MA CEAS – Master Program Contemporary East Asian Studies


Key Data


 

Concept of our Program

The Master in East Asian Regional Studies is an English-language degree program with a social scientific, contemporary and interdisciplinary profile. The program offers research-focussed training for highly qualified graduates with BA or other university degrees in Political Science, International Relations, Sociology or Economics.

The principal focus of the MA teaching is the theoretical and problem-centered analysis of social, political and economic phenomena in East Asia. Its aim is to deepen and enrich the student’s capability to assess contemporary change, the challenges for the East Asian region and the implications of such developments for Europe.
 

Three Specific Capabilities

The intensive development of three specific capabilities give substance to the curriculum of the MA program:

  1. The methodological skills graduated students bring with them will be deepened and applied specifically to analyses of the East Asian context,
  2. regionally specific, deeper disciplinary as well as broader interdisciplinary knowledge of East Asia will be developed, and
  3. language skills in one of two East Asian languages (Chinese and Japanese) will be acquired and refined.
     

Program Structure

The 2-year (equivalent to 4 semesters) Master Program MA CEAS includes intensive language training on a par with interdisciplinary and discipline-specific modules focussing on Chinese and Japanese Studies. Methodological training in both regional studies and the specific disciplines is integrated into the regional and discipline-specific modules.

Semester 1
Three introductory modules to disciplinary East Asian Studies help students to familiarize with East Asian studies from various disciplinary perspectives. These modules are obligatory. In addition, students start with their language training in either Chinese or Japanese up to their free choice.

Semester 2
There are 14 different modules on offer. Students are obliged to discuss their selection of modules with their advisor and to get his or her approval. Furthermore, students have to choose an elective module.

Semester 3
Students accomplish their language education, select two more modules in advanced East Asian studies as well as another elective.

Semester 4
Students concentrate on writing their Master Thesis. The Master Thesis will give proof of the attained theoretical, methodological and regional capabilities as well as language skills on the basis of an independent research project about a cutting-edge theme in contemporary East Asia that has to be elaborated. This effort is accompanied by a seminar. The instructor of the seminar is at the same time the supervisor of the thesis.

Further details on the program and on all modules and classes can be found in the Module Handbook (pdf-download here). Please compare also the Examination Regulations CEAS (pdf-download here) / Prüfungsordnung CEAS (pdf-download here).
 

Prospects

Students completing the MA degree will be prepared

  • for further studies at the doctoral level,
  • for high-level positions in multinational corporations, in politics – including political consulting –, governmental and non-governmental think-tanks, and in international organizations where intensive knowledge of East Asia and language competency is in high demand.

Our institute offers opportunities to continue studies in a PhD program within the DFG funded Research Training Group Risk and East Asia (www.risk-and-eastasia.de).

Application Process for MA CEAS

 
Procedure

We are looking for a highly qualified group of international students with excellent aptitude and the motivation to take on the challenge of this demanding study program.

The application process is divided into two steps.

  • First, the written applications are screened to determine whether they fulfill the formal prerequisites.
  • Second, the examination committee invites successful candidates to test their aptitude and motivation for the study program.

Interviews with candidates from abroad could be carried out via video-conference.

After this evaluation process the most promising candidates are granted admission to the MA CEAS.
 

Application Submission:

Early submission is strongly recommended!
You are advised to apply as soon as possible and long before the deadlines expire. This is to make sure that you have enough time to acquire a visa (in case you are from a non-EU country) and to arrive in time for the start of the program in mid-October.

We are permanently processing incoming applications, so early applicants will be informed – and successful ones admitted – on a first-come, first-served basis irrespective of the mentioned deadlines.
 

Required Documents

The following documents have to be submitted, either in English or German. Diploma, degrees, transcript of marks, language proofs, certificates etc. need to be verified:

  • proof of English language proficiency, e.g. TOEFL (university code Duisburg-Essen: 1703), IELTS, CET, etc.;
  • "Application for Admission" (pdf-download of the form here);
  • complete CV showing your professional and educational career, incl. color photo;
  • copy of high school diploma / "Zeugnis der Hochschulreife"
  • copy of BA degree, incl. transcript of marks showing a grade point average of 2.5 or better as to the German grading system;
  • "Letter of Recommendation" (pdf-download of the form here) by a university professor who has to send it directly to us, either via e-mail or regular mail;
  • statement on the reasons and your motivation to apply for this program, incl. your interest in East Asia and the countries of the region;
  • APS Certificate / Certificate of the "Akademische Prüfstelle", relevant only for Chinese, Vietnamese and Mongolian applicants!
    (compare www.aps.org.cn/web/indexe.jsp)

We appreciate electronic applications in one pdf-file.

The original documents have to be presented at a later stage of the admission process. Only the letter of recommendation should be sent directly and originally by the author.
 

Send to

You may send your application via e-mail or regular mail to:


University of Duisburg-Essen
IN-EAST – Institute of East Asian Studies
Att. Mr Helmut Demes
47048 Duisburg
GERMANY
 

Visa

Students from non-EU countries might need a visa to study in Germany. To apply for a visa you need the Certificate of Admission and you have to prove that you can finance yourself independently at a minimum of € 585 per month plus study fees. Please be aware that it takes approximately 3 months to obtain a visa.
 

Costs in Detail

Compulsory social contributions of approx. 220 € per semester have to be paid. This amount consists of a so-called mobility fee for the students’ public transport ticket and social contributions to both the students’ union and the General Students’ Committee. No further study fees are due.

Compulsory social contributions do not have to be paid in advance. Students will be informed about payment terms when enrolling.
 

Scholarships and Financial Aid

The University of Duisburg-Essen and its Institutes support excellent students with either scholarships or a wide range of job opportunities as student (research) assistants.

Jobs as student assistants are usually advertized in the institute and students – mostly after having successfully completed the first or second semester – can apply. Students with an explicit interest in a Ph.D. program or with plans to pursue a research-oriented career in East Asian Studies can apply for the position as research student in their last year of the MA program. Successful applicants will support the research activities of post-doctoral scholars in the Research Training Group Risk and East Asia (www.risk-and-eastasia.de) and will join a range of training activities.

In addition to scholarships offered by external organizations (such as the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD (www.daad.de), the University of Duisburg-Essen and its Institutes award grants to students of the East Asian Studies programs covering 300 € per month for one year (prolongable). Admitted students are allowed to apply and should contact the IN-EAST by e-mail (in-east@uni-due.de).
 

FAQs

  • Which disciplinary degrees are accepted?
  • Can I already apply even if I have not finished my BA yet?
  • Is a certain grade point average required for admission?
  • Can I apply if documents are still missing?
  • Which proofs of English language proficiency are accepted?
  • Who can issue a letter of recommendation?
  • Do I need an APS (Akademische Prüfstelle / Academic Evaluation Centre) certificate?
  • How is the application process organized?
  • What is discussed in the interview at the second stage of the screening process?
  • When should I apply?
  • Is knowledge of German required, e.g. a DSH (Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang / German Language Examination for Admission to Higher Education)?
  • How can I prepare for the program? Which disciplinary knowledge should I have before starting the program?
  • What is the difference between the CEAS and MOAS program, and for which program do I qualify?
  • What is minimum English requirement, and what tests do you accept?
  • Should I send any extra documents of certificates with my application besides the required materials?
  • Are any scholarship opportunities available to IN-EAST students?

For FAQs and answers please click here.
 

Contact

Still questions remaining?
Please send your requests to:

Downloads

 
For a print-out version (pdf) of this site please click here.