Wherever I am, the world comes after me.
It offers me its busyness. It does not believe that I do not want it.
Now I understand 
why the old poets of China went so far
and high 
into the mountains, then crept into the pale mist.
"The Old Poets of China" by Mary Oliver

The Asian Center, University of the Philippines Diliman welcomes applications to its MA programs in Asian Studies and in Philippine Studies for the second semester, which starts January 2017. Application period is from 1 October 2016 to 4 November 2016.

MA Programs in Asian Studies come in two tracks (thesis or non-thesis) and offer any of four specializations on any of the following regions:

  • Northeast Asia (with country specialization: Japan, Korea, or China)
  • Southeast Asia
  • South Asia, or
  • West Asia.

The MA Programs in Philippine Studies also has two tracks (thesis or nonthesis) and allow students to specialize in any of the following fields:

  • Foreign relations
  • Development
  • Society and culture.  

All MA programs entail a language requirement and a comprehensive examination, and are grounded on research methodologies and theories on area studies. The programs also feature interdisciplinary coursework, as students take a variety of social science courses -- history, politics, economy, and others -- of their chosen field or area of specialization. 

For inquiries and questions, please contact the Office of the College Secretary at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact 63-2-981-8500 local 3578 and kindly look for Mr. Robert Silleza.  


The UP Asian Center offers M.A. programs in Asian Studies with four fields of specialization: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The Center also has an M.A. program in Philippine Studies that allows students to major in Philippine society and culture, Philippine foreign relations, or Philippine development studies. The Center offers a Ph.D. program in Philippine Studies in conjunction with the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy. Get an overview of these programs. The Asian Center also houses a peer-reviewed, open-access journal, Asian Studies: Journal of Critical Perspectives on Asia. It has published several books and monographs, and hosts or organizes various lectures and conferences.