Program Overview

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Key Information

Duration

2-years (Max. 3-years)

Start of Programme

April / October

Attendance Mode

Online Learning (part-time)

Fees

MA/MSc: £12,000 PGDip/PGCert: available as exit awards.

Entry Requirements

A minimum lower second class honours degree (or equivalent). We welcome applications from academically strong individuals from a wide variety of fields and backgrounds.

Course Overview

The MA Global Diplomacy: East Asia online programme will enhance your understanding of international affairs and contemporary diplomatic practice with a regional focus on East Asia.

Using a combination of interdisciplinary approaches, cutting-edge research and public discussion of diplomacy and international politics, you will deepen your knowledge and understanding of international affairs and contemporary diplomatic practice with an East Asia regional focus. You will learn to think critically, with reference to theoretical and empirical (historical and/or contemporary) content about international studies, diplomacy and the political economy in East Asia.

Research is a key component of this programme and upon completion students will have the skills to:

• think critically, with reference to theoretical and empirical (historical and/or contemporary) content about international studies, diplomacy, and political economy in East Asia
• develop and practice the ability to see – and to comment on – the strengths and the weaknesses of others’ ideas and arguments

The Global Diplomacy: East Asia MA online programme is delivered by the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD), using a combination of multi-disciplinary teaching, cutting-edge research and public discussion of diplomacy and international politics in a globalised world.

This programme is available as a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate level.

Who Should Apply

The MA Global Dipomacy: East Asia online course is for those engaged in or embarking on a career in diplomatic or related fields in East Asia requiring international expertise in government, not-for-profit, corporate or academic environments.

Structure

Students study one subject module and one research ‘mini’ module (included in the fee) per study session. One study session runs every six months, meaning the majority of students complete their programme within two calendar years of beginning their studies.

Please note, The PG Certificate and PG Diploma are offered as exit awards, you must apply for the MA degree and then request to exit when you have the correct credits.

Masters

• 2x core modules (30 credits each)
• 2x elective modules (30 credits each)
• 4x research mini modules
• 1x dissertation on a topic related to East Asia (60 credits)

Of the delivered modules, one core module and one elective module must be from the East Asia list, while one core module and one elective module must be from the Diplomacy list.

PG Diploma

• 2x core modules (30 credits each)
• 2x elective modules (30 credits each)
• 4x research mini modules

Of the delivered modules, one core module and one elective module must be from the East Asia list, while one core module and one elective module must be from the Diplomacy list.

PG Certificate

• 2x core modules (60 credits)
• 2x research mini modules

Module|
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The Art of Negotiation| Core
Economy, Politics and Society in East Asia| Core
Afghanistan: Strategic and Geopolitical Perspectives| Elective
America and the World: US Foreign Policy| Elective
Cultural Diplomacy| Elective
Digital Diplomacy| Elective
Economics, Politics and Society in MENA| Elective
Economy, Politics and Society in South Asia| Elective
Finance, Sustainability and Climate Change| Elective
Foundations of International Law| Elective
Gender, Conflict and the Middle-East| Elective
Global Citizenship and Advocacy| Elective
Global Energy and Climate Change| Elective
Global International Organisation: United Nations in the World| Elective
Global Media| Elective
Global Public Policy| Elective
India's Foreign and Security Policy| Elective
International Economics| Elective
Muslim Minorities in a Global Context| Elective
Pakistan: Religion, Politics and Security| Elective
Political Economy of Violence, Conflict and Development| Elective
Political History, Culture and Diplomacy in Iran| Elective
Sport and Diplomacy| Elective
Strategic Studies| Elective
Trade Diplomacy| Elective
Diplomacy and Power: International Actors in the Middle East| Elective
Global Challenges: Science Diplomacy| Elective

Important notice

The information on the website reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. The modules are indicative options of the content students can expect and are/have been previously delivered as part of these programmes. However, this information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change.

Teaching and Learning

This programme is delivered 100% online through our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

In the VLE you will have access to learning materials and course resources anytime so you can fit your studies around your existing commitments. For each module, students will be provided with access, through the SOAS Library, to all necessary materials from a range of appropriate sources.

A key component of the student experience will be peer to peer learning, with students enrolled in discussion forums.

Study Timetable

In addition to a dedicated Associate Tutor, a Study Timetable is provided for each module and for the overall programme to help you to organise your time.

The programme is broken down into two study sessions per year. Each subject module lasts 16 weeks, followed by a research mini module lasting 8 weeks.

Sample Study Timetable

Activity| Duration
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Substantive module| 16 weeks
Reading weeks| 2 weeks
Research mini module| 8 weeks
Reading weeks| 2 weeks

Assessment

Each module is assessed by five written online assessments (‘e-tivities’) comprising of 30%, the remaining 70% is formed of a 5,000 word essay. The e-tivities provide formative and summative feedback to students as a means of monitoring their progress and encouraging areas in which they can improve.

* An 'e-tivity' is a framework for online, active and interactive learning following a format that states clearly to the students its 'Purpose'; the 'Task' at hand; the contribution or 'Response' type; and the 'Outcome' (Salmon, G. (2002) E-tivities: The Key to Active Online Learning, New York and London: Routledge Falmer.)

Research Training and Dissertation

Research training is a key feature of this programme, the dissertation module is presented in four development parts, which will follow each of your module sessions. Research modules one and three are formative modules only, and are not assessed.

The dissertation is assessed by the submission of a written dissertation of no more than 15,000 words, excluding the bibliography and appendices, which will account for 85% of the mark awarded for the module (research module four). The remaining 15% of the module mark will be based on the mark obtained for a 1,500 word research proposal (research module two).

The research proposal is compulsory for students going on to do a PGDip or MA; MA students must submit a dissertation at the end of research module four.

Fees and Funding

MA/MSc| PGDip | PGCert
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£12,000| See below| See below

Only applicable to Global Diplomacy: South Asia and Global Diplomacy: Middle East & North Africa.

PG Dip and PG Cert are available as exit awards and interested students should be in touch directly with the course team at.

This is a new fee structure, students will continue their programme on the same fee structure throughout.

See online learning fees for further information.

Pay as You Learn

Our online learning programmes can be paid in full at the time of enrolment or on a pay as you learn basis. Pay as you learn means you pay for modules prior to enrolment.

Postgraduate Loans

If you have been a resident in England for 3 years you may be eligible. For more information, see please postgraduate fees and finance.

Employment

Students from SOAS’s Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy (CISD) develop an in-depth understanding of international affairs, contemporary diplomatic practice and policy-makers. Graduates leave with a portfolio of transferable skills such as critical analysis, problem solving, negotiation and communication, all of which are valued by employers across a number of sectors.

Recent CISD graduates have been hired by:

• Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
• Ernst & Young
• European Centre for Democracy and Human Rights
• Government of India
• International Rescue Committee
• Medical Aid for Palestinians
• NHS
• The Commonwealth
• UK National Commission for UNESCO
• UNHCR
• United Nations
• World Food Programme

Find out about our Careers Service.

Key Staff

Dr Yanan Song

Dr Yanan Song is a Lecturer in Global politics at SOAS University of London.