About PhD Program,
Welcome to East Asian Studies. Princeton’s Ph.D. program in East Asian Studies (EAS) has long been recognized as one of the leading graduate programs of its kind in the Western world. At present, we offer doctoral (Ph.D.) training in Chinese and Japanese history and literature, Korean literature, cultural and media studies, anthropology of Japan, and in the transnational social and cultural study of contemporary East Asia.
With its current full-time faculty of ~40 professors and language instructors in the EAS department, frequent international visiting professors, and an additional 13 professors specializing on East Asia in the Departments of Art and Archaeology, Comparative Literature, Sociology, Religion, and Politics, Princeton is home to a vibrant community of scholars and students working on East Asia. All EAS historians have joint appointments in the Department of History.
The richness of class offerings and research interests of the combined faculty of the East Asian Studies Program and Princeton University at large offers students a unique opportunity to pursue training in the most varied fields related to China, Japan, and Korea. Students have the chance of acquiring skills, competences, and theoretical mastery in different disciplines within the humanities, media studies, and the social sciences. Research can be dedicated to the advancement of knowledge in established disciplines or in interdisciplinary form; it can be confined to one country or be transnational; and it can focus on specific time periods (antiquity, medieval, early modern, and modern) or cover wider spans of time.
The Graduate School maintains an informative website, and we encourage all prospective students to explore its many sections regarding general academic questions as well as issues such as housing, insurance, and benefits.
PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Students are expected to complete twelve graduate seminars during the first two years of study in addition to all necessary language classes. In exceptional cases, and with permission of the Director of Graduate Studies obtained prior to enrollment, a 400-level undergraduate seminar can be counted as one of the twelve seminars with the expectation that the work produced in the course is commensurate with graduate level work. The Director of Graduate Studies will determine the course load in each semester in consultation with the student and their advisor.
The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is normally an incidental degree on the way to full Ph.D. candidacy. It may be earned after a student has successfully completed all pre-general examination coursework (normally, at least twelve seminars); produced research papers using original sources in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean; and fulfilled departmental language requirements. It may also be awarded to students who, for various reasons, leave the Ph.D. program, provided that these requirements have been met.
PhD Funding Coverage,
At Princeton, we see a direct relationship between strong financial support and the capacity to break new academic ground. We guarantee full funding to all degree-seeking Ph.D. candidates during their regular enrollment period. It’s an investment in our students and also in the University community, cultivating a unique academic environment in which creative thinking and original scholarship thrive.
Application Requirement,
- Prepare
- Deadlines and Fees
- Academic Statement of Purpose
- Personal Statement
- Resume / Curriculum Vitae
- Letters of Recommendation
- Transcripts
- Fall Semester Grades
- Required Tests
- Writing Sample
- Statement of Financial Resources
Application Deadline,
Dec 01, 2024
Application Fee
application fee $75. View information about application fee waivers below.
