GlobalStudyBoard
Tools
← All topics·Business, Arts & Social Sciences track

Postgrad & PhD in Asia

Postgraduate, Research & PhD Study Across Asia

Master’s, PhD and research study across Asia — routes, funding and finding a supervisor.

Last updated

A wide view down an empty research laboratory, long black benches under tall windows, a fume hood at the far end.

Tests this hub covers

IELTS

British Council / IDP IELTS / Cambridge University Press & Assessment · Year-round (test dates and session times vary by test centre)

TOEFL iBT

ETS (Educational Testing Service) · Offered more than 170 times a year at test centres (Home Edition: 24 hours a day, 4 days a week)

GRE

ETS (Educational Testing Service) · Year-round, 365 days a year (once every 21 days, up to 5 times in any rolling 12 months)

GMAT Focus

GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council) · Appointments 7 days a week (test centres in opening hours, online around the clock where offered); up to 5 attempts in any rolling 12 months, at least 16 days apart

What this hub covers

  1. GRE and GMAT for Postgraduate Admission at Asian UniversitiesGRE and GMAT are optional far more often in Asia than in the US · What the GRE and GMAT actually are · Where GRE or GMAT are commonly expected
  2. How to Find and Approach a PhD Supervisor in AsiaWhy the supervisor often comes first in Asia · Find a matching supervisor from official pages · Read their work before you write
  3. Taught vs Research Master's Degrees in Asia ExplainedTwo kinds of master's — coursework and research · How they differ day to day · Duration, funding and supervisor involvement
  4. Doing a PhD in East and Southeast Asia: A Complete GuideWhat a PhD in the region looks like · Common admission routes · English-taught options and language
  5. Research Assistantships and Funded PhD Positions in AsiaFunded positions vs named scholarships · How RA, TA and grant-funded places work · How funding links to admission

Guides for East & Southeast Asia

5 of 5 guides in this hub are for East & Southeast Asia.

Exam prep
East & Southeast Asia·7 min read

GRE and GMAT for Postgraduate Admission at Asian Universities

Do you need the GRE or GMAT for a master's, PhD or MBA in Asia? Where the tests are required, accepted or optional across Japan, Singapore, Korea and beyond.

Read guide
Admissions
East & Southeast Asia·8 min read

How to Find and Approach a PhD Supervisor in Asia

In much of Asia you secure a PhD supervisor before or alongside applying. How to find a matching professor, email them and prepare a research proposal.

Read guide
Comparison
East & Southeast Asia·7 min read

Taught vs Research Master's Degrees in Asia Explained

Coursework vs research master's in Asia: how they differ in classes, thesis, duration, funding and PhD progression across the region, and how to choose.

Read guide
Study abroad
East & Southeast Asia·10 min read

Doing a PhD in East and Southeast Asia: A Complete Guide

Doctoral study across Japan, Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines: routes and funding.

Read guide
Scholarships
East & Southeast Asia·9 min read

Research Assistantships and Funded PhD Positions in Asia

How funded PhD positions work in Asia: RA and TA roles and grant-funded places, how they differ from named scholarships, and how to evaluate a funding offer.

Read guide

Studying in East & Southeast Asia

Continue exploring East & Southeast Asia

Universities, entrance tests, costs and visa facts for East & Southeast Asia — all in one place, each linked to its official source.

UniversitiesExamsGuidesScholarships
Explore East & Southeast AsiaAsk GSB about East & Southeast Asia

Not sure where to start?

Ask GSB for guidance tailored to your situation.

Ask GSB →