Asian Studies Research and Study Opportunities

Hundreds of study and academic opportunities in Asian Studies are available internationally. Conferences and summer schools in Asian Studies are organized regularly in the best academic centers of the world. The majority of universities and many foundations also offer BA, MA, and Ph.D. programs in Asian Studies as wells as postdoctoral research grants, awards, and fellowships. Below you will find the updated list of international opportunities available in Asian Studies.

Asian Studies Scholarships

Asian Studies Fellowships

Asian Studies Conferences

Asian Studies Relevant Accounts on Twitter

Asian Studies discipline

Asia hosts half of the world's population.

Asia promises to become a global economic leader in the short term. 

Asian culture is discussed worldwide as a notable example to follow. 

Those main reasons and the other advantages of the continent make Asian studies a vital discipline, included in the leading university's majors' lists. To be short, Asian studies provide a necessary knowledge for the students to freely navigate across the Asian language, culture, history, religion, etc. 

Asian studies are an interdisciplinary major, bringing Asian culture closer to scholars by introducing the main aspects of Asian life: history, anthropology, philosophy, religion, sociology, literature, etc. Basically, all those essential points in Asian life are introduced to students as different courses within the Asian studies program. 

Who is the Asian Studies discipline for? 

Similar to studies of other continents or nations, Asian Studies are a way to satisfy your interest in a particular culture or desire to learn from its success or failure stories. 

Besides, it's an opportunity to transfer your academic and career path to Asia. Within the discipline, you will master your chosen Asian language (usually Chinese or Japanese), and that would be a good contribution for your further steps to settle in an Asian country. Besides simply learning the language, you will also explore the nation's primary cultural and life flavors, which will help you integrate into a country's life easier. 

What are the learning outcomes of Asian Studies?

  • Free communication in an Asian language(s) 
  • Thorough understanding of the Asian culture and life organization
  • Practical skills for integrating into Asian society and employment market
  • Engagement in cross-linguistic, cross-cultural, and comparative historical analysis
  • Gaining a comparative perspective of the main issues affecting Asia
  • Global awareness of the central values, practices, and perspectives of the Asian societies
  • Skills for navigating across a wide range of cultural and social contexts
  • Ability to conduct a cross-linguistic, cross-cultural, and comparative historical analysis

Chinese Major

Chinese is one of the main localized study areas within the Asian Studies discipline. Firstly, Chinese studies give proficiency in aural, speaking, reading, and writing in Mandarin Chinese. Besides, students will learn about China's general life: what kind of cultural traditions the country has and the main lifestyle and language differences between different Chinese regions. 

Japanese Major

Japanese major is another focus area that you will find in most educational institutions, providing Asian Studies academic programs. During the course, you will develop the Japanese language's linguistic and cultural proficiency, from elementary to advanced levels. Japanese major also includes other interdisciplinary courses of Asian Studies. 

East & South Asian Studies

East & South Asian studies focus on revealing the culture, traditions, and language of the region. You will usually choose to study one of the two most spoken languages for the course: Japanese or Korean. That's an excellent opportunity to deepen your knowledge in one of our planet's most developing locations. 

Asian Studies Careers

Generally, Asian Studies enrich students with both practical and theoretical knowledge of Asia. Not only do they learn to freely communicate in an Asian language(s) but also to have a comprehensive understanding of Asia. Students learn what development opportunities, or the opposite, what holding factors do Asian countries have. 

During the studies, you will participate in advanced-level discussions of traditional and contemporary components of Asia and understand the mechanics working behind the region's social, economic, and political institutions. Also, you will understand the logic of interrelationships between Asia and the rest of the world. 

So, we can state that the discipline prepares students to work in any sphere, where they can somehow interact with or use Asin countries' potential. Working as a translator is one of the basic steps of Asian Studies careers. However, suppose you do decide to switch your career to the translator/interpreter career. In that case, you will have a high competitive advantage in the form of a deep understanding of local culture. 

The list below includes the main areas where Asian Studies graduates can work:

  •  International companies and organizations
  •  Journalism/Mass Comm. with an international focus.
  •  Education/Academia
  •  English language teaching in Asian communities
  •  Information Systems/ Libraries
  •  Museums
  •  Non-profit organizations

The main job occupations for Asian Studies graduates include:

  • Lecturer
  • Scientist
  • Linguist
  • Historian
  • Politician
  • Archaeologist
  • Religious Specialist
  • Foreign Correspondent
  • Foreign Affairs Analyst

If you are interested in Asian studies, the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) website is one of the main pages to land. It's the American Council of Learned Societies' member organization and is unique in its kind to open numerous studying opportunities to all individuals interested in Asian Studies. In addition to the study and research opportunities mentioned in this section of ARMACAD, you will find many international studying programs on the AAS website.