RSEA is a vibrant interdisciplinary area studies program designed to accommodate a wide range of interests and needs for graduate training in the languages, societies and cultures of East Asia. The program affords students interested in a professional career of engagement with Asia an opportunity to pursue a flexible and varied course of instruction related to their career interests; it also serves the needs of students who wish to enter a Ph.D. program but have limited background in the field of East Asian studies. The world of public service, including politics, diplomacy, finance, military service and journalism, and the world of academia in both humanities and social sciences are the two spheres that have traditionally defined RSEA's identity and continue to be RSEA's missions today.
Deadlines and Requirements
The application deadline for September 2014 admission is December 16, 2013, 5 p.m. EST, and all materials are to be submitted by the deadline. GSAS requires prospective students to submit all application materials online; no materials should be sent to the RSEA office. The full details on the admissions procedures and requirements process are available directly from the GSAS website (gsas.harvard.edu). A complete application consists of these required items:
1. Admissions Application 2. Personal Statement discussing your plan of study 3. Official Transcripts 4. Official GRE General Test scores (GSAS Code for ETS: 3451) 5. Writing sample that should not exceed 20 pages 6. Three letters of recommendation (submitted online, no hard copies) 7. TOEFL scores (if required – if you are unsure, please refer to the GSAS application instructions) 8. Statement of financial resources Please note that on your application, you are asked to indicate which Harvard faculty member(s) you would like to work with should you be admitted into the program. It is important for you to do so to ensure that faculty members with whom you would like to work are informed when your application becomes available for review.
Questions about the application process may be directed either to rsea@fas.harvard.edu, or to the GSAS Admissions Office at admiss@fas.harvard.edu.
