Quick Index:
1. What is required in the application?
- An application form, available online through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences website;
- A statement of purpose;
- Transcripts from all universities attended;
- Official GRE General Test scores (UVa's code is 5820);
- Official TOEFL scores if your undergraduate degree was conferred by a non-English language institution;
- Two letters of recommendation.
2. What about a writing sample?
An academic/critical writing sample is recommended, but not required. If you choose to submit one, it should be between ten and twenty pages, and should be indicative of your academic capacity and achievement. A paper on a subject relevant to East Asia is most helpful.
3. Can I submit other materials with the application?
Yes. Applicants in the past have submitted their resumes or CVs, additional letters of recommendation, or other documents relevant to their experience or education.
4. Do you accept students from China or Japan?
Yes. The M.A. program seeks to give students a broad comparative perspective on East Asia, both across regions and across disciplines. This wider perspective benefits students wishing to study their own country.
5. Do you offer financial aid?
We generally do not offer grant assistance to students in the M.A. program. Nevertheless, highly qualified applicants will be considered for Teaching Assistantship in the second year of the M.A. program. Many students in the program find part-time work at the University or in Charlottesville to help defray expenses.
6. What are the application deadlines?
- May 1 for Fall Admission
- October 1 for Spring Admission
7. Should I be proficient in an Asian language before I apply to the program?
The degree requires third-year proficiency in Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Tibetan. Though language proficiency is not necessary for admission to the program, students should allow themselves time to gain proficiency, understanding that credits earned through languages courses do not count towards the required number of credits for the degree.
8. Can I study Southeast Asian nations in the program?
In a word, no. Our program is focused mostly on China and Japan; we also have courses in Sino-Tibetan studies and a very limited number of courses on Korean studies. We do not have sufficient course offerings to warrant a concentration in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, or other Southeast Asian/Pacific countries. When offered, though, a limited number of courses on Southeast Asia may be counted towards the degree.
9. Do you offer a Ph.D. in East Asian Studies?
No. At this time, we only offer the interdisciplinary M.A. However, many departments doctoral programs allow concentration in East Asia. Graduate students have recently written dissertations involving East Asia in the departments of anthropology, art history, history, politics, and religious studies.