Through the MA by Research (MAR), you'll conduct an original piece of independent research that will provide you with an in-depth understanding of your chosen discipline. You'll be guided by an academic supervision team, who'll be leading experts in your field, attend research training sessions and have regular meetings with your supervisors. The MAR can be considered ideal preparation for undertaking a PhD in that it is also entirely research-based and does not (at least formally) include any taught components. At the end of your studies, you'll submit a 30,000-word thesis, which is assessed through a viva voce examination involving two examiners other than your supervisor.<br><br>East Asian Studies at Leeds traces its roots back to 1963 when it was founded by the renowned scholar of China and Inner Asia, Professor Owen Lattimore. Since then we have grown to become one of the largest centres for research and teaching on East Asia in the UK, covering China, Japan, Korea, Thailand and the wider Asia Pacific generally. Most recently we have established the Centre for New Chinese Writing, which is emerging as an internationally-important centre for the study of contemporary literature in Chinese, and its translation and reception in the West.