Korean Studies

Entry requirements

MScR: A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a related subject.

PhD: A UK 2:1 honours degree and a masters degree, or their international equivalents, in a related subject. We may also consider your application if you have equivalent qualifications or experience; please check with your potential supervisor before you apply.

Months of entry

January

Course content

The Korean peninsula lies at the centre of landmark geopolitical developments in the early 21st century. North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme and tensions between the two Koreas serve as stark reminders of the fragility of regional and global orders. South Korea has become a major global economic player and an important actor in development assistance. Additionally, Korean culture (including pop culture) has surged to global popularity over the past decade and exported across the globe. Understanding Korean culture, history, current political and economic developments, and international relations is therefore crucial to make sense of key processes in global security, economics, and politics in Asia and beyond.

The MSc by Research in Korean Studies is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to critically engage with these developments through recognised Masters-level training in both Korean Studies and East Asian Studies with a focus on history, society, the economy, urban studies, public policy, political science, and international relations. Additionally, the programme equips you with the methodological skills required to carry out independent research.

You will receive introductory training in both quantitative and qualitative methods, with the opportunity to receive additional, more advanced training. This methodological focus, combined with strong country and regional expertise and a multi-disciplinary training will be of particular interest to you if you are considering this postgraduate degree as a pathway to further research degrees.

The unique combination of Korean, East Asian and disciplinary expertise will enable you to acquire both in-depth knowledge about the Korean peninsula and the analytical skills to make connections between the Korean experience and other countries in the East Asian region and beyond.

The MSc by Research programme will introduce a variety of innovative assignments to draw on your interests and talents. The various assignments include video-essays, podcasts, blogs, Wikipedia entries, policy briefs and reviewing articles or editorials.

During the induction week, you will have various seminar and workshops where you will be familiarised with new assignments and their requirements. Active participation among students and between students and instructors will be encouraged not only in the traditional classroom format but also online through collective lecture note taking and in group forum on Learn.