The Department of East Asian Studies is an academic department of the University of Delhi, dedicated to the study of the languages, history, politics, economy and culture of the East Asian region. Located on the North Campus of the university in Delhi, it is one of the principal centres in India for area-based teaching and research on China, Japan and Korea.
| Name | Department of East Asian Studies |
|---|---|
| Parent institution | University of Delhi |
| Type | Academic department (area studies) |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences |
| Location | North Campus, Delhi |
| Region of focus | East Asia (China, Japan, Korea) |
The department offers programmes that combine language training with social science approaches to East Asia. Its academic work spans Chinese, Japanese and Korean studies, with attention to political systems, foreign policy, international relations, economic development, history and society of the region. The department situates East Asia within broader frameworks of Asian studies and India's engagement with its eastern neighbours.
Teaching at the department is organised around postgraduate and research degrees in East Asian Studies, alongside language instruction. Typical offerings in the area include:
Research in the department covers a range of themes, including:
Area studies on East Asia in Indian universities developed in the decades after independence, as the country sought specialised expertise on its Asian neighbours. The University of Delhi established teaching and research capacities in Chinese and Japanese studies as part of this wider development, which were later consolidated under a department devoted to East Asia. The department functions within the university's Faculty of Social Sciences, alongside other area-focused and disciplinary departments.
As part of one of India's largest and most prominent universities, the department contributes to the training of scholars, diplomats, journalists, analysts and language professionals working on East Asia. Its location in Delhi places it close to policy institutions, embassies and think tanks, supporting interaction between academic research and public discourse on India's relations with China, Japan and Korea.