SOAS University of London

Department of the Languages and Cultures of South East Asia

MA Pacific Asian Studies

duration:
One year (full-time) Two or three years (part-time)

Fees 2017/18

UK/EU fees:
£8,785
Overseas fees:
£18,075

Fees for 2017/18 entrants. This is a Band 1 fee. The fees are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year. Further details can be found in the Fees and Funding tab on this page or in the Registry Postgraduate Tuition Fees page

2017 Entry requirements

  • Minimum upper second class honours (or equivalent)

Featured events

  • Overview
  • Structure
  • Teaching and Learning
  • Fees and funding
  • Employment
  • Apply

Overview

Start of programme: September intake only

Mode of Attendance: Full Time or Part Time

The region known as "Pacific Asia" can be defined in various ways, but the "core" countries are China, Japan, Korea and the ASEAN nations (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and the Philippines). Together, they make up one of the most diverse and important regions in the world.

SOAS has more expertise in this part of the world than any other institution in Western Europe; indeed there are very few places anywhere in the world that can boast the same range of expertise.

This degree is a way of bringing together the large number of modules on Pacific Asia currently on offer in SOAS Masters programmes for Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, South East Asian Studies, and Korean Studies.

The modules chosen must cover all of the four regions of China and Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia.

Convenors

Structure

Students take 180 credits, 60 of which are a dissertation and a 120 from taught modules. A maximum of 60 credits can be taken from one discipline and a minimum of three disciplines must be covered. For students opting to take two language acquisition modules, only one of these can be from an introductory level.  The modules chosen must cover all of the four regions of China and Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia.

Anthropology
Module Code Credits Term Availability
Culture and Society of China 15PANH062 15 Term 2
Culture and Society of Japan 15PANH065 15 Term 1
Culture and Society of South East Asia 15PANH066 15 Term 2
Culture and Society of Taiwan 15PCHH003 15 Term 1
Art and Archaeology
Module Code Credits Term Availability
(En)gendering Southeast Asia: Aesthetics and Politics of Sexual Difference 15PARH084 15 Term 2
Issues in Contemporary Southeast Asian Art 15PARH083 15 Term 2
Monuments and sculpture of Angkor 15PARH071 15 Term 1
Southeast Asia's Art Histories 15PARH087 15 Term 2 Not Running 2017/2018
Modern and Contemporary Korean Art 15PARH060 15 Term 1
Arts of Koryo and Chosen Korea 15PARH059 15 Term 1 Not Running 2017/2018
Sacred Art and Architecture of Ancient Korea 15PARH056 15 Term 1 Not Running 2017/2018
The Figure of the Buddha: Theory, Practice and the Making of Buddhist Art History 15PARH076 15 Term 1
Buddhist and Hindu Art of the Maritime Silk Route 15PARH057 15 Term 1
Illustrated Manuscript Cultures of Southeast Asia 15PARH073 15 Term 2 Not Running 2017/2018
Ceramics in Chinese Culture: 10th - 18th Centuries 15PARH046 15 Term 1
Southeast Asia's Art Histories 15PARH087 15 Term 2 Not Running 2017/2018
Popular Practice in the Edo Period Arts 15PARH008 15 Term 2
Shogunal Iconography in the Edo Period 15PARH007 15 Term 1
Cinema
Module Code Credits Term Availability
Genders and Sexualities in South East Asian Film 15PSEH011 15 Term 2
Modern Chinese Film and Theatre (MA) 15PCHH001 15 Term 2
Modern Film from Taiwan and the Chinese Diaspora 15PCHH002 15 Term 1
Japanese Transnational Cinema: From Kurosawa to Asia Extreme and Studio Ghibli 15PJKH007 15 Term 1
Japanese Post-War Film Genres and the Avant-Garde 15PJKH008 15 Term 2
Japanese Television since 1953 15PJKC006 30 Full Year Not Running 2017/2018
Cinema, Nation and the Transcultural 15PJKC023 30 Full Year
Post-crisis Thai Cinema (1997-2007) 15PSEH008 15 Term 2
(Post) Colonialism and Otherness in South East Asia on Screen 15PSEH010 15 Term 2 Not Running 2017/2018
Vietnam on Screen (PG) 15PSEH014 15 Term 2
Indonesia on Screen(PG) 15PSEH015 15 Term 1 Not Running 2017/2018
Economics
Module Code Credits Term Availability
The economic development of South East Asia 15PECC004 30 Full Year Not Running 2017/2018
Available as a minor only with the permission of the module convenor.
Module Code Credits Term Availability
Economic problems and policies in modern China 15PECC035 30 Full Year
Economic development of the Asia Pacific region 1 15PECC030 15 Term 1
Economic development of the Asia Pacific region 2 15PECC031 15 Term 2
China and World Development 15PECH023 15 Term 2
China's Economic Transformation 15PECH024 15 Term 1
Economic Development of Japan 15PECH025 15 Term 2
Available as a major only
History
Module Code Credits Term Availability
Japanese Modernity I 15PHIH013 15 Term 1
Japanese Modernity II 15PHIH014 15 Term 2
Histories of Ethnicity and Conflict in South East Asia 1 - Making States and Building Nations 15PHIH011 15 Term 1 Not Running 2017/2018
Histories of Ethnicity and Conflict in South East Asia 2 - Non-National Perspectives 15PHIH012 15 Term 2 Not Running 2017/2018
Asian Wars: World War II and the End of Empire (1942-1960) 15PHIH038 15 Term 1 Not Running 2017/2018
Nationhood and Competing Identities in Modern China 15PHIH022 15 Term 2
Knowledge and Power in Early Modern China 15PHIH024 15 Term 1
The Making of Modern Korea 15PEAC059 30 Full Year
North Korea since 1945: the rise and decline of an East Asian developmental state 15PJKH012 15 Term 2
International Studies and Diplomacy
Module Code Credits Term Availability
Energy Policy in the Asia-Pacific 15PFFH011 15 Term 2
Language (one language option as a minor only)
Module Code Credits Term Availability
Special Course in Chinese 1 (PG) 15PCHC008 30 Full Year
Special Course in Chinese 2 (PG) 15PCHC011 30 Full Year
Special Course in Chinese 3 (PG) 15PCHC009 30 Full Year
Special Course in Chinese 4 (PG) 15PCHC012 30 Full Year
Elementary spoken Hokkien (Minnanyu, Taiwanese) (PG) 15PCHC007 30 Full Year
Elementary Spoken Cantonese (PG) 15PCHC006 30 Full Year Not Running 2017/2018
Advanced Chinese for Business 15PCHH027 15 Full Year
Chinese for business and management 15PCHC020 30 Full Year
Intermediate Modern Chinese Language: Grammar and Writing 15PCHH022 15 Full Year
Advanced Modern Chinese Language: Listening and Speaking 15PCHH025 15 Full Year
Styles of Modern Chinese Literary Language 15PCHC016 30 Full Year
Basic Korean (PG) 15PJKC022 30 Full Year
Basic Korean 2 (PG) 15PJKC024 30 Full Year
Intermediate Korean (PG) 15PJKC013 30 Full Year
Higher Intermediate Readings in Korean (PG) 15PJKC018 30 Full Year
Introduction to Mixed Script Korean (PG) 15PJKC014 30 Full Year
Topics in the History and Structure of the Korean Language 15PEAC060 30 Full Year
Korean Advanced (Masters) 15PEAC018 30 Full Year
Basic Japanese 1 (PG) 15PJKC008 30 Full Year
Basic Japanese 2 (PG) 15PJKC009 30 Full Year
Intermediate Japanese 1 (PG) 15PJKC010 30 Full Year
Intermediate Japanese 2 (PG) 15PJKC011 30 Full Year
Advanced Japanese: Contemporary Topics (PG) 15PJKC012 30 Full Year
Advanced Japanese: Readings in Modern Japanese History 15PEAC004 30 Full Year
Higher Advanced Japanese (Masters) 15PEAC021 30 Full Year Not Running 2017/2018
Burmese Language 1 (PG) 15PSEC039 30 Full Year
Indonesian Language 1 (PG) 15PSEC032 30 Full Year
Indonesian Language 2 (PG) 15PSEC033 30 Full Year
Indonesian Language 3 (PG) 15PSEC034 30 Full Year
Indonesian Language 4 (PG) 15PSEC035 30 Full Year Not Running 2017/2018
Khmer (Cambodian) Language 1 (PG) 15PSEC043 30 Full Year Not Running 2017/2018
Thai Language 1 (PG) 15PSEC040 30 Full Year
Thai Language 2 (PG) 15PSEC041 30 Full Year
Thai Language 3 (PG) 15PSEC042 30 Full Year
Vietnamese Language 1 (PG) 15PSEC036 30 Full Year
Vietnamese Language 2 (PG) 15PSEC037 30 Full Year
Directed Readings in a South East Asian Language 15PSEH016 15 Term 1 Not Running 2017/2018
Law (minor only)
Module Code Credits Term Availability
Law and Society in Southeast Asia 15PLAH049 15 Term 1
Modern Chinese Law and Institutions 15PLAC139 30 Full Year
Chinese commercial law 15PLAC106 30 Full Year
Islamic Law (MA/LLM) 15PLAC121 30 Full Year
Literature

Appropriate language skills are required.

Available as a minor only with the permission of the module convenor.
Module Code Credits Term Availability
Jawi and the Malay Manuscript Tradition (Masters) 15PSEH006 15 Term 2 Not Running 2017/2018
Classical Documentary Texts 15PEAC006 30 Full Year
Special Course in Chinese: Reading Classical and Literary Chinese (PG) 15PCHC010 30 Full Year
Readings in Korean Literature (Masters) 15PJKH021 30 Term 1
Directed readings in Korean Studies B 15PJKH011 15 Term 1
Literature

No language requirement.

Module Code Credits Term Availability
The Urban/Rural Divide in South East Asian Literature 15PSEH012 15 Term 1 Not Running 2017/2018
War, Revolution and Independence in South East Asia Literatures in Translation (Masters) 15PSEH009 15 Term 1
English Literatures of South East Asia 15PSEH013 15 Term 1 Not Running 2017/2018
Under Western Eyes: European Writings on South East Asia (PG) 15PSEH017 15 Term 2 Not Running 2017/2018
Traditional Chinese Literature in Translation 15PCHC004 30 Full Year
Modern Chinese Literature in Translation 15PCHC002 30 Full Year
Japanese Traditional Drama (Masters) 15PEAH013 15 Term 1
Modern Japanese Literature (Masters) 15PEAH012 15 Term 2
Readings in Modern Japanese Literature 15PJKC003 30 Full Year
Readings in Pre-Modern Japanese Literature (Masters) 15PJKC005 30 Full Year
Trajectories of Modernity in 20th Century Korean Literature (Masters) 15PJKH006 15 Term 1
Literary Traditions and Culture of Korea (Masters) 15PJKH005 15 Term 2
Available as a minor only with the permission of the module convenor.
Music
Module Code Credits Term Availability
Aspects of Music and Religion in South East Asia 15PMUH017 15 Term 1
Available as a minor only with the permission of the module convenor.
Module Code Credits Term Availability
Pop and Politics in East Asia (Masters) 15PMUH014 15 Term 1
Musical Traditions of East Asia (Masters) 15PMUH016 15 Term 2 Not Running 2017/2018
Politics
Module Code Credits Term Availability
State and society in the Chinese political process 15PPOC012 30 Full Year
China and international politics 15PPOC018 30 Full Year
International politics of East Asia 15PPOC251 30 Full Year
Government and politics of modern South East Asia 15PPOC247 30 Full Year
Taiwan's politics and cross-strait relations 15PPOC252 30 Full Year
Northeast Asian politics: Japan, Korea and Taiwan 15PPOC253 30 Full Year
Religions and Philosophies
Module Code Credits Term Availability
Chinese Buddhism in Pre-Modern Period 15PSRH053 15 Term 2
Chinese Religious Texts: A Reading Seminar 15PSRH038 15 Term 2
Religious Practice in Japan: Texts, Rituals and Believers 15PSRC071 30 Full Year Not Running 2017/2018
East Asian Buddhist Thought 15PSRH018 15 Term 2

 

This is the structure for 2017/18 applicants

If you are a current student you can find structure information on Moodle or through your Faculty.

Programme Specification

Disclaimer

Teaching and Learning

Teaching & Learning

Knowledge
  • How to locate and evaluate data from a variety of sources.
  • Knowledge of aspects of the region, such as its history, politics, economics, arts, religions etc.
  • Subject specific skills, such as an awareness of current critical thinking in a specific field, or the acquisition of language skills.
Intellectual (thinking) skills
  • Development of precision and caution in assessing evidence.
  • Development of critical awareness and independence of thought.
  • Sensitivity to the existence of non-Eurocentric views and an awareness of the limitations of purely Eurocentric interpretations.
  • (for students of language) Awareness of the value of a South East Asian language in understanding the culture of a specific country within the region.
Subject-based practical skills
  • Development of written communication skills.
  • Development of oral communication skills.
  • Development of research skills.
  • Development of language skills.
Transferrable skills
  • Effective oral and written communication skills
  • Ability to access and assess information from both traditional and electronic sources
  • Ability to work to deadlines
  • (for students of language) Ability to interact with native speakers of the language at an appropriate level.

Fees and funding

Tuition Fees

Full details of postgraduate tuition fees can be found on the Registry's Postgraduate Tuition Fees page.

This is a Band 1 tuition fee.

Fees for 2017/18 entrants. The fees below are per academic year. Please note that fees go up each year. 

Full-time Part-time 2 Years Part-time 3 Years
UK/EU
Students		 Overseas
Students		 UK/EU
Students		 Overseas
Students		 UK/EU
Students		 Overseas
Students
£8,785 £18,075 £4,393 £9,038 £2,928 £6,025
Scholarships
Felix Non- Indian Scholarship

Application Deadline: 2017-01-31 17:00

Felix Scholarships

Application Deadline: 2017-01-31 17:00

John Loiello AFSOAS FISH Scholarship

Application Deadline: 2017-02-22 17:00

Sasakawa Postgraduate Studentship

Application Deadline: 2017-02-22 17:00

The Prospect Burma Scholarship

Application Deadline: 2017-02-22 17:00

For further details and information on external scholarships visit the Scholarships section

Employment

As a student specialising in Pacific Asia, you will gain competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a combination of the study of language, literature and culture (which can include literature, film, music, art and religion) of various parts of Pacific Asia.

Graduates leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers in both business and the public sector. These include written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources.

For more information about Graduate Destinations from this department, please visit the Careers Service website.

A Student's Perspective

Not only does SOAS offer a first class education with top scholars in the field, it also offers a great professional and social network. Upon graduation, my professional career path was wide opened. The SOAS experience has taught me to be a specialist in different fields, not only politics, but also development, gender and migration, and good governance.

Dinita Setyawati

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Find out more

  • Contact us
    By phone:
    +44 (0)20 7898 4700
    By email:
    study@soas.ac.uk
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