East Asian Studies
- PhD
Overview
Conduct advanced research on East Asia in an innovative interdisciplinary school. Study with internationally renowned sociology, politics and international relations scholars in a dynamic and supportive research environment.
Focus on East and South 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.
Benefit from academic expertise across a range of cultural, political and social theory and scholars who champion diverse research methodologies. Get specialised support and oversight from two PhD supervisors whose current active research interests and expertise are relevant to your chosen research area.
Be challenged and inspired by an international community of scholars addressing some of the most important topics that face us today. Join a diverse, innovative community, committed to rigorous conceptual and empirical research that is politically and socially relevant and problem-orientated.
Produce work that advances theory, knowledge and methods at the cutting edge and contributes to a better understanding and improvement of the world.
Programme structure
The PhD in East Asian Studies will combine both taught and research components.
The taught component provide you with the necessary research methods skills to become an independent researcher, including a better understanding of the research process, ethics, and methodologies so that you are fully equipped to work on your PhD project.
You are required to complete this, unless you can provide evidence that you have undertaken this training before joining the programme.
You are required to take the following units:
- Introduction to Research Methods in the Social Sciences
- Digital Methods and Data Skills.
And one of the following units:
- Advanced Quantitative Research Methods
- Advanced Qualitative Research Methods.
Through the research component, you will undertake and write up your doctoral research with the support of two supervisors.
Students need to complete at least 60 credits unless they are exempted from individual units after applying for Recognised Prior Learning.
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.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
This admission statement is for 2026 entry. The 2027 entry admission statement will be available in the Autumn.
Go to admissions statementIf 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
- £5,343 per year
- Home: part-time
- £2,672 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £22,500 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. The programme application deadline for scholarship applicants will be 1 December 2026. This deadline applies to applicants seeking a scholarship from the University of Bristol or China Scholarship Council (CSC).
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. Graduates of our postgraduate research programmes go on to pursue varied and interesting careers.
Past students have gone on to work for Refugee UK, Shelter, Barnardo's, Amnesty International, government departments and the European Parliament, among others.
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.
Contact us
- Contact
- Postgraduate Research Admissions Team
- uob-pgradmissions@bristol.ac.uk