Overview

About the program

The Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Toronto is a place for learning and research about the cultures of China, Japan, and Korea, and their interactions with one another and the rest of the world.

An emphasis is placed on interregional and interdisciplinary work, including the fields of history, literature, philosophy, cinema, and cultural studies in modern and premodern times. Prospective students must come to the program with strong skills in at least one East Asian language.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Chinese Cultural and Historical Studies
Memory and Trauma in Critical East Asian Historical Perspective
Modern Korean History Seminar
Comparative Historical Socialisms in East Asia and Beyond
Identity and Diaspora in Modern Taiwanese Literature
Korean Literary Translation
Mid-century Modernism in the Koreas: Literature, War, and Decolonization
The City, Body, and Text in Modern Japanese Literature
Mahayana Sutra Literature
Writing Women in Premodern China
The Rhetoric of Photography

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-08 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-08 00:00:00

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

100

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IELTS

7

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Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Toronto, Canada

Disciplines

Area & Cultural Studies Asian studies View 19 other PhDs in Area & Cultural Studies in Canada

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Academic requirements

GPA

A-

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

7

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Normally, completion of the MA program in the Department of East Asian Studies, or its equivalent from a recognized university, with an average grade of at least A–.
Statement of approximately 500 words (two pages) setting out the student's main fields of interest and proposed course of study.
Three letters of recommendation from scholars who have knowledge of previous academic work.
Programs are based on the study of original texts. This presupposes knowledge of the relevant languages.
A 10- to 15-page sample of the applicant's academic writing in English.
Applicants educated outside Canada whose primary language is not English, and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English, must provide results of an English-language proficiency examination as part of their application.

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Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

6210 CAD / year

≈ 6210 CAD / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

6210 CAD / year

≈ 6210 CAD / year

Living costs

Toronto

Canada

1502 - 2563 CAD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find PhD's scholarship opportunities for East Asian Studies.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

About the program

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Student Insurance via Studyportals Partner

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic Applies to you

Living costs

Toronto

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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