East Asian Studies and Social Anthropology

East Asian studies and social anthropology is a combination that brings specialist knowledge of the cultures, languages, histories, and societies of East Asia together with the comparative, ethnographic framework that social anthropology provides for understanding human social life in its full diversity. East Asia, encompassing China, Japan, Korea, and the surrounding region, is one of the most economically significant and culturally rich parts of the world, and understanding it in depth, including its classical traditions, modern transformations, and contemporary political and economic dynamics, is of growing importance in a world shaped by the rise of Asia. Social anthropology provides the methodological and theoretical tools for engaging with that diversity rigorously and comparatively.

At the School of Oriental and African Studies, which has a unique concentration of expertise in the languages, cultures, and histories of Asia and the wider non-Western world, this three-year full-time degree with a foundation year brings these two strands together. SOAS's specialist resources, including language teaching to advanced levels, specialist library collections, and faculty whose research is rooted in first-hand fieldwork and area expertise, provide an exceptional environment for this kind of study. The foundation year provides an accessible entry route for students building their academic foundations.

Graduates from East Asian Studies and Social Anthropology are well placed for careers in international business, diplomacy, journalism, development, education, and organisations working with or in East Asia. Translation and interpreting, international policy, academic research, and cultural organisations are further destinations. The combination of area-specific knowledge and anthropological analytical skills is valued by employers in government, international organisations, and the business community who need people who can understand East Asian contexts with genuine depth and cross-cultural sensitivity.

Postgraduate study in East Asian studies, anthropology, international relations, or Asian business is a natural next step. The typical entry tariff is 120 points.