University of Turku

Master’s Degree Programme in East Asian Studies

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Gain in-depth knowledge of today’s East Asian societies and become a specialist in the most dynamic region of the world!

The Master’s Degree Programme in East Asian Studies (EAST) gives you a unique opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of the dynamic societies of contemporary East Asia.

You will gain expertise in East Asian contemporary history, politics and societies and learn social science research methods to become an area specialist on East Asia. East Asian languages are studied as part of the degree to support students’ acquisition of knowledge and master’s thesis research.

In this programme, you will have good opportunities to go on a student exchange in East Asian universities as well as to receive an East Asian study and research scholarship. The programme provides expertise to enter international public, private and third sector professions. You will also become qualified to apply to PhD programmes and to pursue an academic career.

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Academic Excellence & Experience

The Centre for East Asian Studies specializes in research on contemporary East Asian societies, with a special focus on various manifestations of civil societies in China, North and South Korea and Japan. For China, academic staff conducts research, for example, on disaster management, social movements and protest, urban governance, and environmental issues. For South Korea, on popular culture and social movements, as well as on South Korean foreign aid. For North Korea, on social and economic transformation. For Japan, on social movements and civic society.

The research by the academic staff is directly reflected in the Master’s programme: students get up-to-date teaching on topical issues and societal and political developments in East Asian societies. Students also receive individual thesis supervision firmly anchored in the East Asia expertise of the teaching staff.

International Programme with Exchange Possibilities

Students in the Master’s Degree Programme in East Asian Studies have very good study exchange opportunities in the People’s Republic of China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, in the partner universities of the University of Turku.

It is common that students spend one or even two academic terms abroad during their second year in the Programme and also conduct field research for their Master’s thesis during that time.

Students of the Programme also have a chance to study for one year in the Master of China Studies programme at the Zhejiang University in China as part of their Master’s Programme in Turku.