Masters degrees in South East Asian Languages & Literature analyse the history, development and grammar of the South East Asian languages, as well as the literature of the region. These courses usually involve learning one of the South East Asian languages, so you may need to provide evidence that you’re adept at picking up new languages.
Related postgraduate specialisms include Pacific Asian Studies, East Asian Studies and South Asian Studies, as well as Postcolonial Studies and Comparative Literature.
The region of South East Asia encompasses countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand (among others), each with its own set of languages, dialects and literatures. Over 300 native languages are estimated to be spoken in Indonesia alone.
This linguistic diversity means that South East Asian Studies is a vast academic field, with plenty of scope for you to forge new academic pathways.
Some programmes involve studying abroad in a South East Asian country, an experience which can greatly improve your career prospects. You might choose to stay in South East Asia and work in an area like translation, but equally you could carry on in academia or another sector that requires excellent language or critical skills.
