Asian studies
Master
Overview
The Master’s degree in Asian Studies from Université PSL offers France’s most extensive advanced training in Asian studies.
This multidisciplinary curriculum coupled with research in the humanities and social sciences is a collaborative effort between the French School of Asian Studies (EFEO), the École Pratique des Hautes Études–PSL (EPHE- PSL) and the School of Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS). It aims to develop researchers and experts who can reflect critically on the specific nature and characteristics of Asian societies over time.
This master's degree is part of the graduate programs in Historical Sciences and Religious Studies.
Learning outcomes
The goal of this Master’s degree program is to provide students with the tools they need in order to understand and study the Asian world in all its complexity over time. They will acquire in-depth knowledge of specific periods, regions or topics as well as disciplinary skills in fields such as history, sociology, anthropology, geography and economics as well as paleography, art history, archeology and the study of religions. The faculty, which brings together nearly 120 research professors whose work focuses on Asia, has developed a demanding curriculum in Asian studies in cooperation with top-ranked research centers in the humanities and social sciences.
Structure
Academic tracks
The program is structured into two academic tracks that reflect different scholarly traditions in approaching Asian societies. Although these two tracks both take a history-based approach, they each have a distinct (but complementary) historical focus. In particular, they differ in the types of disciplinary approach they follow, their periods of reference, the methodological tools they use for analysis and, first and foremost, the topics they cover.
- Track “History, Philology and Religion” (EPHE–PSL and EFEO): This course of study, developed by EPHE–PSL in collaboration with EFEO, is aimed at students who wish to conduct research on ancient Asia based on a thorough understanding of written or material sources and using methods specific to philology, paleography, archeology and epigraphy. In particular, the emphasis is on analyzing primary source materials, generally written in the various Asian languages. This track also devotes particular attention to the study of religious phenomena over time.
Programme 2024/25
Liste des tuteurs
- Track “History and Social Science: Sites, Texts and Images” (EHESS and EFEO) : This academic track, offered by EHESS in collaboration with EFEO, is targeted to students who wish to develop their research in connection with modern and contemporary Asia. Applying basic disciplines to a range of cultural areas using a method unique to the program, this track focuses on a host of societal issues examined from a comprehensive and firmly comparative perspective, with an emphasis on the flow and transfer of ideas, dialogue and cross-disciplinarity in the social sciences.
For both of these academic tracks, work conducted in Asia (internships, gap year, field work) is strongly encouraged. This training and research abroad will draw on EFEO’s research centers and France’s research institutes around the world (UMIFREs), as well as their partner schools and institutes.
Costs
Tuition
HK$2,028.07
(international)
HK$2,028.07
(home)
Funding
Admissions
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in the humanities or social sciences or 180 ECTS credits in those fields of study (or the equivalent).
- Certificate of proficiency in French for degrees obtained outside France.
- Proficiency in an Asian language is desirable and may be required for certain research projects.
Language requirements
TCF