Overview

Students in the South Asian Studies program from Columbia University can deepen their knowledge of the cultural, economic, political, and social processes shaping the region. Ideal for both professionals seeking regional knowledge and students intending to pursue a PhD in the future, the South Asia Studies program prepares graduates for careers in government, public policy, non-profit organizations, journalism, education, the private sector, and academia.

Key Facts

The curriculum combines integrative core seminars with the opportunity to take South Asia Studies courses in a variety of disciplines.

Core courses address key issues and approaches to South Asia studies. The program includes training in research methodologies and the critical use of scholarship as a foundation for developing the MA thesis.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

To complement the core curriculum, students choose from a variety of courses offered regularly by South Asia Studies faculty in anthropology, art history, history, international affairs, literature, politics, and religion. Although there is no language requirement for the MA, Columbia offers elementary through advanced levels of training in Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Tibetan, and Urdu.

The institute provides resources and guidance for students to develop both a broad interdisciplinary expertise in South Asia studies and an area of specialization to be chosen by the student across a range of disciplines in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. As a capstone project, the student completes a master's thesis in consultation with an advisor from the student's field of specialization.

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-02 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-04-23 00:00:00

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

Credits

30 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Manhattan, United States

Disciplines

Asian studies View 96 other Masters in Asian studies in United States

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Academic requirements

GRE^®

Required

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

Other requirements

General requirements

transcripts of all previous post-secondary education

a statement of academic purpose

a curriculum vitae or résumé

three letters of recommendation from academic sources

GRE scores and, if applicable, results of the TOEFL or IELTS examination to fulfill the English Proficiency Requirement

a sample of scholarly writing, if required by the department or program

payment of the application fee

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

73456 USD / year

≈ 73456 USD / year
Out-of-State

73456 USD / year

≈ 73456 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

73456 USD / year

≈ 73456 USD / year

Living costs

Manhattan

United States

2638 - 5751 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

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Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for South Asian Studies.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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