COURSE CURRICULUM

The one-year master’s in History, Arts and Culture of Asia, a specialisation of Leiden University’s MA in Asian Studies, offers students the opportunity to design a tailor-made program by selecting from a wide range of thematic, disciplinary, or regional electives with a humanities focus. This specialisation provides a flexible and modular curriculum that combines core courses, electives, and an individually supervised master’s thesis, giving students considerable freedom to shape their academic journey. From September 2026, the program will merge into the new Global Asian Studies specialisation.In the first semester, students complete the compulsory core course Introduction to Asian Studies, which provides a foundational understanding of key themes, debates, and research methodologies across Asian Studies. Alongside this, students select two or more core electives that introduce the issues, methodologies, and debates of specific humanities disciplines within the Asian context. For those starting in February, the Introduction to Asian Studies course is taken in the second semester.The second semester continues with one or two electives totaling a minimum of 15 EC, which may also be partially replaced by an internship to gain practical experience. This semester also includes the master’s thesis (15 EC), in which students conduct original research on a topic of their choice under the close supervision of a faculty member. This combination of coursework, electives, and independent research allows students to explore their particular interests in depth, while acquiring strong analytical, research, and critical thinking skills.Students may also choose the Critical Heritage Studies of Asia and Europe pathway, which can be pursued in collaboration with Leiden University’s partner universities in Asia, offering the opportunity to earn a dual degree. Overall, the MA in History, Arts and Culture of Asia equips students with the knowledge, skills, and international perspective necessary to pursue careers in academia, cultural heritage, policy, or other fields where a deep understanding of Asia’s history, culture, and societies is essential.