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Contemporary Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

  • The University of Tartu has a long tradition in oriental, cultural and religious studies.
  • The University of Tartu is ranked in the top 350 universities in the world (see Rankings and Surveys).
  • UT is home to many professors and researchers who specialise in modern-day Asian and Middle Eastern cultures, socio-economic trends, and political regimes. 
  • The programme offers multiple opportunities to do your fieldwork in East Asia and the Middle East.
  • After graduation, you can work in different areas dealing with Asian and/or Middle Eastern cultures, provide area-specific expertise to new businesses or create your own business or NGO (non-governmental organisation).

Contemporary Asian and Middle Eastern Studies programme prepares you to do business in Asian culture; you will gain knowledge in entrepreneurship, economics, diplomacy and international relations, providing an approach to social sciences.

Level of study: Master’s
Study language: English
Duration and credits: 2 years, 120 ECTS
Form of study: Regular study
Location: Tartu
Student places: 16
Tuition fee: 2100 EUR/semester
Tuition waivers: 1
Admission 2025: Jan 2 – 15 Mar 2025

Asia and the Middle East are two of the most fascinating and rapidly developing regions of the world, creating challenges and offering opportunities for the 21st century.

Join our English-taught master’s programme in Contemporary Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at The University of Tartu. We provide:

  • a comprehensive curriculum in Asian and Middle Eastern economies, politics, cultures, societies and languages (e.g. Japanese, Chinese, Korean);
  • opportunities to study different languages (e.g. Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Arabic);
  • and a multinational study environment.

The base module provides you with the necessary tools and knowledge to work with Asian and Middle Eastern countries – the courses focus on emerging markets, international law and international relations. Further, the module enables you to explore the cultures and societies of the regions in depth. The elective module lets you choose courses of interest with a regional and/or disciplinary focus. For example, you can choose to focus more on the business and economy of Asian countries or security politics and political development in the region. 

You can study in Europe, but the programme offers diverse opportunities to conduct your fieldwork at partner universities in East Asia or the Middle East. The recommended timeframe for mobility is during the third semester (second year).

The programme finishes with a master´s thesis in your specific field (economics, politics, international relations, religion, etc.), focusing on either Asia or the Middle East (depending on your interests and upon the availability of supervisors). The master´s thesis shows your ability to conduct independent work and apply theoretical concepts and methodology to analyse a specific scientific question.

The CAMES programme collaborates closely with the Asia Centre and the historical Centre for Oriental Studies at the University of Tartu. Students are welcome to attend visiting lectures and regular events organised by the Asia Centre and Centre for Oriental Studies and use the library at the Centre for Oriental Studies.



Our team consists of internationally acclaimed scholars worldwide, including from Asia. Among the multinational crowd of lecturers, you find experts in different fields of research and teaching, policy design and project management. Most importantly, we all emphasise new and interactive teaching methods, student-centred learning, and non-hierarchical work ethics.

To grant our students the most fruitful and rewarding teaching experience, we integrate our in-house staff with visiting scholars from distinguished European and Asian universities, such as Cambridge, Kanagawa, Tübingen, and Singapore.

EXPERTS AND VISIONARIES BEHIND THE PROGRAMME

Eva Liias
Programme Manager of Contemporary Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Visiting Lecturer

Tiia Vissak
Associate Professor of International Business, Head of the Business

Alevtina Solovyeva
Head of the Centre for Oriental Studies, Director of the Mongolian Research Laboratory

Elo Süld
Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies and Head of Asia Centre at the University of Tartu

Agnieszka Nitza-Makowska
Assistant Professor and Supervisor of Asian Studies in Collegium Civitas, Warsaw, Poland

Eiki Berg
Professor of International Relations Theory, Programme Director for International Relations and Regional Studies

Kikee Doma Bhutia
Research Fellow at the University of Tartu Asia Centre

Erki Lind
Lecturer in Religious Studies

Urmas Varblane
Academician, Professor of International Business

Anu Põldsam
Lecturer in Jewish Studies

René Värk
Associate Professor in International Law

Anastasia Sinitsyna
Researcher at the Asia Centre, University of Tartu

Robert Weatherley
Affiliated Researcher at Cambridge University

Liisi Karindi
nior Research Fellow at Estonian Business School, co-founder and the CEO of StratCommX

During the courses, we will also have guest lecturers from Finland, Sweden and Asian countries.

Why study Asian and Middle Eastern studies at the University of Tartu?
Courses of Contemporary Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Internship
Career opportunities
Extracurricular activities

Facilities

The studies take place in the University of Tartu Delta Centre. Opened in 2020, the Delta Centre comprises academic and research and entrepreneurship buildings and brings together more than 3000 students, lecturers, researchers, and company development employees. Read more about the University of Tartu Delta Centre here.

The academic and research building accommodates the Institute of Computer Sciences, the Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and some laboratories of the Institute of Technology.

Explore Tartu, the School of Business Administration and Economics, and the student dormitories through the university’s virtual tour.

PROGRAMME TIMELINE

  • Base module (30 ECTS)

    Theoretical knowledge to understand and interpret political, cultural and economic developments in Asia. To analyze and interpret developments in Asia in context of Estonia and/or Europe.

  • Methodology module (18 ECTS)

    Skills to write an academic research paper and apply scientific methods to present and interpret research findings.

  • Elective course module (36 ECTS)

    Theoretical and practical topics regarding political and economic developments in Asia. Students specialize based on research interests and chosen focus.

  • Language module (12 ECTS)

    Learn, at least at the basic level, the language or languages of chosen region or regions.

  • Optional courses module (4 ECTS)

  • Master’s thesis module (20 ECTS)

    Opportunity to study one topic in depth in accordance with discipline, interests and needs.

Further information

Contacts

Eva Liias
Programme Director MA Contemporary Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
eva.liias@ut.ee

Contact us


Welcome to the Delta Management School Community

Dear students, researchers, today’s and tomorrow’s partners and other interested parties! Delta Management School is a modern, multidisciplinary and experimental study, research and innovation centre. 

Delta Management School

University of Tartu Delta Building
Narva mnt 18 / 51009 Tartu / ESTONIA
Open every day 07.30 am – 08.00 pm
E-mail: majandus@ut.ee
Location map

Delta Café is open Monday to Friday 11 pm – 4:30 pm.
delta.kohvik@gmail.com / +372 5302 8944

Reception Desk (only technical information):
+372 737 6363; + 372 5331 4670

Parking for guests is available at the UT Sports Hall or Ujula Coop parking lots.

 

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