Overview
Students of the East Asian Studies degree offered at University of Turku gain expertise in East Asian contemporary history, politics and societies and learn social science research methods to become area specialists on East Asia. East Asian languages are studied as part of the degree to support students’ acquisition of knowledge and Master’s thesis research.
In this programme in East Asian Studies, you will have good opportunities to go on a student exchange in East Asian universities as well as to receive an East Asian study and research scholarship. The programme provides expertise to enter international public, private and third sector professions. You will also become qualified to apply to PhD programmes and to pursue an academic career.
Job options
After graduating from the Master’s Degree Programme in East Asian Studies, you can find employment in public, private and third sector jobs. Knowledge on East Asia and dynamic regions is in demand in various fields: diplomatic service, international organisations, and companies.
Example job titles of our alumni:
- 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
As a graduate of the EAST Programme, you will be 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.
Programme Structure
Courses include:
- Methodology in East Asian Studies
- Ethnography
- Research seminars
- Quantitative Data Analysis
- Causal Inference
- Approaches to Global and Regional Studies
- Japanese Politics and Society
- South Korean Politics and Society
- Chinese Politics and Society
Key information
Duration
- Full-time
- 24 months
Start dates & application deadlines
- Starting
- Apply before
-
Language
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Credits
Delivered
Campus Location
- Turku, Finland
Disciplines
Area & Cultural Studies Political Science Asian studiesWhat students do after studying
Academic requirements
- A GPA of 3 or higher (on the Finnish grading scale of 0-5) in previous degree studies is required for admission.
English requirements
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Other requirements
General requirements
You are an eligible applicant if:
- you have a nationally recognised first cycle degree – normally a Bachelor’s degree – from an accredited institution of higher education,
- your degree corresponds to at least 180 ECTS (European credits) or to three years of full-time study,
- your degree is in a relevant field for the programme that you’re applying to,
- You provide proof of English language skills:
IELTS: min overall 6.5, writing 6.0+
TOEFL iBT: min overall 92, writing 22+ (tests before 21 Jan 2026); min overall 4.5, writing 4+ (tests after 21 Jan 2026)
Other accepted tests: C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency, PTE, YKI.
- Full language and degree requirements are available on the university website.
- Selection criteria will be based on East Asia contents of previous degree studies, disciplinary relevance of previous degree studies, academic performance in previous studies, knowledge of East Asian language(s), self-introduction video and motivation letter.
Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner
Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items like Additional medical costs, Repatriation, Liability etc. Make sure your student insurance covers your needs.
Studyportals partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.
Get your student insurance nowStarting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.
Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at University of Turku and/or in Finland, please visit Student Insurance Portal.
Tuition Fees
-
International Applies to you
Applies to youNon-residents10000 EUR / year≈ 10000 EUR / year -
EU/EEA Applies to you
Applies to youEU/EEA NationalsFree
Additional Details
- No tuition fee for citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland, for citizens of non-EU/EEA countries – €10,000/academic year
Living costs
Turku
The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.
Funding
- The University of Turku supports motivated students with generous scholarships for all Master’s level studies subject to tuition fees.
- Scholarships, based on academic merits, cover 50% of the tuition fee for the following study year if requirements are met.
- It is not possible to get a scholarship to cover the tuition fee for the first year, but an Early Bird discount of €2,000 is available for applicants who accept their study offer and pay within the set timeframe.
- There is a separate application process for the merit scholarships. The admission services of the University will invite all eligible applicants to apply for the scholarship when the application round opens.
In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.
Scholarships Information
Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for East 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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