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    MA
    2025 start September 

    International Relations and East Asia

    School of East Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts and Humanities

    Department of Politics and International Relations, Faculty of Social Sciences

    Explore the political, economic, societal and cultural factors and ideas shaping international politics in East Asia. You’ll be well prepared for a career in international relations and global policy.
    postgraduate students in conversation

    Course description

    This course explores key issues in international relations and global politics, with a particular focus on the East Asia region. You'll learn about the major structures and ideas shaping international politics in East Asia such as changing power dynamics and regional identity.

    The course is jointly run by the Department of Politics and International Relations and the School of East Asian Studies so you will be taught by leading experts from both departments.

    Modules

    A selection of modules is available each year - some examples are below. There may be changes before you start your course. From May of the year of entry, formal programme regulations will be available in our Programme Regulations Finder.

    International Politics of East Asia

    This module examines the major structures, actors, and ideas shaping international politics in East Asia today. A major aim is to introduce students to new theories about international order and identity linked to emerging trends in the region. Central themes address changing power dynamics and international order; regional identity and Asian centrism; great power competiton between China and the United States, and the emerging multilateral architecture. The module explores both traditional and emerging security challenges facing the region on the basis of foreign policy analysis, interactive seminars, group tasks, and scenario building exercises. Special topics include the crisis on the Korean Peninsular, the Taiwan Strait, maritime disputes, and environmental threats.

    30 credits

    Dissertation - one from:

    Project

    The dissertation is designed to assess the research, analytical, writing and (where applicable) language skills developed in the course of the year. It requires that students work independently, with the support of a supervisor, as they formulate a research question, identify the materials necessary to answer it analytically, and produce an appropriately structured, coherently argued, and fully referenced answer to that question, within the scope of the dissertation format.

    60 credits
    Politics Dissertation

    Students must complete a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic of their choice relating to an aspect of their studies in their taught MA programme (International Politics, Politics and Governance, Global Political Economy programmes) under the direction of an academic supervisor. The dissertation gives the student the opportunity to explore an area of interest in depth. To achieve a master standard the student is required to demonstrate and up-to-date critical understanding of the topic, as well as undertake advanced political analysis of the dissertation's subject matter.

    60 credits

    The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.

    Open days

    An open day gives you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our courses.
    Open days and campus tours

    Duration

    • 1 year full-time
    • 2 years part-time

    Teaching

    There are lectures and small group seminars.

    Assessment

    You'll be assessed on a variety of Module Level Assessment pieces (MLA) and one Programme Level Assessment (PLA) each semester. You'll also be assessed on a year-long Graduate Project, under the supervision of specialist staff.

    Your career

    Knowledge and understanding of the politics, economic, societal and cultural factors shaping international politics in East Asia are highly valuable for careers within international relations and global policy specialising in East Asia and the Pacific region.

    The broad conceptual training you'll receive will also prepare you for further studies at doctoral level in the fields of East Asia and Politics.

    School

    School of East Asian Studies

    Our courses are designed to immerse you in the languages and cultures of East Asian countries. They're based on world-leading research and led by experts whose work influences policy and informs public debate.

    You'll be taught by native speakers in Chinese, Japanese and Korean in regular small group classes using custom-made course material.

    Most of our staff publish in their specialist field and many of them have written books for major publishers such as Oxford University Press, Routledge and Macmillan.

    Facilities

    Our students get to make the most of the University's facilities across campus. Explore some of the teaching, library and social spaces you'll be able to visit as an arts and humanities student.

    Entry requirements

    Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in any subject.

    We also consider a wide range of international qualifications:

    Entry requirements for international students

    We assess each application on the basis of the applicant’s preparation and achievement as a whole. We may accept applicants whose qualifications don’t meet the published entry criteria but have other experience relevant to the course.

    The lists of required degree subjects and modules are indicative only.  Sometimes we may accept subjects or modules that aren’t listed, and sometimes we may not accept subjects or modules that are listed, depending on the content studied.

    English language requirements

    IELTS 6.5 (with 6 in each component) or University equivalent

    Pathway programme for international students

    If you're an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you have the opportunity to apply for a pre-masters programme in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Sheffield International College. This course is designed to develop your English language and academic skills. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at the University of Sheffield.

    If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school/department.

    Fees and funding

    Apply

    You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.

    The school running this course will change its name before September 2025. On the online application form, please select Faculty of Arts and Humanities and School of Languages, Arts and Societies when applying for this course.

    Apply now

    Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.

    Our student protection plan

    Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.