-time study option, you will complete the programme in one academic year. 

You will take one core course and choose from a range of option courses, dividing your workload evenly between Semester 1 (September to December) and Semester 2 (January to May). 

You will submit your dissertation (15,000 words) in early August.

Part time

If you take the part-time study option, you will complete the programme in two academic years. 

In your first year, you will take one core course in Semester 1 and three option courses across Semester 1 and 2. 

In your second year, you will choose an additional two option courses and submit your dissertation (15,000 words).

What's the best type of masters programme for you?

Programme rankings

  • 3rd in the UK for Modern Languages
  • 3rd in the UK in the broad subject area of Arts and Humanities

Rankings from QS World Rankings by Subject 2025

Programme benefits

  • Study at the heart of Scotland’s capital city
  • Choose from four different pathways - focus on the East Asian region, or specialise in one country (China, Japan or Korea)
  • Design your own postgraduate experience and research by choosing option courses from a wide range
  • Join an interdisciplinary and supportive department with a great programme of cultural events, including its own seminar series
  • Delve into fantastic libraries and collections

Tuition fees

Tuition fees by award and duration

Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year.

Full-time
Part-time

Graduate discount

If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.

Find out how to receive your graduate discount

Deposit

You do not have to pay a deposit to secure your place on this programme.

Costs

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.

Living costs include:

  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel, clothes, books and stationery
  • recreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)

Living costs

Accommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.

University postgraduate accommodation options and costs

Funding opportunities

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Featured funding

We are likely to have a small number of funding opportunities available for this programme, depending on your study pathway.

If you take a Chinese Studies pathway through the MSc in East Asian Studies, you may be considered for a scholarship covering one year of UK tuition fees for the programme. You do not need to apply for this scholarship. For 2026 entry, all eligible candidates who apply to the Chinese Studies pathway by 31 May 2026 will be considered.

If you take a Korean Studies pathway through the programme, you may be considered for a prize of up to £3,000. You do not need to apply for this prize. For 2026 entry, all eligible candidates who apply to the Korean Studies pathway by 31 May 2026 will be considered.

Find out more about masters awards in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures

Search for other funding opportunities

You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.

Postgraduate funding opportunities

These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026.

Qualifications

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant subject.

International qualifications

To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list.

English language requirements

You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.

This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.

You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:

  • an English language test
  • a degree that was taught and assessed in English
  • certain professional qualifications

English language tests we accept

We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.5 in each component We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 23 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 176 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • Oxford ELLT: total 8 with at least 7 in each component.
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 155 with at least 145 in each component.
How old your English language tests can be
Tests no more than two years old

The following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:

  • IELTS Academic
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)
  • Trinity ISE
  • Oxford ELLT
  • Oxford Test of English Advanced
Tests no more than three and a half years old

All other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality.   

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.

UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).

Approved universities in non-MESC

How old your degree can be

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.

This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Find out more about our English language requirements

Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.

English language requirements

What you will study

You can take the MSc in East Asian Studies over one year, full-time, or two years, part-time.

By the end of the programme, you will have completed courses totalling 180 credits.

Dissertation

The final element of the programme is your dissertation. This is a piece of independent research - 15,000 words (worth 60 credits) - written with the advice and support of a designated supervisor.

Compulsory courses

All students take our core course on ‘Doing Research on East Asia: Key Concepts, Approaches and Issues’. This is worth 20 credits.

On this course, you will explore key theoretical concepts and their application within the field of East Asian Studies. You will also be introduced to research skills and methods, preparing you for your dissertation.

Option courses

You will choose five optional courses, each worth 20 credits. 

You will select these from a wide range of courses relating to specialised regional and disciplinary knowledge. 

Courses typically include: 

  • China and Japan: National Development, International Relations, and Transnational Convergence
  • Contemporary Chinese Literature
  • Global Cities: Seoul and comparative perspectives
  • Media and Visual Culture in Modern China
  • Literature and Performance in Modern Japan
  • Political Economy of Korea's Development

Find courses for this programme

Find out what courses you can study on this programme and how each of them are taught and assessed.

The courses on offer may change from year to year, but the course information will give you an idea of what to expect on this programme.

Full-time
Part-time

We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

Teaching and assessment

Assessment

Your assessments will vary based on the optional courses that you choose. For example, you may be asked to:

  • write an essay, literature review, blog post, or research proposal
  • respond to a piece of writing, film, or other media, including through close reading
  • give a short talk or presentation
  • design a poster
Office hours

Outside of the classroom, our teaching staff are here to support you and are available during regular office hours. You can use this time to talk about assignments, seek additional feedback, deepen your understanding of course materials, and ask questions about topics you're interested in.

Learning outcomes

On completion of our MSc programme in East Asian Studies, you will have gained the skills to:

  • articulate and describe major events, actors, and issues impacting East Asia and/or individual countries in the region
  • critically discuss and apply theoretical and conceptual tools for understanding the region, individual countries, and/or issues relevant to both
  • explain and critique the scholarship in your chosen subject area
  • select and use appropriate sources to support your arguments and research
  • apply knowledge and skills to conduct independent research

Support for your studies

You will have access to a range of support services if you need them throughout your degree.

We will assign you to a student adviser, and this should be the first person to contact if you need help. They can guide you to other University service teams depending on what support you need.  

How we support you

Our academic staff

Where you will study

Academic facilities

Based in the Main University Library, the Centre for Research Collections is unique in the UK. It brings together:

  • a collection of more than 400,000 rare books (including Chengtze's 1440 Book of Changes)
  • six kilometres of archives and manuscripts
  • the University’s collections of art, historical musical instruments and other objects

Notable collections include the East Asian Studies Collection of some 50,000 print and digital resources, including a dedicated Korea Collection supported by the Korea Foundation. The University of Edinburgh has one of the largest collections of East Asian digital resources in the UK and Europe.

Discover more about resources and facilities in Asian Studies at the University of Edinburgh

Career opportunities

East Asia is widely perceived to be the focus of future global politics, with tensions between North Korea and the US, for example, dominating headlines worldwide.

Giving you a thorough grasp of historical and contemporary factors, our programme is designed to equip you with the knowledge to critically engage with these developments, either as they relate to one particular country or in comparison.

You will acquire the tools to analyse, understand and articulate the complexities of East Asia and its constituent countries in a global context, and in career-ready ways.

Your skills will give you an advantage in a range of careers across the private, public, not-for-profit, and for-benefit sectors, including in:

  • diplomacy, negotiation and international relations
  • politics, policy work, civil service and law
  • journalism, broadcasting and media
  • business, finance and commerce
  • communications, marketing, advertising and public relations
  • education, outreach, advocacy and training
  • leisure, tourism and travel
  • publishing, culture, heritage and the arts
  • research and development

The enhanced research skills you will develop through training, coursework and your dissertation are a valuable asset if you wish to continue on to PhD study.

Further study

After completing this programme, you may wish to consider applying for a PhD or other research programme.

Applying for research degrees

Moving on to a PhD (advice from the University's Careers Service)

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. 

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. 

With the Careers Service, you can: 

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions 

Visit the Careers Service website 

How to apply

You apply online for this programme. After you read the application guidance, select your preferred programme, then choose 'Start your application' to begin.

If you are considering applying to more than one programme, you should be aware that we cannot consider more than 5 applications from the same applicant.

When to apply

Programme start date Application deadline
14 September 2026 30 July 2026

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible so that we have enough time to process your application. This is particularly important if you are also applying for funding or will require a visa. Applications may close earlier than published deadlines if there is exceptionally high demand.

For an application to be reviewed, it must be a complete application by the application deadline with all supporting documentation uploaded, including your transcripts.

If you already have evidence that you meet the English language entry requirements, such as via an approved English language test, please upload this evidence at the time of your application. If you have not already met your English language requirements, we will still review your application and issue a decision providing it is otherwise complete.

Application fee

There is no fee to apply to this programme.

What you need to apply

As part of your online application, you will need to provide: 

You will also need to submit some or all of the following supporting documents:

When you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide.

References

You do not need to provide a reference when you submit your application for this programme.

There may be certain circumstances when a reference will be required, for example if we need to verify work experience. If that is the case, we will contact you after we have reviewed your application to request a reference.

Apply

Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for.

After you apply

Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.

Checking the status of your application

We will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.

Receiving our decision

What to do if you receive an offer:

What our students say

Living in Edinburgh has been a truly enriching experience: not only because of the city’s historical and aesthetic importance, cultural events, and proximity to nature, but specifically due to the traces of Scotland’s great writers and literary heritage you can find around every corner in monuments, landmarks, museums, libraries, archives, bookshops, and literary festivals.

Julia Voigt MSc Literature and Society graduate, 2025

Julia, who provided us with this quote about her experience of living and studying in Edinburgh, is originally from Germany. While studying with us, she was the Postgraduate Taught School Representative for the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC). 

Together with Programme Representatives, Postgraduate Representatives are your voice in the university - sharing your feedback to continually improve the student experience for everyone. Their roles are voluntary, and supported by the Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA).

Our community

You'll be part of a welcoming and international community in our Asian Studies department, where you'll have lots of opportunities to meet other students and staff. Our regular seminar series features esteemed visiting speakers from around the world, and we also organise film screenings, workshops and performances, including showcases by Japanese performers at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. 

We are home to the Scottish Centre for Korean Studies, and have strong links with the Confucius Institute for Scotland, the Consulate General of Japan, the Japan Foundation and the Korea Foundation. 

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:

  • apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programme
  • accept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 July
  • study at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in September

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

We also offer accommodation options for couples and families.

Accommodation for couples and families

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.

Societies

Sport Clubs

The city of Edinburgh

Edinburgh is a world-leading festival city filled with cinemas, theatres, galleries, libraries and collections.

The city's resources for studying literatures, languages and cultures are exceptional, and its world cinema scene is particularly strong.

Many national collections are located close to the University's Central Area, making them easy to access between classes. Highlights include the:

  • National Library of Scotland
  • National Galleries of Scotland
  • National Museum of Scotland

Find out more about living in Edinburgh

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include: 

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustments

Health and wellbeing support services 

Disability and Learning Support

General enquiries

Contact our enquiry team about your eligibility or how to apply.

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Admissions Office

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