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Master's Degree Programme in East Asian Studies

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

Extent of the Study Programme

• 120 ECTS
• Planned duration: 2 academic years
• Tuition fee: Free for citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland, for citizens of non-EU/EEA countries €10,000/academic year
• Qualifications: Master of Social Sciences
• Studies begin: late August 2026
• Location: Turku (Finland)
• Language: English
• Mode of teaching: Contact teaching

Faculty/Department

• Faculty of Social Sciences, Centre for East Asian Studies
• Annual quota: 17
• Application period: January 2026

Entry Requirements

General Admission Requirements

• A nationally recognized first cycle degree – typically a Bachelor's degree – from an accredited institution of higher education
• The degree corresponds to at least 180 ECTS (European credits) or to three years of full time study
• The degree gives eligibility to master level studies in the country where it was issued

Language Requirements

• Applicants must have excellent English language skills and a certificate that proves those skills
• Recognized English language tests are accepted

Study Right

• It is not possible to have more than one Bachelor's or Master's study right at the same Faculty

Programme-Specific Eligibility Requirements

• Persons who have completed a Bachelor's degree of at least 3 years in length that corresponds to at least 180 ECTS (European credits)
• A GPA of 3 or higher (on the Finnish grading scale of 0-5) in previous degree studies is required for admission
• Persons who have a first-cycle university of applied sciences degree and have completed courses on scientific thinking, writing and research methods in areas relevant to the EAST Programme, are also eligible to apply

Application Evaluation

The following six programme-specific selection criteria will be used when assessing the applicants:

1. The East Asia contents of previous degree studies; this includes exchange studies in East Asia
2. The disciplinary relevance of previous degree studies, i.e. focus on social and political sciences and/or contemporary history
3. Academic performance in previous studies: a GPA of 3 or higher in previous degree studies is required for admission
4. Knowledge of East Asian language(s), verified appropriately (transcripts, official certificates etc.)
5. Self-introduction video
6. Motivation letter

Programme Structure

The Master's Degree in East Asian Studies (120 credits) comprises the following study modules:

• Compulsory Studies:
  • Study and Research Skills, including a Master's Thesis, 56 credits
  • Compulsory EAST subject Studies, 22 credits
  • East Asian Language Studies, 10-20 credits
• Elective Studies:
  • Elective EAST Subject Studies, 14 credits minimum
  • Elective Courses in Study and Research Skills, 2 credits minimum
  • Freely elective studies, 0-16 credits

Academic Excellence & Experience

The Centre for East Asian Studies specialises in research on contemporary East Asian societies, with special focus on various manifestations of civil societies in China, South Korea, North Korea, and Japan.

Master's Thesis & Topics

Students conduct independent research on their chosen topic and write a Master's Thesis (40 ECTS). Examples of thesis topics include:

• Place and belonging – an ethnography of rural migrant children in Beijing
• Cosmetic surgery and rites of passage in Korean society – a study on cosmetic surgeries after the university entrance exam
• Remembering the war and aggression: a discourse analysis of Japan's state apologies and commemoration speeches on August 15th 1995–2015

International Programme with Exchange Possibilities

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

Career Prospects

Competence Description

In this Master's Degree Programme, you will gain in-depth knowledge on contemporary East Asian societies. You will learn about present developments, debates, social phenomena and competing perspectives in East Asia, and you learn to put them in contemporary historical context.

Job Options

Those graduating from the Master's Degree Programme in East Asian Studies find employment in public, private and third sector jobs, such as in diplomatic service, international organisations, and companies where knowledge on East Asia and dynamic regions is in demand. Example job titles of our alumni include:

• Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Finland
• Junior Account Executive
• Senior Adviser, Finnish Immigration Services
• International Sales Specialist
• HR and Communications Assistant

Career in Research

Graduates of the EAST Programme are eligible to apply to the doctoral programmes at the University of Turku and other universities in the fields of social sciences and East Asian studies.