East Asian Languages and Cultures Programs offer opportunities for students who wish to engage with the cultures of China, Japan, Korea, and the greater East Asia region as articulated in language, linguistics, literature, film, cultural studies, and visual arts. The major and minor programs seek to reduce the complexity of a region to intellectually manageable proportions and illuminate the interrelationships among the various facets of a society.

Students will become a part of an international community of learners, each with their own perspective, taking core and option courses that draw on unparalleled staff expertise across the region and across disciplines.

The programs provide the tools to analyse and understand the complexities of East Asian relations in a global context, with skills relevant to professional sectors such as diplomacy, international relations, negotiation, and journalism.

Studying the culture of China, Japan and Korea gives you a unique perspective on the contemporary development of East Asia — the most dynamic area of the world economy. Modules cover topics such as history, society, business, and literature. There are lectures on specific themes which you will then discuss in seminars and tutorials. East Asian languages are studied as part of the degree to support students’ acquisition of knowledge and thesis research. In the final year, students will research and write a dissertation on a topic of students’ choice, usually supervised by an academic.

The content of the courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. Students also usually have the opportunity of an exchange program and studying abroad (depending on the university and its partners).

Structure of East Asian Studies Academic Programs

Undergraduate programs usually last 3-4 years, postgraduate — 1-2 years. To enrol a Master’s program, as an admission criterion, you need to have accomplished an undergraduate degree in economics, politics or cultural studies. Your undergraduate qualification, therefore, plays a role in your range of career prospects, once you have accomplished the Master of East Asian Studies. Usually, students may choose an East Asian language themselves (the most popular options are Chinese, Japanese, and Korean).

Career prospects

With an academic degree in East Asian Studies, you will have a lot of opportunities to connect your career to Oriental world. If your individual focus is economically oriented, your career opportunities lie in consultancies, international marketing, international management, or sales. If your interests lie in the political sphere, you may well find your future job in international organisations, government departments or diplomatic institutes. A cultural focus in your undergraduate and postgraduate path generates most job opportunities. However, cultural institutes, departments or even museums represent alternate perspectives. Independent of your study focus, you can opt for a career in the research sector, as a researcher, teacher, or academic professional.