Research Degrees (MPhil/PhD) in Chinese and Inner Asian Studies
London, United Kingdom
PhD
DURATION
6 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 23,390 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for international students | GBP 5055 - for home students
Key Summary
About: SOAS University of London offers MPhil and PhD research in Chinese and Inner Asian studies on its central London campus. You’ll work with literary, documentary and archival sources and may do fieldwork in area languages. Joint supervision is possible. You register as an MPhil and may upgrade to PhD after the first academic session (full time) or after the second (part time). Training includes Doctoral School research modules, departmental seminar, Research Data Management plan and online Research Ethics training. The thesis must not exceed 100,000 words.
Career Outcomes: Alumni work in academic, government, media, museums, NGOs and business.
The China and Inner Asia Department supervises MPhil and PhD degrees by research and thesis in a wide range of cultural and linguistic subjects. Research students may work on literary, documentary and archive materials in area languages and/or conduct fieldwork.
Joint supervision with other SOAS departments is possible where necessary. Students register initially as MPhil and may upgrade to PhD following the departmental upgrade process (end of first academic session for full-time students; end of second academic session for part-time students).
Training includes SOAS Doctoral School generic research training (semester one module compulsory, semester two optional), a departmental Research Training Seminar, completion of a Research Data Management plan and online Research Ethics training. The thesis must not exceed 100,000 words and is examined by two leading authorities.
- Tibawi Trust Award
- Felix Scholarships
- SOAS Teaching Scholarships
- Year 1: Students register as MPhil; undertake Doctoral School generic training (semester one compulsory, semester two optional); attend departmental Research Training Seminar; submit a 5,000-word Common Core Research Module piece (mid-December) and (for full-time Year 1) submit a core chapter and research proposal (~10,000 words) by mid-May for upgrade assessment; complete Research Ethics training and a Research Data Management plan.
- Year 2: Normally spent on research (fieldwork, library research, material collection) as agreed with supervisors.
- Year 3: Devoted to writing up the PhD thesis; students present draft chapters to supervisors and give departmental research seminar presentations. On completion of a full draft, the supervisory committee assesses readiness for submission; students may be granted Continuation Status for a further 12 months. The thesis must be completed within 48 months from registration (or part-time equivalent). The thesis must not exceed 100,000 words and is examined by two leading authorities.
- Ranked 7th in the UK for Asian Studies (Complete University Guide 2026)
- Ranked 12th in the UK for Modern Languages (QS World University Rankings 2026)
Graduates from the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures develop competencies in intercultural awareness, analysis and communication.
Our alumni are found in academic and government posts, journalism and other media, museums, art galleries, aid agencies, libraries, charities, medicine, and businesses worldwide.
Recent graduate employers include:
- Accenture
- Amazon
- Bloomberg LP
- Department for Work and Pensions
- European Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea
- European Commission
- ITN
- Japanese Government
- Korea Trade Centre (KOTRA)
- KPMG
- Mizuho Bank
- Nagahama Board of Education
- Nanjing Museum
- Pinsent Masons LLP
- PwC
- Seoul Metropolitan Government
- Shelterbox
- UNDP
- Supervision across a wide range of cultural and linguistic subjects relating to China and Inner Asia.
- Possibility of joint supervision with other SOAS departments.
- Strong interdisciplinary support and dedicated research training (Doctoral School and departmental seminars).
- Extensive SOAS Library collections and specialist facilities.
- Subject rankings highlighted on the page (7th for Asian Studies, 12th for Modern Languages in stated guides).