PhD East Asian Languages and Cultures at Columbia University

Programme overview

An interdisciplinary programme in the literature, culture, history and languages of China, Japan, Korea, Tibet and Vietnam, emphasizing critical methodology and comparative study.

Faculty: Graduate School of Arts and Sciences | Department: East Asian Languages and Cultures | Intake: Fall | Study mode: full-time | Location: New York, NY, United States

What you will study

Students can take East Asian courses in political science, sociology, anthropology, art, law, history and business, with interdisciplinary links to Religion, History and Comparative Literature and Society. The C.V. Starr East Asian Library holds over half a million volumes in Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Students earn the MA and MPhil en route.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

For Tibetan Studies, prior Tibetan language training is highly desirable and Chinese training may strengthen the application; language preparation is considered case by case. Applicants submit one transcript per school attended, a statement of academic purpose, a personal statement and a resume. Three letters of evaluation (at least two from academic recommenders). Writing sample: 15 to 20 pages, double-spaced. GRE General and GRE Subject scores are not required. International applicants whose undergraduate degree is from an institution in a country whose official language is not English submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test scores. Fall 2027 entry application deadline: December 3, 2026.

Intake: Fall

Apply through the official page: https://www.gsas.columbia.edu/content/prospective-students

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