MAContemporary Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
| Study location | Estonia, Tartu |
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| Type | Postgraduate, full-time |
| Nominal duration | 2 years |
| Study language | English |
| Awards | MA (Master of Arts in Social Sciences (Contemporary Asian and Middle Eastern Studies)) |
| Tuition fee | €4,200 per year There are 6 tuition waivers available for top-ranked applicants in 2025, including 1 tuition waiver for EU/EEA/Swiss applicants, 5 tuition waivers for other applicants (regardless of citizenship). More information on tuition fees is available at www.ut.ee/tuition. NB! Applicants who are not citizens of EU/EEA/Switzerland must pre-pay half of the first semester’s tuition-fee after receiving an admission offer. |
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| Application fee | €100 one-time Application fee is non-refundable. |
| Entry qualification | Undergraduate diploma (or higher) Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification (must be obtained by the end of July) – for country-specific document requirements please see www.ut.ee/country-specific. Please be sure to also check further information and our step-by-step application guide at ut.ee/cames. The entry qualification documents are accepted in the following languages: English / Estonian. |
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| Language requirements | English All applicants must comply with our English language requirements. The only acceptable English tests and exempt categories are specified at www.ut.ee/requirements. |
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| Other requirements | A motivation letter must be added to your application. Please upload the final version of the motivation letter before submitting the application. It can not be edited after the application is submitted. The motivation letter is written in English and in free form. Its length is between 2500 and 3500 characters, with spaces. The motivation letter is to specify candidate’s motivation to study in the programme. The motivation letter may focus on the following questions: • How are the candidate’s previous studies and work experience related to topics covered in the curriculum? The following aspects will be considered in assessing the motivation letter (max 100 points): • Reasons for entering the programme and the connection between previous education and/or professional career, on the one hand, and the content of the programme, on the other (max 30 points); The interview The interview is a follow-up to the motivation letter. The interview is conducted online in English. The interviews take place on April 7 and 17, 2025. In April, once the motivation letters have been evaluated each qualifying applicant will be contacted personally via email by the programme’s admissions committee to schedule the exact time for the interview. In the interview, the candidate should be ready to discuss their motivation to take up studies in the CAMES programme. The candidate should also be able to describe their research interests in relation to the study programme and the practical knowledge they hope to get out of the programme. Each interview will be evaluated based on the following criteria: • Motivation and ambition (70%); The maximum score for the interview is 100 points, and the result is positive only if the applicant gains 51 points or more. General information regarding the online admission interview The University of Tartu uses different video communication programmes to conduct an online interview (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype, Big Blue Button). The admissions committee will notify you, which software programme will be used and when does the interview take place. The applicant needs the following for the online interview: • a computer or smart device. The computer or smart device must have a web camera, earphones and microphone (built-in or separate). As the applicant must be visually identified at the interview, the use of the web camera is mandatory, not recommended; At the online interview: • the applicant must have an identity document; The maximum score for the motivation letter is 100 points and the result is positive only if the applicant gains 51 points or more. Only those applicants who score 66 points or higher (out of 100) as a combined score from both the motivation letter and average grade of the previous study level, will be considered for admission. |
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| More information |
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Overview
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. By 2050, close to 60% of world’s consumers will live in the region, China will be an indisputable superpower, Hindi, Urdu and Arabic will dominate much of the world business, Islam will change and diversify due to its contact with modernity, and global migration will continue to put pressure on Europe and the Middle East.
Come 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.
In the base module focuses on Asian and Middle Eastern civilizations and mindsets, on economic developments and demographics in the region. Participating in active discussions you get an comparative perspective on understanding developments in Asia and Middle East. The elective module enables you to choose courses of your interest with a regional and/ or disciplinary focus.
An internship is mandatory in the programme, which prepares you for your future career and enables you to further develop your practical skills as well as extend your professional networks. For your internship you can access, for example, start-ups and companies or organizations and develop your skills and expertise in Asian or Middle Eastern cultures in a practical context.
You can study in Europe, but the programme also offers diverse opportunities to conduct your fieldwork at partner universities in East Asia or the Middle East. The recommended timeframe for the mobility is during the third semester (second year).
The programme finalizes with a Master´s thesis in your specific field (economics, politics, international relations, religion etc.) with a focus on either Asia or Middle East (depending on your interests and upon availability of supervisors). The Master´s thesis shows your ability to conduct independent work, apply theoretical concepts and methodology in order to analyze 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 warmly welcome to attend visiting lectures and regular events organized by the Asia Centre and Centre for Oriental Studies; and use the library at the Centre for Oriental Studies.
Why study Contemporary Asian and Middle Eastern Studies?
• UT is ranked in the top 200 universities in the world in politics (QS Rankings 2021).
• UT has a long tradition in oriental, cultural and religious studies.
• UT is home to many professors and researchers specialising 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 with refugees, start a diplomatic career, provide area-specific expertise to new businesses or create your own NGO.
Programme structure
Please see the programme structure in our Study Information System
Career opportunities
Our graduates have the skills and knowhow to work in with refugees at the UNHCR or become diplomats, provide area-specific expertise to new businesses or create their own NGO. You can engage with a vast range of topics from international relations and business to demographic trends and human rights management.
Whatever you choose, you can be sure that the need for experts in Asian and Middle Eastern studies is increasing both in public and private sector. We will do our very best to support your progress and future employment.
Eastern European Time
Eastern European Time