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    MA
    2025 start September 

    Politics and Media in East Asia

    School of East Asian Studies, Faculty of Arts and Humanities

    Focusing on East Asia, learn about how news and current affairs coverage can influence the way we see the world and how countries can influence each other, while setting political agendas.
    East Asian Studies postgraduate at desk

    Course description

    This course offers comprehensive training addressing both international political issues and media trends in East Asia. You will learn about major international and domestic political trends in the region, while developing a comprehensive understanding of the role media plays in these developments.

    Modules

    A selection of modules is available each year - some examples are below. There may be changes before you start your course. From May of the year of entry, formal programme regulations will be available in our Programme Regulations Finder.

    Project

    The dissertation is designed to assess the research, analytical, writing and (where applicable) language skills developed in the course of the year. It requires that students work independently, with the support of a supervisor, as they formulate a research question, identify the materials necessary to answer it analytically, and produce an appropriately structured, coherently argued, and fully referenced answer to that question, within the scope of the dissertation format.

    60 credits
    Media, Culture and Society in East Asia

    This module introduces key ideas surrounding media and culture in the context of East Asian society. Via selected case studies we will explore issues such as power and control, propaganda, politics of memory, politics of representation, media production and consumption, globalisation, transnational cultural exchange, media and nationhood and the changing status of the creative industries in East Asia. This course will examine a variety of media products including film, TV, radio, digital archives, animation, memorials and museums and will engage with the media and culture of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the PRC respectively. 

    15 credits
    International Politics in East Asia

    This module examines the major structures, actors, and ideas shaping international politics in East Asia today. A major aim is to introduce students to new theories about international order and identity linked to emerging trends in the region. Central themes address changing power dynamics and international order; regional identity and Asian centrism; leadership and the emerging multilateral architecture; and the future of ASEAN-led regionalism. The module explores both traditional and emerging challenges facing the region on the basis of a special forum on media and foreign policy analysis, interactive seminars, group tasks, and team projects. Special topics include the crisis on the Korean Peninsular, the Taiwan Strait, maritime disputes, and environmental threats.

    15 credits

    The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it's up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research; funding changes; professional accreditation requirements; student or employer feedback; outcomes of reviews; and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.

    Open days

    An open day gives you the best opportunity to hear first-hand from our current students and staff about our courses.
    Open days and campus tours

    Duration

    1 year full-time

    Teaching

    There are lectures and small-group seminars.

    Assessment

    You'll be assessed on a variety of Module Level Assessment pieces (MLA) and one Programme Level Assessment (PLA) each semester. You'll also be assessed on a year-long Graduate Project, under the supervision of specialist staff.

    Your career

    Knowledge about both political and media trends in East Asia is highly valuable for careers in the media industry, journalism, consulting, and NGOs, specialising in East Asia and the Pacific region.

    Our graduates are also excellent candidates for government posts, including Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Cultural Affairs, Defence, Intelligence, Home Office and Customs. The broad conceptual training will also prepare you for further studies in the doctoral level in the field of politics and media.

    School

    School of East Asian Studies

    Our courses are designed to immerse you in the languages and cultures of East Asian countries. They're based on world-leading research and led by experts whose work influences policy and informs public debate.

    You'll be taught by native speakers in Chinese, Japanese and Korean in regular small group classes using custom-made course material.

    Most of our staff publish in their specialist field and many of them have written books for major publishers such as Oxford University Press, Routledge and Macmillan.

    Facilities

    Our students get to make the most of the University's facilities across campus. Explore some of the teaching, library and social spaces you'll be able to visit as an arts and humanities student.

    Entry requirements

    Minimum 2:1 undergraduate honours degree in any subject.

    We also consider a wide range of international qualifications:

    Entry requirements for international students

    We assess each application on the basis of the applicant’s preparation and achievement as a whole. We may accept applicants whose qualifications don’t meet the published entry criteria but have other experience relevant to the course.

    The lists of required degree subjects and modules are indicative only.  Sometimes we may accept subjects or modules that aren’t listed, and sometimes we may not accept subjects or modules that are listed, depending on the content studied.

    English language requirements

    IELTS 6.5 (with 6 in each component) or University equivalent

    Pathway programme for international students

    If you're an international student who does not meet the entry requirements for this course, you have the opportunity to apply for a pre-masters programme in Business, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Sheffield International College. This course is designed to develop your English language and academic skills. Upon successful completion, you can progress to degree level study at the University of Sheffield.

    If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact the school/department.

    Apply

    You can apply now using our Postgraduate Online Application Form. It's a quick and easy process.

    The school running this course will change its name before September 2025. On the online application form, please select Faculty of Arts and Humanities and School of Languages, Arts and Societies when applying for this course.

    Apply now

    Any supervisors and research areas listed are indicative and may change before the start of the course.

    Our student protection plan

    Recognition of professional qualifications: from 1 January 2021, in order to have any UK professional qualifications recognised for work in an EU country across a number of regulated and other professions you need to apply to the host country for recognition. Read information from the UK government and the EU Regulated Professions Database.