Asian Studies (Research) – (M.A.)

In this research programme you will be able to focus on a specific Asian region, or on a specific discipline, including politics, religion, art, languages, and literature, regionally or cross-regional

Asian Studies scholarship in Leiden has a worldwide reputation. Its breadth and depth represent the very best of Asia-related research and teaching in Europe and beyond. In this two-year research programme, you may focus on a specific region, choosing between China, Japan, Korea, South Asia or Southeast Asia. Alternatively, you may conduct your research with the primary emphasis not on a region but rather on a discipline. Both approaches to research offer the opportunity to work extensively in primary languages, but do not demand this. The programme, while directing special attention to regions and interregional relations, uses an inherently comparative Area Studies approach. The research master's therefore not only encourages intra-Asian comparisons, but closely co-operates with Middle Eastern Studies. This co-operation is institutionalised, for example, through a common introductory course on Area Studies.