East Asia is booming. How have some East Asian countries achieved such economic growth and global prominence in so little time? What are the global implications of the rise of East Asia?
East Asia is the foremost dynamic region in the world. This Master's track is organized around the achievements, opportunities and challenges facing East Asia. Taught by international staff affiliated with the Centre for East Asian Studies Groningen this International Relations Master's programme focuses on the political economy and international relations of China, Japan and Korea.
The track takes a multidisciplinary approach. Lectures and seminars are taught by experts in international relations, history, economy or law. You will gain knowledge on the top-three economies in East Asia and develop oral, writing and research skills to analyze developments from a local and global perspective. Work placement and study abroad are optional.
This track within the Master's degree programme International Relations is 60 ECTS. During your first semester, you take the module Advanced Theory and Research Practice in International Relations. This module must be followed by all students. In addition, you choose two Research Seminars (at least one of which in East Asian Studies) and you complete the specialization course Capita East Asian Studies.
During your second semester, you will write a Master Thesis (in the field of EAS) and you will choose between doing a Placement, professionalization electives or you may opt for an exchange to East Asia (limited places).
If you choose the Placement option, please note that you must find and apply for your Placement yourself, on the basis of your interests and skills. The Placement should last at least 7 weeks full-time. If you choose to do a Placement that takes longer than 7 weeks, it might be difficult to finish the programme within one year, and you will have to register for the extra months.
For examples of Research Seminar topics, please go to the Course Catalogue (link below). If you start the Master programme in September, you choose Research Seminars from semester I. If you start in February, you choose Research Seminars from semester II.
Because the programme starts in September as well as in February, all elements of the programme are offered both in the first and in the second semester. Please note: because the topics of the Research Seminars depend on the expertise of the lecturers, the list may be subject to change and differs each semester/year.
| Semesters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CoursesCourse Catalog > | 1a | 1b | 2a | 2b |
| Advanced Theory and Research Practice in International Relations (5 EC) | ||||
| Capita East Asian Studies (5 EC) | ||||
| Research Seminar 1 (10 EC) Example: - Europe and China - China and the Global South | ||||
| Research Seminar 2 (10 EC) Example: - Great Power competition in Asia - Contemporary China and International Political Economy | ||||
| Master Thesis on East Asian Studies (20 EC) | ||||
| Study Period in East Asia (10 EC, optional) | ||||
| Master placement (10 EC, optional) | ||||
| Professionalization Electives (10 EC, optional) Example: - Career Seminar: Working in and on Governance; - Project Proposal Writing | ||||
| Programme options |
|---|
| Master's placement (specialization) A placement is a recognised component of this Master's track. It is your responsibility to find a placement yourself, but the Office for Student Affairs can offer help with this where necessary. |
Studying abroad is possible through: A Master placement (10 EC, approx. 2 months): There are attractive opportunities for students to conduct a placement in China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, but also other countries. Students can propose a work placement, for instance in a private sector company, international organization, embassy or NGO related to, or situated in East Asia.
A semester abroad (limited places): The University of Groningen has study centers in Beijing, Shanghai and Osaka and offers multi-faculty exchange programmes with various partner universities in China, Korea and Japan. For a limited number of students, it is possible to study a semester abroad, during which time you write your thesis and you select courses for 10 EC.
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
Students with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and International Organization from the University of Groningen or from another Dutch university, students with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Groningen in European Languages and Cultures (Profile Politics & Society) who started in 2016 or later, and students with a BA in International Relations and International Law (IRIL) from University College Groningen (if they have completed the following set of courses: International Relations Theories (and Practice) (5 ECTS), International Politics (5 ECTS), Statistics 1 (5 ECTS), Two of the following three qualitative methods courses: Qualitative Data Collection & Analysis (5 ECTS); Interpretive Methods (5 ECTS); Advanced Argumentation and Critical Thinking (5 ECTS)) have direct access to this track through the IR Admissions Board. Please use this application guide for your specific application procedure: https://www.rug.nl/let/how-to-apply-MA Students with a University of Groningen Bachelor's degree in:
who have completed a Faculty Minor in International Relations will also be admitted to this Master's track on that basis. Students from a similar field (which is not mentioned above) or those with a different educational background, for example Political Sciences, American Studies, History, European/International Law or International Economics, must submit a request for admission to the Master's degree in International Relations to the Admissions Board. The Board may decide to decline the request due to an insufficiently internationally orientated Bachelor's degree, or to admit the applicant to (parts of the pre-)Master programme. Please use this application guide for your specific application procedure: https://www.rug.nl/let/how-to-apply-MA After you complete your application, the IR Admissions Board will assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, and will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies. The Admissions Board will then determine whether:
|
| language test |
Additional requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. If you have a VWO diploma a language test is not required. |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| All Universities of applied sciences |
Via a pre-master More information:with a HBO Bachelor's degree certificate with an international profile and/or knowledge of social sciences, for example Political Sciences, American Studies, History, European/International Law or International Economics and an IRIO pre-master |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| International Relations and International Organization | University of Groningen | No additional requirements |
| American Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with an IRIO faculty minor or pre-master |
| Communication and Information Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with an IRIO faculty minor or pre-master |
| History (part-time) | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with an IRIO faculty minor or pre-master |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements Additional requirements:
with a specialization International Relations and International Law, and a number of required courses (see below) |
| Media Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with an IRIO faculty minor or pre-master |
| Minorities & Multilingualism | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with an IRIO faculty minor or pre-master |
| Middle Eastern Studies | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:with an IRIO minor or pre-master |
| European Languages and Cultures | University of Groningen |
Additional requirements More information:If you started the BA programme in 2016 or later, with the profile Politics and Society OR with an IRIO faculty minor/ pre-master |
| International Business | University of Groningen |
Via a pre-master More information:with an IRIO pre-master |
| Psychology (NL) | University of Groningen |
Via a pre-master More information:with an IRIO pre-master |
| Psychology (EN) | University of Groningen |
Via a pre-master More information:with an IRIO pre-master |
| Sociology | University of Groningen |
Via a pre-master More information:with an IRIO pre-master |
| Study programme | Organization | Transition |
|---|---|---|
| International Relations and International Organization | All Research universities | No additional requirements |
| American Studies | All Research universities |
Via a pre-master More information:with an IRIO pre-master |
| History (part-time) | All Research universities |
Via a pre-master More information:with an IRIO pre-master |
| International and European Law | All Research universities |
Via a pre-master More information:with an IRIO pre-master |
| Political Science | All Research universities |
Via a pre-master More information:with an IRIO pre-master |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 January 2025 | 01 February 2025 |
| 15 August 2025 | 01 September 2025 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 |
| Specific requirements | More information |
|---|---|
| previous education |
Students with either a Bachelor's Degree in Social Sciences (including - but not limited to - Economics, Political Science, Development Studies, Psychology, Sociology, Social Geography), or an internationally oriented Bachelor's degree such as International Relations, Regional Studies, European/International Law, or (Modern) History can submit an application to the IR Admissions Board. Please use this application guide for more information regarding your eligibility and your specific application procedure: http://www.rug.nl/let/how-to-apply-MA After you complete your application, the IR Admissions Board will assess whether your educational/academic background meets the specific programme requirements, and will consider the level and curriculum of your previous studies. The Admissions Board will then determine whether:
|
| language test |
Additional requirements English: A VWO diploma or a subject certificate for VWO English (mark 6 or higher), minimum requirement of TOEFL iBT 90 (with a minimum of 21 on all items), or IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 on all items). Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 180. |
| Type of student | Deadline | Start course |
|---|---|---|
| Dutch students | 15 January 2025 | 01 February 2025 |
| 15 August 2025 | 01 September 2025 | |
| EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 | |
| non-EU/EEA students | 01 May 2025 | 01 September 2025 |
| 15 October 2025 | 01 February 2026 |
| Nationality | Year | Fee | Programme form |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA | 2024-2025 | € 2530 | full-time |
| non-EU/EEA | 2024-2025 | € 18700 | full-time |
| EU/EEA | 2025-2026 | € 2601 | full-time |
| non-EU/EEA | 2025-2026 | € 19200 | full-time |
Practical information for:
This Master's track has been designed for students who aspire to a career related to East Asia in international business, international cooperation, diplomacy, media and academia.
The Master programme in International Relations prepares its students for professions and research careers where knowledge of international-political developments and the ability to analyse and assess complex issues and to form grounded judgements are relevant.
Alumni of the East Asian Studies track work at:
Government:
Business:
Research and education:
Individual research topics of faculty members include:
- Economic Transition and Institutional Change in Asia
- Political Economy of China
- China and the World Economy
- Land Tenure and Land Governance in China
- Land Registration in China
- International Trade Law and China
- China-EU Relations
- 19th Century Business Cycles in China
- Religion in Modern China
- Private International Law and China
- Carbon Emission Trading and Competition Law in East Asia
- Political Economies of Global Health in Asia
- History of Japan
- Foreign Policy of Japan
- Japan-EU relations
- Technology and Culture in Contemporary Japan
- Regionalization in Asia
- Foreign and Security Policies of Korea
- Visual Politics and North Korea
- Foreign Policy of Mongolia.
For more information, visit the Centre for East Asian Studies (CEAS).
Are you interested in a research oriented career? Please also check our Research Master's Programme of International Relations.
If you have any questions or doubts about your studies, you can always contact the study advisor. He or she knows all the ins and outs of the program and personal planning. Study advisors are impartial and everything that is discussed is treated confidentially. They can also help you find the right institutions and student desks for your problems.
