Graduates of the doctoral program in Asian History and Culture are highly qualified specialists in the area of their specialization. Their excellent command of a selected Asian language enables them to work critically with primary sources, and they have a solid grounding in secondary literature and contemporary research. Their excellent level of erudition enables them to pursue careers in the academia (universities, research centers, etc.); they can, moreover, seek employment in cultural institutions, diplomacy, mass media, specialized think-tanks, etc.

SOAS has an international reputation for excellence in the field of South Asian studies earned by the world-leading research undertaken. The South Asia Section of the School of Languages, Cultures, and Linguistics welcomes applications for the degrees of PhD on any topic related to the research interests and disciplines of the Department’s research-active staff. Prospective candidates should consult the details of the various staff members’ research areas and adapt their proposals accordingly.

Research Degrees (MPhil/PhD) in South Asian Studies has an international reputation for excellence in the field of South Asian studies earned by the world-leading research undertaken. The South Asia Section of the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics welcomes applications for the degrees of PhD on any topic related to the research interests and disciplines of the Department’s research-active staff.

Research Degrees (MPhil/PhD) in Japanese and Korean Studies is able to supervise MPhil and PhD degrees by research and thesis in a wide range of cultural and linguistic subjects. Intending research students should not feel constrained to limit their choice of topics to those indicated against the names of current staff members (postgraduate students have recently been working on a range of topics that include Japanese cinema, Kabuki texts, modern Japanese linguistics and literature, Meiji historical texts, Korean linguistics and literature, Korean colonial and eighteenth-century history).

The China and Inner Asia Department is able to supervise MPhil and PhD degrees by research and thesis in a wide range of cultural and linguistic subjects. Intending research students should not feel constrained to limit their choice of topics to those indicated against the names of current staff members (postgraduate students have recently been working on such diverse topics as colour symbolism in ancient Chinese texts, Chinese cinema, Chinese Braille systems, and translation studies).

Are you interested in developing a deeper knowledge of a region or country of Central Eurasia? The Ph.D. program in Central Eurasian Studies at HLS will allow you to work with renowned faculty and graduate well-prepared for an academic career at the university level. You'll develop expertise in the culture, history, and language of a region within this vast and critical part of the world. In the Ph.D. program, you will select a region of specialization, and take interdisciplinary courses focused on the region, as well as language courses and electives. Additionally, you will select a minor in an outside department or program to complement your research interests.

The Ph.D. program in Eurasian Studies is designed to train versatile and internationally competitive scholars by combining a core curriculum of key concepts in the humanities and social sciences, with practical training in necessary writing and research techniques, as well as rigorous subject-specific training across at least two disciplines.