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University College Cork

Asian Studies

Overview
The MA in Asian Studies may be taken full time over one year or part time over two or three years from the date of first registration. The course offers a range of taught modules relating to Asian Studies across several disciplines, with further options including up to 20 credits of language study (Chinese, Korean, Japanese); up to 10 credits of relevant undergraduate modules and an option to spend a study period in Asia. The course is designed to meet the needs of a range of graduates with diverse interests in Asian Studies.

Course objectives:

to cater for the growing interest in and awareness of Asia in Ireland by providing language and academic study in a range of Asia-related fields

to equip you to pursue further studies and/or work in Asia or Asia-related fields

There is an educational and market niche in Ireland for a unique and broadly conceived taught MA in Asian Studies designed for graduates with little or no previous background in Asian Studies who are interested in studying aspects of societies, cultures, languages and the arts across the wider Asian region. Making language study available, but optional, also makes the course appealing to a wider range of students. Removing the previous requirement to spend a substantial period of time in Asia within a fee-paying course should make it more attractive to potential students, including those who have already lived in Asia or intend to visit Asia in the future.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a Bachelor's honours degree with at least Second Class Honours, Grade II, or equivalent in one of the following areas: Arts, Humanities, Social Science, History, Business, Science, or Engineering. Applicants may be required to attend an interview prior to selection.

Applicants who do not meet the normal academic or requirements may also be considered following a review of their individual qualifications by the course committee. Admission of such applicants will be subject to the approval of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences.

Prospective applicants should contact the School of Asian Studies at UCC for further information.

If you are applying with Qualifications obtained outside Ireland and you wish to verify if you meet the minimum academic and English language requirements for this programme please click here to view the grades comparison table by country and for details of recognised English language tests.

Non-EU Candidates

Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to Irish university primary degree level. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. To verify if you meet the minimum academic requirements for this programme please visit our qualification comparison pages.

Duration

1 year Full-time; 2 years Part-time; 3 years Part-time.

Additional Teaching Mode Information
The part-time option will be taught during weekday working hours.

Lectures in UCC take place from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 6pm.

Teaching Hours per week vary depending on module choices and language selection.

See module options in the Postgraduate College Calendar Postgraduate College Calendar for more details but be aware timetables are not available until term start date.

Careers or further progression

What can I do after I graduate with an MA in Asian Studies?

Many of todays students will be pursuing careers either based in Asia or involving significant contact with Asian colleagues and contacts in Ireland, Europe or further afield. With an MA in Asian Studies you will feel confident in dealing with many aspects of Asia, whether in business, education, politics or development. The School of Asian Studies has also built useful links with organisations such as Enterprise Ireland, the Asia Trade Forum and the Irish Exporters Association, which provide a good network for our students hoping to work for Irish companies in Asia, or Asian companies in Ireland.

Our MA will also give you a unique perspective on your own culture, making you more self-aware and culturally sensitive, as well as give you the opportunity to learn Chinese, Korean or Japanese; these are increasingly valuable attributes in a globalising world and there are growing recruitment rates among employers for graduates with knowledge of an Asian language.

Occupations associated with an MA in Asian Studies:

An MA in Asian Studies is an excellent qualification to prepare you for a diverse range of professional fields.

Possible careers include:

Business and financial project management professionals
Buyers and procurement officers
Conference and exhibition managers and organisers
Customer service occupations
Human resources administrative occupations
International student recruitment officers
Marketing and sales professionals
Officers of non-governmental organisations
Public relations professionals
Teaching and other educational professionals
Translators
University researchers -Pursue studies further and register to do a PhD

Further enquiries

Contact details for this course
Dr. Till Weingartner
till.weingartner@ucc.ie
T: +353-21-4902410

Subjects taught

Programme Requirements:

Students are required to take 90 credits; Part 1 comprising 60 credits of taught modules and Part 2 comprising 30 credits (Dissertation).

Full time (12 months)
Students take 60 credits, normally delivered in Teaching Periods 1 and 2 (September to April), and complete the 30-credit dissertation in Research Period 3 (May-September).

Part time (24 months)
In Year 1 students taken 25-40 credits in Teaching Periods 1 and/or 2. In Year 2 students take the remaining taught credits required (up to 35 credits in Teaching Periods 1 and/or 2 ). In Year 2 students also undertake the 30 credit dissertation in Teaching Periods 2 and Research Period 3.

Part time (36 months)
In Year 1 students take 15-30 credits in Teaching Periods 1 and/or 2. In Year 2 students take 15-30 credits in Teaching Periods 1 and/or 2. In Year 3 students taken any remaining credits required in taught courses (up to 30 credits) in Teaching Period 1 and/or 2, and complete the 30 credit dissertation over the course of this final year.

Assessment method

Each module has a different form assessment. For more information please see the current Book of Modules.

Application date

Closing dates

Closing Dates for Application

Applications for 2018 start dates will open on November 1st 2017.

EU Applicants: UCC operates a rounds closing date system for the majority of postgraduate taught programmes (detailed below).

Some programmes have a specific closing date. Applicants are advised to consult with the postgraduate prospectus for programmes with a specific closing date.

The UCC rounds EU application system closing dates for Postgraduate Taught courses are detailed below. However, we would advise applicants to apply as soon as possible.

Deadline for receipt of Applications: Offers will be made:
For all completed applications received by January 15th 2018 Offers will be made by January 29th 2018

For all completed applications received by March 1st 2018 Offers will be made by March 15th 2018

For all completed applications received by May 1st 2018
Offers will be made by May 15th 2018

For all completed applications received by July 2nd 2018
Offers will be made by July 16th 2018

Late applications may be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis for any courses that have remaining capacity for places.

While there is no official closing date for Research courses applicants are advised to submit their application at least two months ahead of their proposed start date. There are four official Research start dates September/October, January, April and July.

Non-EU Applicants:

Please visit the following page for further information for Non EU applicants http://www.ucc.ie/en/international/studyatucc/postgraduateprogrammes/tau...