The Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University was established in 2017, building on the doctoral programme in Developing Country Studies launched in 2011. Over the past several years, the Institute has developed into a comprehensive academic entity that integrates talent cultivation in area studies, scholarly research, and policy-oriented think tank functions.
Drawing on Tsinghua's multidisciplinary strengths, the Institute focuses on the Global South, with research and teaching covering South Asia, Southeast Asia, Eurasia, West Asia and North Africa, Africa, and Latin America, alongside thematic studies on global issues.
Through sustained development, IIAS has established a distinctive model of talent training that combines a China-based perspective, a global outlook, and an understanding of the societies under study. The Institute places strong emphasis on interdisciplinary education, the development of language proficiency in relevant regions, and rigorous training in fieldwork methodologies, supported by a curriculum designed to combine broad relevance with academic depth.
The Institute continues to refine its disciplinary development. In October 2025, Tsinghua University's first-level doctoral degree programme in Area Studies was officially approved by the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, with IIAS serving as the lead institution responsible for both doctoral and master's degree programmes in the discipline.
In advancing its role as an academic think tank, IIAS has developed an integrated approach in which foundational research, academic scholarship, and policy-oriented research are mutually reinforcing. The Institute is committed to developing theoretical frameworks and analytical approaches for area studies with distinctive Chinese characteristics, while pursuing innovation in the field. Its faculty includes both teaching- and research-oriented tracks, contributing to a strong body of academic output. The Institute publishes several academic serials, including Area Studies, Fieldwork Studies, and South Asian Review, and has produced dozens of monographs, edited volumes, and translations. It also places strong emphasis on translating academic research into policy-relevant insights, producing advisory reports grounded in rigorous scholarship and contributing to the alignment of academic and societal value.
Looking ahead, IIAS will continue to explore new pathways for the development of social sciences in China, grounded in empirical research and oriented towards theoretical advancement. With a commitment to innovation and disciplinary development, the Institute seeks to build a research and training system attuned to the needs of a changing world, and to highlight the strategic significance of area studies. It aims to become a world-leading centre for area studies research and education, contributing to the development of China's knowledge system and discourse, and to the broader goal of building a global community with a shared future.
The Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University was established in 2017, building on the doctoral programme in Developing Country Studies launched in 2011. Over the past several years, the Institute has developed into a comprehensive academic entity that integrates talent cultivation in area studies, scholarly research, and policy-oriented think tank functions.
Drawing on Tsinghua's multidisciplinary strengths, the Institute focuses on the Global South, with research and teaching covering South Asia, Southeast Asia, Eurasia, West Asia and North Africa, Africa, and Latin America, alongside thematic studies on global issues.
Through sustained development, IIAS has established a distinctive model of talent training that combines a China-based perspective, a global outlook, and an understanding of the societies under study. The Institute places strong emphasis on interdisciplinary education, the development of language proficiency in relevant regions, and rigorous training in fieldwork methodologies, supported by a curriculum designed to combine broad relevance with academic depth.
The Institute continues to refine its disciplinary development. In October 2025, Tsinghua University's first-level doctoral degree programme in Area Studies was officially approved by the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, with IIAS serving as the lead institution responsible for both doctoral and master's degree programmes in the discipline.
In advancing its role as an academic think tank, IIAS has developed an integrated approach in which foundational research, academic scholarship, and policy-oriented research are mutually reinforcing. The Institute is committed to developing theoretical frameworks and analytical approaches for area studies with distinctive Chinese characteristics, while pursuing innovation in the field. Its faculty includes both teaching- and research-oriented tracks, contributing to a strong body of academic output. The Institute publishes several academic serials, including Area Studies, Fieldwork Studies, and South Asian Review, and has produced dozens of monographs, edited volumes, and translations. It also places strong emphasis on translating academic research into policy-relevant insights, producing advisory reports grounded in rigorous scholarship and contributing to the alignment of academic and societal value.
Looking ahead, IIAS will continue to explore new pathways for the development of social sciences in China, grounded in empirical research and oriented towards theoretical advancement. With a commitment to innovation and disciplinary development, the Institute seeks to build a research and training system attuned to the needs of a changing world, and to highlight the strategic significance of area studies. It aims to become a world-leading centre for area studies research and education, contributing to the development of China's knowledge system and discourse, and to the broader goal of building a global community with a shared future.
