Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

Subject Overview

Why study Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Cambridge?

The understanding and appreciation of people and societies from East Asia and the Middle East is at the heart of AMES at Cambridge. Through closely studying the language, history, and contemporary cultures of your chosen field, AMES teaches you to access the future through engaging with the past. In doing so, it will widen your horizons through developing your imagination, determination, curiosity, and sense of adventure.

The importance of the region

Asia and the Middle East, home to nearly 60 percent of the world’s population, shape global dynamics. China is the second-largest economy, and Japan the third-largest; the region’s impact on world politics and security is enormous. Japanese and Korean pop culture, from art nouveaux to manga and anime, from cosplay and Pokémon to grime and gaming, captivates audiences worldwide.

The region’s influence reaches far into history. Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) boasted advanced civilizations millennia before Rome, shaping fields like astronomy and our calendar. Major world religions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism, trace their roots here. While Europe languished in the supposed “dark” middle ages, these regions thrived. In the 8^th century, China’s capital housed up to 1 million people, and 9^th century Baghdad surpassed a million residents. Trade routes and pilgrimages fostered cultural and religious exchange. China’s ancient Imperial exam system still influences modern education, fostering high academic standards in East Asia.

In the 13^th century, when Oxford and Cambridge were just a place where a few students and masters gathered to discuss a handful of books, Baghdad’s five biggest libraries held 200,000 to 1 million manuscripts each. Their rulers championed scientific and intellectual hubs. Paper, invented in China, spread ideas and knowledge throughout the region. Persian, Arabic, and Jewish scholars translated Greek and Roman texts, advancing fields like medicine, sciences, and philosophy. Mechanical clocks, first developed in the Arab world, found their way to Christian monasteries and beyond, becoming a foundation for industrialization. Japan, inspired by China, developed its own culture. World literature emerged, such as Murasaki Shikibu’s Tales of Genji or Sei Shōnagon’s Pillow book, penned by female aristocrats a millennium ago.

These are just a few examples of how Asia and the Middle East continue to shape our global story, politically, economically, culturally.

AMES at Cambridge

In an increasingly multicultural world, those studying AMES subjects are uniquely primed to develop the knowledge and skills to join in the global conversation. The in-depth specific knowledge of the cultures studied, and wide range of transferable skills gained, AMES opens up a vast array of career options. These have included (but are not limited to) areas such as the media, business and commerce, investment banking, marketing, the Civil Service (especially the Foreign Office), international organisations, tourism, teaching, academia, and NGOs. We have a risk analyst, forensic accountant and a rowing coach among our alumni. You can go into acting or learn a craft. The sky is your limit!

AMES subjects, in addition to dealing with a huge geographic area, also allow you to approach the region from various perspectives. You will study (amongst other topics) the languages, history, literature, religion, politics, and societies of the language and culture you choose. In your third year spent abroad you will further immerse yourself in the culture you’re studying. In doing so, AMES empowers you to explore one of the most dynamic regions in the world today.

All teaching for Asian and Middle Eastern Studies follows the course outline set by the Faculty/Department. See the structure and details of the course structure on the Faculty's website.

Why study Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Downing College?

Asian and Middle Eastern Studies is known as a ‘small subject’ because it has a smaller cohort of students across the University of Cambridge than some other subjects. But it is a large subject in terms of range and diversity. This means that your supervisions, in addition to your lectures and seminars will be arranged by and take place in the Faculty, rather than College.

Nevertheless, Downing College still plays a key role in your experience of studying AMES. As there are usually just 8 students studying AMES across all years at Downing, the College provides a tight-knit AMES community. This will support you to engage in a range of interactions across the University-wide AMES teaching, whilst ensuring you remain grounded in a smaller, College based community.

If you have an interest in specialising in Japanese, Downing College is uniquely placed to support your study thanks to our established link with Keio University, the leading Japanese private university. It is normally possible to arrange a study place at Keio for students in Japanese studies, supported by a scholarship, during their year abroad. Additionally, every summer a group of Japanese students attend the Keio summer school at Downing and every autumn a Keio Fellow visits us for three months to conduct research.

The Director of Studies in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies is Dr Brigitte Steger.

Who are we looking for?

As AMES subjects are challenging both a quick mind and continuous hard work are required. Yet, overcoming obstacles in discovering fascinating new worlds is a highly satisfying and rewarding endeavour.

Candidates will need a clear head for grammar, the recognition of linguistic patterns, and the learning of vocabulary. A foreign language at A–level (or equivalent) is particularly desirable, suggesting a proven ability to cope with language work. If you’re combining study with a modern European language, an A-Level or IB Higher Level in that language is required. Other useful A–levels are History and English or other subjects that train your essay-writing skills, though applicants have been accepted from a wide variety of academic backgrounds, and students with a science background often do particularly well.

Our standard conditional offer for this subject is usually A*AA at A level or 41- 43 points overall and 7, 7, 6 at Higher Level in IB.

Prior to interviews, we will ask to see some of the written work you have produced during your studies, which may provide some of the basis for discussion.

At present, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies applicants receive two or sometimes three interviews. Interviews are intended to inform us about your motivation and your overall ability and potential. One will be with the Director of Studies, usually joined by a specialist in the candidate’s chosen subject.

Candidates applying for a combined course with a modern European language will be given an interview by a specialist in that language and will sit a written test on the day of the interview. This test will consist of an essay in a foreign language of the candidates choosing written in response to a short passage in English.

Further advice about entry requirements and interviews for all subjects can be found in the Applying to Downing section of this site.

General enquiries.

For undergraduate admissions enquiries.

How should you prepare to apply?

You will have to show us that you are serious about your studies. While we are open to a wide range of fields within the study of these wide areas, we want to see that you are able to follow up on your interest. Go to the library or museums, do some search on the internet and read independently about the culture you want to study; discuss what you have read with your friends, parents, and teachers. Make sure that you understand what the course is about.