East Asian Studies and Global Development

East Asian studies and global development together address two of the most pressing sets of questions in the contemporary world. East Asian studies examines the histories, cultures, politics, and languages of countries including China, Japan, South Korea, and their neighbours, asking how societies in this region have developed, what drives their current dynamism, and how they engage with the rest of the world. Global development brings a critical lens to questions of poverty, inequality, governance, environmental sustainability, and the political economy of change in the Global South and beyond.

Together, the two disciplines build a genuinely international and analytical perspective.

At the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, this three-year full-time programme combines area expertise with the theoretical and methodological tools of development studies. You will engage with the languages, cultures, and political histories of East Asia while also studying the frameworks of development economics, political science, sociology, and human geography that help make sense of how and why change happens at the global level. The programme includes a foundation year for students who benefit from building their academic skills and subject knowledge before entering the main degree, making it accessible to a wider range of applicants with the potential to succeed.

Graduates from this joint degree are well placed for careers in international development organisations, NGOs, government, and the private sector in roles that require genuine regional expertise combined with analytical breadth. Careers in diplomacy, journalism, research, policy, and international business are all natural destinations. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in development studies, East Asian studies, international relations, or related fields, deepening their expertise and positioning themselves for specialist roles in academia or practice.