Politics and International Relations (East Asia)

MSc Politics and International Relations (East Asia) applicants should apply for MSc Politics and International Relations but can decide to follow the East Asia pathway upon arrival by choosing the pathway's required combination of modules.

SOAS is a global leader in East Asian Studies, housing several prestigious research centers, including the London Asia-Pacific Centre for Social Science as well as the SOAS China Institute, the Centre of Taiwan Studies, the Centre of Korean Studies, and the Japan Research Centre. SOAS also hosts the world-leading China Quarterly.

The East Asia pathway encourages an in-depth examination of the region’s political landscape, considering both domestic and international dimensions. How do globalisation, nationalism, nuclear competition, and urban development shape the politics of East Asia? What are the underlying factors that influence the politics of ethnicity, religion, and gender in the region?

The East Asia pathway allows students to explore the formal and informal politics of China, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea, as well as the broader region and, indeed, the wider world. It is designed for those with an interest in a wide range of public and private-sector careers focused on economic, political, social, strategic, and global trends associated with the politics of East Asia.

The MSc Politics and International Studies is designed to train students in research skills to the level prescribed by the ESRC's research training guidelines. As a result, students are eligible for ESRC funding if they plan to study for our MSc degree followed by a PhD in our department.

Why study MSc Politics and International Relations (East Asia) at SOAS?

• SOAS is ranked 5th in the UK and 16th worldwide for Politics (QS World University Rankings 2026).
• We're ranked 3rd in the world for Academic Reputation in Politics (QS World University Rankings 2026).
• We're ranked 6th in the UK for Asian Studies (Complete University Guide 2025).
• SOAS is unique - our global student body, multi-disciplinary approach, critical and questioning attitude contribute to a vibrant learning environment that stretches students beyond the focus on basic ‘skills training’.
• Eligibility for ESRC funding for students who want to follow their MSc degree with a PhD.

Study Tours

All postgraduate students can take part in our Study Tours and explore the world. Destinations include New Delhi, Lahore, Seoul, Luang Prabang, Almaty and Bishkek, Kigali, Johannesburg, and Doha. For more information, see our Study Tours page. We recommend the tour to Seoul.