Overview

The Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University was established in 2017, building on the Developing Country Studies doctoral program launched in 2011. Since then, IIAS has developed into a comprehensive academic institution integrating graduate education in area studies, academic research, and policy-oriented research. With a primary focus on the Global South, its teaching and research cover South Asia, Southeast Asia, Eurasia, West Asia and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, while also addressing major global issues through thematic research.

IIAS places strong emphasis on interdisciplinary training, proficiency in the languages of the countries and regions studied, and rigorous fieldwork. Its curriculum combines broad interdisciplinary foundations with in-depth academic training. In September 2025, Tsinghua University’s first-level discipline in Area Studies was officially approved by the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council. IIAS serves as the lead academic unit for Tsinghua University’s master’s and doctoral programs in Area Studies.

IIAS aspires to become a world-leading center for research and education in Area Studies, contributing to the development of China’s knowledge and discourse systems and providing intellectual support for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Highlights

Area Studies

The PhD Program in Area Studies at the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS), Tsinghua University, seeks to train scholars with a long-term commitment to the study of countries and regions. The program emphasizes three complementary perspectives: a China-informed perspective, an international outlook, and an understanding of the perspectives of the societies being studied.

The program welcomes applicants with a strong research interest in developing countries and regions and a commitment to pursuing long-term academic research in the field. Through advanced coursework and fieldwork, doctoral students acquire a systematic and in-depth understanding of the politics, economy, society, and culture of their target countries or regions, while developing a solid foundation in the theories and research methods of area studies. By the end of the program, students are expected to be capable of conducting independent, high-quality academic research.

(D)- Doctoral Programs

Contact

Website: https://iias.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/index.htm

Email: iias-zhaosheng@tsinghua.edu.cn

Tel: +86-010-62789154