This programme is designed to equip students with essential skills in understanding modern Asia as a region, keeping in sight its sub-regional dynamics, and its relation to an increasingly interconnected world. This knowledge will not only help to upgrade their professional abilities but will also ensure that they are equipped with the necessary tools to understand the global and regional forces that shape our region. It will provide advanced training for students seeking to upgrade their analytical capacity, research and data collection skills as well as their communication and presentation capacities.

To be eligible for admission, you must satisfy the General Entrance Requirements and

• have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a recognized tertiary institution or an equivalent qualification.
• One or more years of working experience in a related field would be an advantage.

Applicants whose entrance qualification is obtained from an institution where the medium of instruction is not English should also fulfill the following minimum English proficiency requirement:

• TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based test) or 79 (internet-based test); or
• Overall band score of 6.5 in International English Language Testing System (IELTS); or
• Score 450 in the new College English Test (CET-6) of Chinese mainland or a pass in the old CET-6 test; or
• Other equivalent qualifications

There are four core courses:

• Asian Regional Governance
• The State and Economy in East Asia
• Political and Social Change in Southeast Asia and the Region
• Pop Culture in East Asia

Plus up to four electives from the following:

• Special Topics in Development Studies
• Research Design for the Social Sciences
• Authoritarian Resilience and Democratic Change in East Asia
• East Asia and the US: Conflict and Interdependence
• Environmental Challenges in Asia and the World
• Human Rights in Asia
• BRIC Countries and the Emerging Global Order
• Special Topics in Asian and International Studies
• Fieldwork Studies
• Religion and Development
• International Organisations
• Women and Politics in Asia
• History of Sino-Japanese Relations
• Power and Culture in Buddhist Southeast Asia
• Development Policy and Advocacy
• Gender and Development
• Welfare Regimes and Social Protection in Asia
• Disaster Management, Development and Regional Governance in Asia
• Indonesia: Politics and Society
• Labour and Development
• Infrastructure Development in China
• AIS Postgraduate Internship
• Social Change and Urbanisation in Contemporary China
• Political Contention in Contemporary China
• Thesis (6 credit units)

Students will acquire the ability:

1. independently identify the forces shaping the interplay of Asian regional, sub-regional, and global dynamics in social as well as governance contexts;
2. identify theoretical debates in the analyses of regional issues across the fields of history, culture, religion, political economy, political science, and security studies;
3. investigate governance challenges facing regional organizations, governments, markets and civil societies; and
4. apply advanced research skills to contemporary regional and sub-regional problems.

The Programme, commencing in 2014, is the first and the ONLY one of its kind in Hong Kong that develops expertise on issues of Modern Asian Studies. This is an essential skill for anyone who wants to understand the future and forge an international, successful career.

The Department of Asian and International Studies is the only academic department dedicated to the study of this subject in Hong Kong.

You will be taught by a group of Asian and International scholars who have research and teaching expertise as well as in-country professional experience, providing you with unparalleled access to the latest knowledge and research.

Course Descriptions
Department of Asian and International Studies
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences