Asia has a long history of diverse cultures, languages, views, and religions, and the region continues to shape global economics, politics, and culture. Asia and the Pacific is home to a large share of the world’s population, while East Asia remains an important center of trade and diplomacy. China is one of the world’s largest economies, Japan continues to influence the region through its economy and culture, and the Korean Peninsula remains geopolitically significant.
For students, Asian Studies can be an exciting way to work with people from different cultures, build language skills, and prepare for careers connected to international education, business, research, government, journalism, and nonprofit work.
In this article, we talk about top schools for Asian Studies.
Top Asian Studies Schools in the World
1. Stanford University
Stanford University is a strong choice for students interested in East Asian languages, cultures, and area studies. Its Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures prepares students for B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and trans-Asian studies, while the Center for East Asian Studies offers an interdisciplinary M.A. in East Asian Studies.
Stanford also has a long history in the field. The university’s East Asian language training expanded during World War II, the Committee on East Asian Research was formed in 1957, and the Center for East Asian Studies was formally established in 1968. Studying at Stanford can give students access to language training, interdisciplinary coursework, research opportunities, and study abroad options in East Asia.
2. University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge offers a highly detailed Asian and Middle Eastern Studies program at the undergraduate level, along with postgraduate MPhil and Ph.D. options through its Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. The undergraduate course includes intensive language study and introductory papers on East Asia or the Middle East, depending on the languages chosen.
Cambridge is a good fit for students who want to combine language study with cultural, historical, literary, political, and social analysis. Its postgraduate options also allow students to pursue more specialized research in fields such as Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, Korean Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies.
3. Harvard University
Harvard University offers an interdisciplinary East Asian Studies concentration for undergraduates. Students can combine East Asian language courses with area courses in subjects such as history, literature, politics, religion, and the social sciences.
At the graduate level, students interested in East Asia can pursue the A.M. in Regional Studies–East Asia or doctoral study through East Asian Languages and Civilizations or History and East Asian Languages. Harvard is especially useful for students who want to design an interdisciplinary academic path and use East Asia-focused training for careers in education, government, business, journalism, international relations, or further research.
4. Yale University
Yale University offers an interdisciplinary East Asian Studies major for undergraduates. Students focus on a country or area within East Asia and shape their coursework around the humanities or social sciences. The major includes East Asian language study, area-focused courses, and a senior research requirement.
Yale also offers a Master of Arts in East Asian Studies through its Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, while doctoral work is available in related fields such as East Asian Languages and Literatures. This makes Yale a strong option for students who want preparation for graduate study, business, government service, media, or other professional careers where knowledge of East Asia is valuable.
5. Columbia University
Columbia University is a strong school for East Asian studies. At the undergraduate level, its program offers courses across disciplines such as anthropology, art history, economics, history, literature, philosophy, political science, sociology, and religion, along with training in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Tibetan. At the graduate level, Columbia’s Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures offers both M.A. and Ph.D. programs
6. Princeton University
The East Asian Studies program at Princeton University is a strong option for students who want to study the languages, histories, cultures, societies, and politics of China, Japan, and Korea. Princeton’s undergraduate major requires East Asian language proficiency through the third year, eight departmental courses, junior independent work, and a senior thesis.
At the graduate level, Princeton offers Ph.D. training in areas such as Chinese and Japanese history and literature, Korean literature and culture, anthropology of East Asia, and East Asian film and media studies. The university also has an East Asian Library that supports the Department of East Asian Studies and collects materials in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean across several fields.
7. California State University Long Beach
California State University Long Beach is a good option for students interested in Asian Studies at a public university in Southern California. Its Asian Studies B.A. is an interdisciplinary program with three concentrations: Asia Area Studies, Asia and Business, and Asia and Globalization. The major requires 39 units, and students are encouraged to spend a semester or more in Asia through a study abroad program.
CSULB also offers an M.A. in Asian Studies, which focuses on the cultural, economic, and sociopolitical significance of Asia in the 21st century and requires competency in one or more Asian languages. Because tuition and fees vary by residency, level, and enrollment status, students should check CSULB’s current official tuition pages before applying.
We hope that you found this article on the best Asian studies schools in the world informative and helpful. If you are interested, make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students!
