Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-requisites and Requirements

Do I need TOEFL or IELTS?
If your first language is English you prove your knowledge with a higher secondary education certificate which includes English. English language proficiency can also be demonstrated by for example IELTS, TOEFL etc.

For more information on the English requirements as well as information regarding exemptions, please visit the universityadmissions.se web site. 
Universityadmissions.se/English requirements (new window) 

Where shall I send my TOEFL/IELTS test?
The TOEFL tests should be sent straight from Educational Testing Service (ETS). The institution code of University Studies in Sweden is SWEDEN 9520.  You must provide this code in order for your results to be reported to University Studies.

I will not finish my BA until the summer, can I still apply?
Yes, you can apply even though you have not yet finished your degree. However, you need to enclose a document from your home university that states when you are scheduled to finish your degree, which degree you will be receiving, and also ask for a transcript of the courses that you have finished so far.

Application and Admission

When is the application deadline?
The deadline for the application for the programme beginning in the autumn semester 2013 is 15 January, 2013. Supporting documents must have arrived by 1 February 2013.
Key dates (new window)

I have applied to the master programme before unsuccessfully, can I re-apply?
Yes, you can re-apply to the programme.

I have only one original copy of my degree certificate, do I need to submit this in my application?
It is acceptable to submit a certified copy of your degree certificate, preferably signed and authorized by the university, or else by a recognized notary office. However, you might be accepted on the condition that you show your original degree certificate at the time of registration at Lund University. According to university regulations, if you fail to provide the necessary and authentic documents for inspection you cannot be registered and will not be permitted to participate in the programme

Do you offer a January entry?
No, we only have intakes of new students in the autumn.

Does work experience improve my chances for admission?
We don’t require any work experience but base our selection on academic performance. However, non-academic activities and work of relevance might also be taken into account if students otherwise have equal merits.

When will I know if I have been accepted?
The decision regarding admission will be communicated to you through your personal account at Antagning.se. For information the application process please read more here
Universityadmissions.se/application process (new window)

Do you offer deferral of admission?
If you have been accepted into the programme you only have the right to enrol the semester stated in the letter of acceptance. If you cannot enter the programme on the given date you can have your place deferred but you need to submit an application to the Educational Board specifying the reasons for such a deferral. If granted, the deferral cannot be longer than one year and you need to notify the Director of Studies if you want to resume your studies two months before the semester begins.

When does the programme start?
It starts 2 September, 2013.

Can I arrive a few days late?
It is essential that you arrive on time so as not to fall behind your class mates, because of the very intense course work. You will have assigned readings and seminars from the very beginning of the first course.

Academic Studies in Sweden and Content and Structure of the Programme

What are the University term semester for the academic year?
Tentatively for 2013-2014
Autumn semester: 2 September, 2013, to 17 January, 2014.
Spring semester: 20 January to 5 June, 2014.

Lund University academic calendar

What is the academic system in Sweden and how many courses does one take per semester?
Academic achievements (the student workload) at Lund University are measured according to a credit system. 1,5 credits (ECTS) equal approximately one week of full-time studies. Thus, after one normal semester of successful full-time studies (participating according to requirements and passing the examinations) you are awarded 30 (ECTS) credits. Courses at the Centre usually consist of 7,5 or 15 credits each. Courses are always taken consecutively, one at a time, so that there are no over-lapping courses. The courses during the first and second semesters are obligatory whereas you during the third semester can choose among a wider range of courses (see below).

What is the profile of the programme?
The goal of the programme is to provide you with the tools to understand contemporary Asia. The programme is interdisciplinary in character and combines disciplinary and area studies. The programme aims to take a comparative perspective on contemporary Asian societies and to address the most pressing issues in the region, such as international relations, economic development and inequality, and political development. You are given the opportunity to focus on one country or sub-region and specialise in certain issues. Lund University is especially strong in research on the Chinese economy, development issues, politics and governance, law and human rights, gender issues, as well as religion and ethnicity. (See research page ) You also have the possibility of conducting fieldwork in Asia.

What kind of courses does the programme consist of?
The first semester of the programme begins with a general course introducing you to Asian studies and the region. This is followed by two thematic and region-specific courses discussing the major economic and political issues in respective area.

The second semester consists of a region specific course and a course in research methods.

During the third semester you can choose between disciplinary and thematic courses offered by the Centre. These courses will enable you to tailor the programme to suit your particular interests. After obtaining the approval of the programme coordinator you can also choose other courses at other institutions at Lund University, or at any other recognised university in Sweden or abroad.

During the fourth and last semester you will complete the programme with a written thesis, which provides the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of theories, methods and analysis of empirical data in the field of Asian studies.

The optional courses offered by the Centre includes courses on the Chinese economy, development issues in South Asia, gender issues, religion and ethnicity, human rights, and environmental issues.

Will I be able to study any Asian language as part of the programme, or outside of the programme?
The programme does not offer any language courses. The Centre for Languages and Literature offers courses in Chinese and Japanese, but the language of instruction is Swedish. If you cannot speak Swedish you cannot take any of these courses. For Swedish speaking students wanting to study a language, please note that you need to apply separately for these courses (deadline 15 April for the autumn semester) and that the competition is quite fierce.

Will I be able to spend some time in Asia during my studies?
Yes, students who wish to can at the end of the third semester take an applied fieldwork course offered by the Centre in co-operation with our partner universities/institutes in Asia, currently Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan, Peking University in Beijing, China, Kebangsan University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, India. A similar course is also offered in Lund. Many students choose to stay on in Asia after the course to do further fieldwork and collect data for their thesis.

If I want to continue with my studies and do a PhD after my Master, can I do that at the Centre?
No, at present the Centre does not offer any PhD programmes.

What kind of job can I expect to get after obtaining a Master degree in Asian studies, and what kind of work are former students engaged in?
The programme provides you with the skills to understand, assess and analyse social, political and economic developments in Asia. The ability to obtain employment upon graduation depends both upon your previous academic background and your specialization within the programme. The programme will prepare you for both postgraduate studies as well as work as policymakers, trainers or practitioners, in government agencies, private firms and NGOs. Students who have graduated from the programme have continued with Ph.D. studies, work in NGOs, or in private firms, etc.

In order to facilitate contacts among former students as well as provide network for job hunting the Centre has set up an alumni network.

Alumni Network

Practical Matters

How can I arrange my residence permit?
You should apply for your residence permit as soon as you have received your letter of acceptance. The process can take quite some time so it’s important that you start as early as possible. You apply for the permit through the Swedish Embassy/Consulate  in your home country and they will provide you with more information about what material is needed for the application.

How can I find accommodation?
Student accommodation in Lund can be difficult to find. International students can, upon being accepted, apply for accommodation to the International Housing Office (IHO). There are also a number of other agencies, private rooms, and apartments. Some places to start with are Bopoolen, AF Bostäder, and Sydsvenskan’s (a local newspaper) classified ads. It is quite possible and convenient to live in Malmö, a bigger city 15 minutes by train from Lund. For more information please see the Accommodation page.

Can the Centre help me find accommodation?
No, we are not able to help you with accommodation. The International Housing Office can offer some help and advice and you can apply for housing through them. They are however not able to provide all students with housing so you should also start looking around for housing yourself as soon as you are accepted to the programme.

Where is the Centre located in Lund?
Lund is a very small town and it only takes 10 minutes by bike from the city centre to reach the Centre. The Centre is located in the northeastern part of the city, close to the School of Economics and to student dormitories such as Sparta and Delphi.

What are the living costs in Lund?
The living cost for students is estimated to approximately 7,500 SEK per month.

Am I allowed to get a part-time job in Lund?
Yes, your residence permit allows you to work during your studies here in Lund. But based on experience there is very little time left for work in addition to your studies and extra work is difficult to find if you don’t know Swedish, so you cannot rely on this for your financial support.

What happens if I have an accident or get sick and need to go to hospital? What do I do about insurance?
For information about medical insurance please see the following page: http://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/current-students/health-care/medical-insurance

Students might also need or want to purchase their own additional insurance, for instance home insurance, life insurance etc.

Miscellaneous

Are there any tuition fees?
Yes, students with citizenship in countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland have to pay tuition fees.

More information from Lund University

More information from Universityadmissions.se (new window)

Tuition fees for the Master's Programme in Asian Studies

How much work is involved – how many hours per week?
The work load varies from course to course, especially when it comes to the hours of scheduled lectures. But the programme is a fulltime programme, which means 40 hours per week (including classes, seminars, reading assignments and group work).

Are there any scholarships?
Yes, Lund University offers scholarships for high performing students. You can apply for a scholarship when applying for a programme on universityadmissions.se

Scholarship information

There are also a limited number of scholarships offered by the Swedish Institute (SI) but the competition is extremely fierce. You need to indicate at the time of application whether you want to be considered for a scholarship from the Swedish Institute as the Centre rank and nominate students. For more information please see theSI web site:

Swedish Institute web site (new window)

Do I need to know Swedish in order to study in Lund?
No, the programme is taught in English and since most people in Sweden speak English you will have no difficultities to get by on English in social life.

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