PhD programmes

Doctorate-level (PhD) study is your opportunity to make an original, positive contribution to learning in Asian studies.

Choose from four PhD programmes

We offer the following PhD programmes: 

Chinese PhDEast Asian Studies PhD
Japanese PhDKorean Studies PhD

Working with colleagues elsewhere in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, and across the wider University, we are able to support research which crosses boundaries between disciplines and/or languages.

What to do before you apply for a PhD in Asian Studies

Over the course of your PhD, you will be supervised by at least two members of academic staff with expertise in your area of research. 

Before you formally apply for a PhD through the University of Edinburgh’s online system, you are advised to acquaint yourself with the department, its staff and areas of expertise. 

This will help you to identify potential supervisors and ensure that your research proposal aligns with the department's strengths, thereby enhancing your chances of being accepted.  

Please do take some time to read over staff members’ profiles, research interests, and publications, to ensure that your project is something we can effectively supervise. We often have to reject candidates with strong applications because their proposed project falls outside our areas of specialisation. 

Find a supervisor

Please note that the staff listed here are eligible to supervise PhD research but may not currently be taking on new students. To check availability, or seek further advice on the best supervisory fit for your thesis, please contact our Departmental Postgraduate Research Director.

The Departmental Postgraduate Research Director will also be able to advise you about supervision expertise beyond your main subject area or discipline, including in other Schools at the University of Edinburgh. This is particularly useful if your research is interdisciplinary.

The following members of Asian Studies staff supervise PhD and MSc by Research students. Links will take you to staff profiles where you can further explore the specialisms summarised. 

Staff memberRoleSpecialisms
Professor Natascha GentzChair of Chinese StudiesMedia, politics and cultural studies
Professor Dr Joachim GentzChair of Chinese Philosophy and ReligionHistoriography, philosophy and religion
Professor Aaron MooreHanda Chair of Japanese-Chinese RelationsTransnational and comparative social history 
Dr Daniel HammondSenior Lecturer in Chinese Politics and SocietyPolitics and society
Dr Xuelei HuangSenior Lecturer in Chinese StudiesCinema, print culture, drama and literature in modern China
Dr Youngmi KimSenior Lecturer in Korean StudiesComparative politics and international relations
Dr Yuqing LiuLecturer in Chinese StudiesPoetry and language culture
Dr Abigail MacBainLecturer in Premodern Japanese StudiesPremodern Japanese history and religion
Dr Mark McLeisterLecturer in Chinese StudiesAnthropology, Christianity in China
Dr Helen ParkerLecturer in JapaneseTraditional and modern Japanese literature and performing arts
Dr Chris PerkinsSenior Lecturer in JapaneseJapanese student politics; contemporary Japanese culture and society
Dr Christopher RosenmeierSenior lecturer in ChineseModern literature
Dr Holly StephensLecturer in Japanese and Korean StudiesEconomic history, agriculture, empire, everyday life, and the emergence of the modern state in Japan and Korea

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