Application:

The applicants who wish to take the course (PhD candidates) should submit the application form, and send their research plan and a list of suggested readings to the course coordinator before the end of the application period. The list of suggested readings can be compiled on the basis of the Selected reading list below.

Application form (PhD students taking the course)

Application form (MA students willing to watch the lectures)

After the application period, applicants will be informed about the decisions. Approved students will receive the course key to the Moodle course site. The examiner will approve the reading list and if necessary, the list may be modified.

Learning outcomes:
Improvement of the knowledge and skills for accessing information in Asian countries. The course enables the doctoral candidate to make a fieldwork design which is manageable and realistic and to choose a data collection method that is tightly linked to research aims.

Taken as:
Based on the lectures and selected readings, the doctoral candidate writes a 3000-4000 word essay to present the chosen method of data collection and analysis, and to argue for its relevance for the research topic. He/she should discuss relevant approaches for the acquisition and analysis of the primary data and consider the eventual challenges. Furthermore, he/she should propose a justified selection of primary data and a method of its acquisition.

The essay can be submitted twice a year. The deadlines are May 31 and December 31.

Selected reading lists:

Fieldwork in China

Fieldwork in Japan

Fieldwork in Indonesia

Evaluation:
The essay is evaluated by an examiner specialized in the topic. The examiner provides written comments on the essay. Grade: pass/fail

Additional information:

• Doctoral candidates of the Asia Network member universities are eligible to take the courses for free. Other doctoral candidates can take the courses as external students by paying a 200€ fee / course.
  
  
• Students must seek prior approval from their own university for credit transfers before they register to the course.

 

• The lectures can be viewed by MA level students at the Asia Network member universities but the courses are not open for them.

 

• These courses have been developed in co-operation with the Doctoral Program of Contemporary Asian Studies. The Joel Toivola Foundation has provided generous support for the development of the China-related course.