FAQs

1.1 How many students are enrolled every year? How many students apply for the program? How many students are enrolled by each language discipline? In the case of enrollment plans pertaining to a region, do you have any preference for a specific country?

The program began enrolling students since 2012. Up to now, a total of 68 students, in 11 classes, have been enrolled with no more than 10 students each year. The number of applicants varies every year, and it has been on the rise on a yearly basis. Different language disciplines are involved in the enrollment plans each year, and the size of enrollment and specific language disciplines depend on the application and Admission Prospectus. If a specific country is preferred pertaining to a region, the information will be specified in the enrollment plans.


1.2 What qualifications do I need to become qualified for the DCS Doctoral Program, compared with other doctoral programs?

First, applicants should be passionate and patient with scientific research, and be prepared for an academic career. Second, applicants must be quite adaptable. In addition to profound background knowledge of your disciplines and relevant expertise, the program also requires its students to adapt to various educational models and cultural diversity at home and abroad and blend in the social atmospheres of target countries rapidly. Third, besides the non-lingua franca of the target countries, students of the program should also be proficient in English to such an extent as to enable them to study in developed European countries and the US. Supportive language certificates such as TOEFL or IELTS will serve as evidence of applicants’ English proficiency, though it is not a must. Fourth, applicants should have a relatively in-depth understanding of the economy, culture, society, etc. of the target countries, rather than confined to their own field of study.


2.1 How to prepare reference letters?

The applicant invites two experts with the title of associate professor or above related to the discipline of application to fill out reference letters online. The referees should fill out and upload the reference letters within the specified time as required by the application service system, keep the original reference letters properly, and send the written version to the Office of Teaching Affairs of the applicant’s applied department after the subsequent acceptance of notification, or send the written version to the applicant who will mail it to the Office of Teaching Affairs of the applicant’s applied department after completing the reference letter online and sealing the written version(sign on the perforation of sealed envelope)


2.2 What should be included in the personal statement?

The personal statement should include applicants’ basic information, education background, experience related to target countries or disciplines, research interests, future learning and research plans, and career goals after graduation. Please do specify in the personal statement which program(s) you aim for in a descending order of priority (see sub-programs available for application in the admission brochure), for efficient information collection.


2.3 Are there any particulars that should be noted by applicants with jobs (in public institutions, government agencies or other entities)?

This program is not available for those working full time. In-service applicants should enroll in the program as full-time doctoral students after admission.


2.4 For an on-the-job master only holding a master’s degree but without academic qualifications, is he/she eligible to participate in the Doctoral Program in Developing Country Studies (DCS) at the IIAS?

Applicant shall have both academic certificate and certificate of master’s degree (except for fresh graduates). Fresh graduates should obtain the two certificates prior to registration.


2.5 Is there a timetable for the application process from application to admission? (2021 for example)

  1. Online application: Complete the online application on yzbm.tsinghua.edu.cn in accordance with relevant requirements from 12:00 on August 16, 2021 to 16:00 on August 31, 2021.

  2. Preliminary review of application materials: Mid-September 2021.

  3. Secondary examination: Late September 2021.

  4. Admission: June 2022.


3.1 What is the form of the examination?

Candidates who pass the preliminary examination of materials will receive the comprehensive examination notice. The comprehensive assessment consists of written test, foreign language proficiency test and interview.

Written test: the test time is 2 hours, with a full score of 100 points. Examine the professional basic knowledge and research methods of regional research and related disciplines.

Foreign language proficiency test: the test time is 20 minutes, with a full score of 100. Test the basic knowledge of foreign language and the ability of listening, speaking and understanding.

Interview: about 30 minutes for each candidate, with a full score of 100 points. It will be focused on the examination of the applicant’s political quality, professional quality, academic ability, academic interest, etc. in the project area and the corresponding disciplines.


3.2 Are there any recommended materials or books?

No materials or books are recommended as of now.

Contact info:

  • Tel: 010-62789154

  • Email: iias-zhaosheng@tsinghua.edu.cn


FAQs

1.1 How many students are enrolled every year? How many students apply for the program? How many students are enrolled by each language discipline? In the case of enrollment plans pertaining to a region, do you have any preference for a specific country?

The program began enrolling students since 2012. Up to now, a total of 68 students, in 11 classes, have been enrolled with no more than 10 students each year. The number of applicants varies every year, and it has been on the rise on a yearly basis. Different language disciplines are involved in the enrollment plans each year, and the size of enrollment and specific language disciplines depend on the application and Admission Prospectus. If a specific country is preferred pertaining to a region, the information will be specified in the enrollment plans.


1.2 What qualifications do I need to become qualified for the DCS Doctoral Program, compared with other doctoral programs?

First, applicants should be passionate and patient with scientific research, and be prepared for an academic career. Second, applicants must be quite adaptable. In addition to profound background knowledge of your disciplines and relevant expertise, the program also requires its students to adapt to various educational models and cultural diversity at home and abroad and blend in the social atmospheres of target countries rapidly. Third, besides the non-lingua franca of the target countries, students of the program should also be proficient in English to such an extent as to enable them to study in developed European countries and the US. Supportive language certificates such as TOEFL or IELTS will serve as evidence of applicants’ English proficiency, though it is not a must. Fourth, applicants should have a relatively in-depth understanding of the economy, culture, society, etc. of the target countries, rather than confined to their own field of study.


2.1 How to prepare reference letters?

The applicant invites two experts with the title of associate professor or above related to the discipline of application to fill out reference letters online. The referees should fill out and upload the reference letters within the specified time as required by the application service system, keep the original reference letters properly, and send the written version to the Office of Teaching Affairs of the applicant’s applied department after the subsequent acceptance of notification, or send the written version to the applicant who will mail it to the Office of Teaching Affairs of the applicant’s applied department after completing the reference letter online and sealing the written version(sign on the perforation of sealed envelope)


2.2 What should be included in the personal statement?

The personal statement should include applicants’ basic information, education background, experience related to target countries or disciplines, research interests, future learning and research plans, and career goals after graduation. Please do specify in the personal statement which program(s) you aim for in a descending order of priority (see sub-programs available for application in the admission brochure), for efficient information collection.


2.3 Are there any particulars that should be noted by applicants with jobs (in public institutions, government agencies or other entities)?

This program is not available for those working full time. In-service applicants should enroll in the program as full-time doctoral students after admission.


2.4 For an on-the-job master only holding a master’s degree but without academic qualifications, is he/she eligible to participate in the Doctoral Program in Developing Country Studies (DCS) at the IIAS?

Applicant shall have both academic certificate and certificate of master’s degree (except for fresh graduates). Fresh graduates should obtain the two certificates prior to registration.


2.5 Is there a timetable for the application process from application to admission? (2021 for example)

  1. Online application: Complete the online application on yzbm.tsinghua.edu.cn in accordance with relevant requirements from 12:00 on August 16, 2021 to 16:00 on August 31, 2021.

  2. Preliminary review of application materials: Mid-September 2021.

  3. Secondary examination: Late September 2021.

  4. Admission: June 2022.


3.1 What is the form of the examination?

Candidates who pass the preliminary examination of materials will receive the comprehensive examination notice. The comprehensive assessment consists of written test, foreign language proficiency test and interview.

Written test: the test time is 2 hours, with a full score of 100 points. Examine the professional basic knowledge and research methods of regional research and related disciplines.

Foreign language proficiency test: the test time is 20 minutes, with a full score of 100. Test the basic knowledge of foreign language and the ability of listening, speaking and understanding.

Interview: about 30 minutes for each candidate, with a full score of 100 points. It will be focused on the examination of the applicant’s political quality, professional quality, academic ability, academic interest, etc. in the project area and the corresponding disciplines.


3.2 Are there any recommended materials or books?

No materials or books are recommended as of now.

Contact info:

  • Tel: 010-62789154

  • Email: iias-zhaosheng@tsinghua.edu.cn


Official WeChat Account

010-62787747,010-62780635

Room 205, Central Main Building, Tsinghua University, Beiing, China, 100084

iias-research@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn

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