The MA Taiwan Studies programme is the first and only postgraduate degree focussing on contemporary Taiwan in the English-speaking world. It provides an unrivalled programme of advanced interdisciplinary courses on Taiwan’s politics, society and culture, cinema, political economy, and international relations.

SOAS is the world’s leading centre for Taiwan Studies teaching, academic events and publications. Each year the Centre of Taiwan Studies runs a very vibrant series of academic events, film screenings, workshops and conferences that are designed to create a unique environment for the study of Taiwan.

Why study Taiwan Studies at SOAS?

• We are ranked 15th in the UK for Arts and Humanities (QS World University Rankings 2023)
• We are ranked 12th in the UK for Modern Languages (QS World University Rankings 2023)
• SOAS offers the most extensive Taiwan Studies teaching programme of any European or American university.
• The SOAS Centre of Taiwan Studies is the most active Taiwan Studies programme in the world, holding a rich programme of Taiwan related events. These include the popular Taiwan Summer School, film screening programmes, annual Taiwan Lectures, as well as student dialogue events with cultural and political practitioners. Over the year students will get the chance to meet many of the key figures on their Taiwan class reading lists on our events programme.
• SOAS is also the world’s leading centre for Taiwan Studies publications, hosting the Routledge Research on Taiwan book series and International Journal of Taiwan Studies. Therefore, each year students will be able join a number of Taiwan book launch events.

Graduates from the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures develop competencies in intercultural awareness, analysis and communication. Demand for specialists with advanced proficiency in the languages of China, Japan and Korea has significantly increased in recent years, and graduates with these skills are highly sought after by employers.