Centre for Eastasian Studies Studies

In Heidelberg, the subjects of Sinology, Japanese Studies, Korean Studies and East Asian Art History are offered as part of a joint degree programme in East Asian Studies. Students of East Asian Studies focus, within their respective specialisms, on the societies of Japan, Korea and the Chinese-speaking world, examining their historical and cultural developments and contemporary manifestations against the backdrop of regional and global contexts. The combination of approaches from the cultural and social sciences, together with the jointly taught courses on East Asia, enables students to examine key players in East Asia (the Chinese-speaking world, Japan and Korea) within a regional and global context, taking into account their long history and traditions as well as their current significance in the economy and international politics.

Depending on the specialisation chosen, the degree programme involves acquiring a sound knowledge of Chinese, Japanese or Korean (C1.1). Students may choose to specialise in Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, Korean Studies or East Asian Art History.

The two-year Master’s programmes in Japanese Studies, Chinese Studies, East Asian Art History and Interpreting (Japanese–German) deepen students’ linguistic and subject-specific knowledge whilst also preparing them for a possible PhD. A prerequisite is a sound command of the language at Bachelor’s level with a focus on East Asia. In addition, since 2011, the international Master’s programme in Transcultural Studies has offered the opportunity to study East Asia within the framework of a broader transcultural approach.

A PhD at the Centre for East Asian Studies (in German or English) qualifies graduates for an academic career as well as for roles in administration, the cultural sector or business. The entry requirement is an above-average Master’s degree with a sound command of an East Asian language.