East Asian Studies

Overview

This degree provides an opportunity to conduct advanced research on East Asia in an interdisciplinary school. You will study with internationally renowned Sociology, Politics and International Relations scholars in a dynamic and supportive research environment. Our research activity is focused on South and East Asian societies, culture and politics, including issues relating to security, conflict, peace and violence; ethnicity, migration and citizenship; gender and sexuality; race, colonialism, postcolonialism, and decolonialism; the climate crisis; political economy; political and social inequalities; social, political and international theory; and socio-technical systems and their politics, among others.

Our staff also have particular expertise across a range of cultural, political and social theory and champion diverse research methodologies. You will be assigned two PhD supervisors whose current research interests and expertise are relevant to your chosen research area.

We are committed to rigorous conceptual and empirical research that is politically and socially relevant and problem-oriented. We aim to advance theory, knowledge and methods at the cutting edge of political and sociological research. We produce leading research with an international focus that is relevant to the changing circumstances of an increasingly interconnected world. Our aim is not just to monitor the world but to contribute to a better understanding and to ways that might improve it.

Entry requirements

An upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) and normally a merit at MSc/MA level (or equivalent).

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Admissions Statement

Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.

Go to admissions statement

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level B.

Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.

Fees and funding

Home: full-time: £4,850 per year
Home: part-time: £2,425 per year
Overseas: full-time: £21,300 per year

Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.

More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.

Alumni discount

University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.

Funding and scholarships

Applicants may apply for a University of Bristol scholarship. Eligible applicants can also apply for a China Scholarship Council scholarship. Please note that programme application deadlines apply where applicants intend to apply for scholarship funding. These deadlines will be published in early autumn 2025.

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.

Career prospects

Bristol graduates are in high demand and have an excellent record of employment following graduation. Please visit the school website for statements from our former graduates.

Meet our supervisors

The following list shows potential supervisors for this programme. Visit their profiles for details of their research and expertise.

Research groups

Our research activity in the school is guided by focusing on key themes:

climate emergency
critical (in)securities
cultural work
decoloniality and race
ethnicity, migration and citizenship
European politics and societies
digital society
science and technology
food security
gender and sexuality
peace, conflict and violence
political and social inequalities
social, cultural and political theory
South and East Asia.

All researchers across the school identify with one or more of the themes. This enables collective identification over themes within the school and aims to generate further collaboration and interdisciplinarity in our research activities. In addition, the themes provide a basis for internal and external recognition of the main questions and topics that our research addresses.